The document provides information about activities conducted by Sai Youth volunteers in Maharashtra and Goa. It discusses how volunteers [1] distributed blankets to pavement dwellers during winter, [2] organized blood donation camps that helped hundreds of people, and [3] inaugurated a patient equipment cell that provides medical supplies to those in need. It also summarizes how over 200 women in a village received gynecological checkups and medical care for the first time.

1. Issue 3 Mar - Apr 2012 A Magazine by the Sai Youth of Maharashtra and Goa Issue not for sale
srisathyasai.in/yes
Youth in Eternal Service
Enjoy reaDing YES!?
Don’t put away the magazine after you’re done.
Pass YES! on to your family, friends & librarian!
lovingly yours
01 As pavement dwellers shiver in the cold,
Sai volunteers wrap them in warmth!
CHANGING SOCIETY
02 As a village transforms, even the
Government takes notice.
citY zen
03 Small amounts of money can bring
joy to those who have none.
THOUGHT LEADERS
04 The time we have is limited. Are
you spending yours productively?
HOLI is celebrated as the victory of Lord Vishnu over
the evil demon king, Hiranyakashyapu. Prahlad, the
DIARY of a seeker
king’s son, was a steadfast devotee of Lord Vishnu. His
04 A late night movie teaches Neil an
unforgettable lesson.
father could not bear this and tried several times to kill
him. He even instigated his sister Holika to burn
Prahlad alive. But Lord Vishnu came to His devotee’s
multiplex musings rescue, and instead of Prahlad, Holika was consumed
05 Make God your fan by being a
Rockstar in the spiritual world.
by the flames. Thus triumphed the love of Lord and
bhakta. March 8, 2012
feeling gooD! We wish all our readers a Very Happy Gudi Padwa,
Cheti Chand, Sajibu Cheiraoba and Ugadi! Ugadi
06 Ouremotional health. oureat right!
and
food determines
So
mental
means ‘Beginning of a new era’. Sri Sathya Sai Baba
says, “The real new era commences when we
have new and noble thoughts. Therefore, look
A seconD life within and experience God who is present in your
06 A man’s faith and devotion prove
medicos wrong!
heart. That is the real celebration of Ugadi. ”
March 23, 2012
NEW!
Soul sTORies
07 Lord Krishna appears before a thief
but not a priest. Find out why!
have a goD-DAY
07 Coming the inner-net!
browse
up! Several opportunities to

2. Lovingly Yours
1
** *****
Service Activities that Spread Love and Warmth! 2
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Blood
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Project
******* Donation
Winter Sun
Camp
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3
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Patient
*************
Equipment
Cell
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1 While most of us enjoyed the winter snuggled up under our warm
4
blankets, the pavement dwellers of Mumbai shivered in the cold. The
**** *******
Sathya Sai youth from Mumbai took it upon themselves to offer
*** blankets to the men and women, thus protecting them from the chilly
*************
***
Hospital winds. Sure gave new meaning to the phrase, ‘Love is in the air!’
*************
Treatment
for Ladies
***
**
***
**********
** 2 Republic Day was well-spent by the Sai youth of Maharashtra and
Goa. Several blood donation camps were organised across the states
and hundreds of people willingly came forward to share what Sathya
Sai Baba has called ‘Liquid Love’, a timely dose of which saves not just
an individual but indeed an entire family!
3 A Patient Equipment Cell was recently inaugurated in Bandra,
Mumbai. This unique centre provides medical equipment like
hospital beds, wheel chairs, walkers, crutches, I.V. stands etc. for free
usage for a refundable deposit. The centre is open from Monday to
Friday between 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm. It is located at A/11 Nirmala
4 Over 200 women at Shrigiri village, Washim were given Niketan, S V Road, Opp. Standard Chartered Bank, Santacruz
gynaecological check-ups, perhaps for the first time in their lives. (West) Mumbai - 400 054. Kindly call 98191 90739 for details.
Women diagnosed with dangerously low haemoglobin levels were
given blood transfusions. They are now well on the road to recovery! 01

3. changing society
CHANGING SOCIETY
An extraordinary true-life account
From Hut to Home
A Village Gets a Make-over
The families of Palasdhari, a hamlet at the foot of the self-help groups for the well-being of the village. Today,
Sahyadris near Karjat, have witnessed one of the most many villagers are skilled masons and have bagged
amazing transformations in rural India. government contracts for constructing roads and schools.
Barely four years ago, Palasdhari lacked water, Medicare: Nearly six villagers used to succumb to TB every
electricity, sanitation facilities, and schools for children; year. Several villagers suffered acute pain in their joints.
alcoholism was rampant. The wood-gathering tribal folk To arrest the spread of disease and ill-health, the Sai
were staring at a dark, uncertain future. volunteers conducted medical camps regularly. These were
But today, ample water is available, the thatched mud followed up with tertiary care as required by the patients.
huts have been replaced by pucca houses and the liquor Toilet blocks were built by the government and the good
habit of hygienic sanitation was instilled in the villagers.
dens are gone. The families earn much more than they used
Needless to say, they are now much healthier!
to, through varied sources of income. Most importantly,
Educare: Even though there were primary government
the villagers are optimistic about their future!
schools in the area, the drop out rates were
Undoubtedly, Palasdhari is an ************************* very high. The SSSVIP team implemented
exemplary example of ‘Nation Building’ in The Government an Adult Literacy programme and also
its true sense.
rewarded the Palasdhari started an informal school for drop-outs.
Palasdhari was adopted under the Sri Step into Palasdhari today, and you just
Sathya Sai Village Integration Programme
villagers with legal
might find some villagers deep in
(SSSVIP) in 2008. Our volunteers surveyed possession of their land! discussion about how they are now
the needs of the villagers and classified their planning to get their children educated!
solutions under three groups: Sociocare, Educare and When we visited the village recently, the local
Medicare. The aim was to instil confidence in the villagers anganwadi teacher delighted us with a personal experience.
and make them self-reliant as soon as possible. She said, “When I was a child, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai
The SSSVIP volunteers visited the village every month Baba passed through Palasdhari and even stopped for tea at
over a span of three years. Slowly but surely, the tide turned, a house nearby!”
and the village and its inhabitants, underwent a sea-change! It’s heartening how decades later, His Divine Grace and
Take a look at the many projects that made this the love and determination of the Sai volunteers have put
complete transformation possible: this village on the glorious path to economic and spiritual
Sociocare: As a first step, a water project was started. progress.
Having witnessed the great transformation in
Pipelines from eight points in the village were connected to
Palasdhari, the Government rewarded the villagers with a
a nearby pond, from which water was pumped out. Women
title deed, which gave the villagers legal possession of their
folk were thus saved the hassle of walking for hours to
land. Palasdhari is the first village in Maharashtra to receive
acquire water. such an honour. Government grants and schemes are now
Vocational training skills like hotel management, easily available to the village folk. In fact, last year in 2011,
driving and sewing were imparted to the villagers. They also the entire village received electricity!
received basic computer training from our tech-savvy Since the village is now self-reliant, the SSSVIP
volunteers. A new world of opportunity and employment volunteers have formally closed this project.
instantly opened up to them! For details about the SSSVIP, kindly email us at
A Community Centre was constructed in the year 2009. yesmag.feedback@gmail.com or call Shri Chandrashekhar
Young villagers enthusiastically came together to form on 098214 82711.
Ample water for daily use Building pucca homes Community Centre in the village
02

4. Your Sa CITY ZEN
ring vi
a
ng
Sh
s
Could Be the Key
to Your Happiness!
The word ‘austerity’ is all over the news these days. commutes by taxi from home to her workplace agreed
Entire nations are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and to travel only half the regular distance by taxi and cover the
governments are cutting back on spending while ironically rest of her journey by bus.
they want people to spend more so that the economy gets Thus, she SAVED Rs 1,500 every month!
the oxygen it needs. But we do not need to be told to spend But it doesn’t stop here. She ‘invests’ these savings by
more; it’s all around us: buying medicines for the cancer patients who are
‘Feed your Greed. Blow up money as though there is no compelled to live on the footpath opposite Tata Memorial
tomorrow.’ Hospital. Having exhausted all their savings on their
‘My space. My career. My wealth. A world for myself treatment, the patients have nothing left for daily
and me alone.’ sustenance. This lady’s selfless giving is a golden ray of hope
‘Welcome to this new township. Spot a mall and watch in their lives!
how a new civilization springs up nearby.’ When we asked her about how she felt travelling in
Sample this: Mr and Mrs Menon, a young working crowded buses, she exclaimed happily, “It’s worth the
couple, have a beautiful flat in the city (bought on Equated trouble! You should see how the patients smile when I give
Monthly Installments). To keep up with peer pressure, they them their much-needed medicines!”
bought a luxurious car (on EMIs). More recently, they There are several opportunities to save money and a
bought a state-of-the-art home theatre (you million more people to serve! No amount
got it – on EMIs!). To honor these EMIs, the *********************** saved is too little. Even Rs 11, the minimum
Menons work 12 hours a day, under Experience the joy of fare of an autorickshaw, can buy wholesome
tremendous stress. Quite naturally, they don’t placing a milk for a child who is unwell.
have the time to enjoy their luxuries. What’s ‘Ceiling on Desires’
Shirdi Sai Baba rewarded Shri Cholkar for
worse, despite wanting to have a baby, Mr and
placing a ceiling on his desires. Shri Cholkar
Mrs Menon are afraid that they will not be able to afford
stopped sweetening his tea with spoonfuls of sugar. He used
the rising costs of bringing up a child. This adds to their
the money he saved to go to Shirdi. Undoubtedly, we do
stress.
well by ourselves when we save a small amount and use it
Like the Menons, all of us have desires. These desires
for the benefit of others.
could be anything: money, food and other objects of
In our country while some cry for extra jam, many crave
self-gratification.
It’s a no-brainer that happiness does not depend on one’s for bread itself. By cutting back on ‘extras’, we can create
earnings. We can create unlimited ‘Happy Hours’ for MORE, and share it with those who don’t have ANY.
ourselves when we realise that happiness springs from Placing a ceiling on desires is extremely easy! Here’s how
within and is not obtained from objects of desire. All we you can do it everyday:
need is a regulated and disciplined life and expenditure 1. Curb excessive talk and unnecessary gossip - cut your
pattern. phone bill drastically.
Introducing ‘Ceiling on Desires’ – a powerful mantra to 2. Refrain from accompanying friends on shopping
ensure that you stay in control of your life. sprees. You can thus avoid impulsive and expensive
Let’s try a small experiment: Save money by fixing a purchases.
ceiling on any desire. Spend part (or all) of the money thus 3. Reduce the number of times you eat out. You can use
saved on any social service activity of your choice. Voila! your savings to feed the impoverished children in your
You have a double dhamaka – Save and Save (save your neighbourhood.
money and another’s soul). Remember, it’s not about ‘sealing’ our desires. It’s about
Here’s a true-life example: A lady executive who putting a ‘ceiling’ on our never-ending wishes!
03

5. THOUGHT leaDers
The Clock is Ticking!
12 “The span of life allotted to man is very short; the world in which
he lives is very wide. What little man has to do here, has to be
done quickly, at the place that is assigned to him and within
the time that is allotted to him. Man has such a formidable
9 3 task before him. It is to fulfil this task that he has come as
man, exchanging for this human habitat all that he has
acquired during many past lives. The task is no less than the
manifestation of the Divinity latent in man.”
6 ~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Diary of a seeker
I sat up watching a movie yesterday and slept managed to reach on time. PHEW!
way past midnight. I woke up terribly late for As I wrote my assignment, I felt a wave of
college, skipped my bath, and gulped down a happiness overcome me. I felt in control. I was
hurried on-my-toes breakfast. When Mom ran reflecting about the day gone by when suddenly,
after me with my juice, I lost my temper and like a bolt of lightning, my friend barged into the
stormed out of the house. classroom. He was panting; even had a torn
While rushing to the bus stop, I tripped and shoelace! The teacher yelled at him. Disoriented,
tore my favourite shoe. I missed the bus and he wrote his assignment. But goodness! He
was forced to take an over-crowded one. I was made such a mess! He had more spelling errors
pushed… nay, literally hauled out at my bus stop. in his essay than the hair on his head!
I fell and soiled my shirt! Aggravated, he snapped at his desk partner.
I reached class ten minutes LATE! The angry Was I having a deja vu?? I could now see it
teacher informed me that I was already marked all. Plainly enough.
‘Absent’. I scowled and sat glowering at her. I I had stayed hungry, shouted at Mom,
soon realised that the girls in my class were ripped my favourite shoe, spoilt my shirt, been
giggling at me and whispering things to each other. jostled around in a crowded bus, been shouted
WHY do people have to giggle at another’s and laughed at, been denied attendance, and had
difficulties?! I was SO MAD at them, and even annoyed my best friend.
myself, and with the world-at-large that I ended Everything had gone WRONG! And WHY?
up fighting with my best friend! Just because I stayed up late watching a film!
While I was sulking alone during the break, It totally RUINED my next day’s schedule! I’ve
sleep caught up with me and I dozed off. Before decided: I’m going to listen to Pa and reserve my
I knew it, drrrrrinnnngggg went the school bell. It entertainment for weekends only. Going to get
was time to get to class! I hurriedly gathered my my priorities right.
things and rushed off. This time, somehow, I For my own good.
Time waste is life waste! * Sri Sathya Sai Baba
04

6. multiplex Musings
Rockstar – This intense, gripping film moved many a As the movie progresses, one realises that Jordan and
heart and feet! Let us view the 70mm blockbuster once Heer are soul-mates. They are not merely acquaintances
more, but this time, with a ‘Sai Lens’. who met casually and moved on. There is a deep
Janardhan, the protagonist, is a typical youngster. He connection between them. Each knows what the other is
goes to college, but his textbooks hold no interest. He is thinking and feeling, even though they are geographically
taken up with the idea of becoming apart!
the next Jim Morrison, but is told Bhagawan repeatedly extolled,
that he lacks rockstar mettle. “You and I are One!” Mystically
How many of us identify with speaking, there is no difference
Janardhan’s predicament! We want between you and any other person.
to achieve BIG things, but have no All of us originate from and share the
clue how to! What’s worse, people same source of inexhaustible Cosmic
try hard to turn us away from our Energy. The concept of ‘Vasudaiva
dreams. Kutumbakam’ originated in
After making some terrible Hitopadesa, a well-known Sanskrit
music, Janardhan finally learns that classic. It explains that the entire
success is preceded by a fire in the belly and pain in the world is one great big family. There is a relative in every
heart. Convinced that a love affair is the solution to his stranger we meet!
‘failure’, he finds himself a girlfriend. But love eludes him. The modern concept of ‘Global Village’ is an
And frustration begins to gnaw at him. extension of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam. This philosophy
Ironically, the longer he roasts in his hell, the brighter explains that one cannot hurt another person without
he glows! And Janardhan is transformed into Jordan, a hurting oneself. Similarly, one cannot help another
successful singer who moves audiences across the globe person without helping
with soul-stirring music and lyrics that speak of passion oneself!
and pain. His metamorphosis can be compared to Rockstar’s melodious
worthless molten metal being converted into invaluable song ‘Kun Faya Kun’
gold when subjected to searing heat (of trials and beautifully conveys the
tribulations). idea of the Universal
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba always referred to His Spirit. The lyrics convey the Ultimate Truth: When there
devotees as ‘Bangaru’, meaning ‘Gold’. When we were was nothing, nowhere, He was, the only One. He fills my
bogged down by difficulties, Baba gently reminded us being, just as He fills your being.
that the purpose of problems is to chasten us, remove the From the first to the last soulful note, Kun Faya Kun
gross and the dross in us and make us pure – in thought reveals deep spiritual insights. One verse is particularly
word and deed. All that we have to do is to patiently poignant: ‘O Mujhpe Karam Sarkar Tera / Araz Tujhe,
endure the tests with full faith in God. Karde Mujhe Mujhse Hi Riha / Ab Mujhko Bhi Ho Deedaar
As the months blaze on, Jordan continues Mera.’ These rousing lyrics convey a profound message:
to yearn for his lady love, Heer Kaul. It would be Your generosity upon me, my Master, I pray to
How many of us yearn for God in the you, please free me from the bonds of the self, grant me
same way? Does our atma experience an visitation to my True Face. Truly, this should be our sincere
unbearable pain of separation from its Eternal prayer to God.
Source? Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba emphatically said, Yet another beautiful song ‘Naadan Parindey, Ghar Aa
“Of all the madness in the world, madness for God is Jaa’ makes us wonder if it is God who is singing this song
most desirable!” We may have fleeting desires that may to all of us, His naive children, who are wandering around
or may not fructify depending on how much steam we without a spiritual goal emblazoned in our hearts.
add to the engine, but the desire to reach God, if So the pertinent question to ask ourselves is: Can we
followed with one-pointed attention, will surely zip us draw inspiration from the film and become spiritual
closer to the Lord. rockstars, who rock in our inner world?
05

7. feeling gooD!
“The food consumed by man should be proper, pure and wholesome. But nowadays people eat whatever
they get and wherever they get it, and thereby spoil their health. Food plays a major role in the
preservation of health. Care should be taken to see that the food consumed does not have much
fat content, for the fats consumed in large quantity are detrimental not only to one's physical
health but also to one's mental health.”
~Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. (Sathya Sai Speaks - Vol. 27, Chapter 3)
a seconD life
Medical Verdicts Proved Wrong; Miraculous Recovery Stuns Doctors!
“This life-altering experience dates back to July 2001. I laboriously hobbled in on crutches. Sensing my pain
I was working several hours, preparing for the Ashadi and inability to sit down, Bhagawan Baba made me sit
Ekadashi festival at Puttaparthi, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai next to Him on the sofa. After the initial talk with
Baba’s Spiritual Abode. Soon after returning to Mumbai everyone, He took my wife and me to the inner room.
after the hectic but immensely joyous festival, I started The very first question He asked my wife was, “What was
getting severe cramps in my legs and feet. Within a the argument about last night, in your room?” My wife
month, the cramps became so acute that I could not feel was taken aback! She said, “Swami, since You gave
anything below my waist. Walking, sitting, sleeping - the Vibhuti, I thought You have blessed us and we should go
easiest tasks had become a challenge. Medical reports back soon as he needs to get operated as soon as possible.”
showed that I had developed a cyst in my spinal cord. Baba looked at us very sternly and repeated at least a
Every doctor we consulted said the same words: Operate
dozen times in the tone of a strict teacher, “No operation!
immediately!
Don’t do operation!”
My family and I were overwhelmed with grief. We
Baba then consoled my wife with His sweet, soothing
consulted more doctors only to hear the same verdict.
Being a longstanding devotee of *********************** words. He told her that her husband takes
Bhagawan, I decided to get operated only care of so much of Swami’s work that
if I received permission from Him. “I could feel nothing Swami will definitely take care of him!
So my wife and I left for Puttaparthi. from waist-down. The Baba then rubbed both my knees
Even the Airport Manager at Puttaparthi doctors insisted that vigorously. He blessed us many times and
had tears in his eyes when he saw my I get operated!” said that everything will be just fine. He
condition. No one could believe how then held two of my fingers with His hand
drastically my health had deteriorated in just thirty days! and led me gently out of the interview room. It was only
In the mandir, I sat for Baba’s Darshan with great when someone came running behind me with my
difficulty. As luck would have it, the entire family of Shri crutches that I realised I had walked out quite normally,
Omar Abdullah from Kashmir was sitting right in front of without any support or strain! Everyone was amazed!
me! The chances of Baba seeing me during that Darshan We joyously returned to Mumbai. Promptly, I fixed an
were dismal. appointment with the doctor who was to operate on me.
But look at Bhagawan’s loving Grace! As soon as He Imagine his astonishment when I strode into his clinic!
approached the portico, He came straight to me and “It’s a miracle,” he exclaimed, still unable to fathom the
created Vibhuti for me! My joy knew no bounds! Despite infinite Grace of the Lord.
all the VIPs seated there, He chose to answer my prayers
To allay all doubts, I took all the medical tests again.
first!
‘Negative’ came the result of each one!
My wife believed that Baba had granted permission to
It is now almost twelve years since Baba cured me.
undergo the surgery. She was ready to head back to
Mumbai. I, however, was not content. I wanted to stay My legs are strong again and I can even run if need be!
on; I expected a private audience with Bhagawan. That On retrospection, I believe that my severe health problem
night, my wife and I argued about our return journey. and miraculous recovery were necessary – for me and the
Ultimately, my wife relented and agreed to stay back for world at large. It only served to reaffirm our faith in
an extra day. Bhagawan! It was Baba’s way of renewing my energy and
The next afternoon, as we sat for Darshan with bated ensuring that I remain ever-dedicated to His Mission!”
breath and moist eyes, we got the much-awaited signal of The writer is the State President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva
‘Go’ from Baba – meaning ‘Go to the Interview Room!’ Organisations, Maharashtra and Goa.
06

8. soul STORies
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba wove small, delicious nuggets of wisdom into stories for His beloved devotees. He
called these stories ‘Chinna Kathas’. We share with you one of our favourites!
Who is the Bigger Thief?
A thief heard a priest describe the beauty of Lord while handing over His jewels replied, “No, she won’t.
Krishna and the resplendent jewels He wore. The greedy You see, I am a bigger thief than you are, for I steal
thief threatened the priest with violence and demanded people’s hearts.”
he reveal Krishna’s whereabouts. In order to After this life-altering experience, the thief
get rid of the thief, the priest concocted a tale went to the priest, who, upon seeing the
of Krishna appearing in the early mornings jewels, ranted and raved at the Lord for
on the banks of the river Yamuna. appearing before a common thief while
Eager to rob Krishna of His jewels, the denying a devout worshipper like himself of
thief lay in wait for Him at the Yamuna. His Divine Darshan.
With the rising of the sun, the thief beheld Krishna spoke sweetly, “You told the thief
the divine forms of Krishna and Balarama what you thought was a story about Me. But
walking towards him. the thief believed in good faith that I would come. His
Unable to bear the beauty of the Lord, the thief stood faith compelled me to appear before him.”
dumbstruck until Krishna gently reminded him to take Spiritual Significance: Mere rituals are not enough
His jewels. “Won’t your mother scold you if you give to earn the Lord’s favour. One must truly yearn for Him.
away your jewels?” the thief asked, to which Krishna, He will then surely reward us with His Divine Grace.
have a goD-Day
Here’s a list of spiritual events you can attend in March, April and May.
Mar 25, 2012 Devotees Meet Margao, Goa 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Contact Shri Pramod Divgi on 95611 58338
Apr 24, 2012 Commemoration of the 1st Anniversary of the Maha Samadhi
of Bhagawan Baba
All centres in Maharashtra and Goa
May 1, 2012 Commemoration of the 1st Anniversary of the Maha Samadhi
of Bhagawan Baba
Royal Turf Club, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 7:00 pm onwards
Contact Ms. Lata Gurnani on 98203 17754
We value your feedback :-) Email us at yesmag.feedback@gmail.com
All rights reserved by Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust, Maharashtra & Goa.
This issue is not for sale.
07