www.saitowers.com/magazine/set-oct-2000

Distribution of Push-carts October 29th
Bhagawan’s 75th birthday celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam had a heart-warming beginning, when Bhagawan Baba distributed 40 items to deserving poor chosen from Anantapur. There were push-carts with thermal ironing equipment for men and heavy kitchenware like traditional grinding machines for women. The brief function was arranged by the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation of Anantapur. Moved by the condition of the beneficiaries, Bhagawan also distributed to them clothes and watches too!
Sri Sathya Sai Grama Seva Programme October 31st to November 14th
In his discourse on October 6th , 2000 and in a meeting of the male staff members of the institute on the October 30th spoke with feeling about a newspapers report about a mother stricken by poverty and deprivation killed herself and her children. This report triggered off a series of activities that led to the Sri Sathya Sai Grama Seva Programme carried out by students and staff of Sri Sathya Sai institute of Higher learning. On this morning of the October 31st, the men students and teachers who were assigned the tasks of distribution of food and clothes, walked around the Mandir in a procession singing Bhajans and then set out for their work. Early morning at 3.00 a.m, students had begun the job of making food packets. Bhagawan inaugurated the refurbished Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyana Mandapam and blessed the clothes and food meant for distribution. In the days to come, students would go in trucks, vans and jeeps, to various villages in Puttaparthi, Kothacheruvu and Bukkapatnam mandals to distribute Bhagawan’s prasadam. They would disembark in the villages, have nagar sankirtan and then go house to house to distribute the prasadam food packets. Dhotis and sarees would be distributed along with the prasadam food to beneficiares earlier identified by the Mandal Revenue Officers. The men students covered the villages of Puttaparthi, Kothacheruvu and Bukkapatnam mandals by November 9th, while on the 7th , even girls had gone to distribute food and clothes in Bukkapatnam. On other days they packed the food and went to whitewash temples. On the morning of the 11th , the mammoth task of distributing food and clothes in Penukonda town was taken up. In this afternoon, pleased with the work of the students, Bhagawan distributed dress material to men and sarees for the women. November 14th , was the final day of this village work. The students visited Dharmavaram town (population one and a half lakhs) there was a tremendous response from the people of the silk industry town. The work started in the morning could be completed only late in the evening.
Global Akhanda Bhajans November 11th - 12th
The twenty-four hour Akhanda Bhajans commenced on November 11th at 6 p.m. Noted playback singer of yesteryears, Smt. P. Susheela recited a mantra before the commencement of the bhajans. Bhagawan was there for the bhajans till 7p.m. on the 11th evening; from 7.30 to 9 next morning and from 2 p.m. till the end of bhajans. Just before the end of the bhajans, Bhagawan broke a few coconuts, Prasadam was distributed at the end of the bhajans.
Sri Sathya Sai Vratam November 17th 2000 Bhagawan lit the lamp at 7a.m to mark the beginning of the powerful ritual of Sri Sathya Sai Vratam. Many Indian and overseas devotees participated in the Vratam. After the Vratam, adept pandits chanted Vedas in the Sai Kulwant Hall. The Veda chanting went on from 7a.m to 7 p.m daily till Bhagawan’s Birthday.
Inauguration of Chaitanya Jyoti (museum) November 18th 2000 Bhagawan inaugurated Chaitanya Jyoti, the monument commemorating the 75th year of the Avatar’s Advent was in the morning. Arriving at the Hill View Stadium, where the museum is located at 8.05 a.m., Swami released balloons to mark the inauguration. He spent about an hour at the museum, during which he was taken around to see the exhibits. He was taken around to see the exhibits. The museum was open to the public from November 20th. Mr. Hira of the Southeast Asian Countries Co-ordination Committee, spoke on behalf of the Sponsors
Ladies Day November 19th Ladies day 2000 commenced with Bhagawan being ushered into Sai Kulwanth Hall in a procession. Lead by women students from Anantapur campus of the institute chanting Vedas, and musical bands from the girls section of the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School and the Anantapur campus. The programme began with a dance; followed by a group violin recital. There were vocal renderings by Sowmya and party in the Carnatic style and by Arti and party in the Hindusthani style. Bhagawan distributed sweets, saris and suitcases to the lady guests. In the afternoon, Smt. Uma Bharati, Honorable Minister of Sports and Cultural Affairs, Government of India and Smt. Vasundhara Scindia, Honorable Minister of Small Scale Industries, spoke on the occasion. Bhagawan spoke next, stressing on the need for mothers to encourage noble thinking and pointing out the strength of women lay in their purity. There was also a western music presentation by overseas devotees.
Inauguration of Sai Mirpuri College of Music November 20th
Sai Mirpuri College of Music, affiliated to Sri Sathya Sai Institute Of Higher Learning, was inaugurated by Bhagawan in the morning. Bhagawan arrived at the college, situated next to gokulam, He was welcomed by students chanting Vedas and singing bhajans. Bhagawan went around the premises after inaugurating the museum and the classroom complexes. Prasadam was distributed at the end of the function.
Seventh World Conference Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations November 20th to 24th
The Seventh World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations was inaugurated by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by the lighting of lamps on the afternoon of November 20th. The theme of the conference was ‘The Journey with Sai’. The international chairman, Sri Indulal Shah spoke first. Bhagawan then addressed the gathering. The conference had four sessions, two on November 20th and 21st , and the other two on the following day. The first day’s session dealt with the first and second 25 years of the Lord’s life. The second day’s sessions dealt with the third 25 years and the vision of the 21st century. The session took place in Bhagawan’s presence in Sai Kulwanth Hall. Sri Sathyanarayana, Bhagawan’s classmate at the Bukkapatnam School, an early devotee and another Sri Sathyanarayana from Anantapur, were the first two speakers. Sri Rayanengar of Tamil Nadu and Professor Zeba Bashiruddin from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, spoke next. The theme of the session was the "first twenty-five years of Bhagawan’s life." The subsequent sessions of the conference were held in the Poornachandra Auditorium. The valedictory function of the conference was held on the morning of November 24th . Sri V. Srinivasan speaking on the occasion, mentioned that delegates from 148 countries and 19 States of India had participated in the conference and shared their experiences. A report of the conference and shared resolutions were presented before Bhagawan. Finally Bhagawan blessed the delegates with His valedictory message. The resolutions of the confernence were as follows 1) We will first reach out to the individual in society, giving him out love, and through our behaviour bring about his transformation. Our efforts must show the individual that we care about him and love him. We recognise that every country, society and family is made up of individuals, and change everywhere must start with change in the individuals. Accordingly, all units of the Seva Organisations, both in India and abroad, irrespective of the size of their membership, will concentrate our seva efforts towards the individuals in our respective areas. 2) Bhagawan has said that spirituality and purity increase our ‘attraction’ power. Therefore, by our behaviour and our actions, we must be recognizable as servants of Sai, following His teachings. 3) We must have full confidence that Bhagavan is with us every activity that we undertake. A Sai worker can therefore have no weakness. He must always have confidence and faith. 4) Every member of the Organisation should be constantly well informed of all that Bhagawan has done and is doing for socitey. This is keeping with Bhagawan’s teaching, "Let your actions speak for themselves." 5) In an increasingly impersonal and hi-tech world, we will constantly make efforts to demonstrate our love and our care for our fellow men. The overseas organisation will examine how we can use information technology to assist our efforts towards human transformation. The Overseas Organisation has, in addition, made the following recommendations: 1) The Sai Organisation is now functioning in 165 countries. It is proposed to set up the organisation in the remaining 85 countries of the world with Bhagawan’s grace. 2) They seek Bhagawan’s approval to hold the Bal Vikas Gurus Conference and the Parenting Seminar in India in 2001. 3) An objective will be to set up permanent Sai Bhajan halls in every country. 4) It is proposed to established a Planning Group in every country to act as a ‘Think Tank’ for the future needs of the Organisation. This Group will include experienced old time devotees and retiring officebearers The Overseas Organisation has held seven regional workshops and prepared recommedations in regard to: 1) Unity of the three wings of the Organisation 2) Spiritual Transformation through Bhagawan’s spiritual directives 3) Expansion of Love through service 4) World transformation through transformation of the prevailing educational systems worldwide 5) Youth members 6) Role of ladies in Sai Mission 7) Administrative matters These have been made in substantial detail for easy understanding and implementation by the various Sai Centres The delegates are conscious of the heavy responsibility on each of them to implement Bhagawan’s teachings in their daily lives and be models for society. We pray to Bhagawan to give us strength and wisdom to be His worthy instruments.