Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

The Purpose Behind International Sai Conferences

Satsang (good company) is essential to achieve Sath-sang (oneness with the Atma). The Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) regularly holds ‘Sai Conferences’ across the world to enable devotees to enjoy the bliss and benefit from the company of the good and holy. When people with a yearning for Swami and a passion for practicing universal human values in daily life come together during such conferences, sharing, inspiration, and transformation abound!

Such international ‘Sai events’ offer a great opportunity for sharing knowledge while enjoying good company. A great example of a blissful and heart-fulfilling ‘Sai pilgrimage’ was the annual spring Sai Conference near Warsaw, Poland. That was the experience of nearly a hundred participants of the International Sathya Sai Conference, “God in Daily Life,” organized in Estonia during August 16-18, 2024.

Pärnu Becomes a Resort for Spiritual Seekers

At Pärnu, the conference delegates had a chance to enjoy group bhajans, delicious vegetarian food, invigorating morning yoga, and leisure time for walking on the beach or taking a river cruise. Additionally, while immersed in satsang, they enjoyed sharing stories of our dear Swami! The devotees, from 12 different countries, came to this North European town and shared a heartfelt, inspiring satsang that filled the mind and soul with universal love and peace. That profound universal love and peace was palpable during the entire event and produced very positive feedback from the participants, even weeks after the conference ended.

Sai’s universal values bond people who practice them. It is for this reason that devotees traveled thousands of kilometers to be part of this satsang. The deep yearning to spend time in the company of kindred spirits, the lovers of God, and to exchange personal stories about the implementation of the universal values, Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, and Ahimsa, in daily life formed the foundation of the conference.

The ‘Sai-lent’ Work Behind the Scenes

“Sathya Sai is a Silent Worker,” says Swami in many discourses. The SSSIO leaders are committed to following Him in thought, word, and deed and make efforts to embody the same principle. This was evident when the Chair of SSSIO Zone 7, Mr. Manfred Müller-Gransee, and Ms. Martina Alexandra Wildau arrived a week in advance at this small resort town beside the Baltic Sea, Pärnu, to organize and guide the conference arrangements.

The building which served as the conference venue was ideally located and perfectly suited for the event. The venue offered a large meeting hall and a dining area. Rooms for parallel workshops, located about 300 meters from the venue, also offered great on-site cooking facilities. Pure vegetarian food is often a problem in many international venues, but having access to a kitchen ensured that tasty, high-quality satwic food could be served. The Estonian organizing committee invited the renowned vegetarian chef, Mr. Lennart Eistre, and provided him accommodation and assistance in obtaining fresh fruits, vegetables, and groceries. Additionally, food prayers before every meal, along with the cooking sanctified by a chef who is a spiritual aspirant, allowed satwic meals to be served.

Diverse Presentations on a Common Theme

All the presentations during the conference were outstanding and inspiring. They embodied a diversity and variety which emphasized unity and oneness with divinity. Here are the highlights of the two days.

1. Mr. Manfred Müller-Gransee from Germany shared outstanding examples of applying human values in business with surprisingly great results for all stakeholders.
2. Ms. Maria Quoos from Poland, Central Coordinator of Region 73, gave inspiring talks on opening the heart, taking care of the body, and harmony and creativity.
3. Mr. Leonardo Gutter, a long-time devotee of Swami from Argentina and the Chairman of Sri Sathya Sai World Foundation gave in-person talks on living in the present, the magic of smiling, and positive thinking.
4. Ms. Agnese Lepse, headmaster at the Keipene Primary School in Latvia, gave a touching presentation on applying human values at her school as a partner of the European Sathya Sai Education (ESSE) Institute.
5. Mr. Enn Kaljo, former National Council President (NCP) of Estonia, gave a talk on how to become One with God.
6. Mr. Mart Vihmand, the current NCP of Estonia, presented personal experiences of holding on to God to help cope with the ups and downs in life.
7. Ms. Külli Kelu, another former NCP for Estonia, talked about walking Sai values in everyday life.
8. Ms. Evelyn Kanepi, an Estonian composer, conductor, and spiritual singer, delivered a heartfelt talk on the positive effects of singing daily. Her live performance with soulful singing brought tears of joy and gratitude to the eyes of many in the audience.
9. Ms. Marianne Meyer from Denmark, a member of the Prasanthi Council, Co-Chair of the SSSIO International Education Committee, and the head of ESSE Institute, gave an inspiring presentation via Zoom about Sathya Sai Education in Human Values and how they are a gift to the world from our beloved Swami.
10. Mr. Aravind Balasubramanya from India delivered an uplifting virtual talk about practicing Swami’s teachings and spiritual life.

The entire conference was held in bright ‘Sai light and uplifting colors’ by three shining and energetic Masters of Ceremony: Mr. Thomas Lahey from Australia, Ms. Katinka van Lamsweerde from Netherlands/France, and Ms. Evelyn Kanepi from Estonia.

A Conference of Joy To Cherish

Apart from the diverse and intense program schedule, each day started with morning yoga exercises guided by the energetic Ms. Maria Quoos. Every morning and night, there was bhajan singing led by delegates from different countries. Saturday night witnessed a joyful cultural program with folk songs and dances from the participant countries. During the breaks and leisure times, guests ambled along the sunny and white sandy Pärnu beach and the town’s green parks. They also went on a river cruise on Sunday afternoon, enjoying inspiring discussions, exchanging ideas, and sharing experiences.

The conference was a resounding success largely due to the efforts of the organizing team, especially the local devotees led by Ms. Nelli Vadam. The local Pärnu Sai Group took care of every aspect of the conference, including venue preparations and flower arrangements, assisting the chef in the kitchen, preparing coffee breaks, and cleaning the dishes after each meal and break. Additionally, the media recording team consisting of Mr. Kaari Uus, YA leader from Estonia, and Mr. Thomas Rohland, who drove to Estonia from Germany, handled all event media arrangements beautifully. The happy and like-minded Sai devotees, who spent a splendid weekend together in the name of Sai, contributed much to the success of the event.

Take-home Lessons

Every SSSIO event is followed by a debriefing session to review the learnings on what went well and how things could be improved the next time. The Estonia Sathya Sai Conference showed that ‘Sai-Events’ make travel and participation truly fulfilling and purposeful. The conference also highlighted the benefit of following the principle of the 5 P’s–Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Planning for such events should begin early with announcements on social media and other networks. Efforts should go into organizing on a truly large scale for the potential participation of 400-500 participants. Providing more detailed information about accommodation, facilities, travel options, local sightseeing, etc., preferably on a dedicated website for the event, will be of great help to the delegates.

The international events dedicated to Sai teachings are a true-and-tried and practical way to bond with devotees worldwide, bring peace and harmony, and raise divine consciousness in the world.

Mr. Mart Vihmand

National Council President
SSSIO, ESTONIA