Issue 179 - May 31, 2020
REGION 2 SPECIAL ISSUE
Master the Mind
Mind is the cause of bondage and liberation, and if one can master this mind, one can become not just a mastermind but the master Himself, says Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai. In this series of talks, ‘Master the Mind’, primarily given to the Ashram residents of Sathya Sai Grama, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai guides us step by step, to take up a 30 day sadhana to understand, analyse, master and finally merge the mind into the divine self.
Inspirational Note...
In 2016 a Satsang held in the divine presence at Suffolk, UK, devotee seeks guidance on tradition and technology, and how to connect with nature.
 
Here is what Swami said:

Because you are in a society which is using these systems, you think that they are the only systems being followed. Half the world does not have access to the science, technology and medicine you talk about. How are they taking care of themselves? They are still going with their traditional knowledge, their traditional wisdoms of the earth and of nature, and they look after themselves that way. So, it is not correct to say that it is totally destroyed and you no longer have any of those old methods. They are still there in those places where science and technology have not yet reached.
 
What is happening on this side of the world, driven by technology and modern science and modern medicine? For everything, there are some positive and some negative aspects. Even science accepts that there will be side-effects; for particular types of medication and ways of treating patients, you accept it as being the case, because some cures might take a longer time, or may not have a definite result and you are not ready to take risks. You do not have patience and, so you want immediate cures for these things; that is where technology is giving you an answer. However, if you develop patience, if you foster a healthier lifestyle and achieve better health; there will be no need for such medicines except, maybe, in some exceptional cases. You can still lead a healthy life.
 
Truly, most diseases today are not physical – they are mental in their origins and it is more the lack of spirituality in people than the science of medicines that is the reason they are suffering or unhappy. People who lead spiritual lives with contentment, do not suffer as much. In the first place, they will never need most of these things.
 
Where this is not the case, is where all these things come into picture. Because you have lost the patience to wait, you want everything immediately – that leads to a lot of these issues; yet, man goes by his experience. It is a cycle, a swing of the pendulum and, at some point, more and more people will realize it to be the case.
 
The coming times are very critical, because there is a definite shift in people’s consciousness. They are going back to their original values, having experienced that there is not much joy or happiness in the quick fixes; they wish to return to their original order of values.
 
That will complete the cycle, and the next era will be better. However, those who understand this should put a little effort to keep it going, to keep it alive and promote it.
Region 2 Service Summary - 2020
Service Updates
Service Updates of
Annapoorna In India
  • Annapoorna made strong strides in its flagship breakfast programme and has currently doubled its reach to more than 500,000 needy school going children across more than 6,000 centres, spanning 17 states and three Union Territories.
  • The team, with due diligence, has provided over 20,000 grocery kits to as many families across more than nine states and two union territories.
Seva in West Bengal
  • More than 75 camps have been organised to cater to 20 nodal points of 100 cluster villages.
  • 8,338 consultations have been done for chronic patients, symptomatic diseases and child health screening.
  • 14 Telemedicine Sessions have been done.
  • Aarogya Vahini has started 24-hour Telemedicine facilities. Till date, consultations have been done in the field of General Medicine, Urology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology, Orthopedics and so on.
  • 84 cataract surgeries from 20 different interior villages of West Bengal were facilitated.
  • 2,000 households have been identified and Grocery kits contained essentials food items were delivered.
  • Over 10,000 PPE, 14,000 N95 masks, 30,000 surgical masks for the frontline warriors of COVID-19 have been delivered.
  • The team facilitated in creating a Zero Contact Covid Kiosk for visiting patients and Health teams in Hospitals.
Middle East Seva Report
“Start the Day with Love, Spend the Day with Love, Fill the Day with Love, End the Day with Love. This is the way to God.”- Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Middle East group commenced the New Year, by participating in Satsang, basking in Divine love and praying that the year 2020 bring all round development, happiness and well-being of everyone. Below is the capture of evincing Love through Service that the Middle East has tried to practise.
Breakfast  Seva in Nigeria
The youth offer their most humble Pranaams at the Divine Lotus Feet of beloved  Bhagawan  Sri Sathya Sai Baba. They hereby present the Breakfast  Seva  activities that are carried out by Swami’s Special Grace in Lagos, NIGERIA

A total of 518 Breakfast Packets were served to Children and Teachers/Care takers on one Thursday each of January 2020 and February 2020.
Summary of Seva in Sri Lanka
As the first half of the year 2020 was speeding by, the youth were continuously carrying out Seva whenever the opportunity arose!

  • During the month of January, the Batticaloa youth worked tirelessly to help clean and maintain Swami’s clinic in Kirankulam as well as to assist during the patient-feeding sessions between 10:30 am to 02:00 pm.
  • Continuation of refreshment and lunch distribution to the government workers every other day of the week.