Sathya Sai Centre members from Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, have hosted an annual retreat on Labour Day weekend, the national holiday being the first Monday of September, since 1983. The event is held at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center in Jemez Springs, a tiny mountain village in northern New Mexico. Service has always been an integral part of the weekend retreat. During the mornings of the retreat, a “White Tornado” of 50 to 90 Sathya Sai volunteers start to work, cleaning, pulling weeds, painting, digging, and carrying out other tasks. Over the years, major projects have been accomplished at the retreat. One year, a team of strong young adults dug up, crushed, and disposed of a huge, unused septic tank and disposal system. Another year, the group painted all the outside walls of four structures. Another weekend, retreatants dug up and replaced the geothermal pipes that heat the facilities. The Buddhist community there has developed deep appreciation for the work of Sathya Sai volunteers. A senior nun, Abbess Juin Hosen, commented, “The energy of the community coming together is so transformative. To have seen the growth and maturation, the compassion and wisdom, develop in each of these individuals for more than 30 years is very touching. I look forward to many more years to come, of the Sathya Sai Baba group serving with us.”
- September 14, 2016
- in Devotion, Service, Young Adults, Zone 1
