Better Living in Selfless Service
Australian National Service Retreat,
30-31 August, 2008

Over 270 people gathered in Melbourne during the last weekend of August for the Inaugural Service Conference for Australia. Conference delegates entered into a creative process with group discussions on divine discourses given by Bhagavan Baba on selfless service. These discourses were used to generate opportunities for service activities which were then taken up and developed into practical strategies to be utilised in Sai Centres and Groups.

The conference heard talks from several speakers. Dr Pal Dhall, Zone Chairman for Region 3, addressed the conference and asked delegates to reflect on Bhagavan Baba's questions about social service. Is it SHOW-cial service? Do we do service because we want to SHOW others we are serving? Or, is it SLOW-cial service? Are we SLOW to put our hands up, slow to respond to calls to do service? Mr Neville Fredericks, Central Coordinator for Australia, told the conference delegates that the quality that devotees should focus upon when giving service is love. Emissary of Love, Arthur Hillcoat, in addressing the conference pointed out that the same current was flowing through all the lights in the hall. The same current of love flows through all to whom we render service.

Each of the five wings in the Organisation made presentations on service, along with he Sai Medical Unit and those involved in Unity of Faiths activities. The National Service film, prepared by the Hollywood director Gene Massey, called "His Love in Australia" was launched at this retreat. In many scenes, this film showed the connection between human values and selfless service. Conference delegates also received a Family Service Diary. Copies of the book Seva, a Flower at His Feet were donated to the library of every Centre and Group.

Drawing on the creative work in small group discussion, conference delegates shared their reflections on the benefits of selfless service:

• Service is more transformational than meditation
• Others are inspired by our conduct
• Service is a spiritual discipline, it is a form of mental clean-up
• Service is the most effective way to reduce ego
• Service creates positive thoughts in us
• Group Service is the best way to eradicate ego

Conference delegates stressed the point that service is the highest form of devotion to Bhagavan Baba; it is the highest spiritual discipline and the essence of devotion. The spark within is tenderly transformed into a living flame of love when service is approached with the attitude of humility, gratitude, opportunity, learning and the practice of the five human values.

In summary, the conference delegates learned:

• Service is a great opportunity given to us by Sathya Sai Baba
• Service is a process, not a product
• Effective service provides the opportunity for transformation
• Group service provides opportunities for humility, devotion, discipline and surrender of the ego
• Our attitude towards service should be an attitude of gratitude
• Baba has called us to love; we must serve until we see the love that is in the other who is verily our own Self.

Presentations

Ceiling on Desires, The One in Three Challenge by Susan Probert.