THE SATHYA SAI ORGANIZATION'S INTERNAL E-MAIL
PROPOSING A NEW FOUNDATION

The following e-mail was sent to me by a member of the Sathya Sai Organization who is sceptical of the methods and controlling activities it exercises. What is of not in this e-mail is the new policy with regard to how the organization will present itself in future. A Sri Sathya Sai Foundation is initiated, and one key aim is stated by Goldstein as being: Accepting comprehensive legal responsibility for all programmes and activities conducted by the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. (see here)

This is a new departure in that, previously, the internal advice was NOT to establish the Sathya Sai organization as nationally registered, the aim being to make it easier not to come under legal pressures from any dissenters. This meant that there were no specific body answering to fixed obligations of a legal sort such as to exercise duty of care, mandatory reporting. It meant that the Sathya Sai Organization was an unaccountable body... even a clandestine kind of cult similar to the masons or other brotherhoods. I was instructed in this policy by top leaders when I was the national leader of the Sathya Sai Organization in Norway, various awkward matters that might otherwise arise due to having a registered body with repsonsible official office-bearers would not be a worry. The policy saved the Sathya Sai Organization of the USA from having to face a duty of care and mandatory reporting lawsuit, since it did not exist as a registered, accountable body.

"S. Choudhuri" <sc9@cruzio.com> wrote:
From: "S. Choudhuri" <sc9@cruzio.com>
To: "S. Choudhuri" <sc9@cruzio.com>
Subject: Regional Bulletin# 2006-03
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:46:32 -0800

Regional Bulletin# 2006-03
Response requested: Retreat sign-up deadline: April 15, 2006. See Item#3 below.
 
Dear Center President & Vice President:
 
Sairam!
 
Please share the following items with your membership immediately:
 
Item#1: Status of the Regional Officer Selection
 
The USA Sai Central Council under the leadership of Vijay Desai & Phil Gosselin are still working on finalizing the selection of Regional Officers for the ten USA regions. It is expected that they would complete the process by the end of the month or sooner.
 
Item# 2: Formation of Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation
 
Following message has been received from Phil Gosselin for distribution to all Sai Centers.
 
SRI SATHYA SAI WORLD FOUNDATION
 
THE INTERNATIONAL SRI SATHYA SAI ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN FORMED FOR THE SPIRITUAL UPLIFTMENT OF MANKIND. FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF ORDER, AUTHENTICITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THE “SRI SATHYA SAI WORLD FOUNDATION” IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED. BY THE DIVINE COMMAND OF BHAGAVAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA, THIS FOUNDATION WILL HENCEFORTH ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SRI SATHYA SAI ORGANIZATIONS. THE FOUNDATION WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE PRASANTHI COUNCIL TO ACCOMPLISH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
 
BE IT KNOWN THAT:
 
Sri Sathya Sai Baba teaches that man is born to live a spiritual life and demonstrate the principles of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Selfless Love and Non-violence. Good-willed men and women have come together from many countries to study and incorporate these teachings in their lives and thereby uplift the quality of human life. The incorporation of these teachings requires the practitioners to selflessly serve mankind and exemplify these noble principles in every aspect of their lives. The Foundation called the “Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation” is formed to function as the highest administrative body of the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations that have been formed.
 
THE MISSION OF THIS FOUNDATION IS:
 
To ensure the authenticity of all programmes engaged in by the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. To ensure that all programmes, publications, interactions with other legal entities is conducted in a manner that is compatible with the principles enumerated above. To ensure that the actions of the International Organizations bearing the name of Sri Sathya Sai Baba are conducted according to His express guidance and the teachings that He has expounded all these years.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES - THE FOUNDATION WILL COMMENCE ITS FUNCTION BY:
 
Accepting international responsibility for all publications, films, photographs and audio/visual materials distributed by the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. Accepting responsibility for all education programmes conducted by the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations/Institutions. Accepting responsibility for all healthcare programmes conducted by the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. Accepting international responsibility for any other humanitarian programmes that will be initiated by the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. Accepting comprehensive legal responsibility for all programmes and activities conducted by the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. The Foundation will assume the role of the governing body of all International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations and Institutions while the Prasanthi Council will remain the managing body of these Organizations and Institutions. The Foundation will initially be comprised of three Directors: Dr. Michael Goldstein, Chairman and Director, Dr. Narendra Reddy, Director, and former Vice Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Sri S. V. Giri, I. A. S. (Retd.), Director. The members of the Prasanthi Council remain unchanged. With Bhagavan’s Grace, this new structure and relationship between the Foundation and Prasanthi Council will enable us to bring all elements of the International Sri Sathya Sai Organizations and Institutions together in a concerted effort towards the spiritual transformation of mankind.
 
Michael Goldstein, M. D.
Chairman
Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation
 
Item# 3: 28th Annual Northern California Sathya Sai Baba Regional Retreat, Mount Madonna Center, Watsonville, May 13 & 14, 2006  (On line registration is open effective March 1, 2006)
 
The region will conduct the 28th Northern California Annual Sai Retreat at Mount Madonna Center, 445 Summit Road, Watsonville, CA 95076 on May 13 & 14, 2006. The organizers are planning an inspiring and stimulating program, including many of the old favorite activities like Fire Bowl, Nagarsankirtan, Devotional singing, experience sharing and a completely separate program for SSE aged children. In addition, mini workshops will be conducted once again this year focusing on a variety of special interests of devotees. There will be opportunities for service activities and satsang throughout the event.
 
We are thrilled to have Sylvia Alden from Seattle, Washington and Phil Gosselin from Amherst, Massachusetts as our featured speakers. Sylvia is a long time Swami devotee with direct experiences going back to the 1970s. Phil too is a long time devotee of Swami and currently is the President of the Sathya Sai Central Council of USA. We know they will inspire you with their presentations. There will be opportunity during the retreat to ask spiritual questions to them.
 
On line registration is available at http://www.saicenters.org/conference No user id and password is required for this site. The overall cost of the conference is significantly lower than the previous retreats. For example, the commuter rate for both days together is $45 which includes all the meals. The complete rates for various options are available on the website. Once again we will have the popular "day scholar program" providing yet another avenue for the retreat to be within the reach of all. Retreat registration will close on April 15, 2006.
 
Please encourage your center members to register on-line and early to ensure a place for themselves and their families at the retreat. Center Presidents: Please print enough copies of the Registration Form and the Retreat Flyer from the Website as necessary for your center... for general information purposes as well as for those members who may wish to register by mail. If you are unable to print hardcopies of these documents, please get in touch with the Retreat Coordinators immediately and seek their assistance. Thanks!
 
For further information, clarification or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact either of the two Retreat Coordinators as follows:
 
Nina Suzara NSuzara@yahoo.com Phone: 925-779-0465
Srinivas Rao SrinivasTRao@aol.com Phone 408-868-9117
 
Item# 4: Sai Spiritual Education News
 
(a) Survey Results for the Regional SSE Prasanthi Nilayam Trip, Summer, 2006:
 
As you recall, a decision was made in late January not to move forward with preparing a SSE children’s play to take to Swami this coming summer. Upon hearing of the decision not to move forward with a play, some Center Education Coordinators expressed interest in a regional trip being made without the play. At my request, Regional Education Coordinator Tom Scovill sent out a survey to parents at the end of January, 2006 inquiring of interest in traveling to Prashanti Nilayam during Summer, 2006, and performing in a choir and in vedic chanting, two of the original components of the play trip. The survey generated little response. The survey was sent twice to center presidents and center education coordinators. Eighteen families responded from eight centers. Sixteen of those responses indicated that people would join a regional trip. It is therefore felt that a regional SSE trip should deferred for one or more years. The new regional team may wish to take up this project at a future date depending upon the level of interest then and changed circumstances.
 
On behalf of the region, may I express our gratitude to Tom, Prema, Suzanne, Renee and others who put their heart and soul into the play trip preparations for so many months. We were fortunate to grow in understanding and love as a result of our association with them and you all on the project over the past year.
 
(b) Easwaramma Day Celebrations:
 
We have held this celebration in May of each year (except last year due to the 80th year special events) for almost ten years highlighting accomplishments of our SSE students and giving them an opportunity to present programs consisting of plays, skits, devotional songs etc before an audience of teachers, parents and devotees. Our expectation this year was that the new regional team would have enough time to plan this event for this May. Because of the delay in naming the new team, I have asked Regional Education Coordinator Tom Scovill to establish the date for this year's event in consultation with the Center SSE Coordinators and encourage the SSE students at the centers to prepare for this event. The new regional team can take over from that point.
 
You will shortly hear from Tom on the date selected for this event and it's general scope. Center Presidents: Please pass on this information to the Center Education Coordinators. Thanks!
 
"A seed will not germinate when covered with too much earth. In the same context, the seeds of wrong behavior will not germinate and grow into painful events of our life, if those seeds are covered deep with loving service to those who are in need of sustenance, courage, love, and help. A lifetime of good deeds will cover a multitude of sins. Constant work in loving service to others covers the seeds of past sinful and harmful actions, so they die away and do not grow into a new round of misery." Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 3, pg. 229
 
In service of Sai
Sathyam Choudhuri
Regional President
Sathya Sai Baba Centers of Northern California & Nevada