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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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Overview:
The Youth Wing was established in 1985 for the benefit of young people between the ages of 16-35. In the past two decades the Youth Wing has, through its myriad of activities, helped transform the lives of several young women and men in HK. It is our hope that we will continue to play an important role in the transformation of HK Youth into dynamic young adults who are eager to serve society and improve its moral fabric by their commitment to the universal human values of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Non-Violence and Love taught by Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Activities:
I. Youth Classes
The Youth Wing is divided into two broad groups – the Teen Youth (ages 16-21) and Senior Youth (ages 22-35). We have weekly classes for Teen Youth every Friday from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. and for Senior Youth every Wednesday from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. To ensure that the classes are interesting, a wide array of topics are chosen (for e.g., Time Management, Health and Yoga, The Power of Your Mind, The Secret of the Gayatri Mantra, and A Sense of Humor). Teen Youth leaders conduct the classes for the Teen Youth, for Sai Baba says “Only the youth can transform the youth.”
The primary purpose of the Junior Youth classes is to provide an interesting spiritual environment for the youth so that they can acquire spiritual knowledge, good values and enjoy themselves at the same time. A wide-variety of techniques are utilized in conducting these classes, such as group presentations, study circles, workshops, life-games, debates, public-speaking and role-plays.
The classes for Senior Youth have a different focus to reflect the maturity of the participants. These classes are conducted by a senior member of the Sai-family in a study circle format. At present the Bhagavatam is being studied.
II. Service Activities
Sri Sathya Sai Baba teaches us that “Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray.” Therefore, on the last Friday of every month, the boys of the Youth Wing distribute freshly cooked hot dinners, dry food, blankets, clothing and other items of daily necessity to the street-sleepers in HK. The fresh food is cooked by the ladies of the Senior Youth in the Sai Centre whilst Sai Bhajans are sung/played thereby enhancing the nourishment and endowing it with spiritual vibrations..
III. Cultural Activities
We also organize various cultural activities that help spread the message of human values in the local community. We have organized plays in both Chinese and English for the elderly people living in old-age homes and also for troubled teenagers. In the coming months, we intend to intensify these activities and forge a stronger link with the local youth community in Hong Kong.
IV. Sai Centre Activities
The Youth are an integral part of the National Sathya Sai Organisation and provide much support in publications, computer graphics and secretarial work for all other wings. Additionally, the Youth participate in reading of weekly messages after bhajans.
Here are some quotes from Bhagawan that address common concerns that youth have.
“Tend to your parents with love, reverence and gratitude. Second, speak the truth and act virtuously. Third, whenever you have a few moments to spare, repeat the Name of the Lord, with the Form in your mind. Fourth, never indulge in talking ill of others in their absence. And finally, do not cause pain to others in any form.”
“Freedom is independence from externals. One who is need of the help of another person, thing or condition, is a slave thereof. Perfect freedom is not given to any man on earth because the very meaning of mortal life is relationship with and dependence on one another. The lesser the number of wants, the greater is the freedom. Hence perfect freedom is absolute desirelessness.”
“ ‘Love’ is a much misused word. Any positive response or attraction is called love; any feeling of attachment, however trivial or transitory is characterized as love. We must certainly coin new words or set aside specific words to indicate different forms of love…the response to sexual attraction is best described as fancy, fascination or delusion…The yearning to reach for the sublimity that lies inherent in Truth – this alone is entitled to be called by the holy word ‘Love’.”
“However high you may rise, no matter how rich you become, if your parents are neglected in distress, your life has been a tragic waste. If you have no urge to please them, who are very happy when their children show the slightest concern for their comfort, how can you even hope to please God? Show the parents respect with love and devotion. It is a tribute you should offer them for the great chance they gave you to come into this world, with all the wonderful opportunities it offers for self-realization.”
Excessive Talk
“Talking too much hurt’s one mind and destroys one’s memory. The first thing you have to do is reduce too much talk…This is most important for the students. The energy that is present in you will diminish if you talk too much…Talking too much will also weaken your nerves, making you a nervous wreck…It is because of this that our ancestors gave so much importance to silence. They observed silence for long periods of time. We see that to the extent we minimize our talking, we promote the intelligence that is present in us.”
Invitation and Contacts
We welcome new members (boys as well as girls!) between the ages of 16-35 regardless of their social, religious, or ethnic background to participate in the various activities of the Youth Wing. For further information on any of our activities, please contact Anjali Daswani, National Youth Co-ordinator, at 2369-6345 , or send an e-mail to sainyg@hotmail.com
