Sai Dharmam - Sri Sathya Sai Baba centre of cooksville
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September 2018
Volume 12, Issue 20
Sai Dharmam
Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Cooksville
GANESH CHATURTHI
Ganesh Chaturthi is an auspicious festival to celebrate the birthday of Ganesha, which takes place every
year on the 4th day of the first fortnight of Bhadraprada month as per the Hindu calendar. This day usually
takes place in August or September as per the Georgian calendar. Devotees celebrate the festival for 10 days
and on the 11th day after completing the Ganesh Pooja, an immersion of the idol in the river takes place, ac-
companied by the chanting of “Ganapathi Bappa Morya!”
Significantly, Ganesha is the bestower of divine power, intellect and liberation. When you look at some
Ganesh idols, the multiple things he carries truly has significance. Many spiritual theorists have carefully
analyzed the accessories he carries and have found out that each accessory and body part is associated with
a greater meaning. For example, his small eyes are the symbol of sharp vision and promotes the develop-
ment of foresightful vision in order to have a goal of eternal bliss in our life. His four hands holding an axe,
rope, sweet and lotus depict the entire path of liberation. The axe advises us to end our desires and attach-
ments, the rope suggests we secure our life with higher consciousness, the lotus reminds us of detachment,
from how drops of water easily slide off its petals and lastly the sweet ladoo represents the accomplishment
or taste of divine grace we receive from being conscious.
Notably, from examining the extraordinary properties a Ganesh idol exemplifies, this makes him an im-
portant deity and allows people to begin any religious event with his name. Furthermore, some religious
scholars have connected the human body to Lord Ganesh. Our dear Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said
that Vinayaka exists within every creature in the form of the Atma. Furthermore, when comparing
Ganesha’s significance to Swami’s teachings one can also connect the purpose of Ganesha’s axe to Swami’s
teaching on ceiling on desires and how one must learn to decrease their desires. Therefore, from Lord Gane-
sha we can all learn to reduce our ego and live a more balanced and flexible life. With this in mind, we can
thus understand the true significance of Ganesh Chaturthi and honour him on this auspicious day.
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SPORTS DAY!!!
Sports Day this year was
extremely fun! It was so
nice to meet many of my
brothers/sisters who I
sometimes don’t have an
opportunity to see! Swami
says sports create a sense of
oneness and unity. This is
what I experienced at the
park that day and perhaps
why “Unity Cup” is apt
name for the trophy our
team was presented with at
the end! We began with a
game of basketball followed
by volleyball and ended
with water balloons! The
weather was perfect too!
Not too hot, not too cold! I
made new friends because
everyone was so inclusive. One thing is for sure though… I need to get more active. It is good for the body
and mind, but I found out I couldn’t run for more than 2 minutes before panting like a dog. Speaking of
dogs, one of the brothers brought their puppy and I had a blast mingling with him! All in all, it was an expe-
rience that I will certainly not miss out on for the years to come!
DEVOTEE SPEAKS
Overcoming obstacles is difficult. It is never easy and is al-
ways a constant reminder that your journey is blocked until
the obstacle is removed. It could be both a physical or metal
obstacle. When I was in university, my biggest obstacle was
losing weight. Usually people are worried about their marks
or their degree, but losing weight was ever constant for me. It
was the one thing holding me down in life. I started in sum-
mer of July 2016, but it was hard. My mom yelled at me for
not eating her food anymore after I told her food was one of
the main reasons I had become a bit unhealthy. I had no mo-
tivation to go to the gym. But, with Swami’s grace, I pulled
through. A good sister in arms made me go to the gym with
her every day until the end of summer of 2016. It turned into
a habit. I started eating healthier and my mom let me cook
my own food, which felt great! After six months of lifting
weights, doing push ups, running circuits, I lost 20 pounds.
It felt so great. I have turned my biggest obstacle into my big-
gest accomplishment in life. The one thing I remind myself is
to do my best no matter what. The other thing was to never
skip the gym-even leg day. Do or do not. There is no try!
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
SSE A Strong Foundation of Our Generation To Come
Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) is the primary basis for great movement to righteousness in the world. The ob-
jective and the goal are to raise a generation of children who have a clean and clear consciences. SSE is
thought from the heart and learnt from the heart, it is the spiritual heart of education. Through the 5 values
and the importance for unit of faith. Sri Sathya Sai Baba teachings are taught. Children are taught from a
young age the divinity come from within and they are one with thought, word and deed. The value of SSE is
evident through each child who fully dedicates them self to self-transformation. Each child has been hand-
picked by Swami himself to be a part of the SSE program. Our children are being molded to carry out his
message of love, respect, empathy, sincerity, right actions and to love, love and love some more!
The SSE program lays the foundation for our children’s future. From the impressionable age of 4, SSE teach-
es our children how blessed they are to have loving parents and to respect their elders. As they continue to
group 1-3 they are taught prayers and about different religions around the world; developing tolerance and
acceptance. As young adults the SSE program brings out individuality and challenges students to reflect on
who they think they are and who they really are. To be confident and shine through all the ups and downs
that life will bring their way and ground themselves in faith, devotion and love for god. The richness and the
true value of the SSE program is not marked and evaluated by a report card but rather through how our chil-
dren react to life as it unfolds. The SSE program builds character as they become strong leaders in the future
they demonstrate end of education is character. The SSE program is a constant reminder that our greatest
wealth in life, is Gods divine protection.
Warm Regards,
Uncle Pancha
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HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI!!!
BHAJAN MEANING
Jai Jai Jai Jai Ganapathi Deva Glory to the Lord of the Ganas
Gajaanana Gajaanana Ganesha who has the head of an elephant
Gajaanana hey Ganapathi Deva His mother is Parvathi, his father is Shiva
Maatha Parvathi Pitha Mahadeva
Gajaanana hey Ganapathi Deva
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