 FROM OUR FRIENDS
CPT: A Model For Raising Kids
Last Saturday in Puttaparthi I met with the kids from The Children's Project. They are there for 6-8 months while their new home and school are being built in Coorg. I think they are a "model for raising kids" that Swami has set up. A combination of love, discipline, and spirituality pervades them and their environment. They are loving, but not clinging. Their schedules are packed with school, study, play, chores. The older take care of the younger. They are respectful of adults and generally do what they are told. But at the same time they are playful kids, running and jumping and being real.
I was surprised this time that they all can do Vedic chants - more than 15 minutes for many. They know that Sai Baba is their Mother and Father. They go to Darshan 3 times a week. Their intelligence is outstanding. The older girls study psychology, not the bland stuff taught in our schools, but for example learning about egocentricity - where it comes from in childhood and how it develops in our crazy world - also how to change it so that they understand that they are part of the Universe, the One.
These are street kids that you saw in Slumdog Millionaire; the older girls (15-16) want to go to college, and will, with Swami's Grace. It is inspiring to see what unconditional love and discipline can do.
~ Michael Rakoff, MD, USA
Loving, Listening, Lifting And Learning
The experience in the tranquil mountains at CPT in Coorg was beautifully amazing. What can I say? The children's smiles left an imprint in my heart and the heart keeps smiling. All I have been talking about since I've been back in Australia is the experience of so much love and joy around and within that it reminds me that life is "loving, listening, lifting, learning and living". I am so inspired because I witnessed love in action, and was impressed totally with Aleli and Michael's dedication.
I recognized some of the children who begged off me [in Puttaparthi] and, to my surprise, saw them transformed into angels who will serve you food before themselves. They are so happy and know God is giving them a second chance in life. I feel that a part of my spirit is still at Coorg. We are still moved by it and love to share it with others.
~ Kim & Steven, Australia
Your Faces Are Engraved on My Heart
Joy Thomas was a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba's who wrote LIFE IS A GAME, PLAY IT, and several other books. In one of the books she wrote about Swami coming by at darshan time and asking her how many children she had. She answered whatever number it was and Swami just looked at her, disappointment written on His face. The next time this happened, she again answered the number of her own children to Swami's great sadness. On a third occasion, she was seated right in the front line when once more Swami paused by her and asked 'The Question'. "How many children do you have?" Joy said, "Swami, all are my children." He beamed and walked on.
The children that have found their way to the Children's Project are, as with all children, truly ours. Working with these eager, natural children is one of the greater joys one can experience. Whether they are playing hop-tag, giggling and shouting, helping bathe the little ones, harvesting their tomato crop which they want to generously share or cracking an innocent, silly joke in class; they fill you with love by osmosis!
Their seriousness is seen at bhajan time, where they chant the VEDAS with total sincerity of heart and sing bhajans with joyous abandon! It is a not to be missed occasion.
Leave taking is most difficult; they have usually all written a card with flowers and a saying with a loving good-bye. Their faces are wreathed with smiles and it brings to mind a line I loved from the movie, FREEDOM WRITERS: "Your faces are engraved on my heart." And so they are.
~ Diane Ness, Puttaparthi and USA
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