GAB 2018 Love in Action ~ Prayers for Global Peace

Global Akhanda Bhajan - 2018 Theme : Love in Action ~ Prayers for Global Peace Date : Nov 10th Saturday 5:15 PM – 11th 6 PM Venue : Walden west center, 15555 Sanborn Road, Saratoga, CA (same as retreat venue) Coordinators : Sriram Bandi, Asha Giridaran, Ramanj Pamidi, Usha Narayanan More @ https://www.region7saicenters.org/gab/2018/index.html

Swami’s quotes on GAB Before the Bhajans are completed the world would be a girdle of  Akhanda Jyothis lit round the globe in Sai Units. The Akhanda Jyothi not only helps to concentrate the minds of devotees but also promotes a sense of spiritual unity and harmony among the devotees. The prayers will be for Peace in the world.  This is being done not for the sake of one individual, one nation, or one community. It is for the welfare of humanity as a whole. The Bhajans that are sung permeate the ether in the form of sound waves and fill the entire atmosphere, thereby, the whole environment gets purified.

Sadhana… 108 times practicing bhajans before GAB Retreat Video – Finding Divinity [ Watch and discuss in study circle at centers ] Request all the singers to watch the video (Link on GAB Website) from Swami’s students. This is an excellent sharing on the nuances of bhajan singing and Swami’s guidelines. Chant GOD’s name [ your favorite ] 21 times daily.

Accommodation… Accommodation is very low… Request your support Please go to GAB URL and register for accommodation 50$ for Age > 12 , 25$ for Age group 4 to 12, Free for Age < 4 Please look on website for items (for e.g bedsheets, torch light, water bottles and more…) to bring as it is a ranch/retreat kind of setting

Logistics… Venue is a ranch/retreat type. Please pay attention to what to bring Please pay attention the following items on the website Winter clothings, beddings, torch light, water bottles Medication, flipflops, bathroom supplies, small room heater, phone chargers Hard copy of the maps and driving directions / no phone signal and GPS Watch for signs for driving directions as well Pickup/Dropoff location and timing on GAB URL website

Volunteers… Venue is new and halls are spread across. Current participation of volunteers is very low. Need more volunteers Signup Sheets are online or at service desk at centers Signup for adjacent to your center slots. For. E.g if your center slot is at 7 to 8 PM, then please signup for 6 to 7 or 8 to 9 PM slots Attend a volunteer briefing session with the coordinator before serving Many opportunities… Food, Parking, more Ushers, night time duties, setup, cleanup

Food… Saturday Dinner, Sunday Breakfast and Sunday Lunch Timings will be at the registration desk at Walden west when you arrive Food signups Please work with Service coordinators to signup for food and food related logistics items

Sessions… Program/Center Time Multi-Faith/ Rudram Chanting 5:15 - 5:48 PM Meditation/ Silent Sitting 5:48 - 6:00 PM GAB Unity Session 6:00 - 7:15 PM Sacramento 7:15 - 8:30 PM Fremont 8:30 - 10:15 PM San Jose 10:15 - 11:15 PM San Francisco 11:15 - 11:45 PM Oakland 11:45 - 12:30 AM Tri-Valley 12:30 - 1:15 AM CSJ 1:15 - 2:45 AM YA 2:45 - 5:00 AM Suprabhatam 5:00 - 5:30 AM Unison (+ Nagar Sankeerthan) 5:30 - 6:00 AM

Sessions… Santa Cruz + Monterey 6:00 - 6:30 AM Peninsula Concord 8:00 - 9:20 AM SSE CSJ 9:20 - 10:30 AM SSE Tri-Valley 10:30- 11:35 AM Elk Grove 11:35 - 12:40 PM San Jose 12:40 - 1:10 PM Stockton 1:10 - 1: 40 PM Tri-Valley 1:40 - 2:40 PM CSJ 2:40 - 3:15 PM Unison 3:15- 3:45 PM GAB Unity Session 3:45- 5:30 PM Rapid Sequence / Closing Prayers 5:30 - 6:00 PM

Thank You & Loving Sairams