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Sathya Sai Baba Center of Hong Kong
10/F, Block A, Burlington House, 92-94 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Tel : 852-23674240, Fax : 852-27248000Email : saiorghk@i-cable.com |
"LOVE ALL SERVE ALL" "HELP EVER, HURT NEVER" Sai Baba |
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“He who feeds one hungry man is worthier far than he who discourses on God and Heaven and Truth and Sin for a hundred years.”
Buddha
With Bhagawan’s grace narayana seva is offered to various sectors of the Hong Kong community. The sevas have been a tremendous blessing to local devotees who have embraced them as unique opportunities to practice Swami’s teachings and also to make their lives worthwhile.
In May 2003, the monthly rice sevas started with the aim of distributing 8,000 bags of rice (or 40,000 kilograms) before Bhagawan’s 80th birthday. Every month since then rice and other basic necessities have been distributed to the elderly, families on public assistance, single parent families, and asylum seekers who rely on the goodwill of the public and NGOs like the Sai Organisation. Those living in the Yau Tsim Mong area and also the Sham Shui Po/Cheung Sha Wan areas are reached.
At these sevas, a human values message in Chinese is always shared, and initially leaflets in Chinese containing Swami’s teachings on a variety of teachings were distributed. The English versions of these are on this website under ‘Sai For Everyday’. The practical essence of the 5 basic human values have also been explained. Now even bhajans are sung.
In July 2005, the 8,000th bag was distributed, and with His grace it is intended to continue this seva beyond the 80th Birthday. On this occasion, a specially prepared glossy information sheet in Chinese about the Sai Mission was distributed.
In reaching this target, in celebration of Bhagawan’s 78th Birthday, rice and basic necessities were distributed to 300 under-privileged families. On the 79th Birthday, these were distributed, together with a specially made quilt with the Sarva Dharma logo, to 500 families. And on the auspicious occasion of the 80th Birthday, these were distributed, also with a quilt, to 800 families.
In March 2004, a monthly home seva was started to deliver rice and basic necessities and, most importantly, some loving attention to a number of elderly people who live without their families in dilapidated post-war buildings in Sham Shui Po/Cheung Sha Wan. The flats in these buildings contain only the barest amenities and many are on high floors of buildings not serviced by elevators. From 11 people, there are now 22 who receive these regular home visits.
For many years monthly street sleeper narayana seva has been organised for those who live on and under bridges, or in shelters. This seva benefits male drug addicts and other men who have fallen out with their families, and have no where else to sleep but these bridges or shelters. Sai Seva Packets of hot vegetarian meals cooked by the ladies in the TST Centre a packet of basic necessities, and occasionally clothes/blankets are distributed by Youth boys and men. In order to bring Swami’s love to these people, the meals are sanctified as prasad before being served. This seva is offered thrice monthly on the last Friday of the month on the Kowloon and also the Hong Kong side, and also by devotees in the Tsuen Wan Centre also have monthly street sleeper narayana seva.
Additionally, the Mahila of the Tsuen Wan Centre there have monthly home visits to the poor where food and basic necessities are provided.
Since May 2005, a group of 30 elderly people living alone in Tai Kok Tsui are taken for Sunday lunch in a vegetarian Buddhist restaurant every 6 weeks. Sometimes they are also brought to the Sai Centre. Just sitting with and speaking to these people clearly brings a lot of happiness to them, as do the games and little gifts at the end of lunch.
The twice monthly Mahila sevas continue to bring joy to many elderly in Tai Kok Tsui and Cheung Sha Wan areas. Initially games, food and a human values message were offered, but now the participants are led in Jyoti Meditation, which has been very well received.
Bal Vikas children regularly visit a number of homes that have traditionally been served by the Sathya Sai Organisation. These include:
1. Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children
2. The Mother Teresa Home
3. Lai Yiu Mentally Handicapped Home
4. King Lo Lok Yuen
5. The Little Sister of the Poor Home.
In addition to these, other homes visited throughout the year include the Ebenzer Home for the Blind and the Cheshire Home for the Mentally and Physically Handicapped.
Residents of some of these homes are taken for outings, including sports days and meals in restaurants. Mother’s and Father’s Days are popular times for treats for the aged.
Health talks are given in the TST Centre by doctors of varying specialties invited to speak to devotees and non-devotees on a variety of common medical ailments and known killer diseases. We have had cardiologists, neurologists, child psychologists, psychologists, gyneacologists, uncologists, dieticians, etc.
From February 2006, the Mahilas have started giving maths tutorials to under-privileged children at a local school.
A unique seva for the grieving is offered to families of departed souls on the night of the 9th day after cremation in the form of bhajan singing from 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Many non-devotees have asked the SSO to perform this seva and this has touched the hearts of many during their times of grief.
Swami says: "Service brings you nearer to Me; the flower that is your heart gets fragrance by means of the Service you do, and so it becomes more acceptable to Me. Love is the essence of that fragrance."
