UK - SSS GYAC May Satsang

“Prasanthi Nilayam is just like an automobile where all parts of a car are repaired, reconditioned and returned to the owner with new tyres, new parts and new painting. You, who come here, should shed your evil habits and thoughts like untruth, etc., and go back with a fresh outlook so that your friends and others should find you to be a transformed person. They should feel happy from your better behaviour. Thus, you will contribute to the progress of your nation also.” (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 30, Ch. 16, 18th July 1997)

With 55 days to go until the commencement of the 2024 Global Young Adults Conference (GYAC), Young Adults (YAs) from across the United Kingdom eagerly got together for their second sadhana meeting, on the theme of “Recharge”. 

After a customary though contentious icebreaker caused by biased refereeing that even VAR wouldn’t have been able to fix, the meeting commenced with two YAs recounting their experiences on prior pilgrimages to the ashram. It was heartwarming to hear their stories of how they had unknowingly been called to Prasanthi, with one of them being in the middle of booking a ticket to Rome before receiving a phone call inviting them to India instead! They recalled their good fortune in being able to perform in front of the Divine Master and despite not knowing how or when it would happen, the opportunity presented itself at the most opportune time - a reminder that we should love His uncertainty. 

The afternoon progressed with the YAs splitting into groups and tasked with discussing topics around recharging spiritually, before presenting back to the wider group. Each sub-group presented their thoughts, ranging from using a digital counter to keep a tally of their Gayatri chants to making sure that they allocated a small portion of time to reflect on spiritual matters every day. It was clear that everyone had various methods to recharge their spirituality however, like a battery - it’s important to maintain a minimum level of spiritual ‘charge’ in your life in order to live a healthy and meaningful life.

A short tea break was followed by a “secret” speaker, a much-loved and revered Alumnus. He touched on the definition of a pilgrimage, reminding the YAs that the pilgrimage does not end when they leave the ashram and that as per Swami’s words “there is bliss here (Prasanthi Nilayam), enjoy it, take it with you and make others happy.” He then imparted the reason for undertaking a pilgrimage which Swami has explained as “when the road ends and the goal is gained, the pilgrim finds that he has only travelled from himself to himself” - thus, the purpose of making the outward journey to the ashram is to also make the inward journey. He concluded by reminding us about the sanctity of Prasanthi Nilayam and the importance of recharging in a holy place where bhajans and mantras have been sung/chanted daily for decades uninterrupted - resulting in every brick/stone vibrating with God’s name!

The final segment of the meeting was used to decide on group sadhana. Whilst this had been a topic of conversation in the prior month’s meeting, the YAs decided that, with 55 days to go until the commencement of the pilgrimage, now was the time to undertake a collective effort in order to ‘recharge’ their spiritual batteries. After a lengthy discussion, it was agreed that the YAs would commit to chanting the Gayatri Mantra 9 times at 9pm every day, in addition to individually chanting it 108 times every day in the run up to the conference. Since then, the UK pilgrims have been ‘gathering’ on a WhatsApp call each evening to chant together. 

The event concluded with Mangala Aarti, followed by prashadam (delicious pasta). As the YAs departed, they left feeling recharged and their thoughts focused on the final instalment of these sadhana meetings, under the theme of ‘rejoice.’