16th Annual Women's Mini Retreat
Theme : "Mother Sai - Our Guiding Force"
Saturday May 13, 2023
10:00 AM PDT - 4:15 PM PDT
244 W. Grant Line Rd,
Tracy CA, 95376
"From ancient times the feminine aspect of the Divine has been worshipped. Study the lives of great women who were models of patience, fortitude, compassion, and sacrifice. I desire that you should take up the reins of leadership and bring peace and prosperity to the world by leading ideal lives."
Program
(10:00 AM PDT - 4:15 PM PDT)
| 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Invocation & Devotional Segment |
| 10:30 AM – 10:35 AM – Divine Discourse |
| 10:35 AM – 10:50 AM – Welcome & Introduction |
| 10:50 AM – 11:50 AM – Guest Speaker - Sister Prity Bhatt |
| 11:50 AM – 12:15 PM – Move with the Rhythm |
| 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Guest Speaker - Sister Jan DiSanti |
| 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM – Parallel Breakout Activities |
| 3:15 PM to 3:45 PM – Panel Discussion Facilitated by Sister Prema R Rao |
| 3:45 PM to 4:15 PM – Devotional & Closing Prayers |
"Women... are not encouraged to show their ability. Even in the family, they have to face obstacles and confrontations. If women are given due recognition and encouragement, they will shine with brilliance in all fields and will serve the house,
country, and the entire world gloriously, contributing to the welfare of the entire humanity."
Guest Speakers
Prity Bhatt
Born and raised in Kolkata, India, Sister Prity came to the United States as a teenager. She earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Computer Science from NJIT. She took an early retirement in 2017 after 30 years of service in the telecom industry.
Prity became interested in the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba when her two sons started attending Sai Spiritual Education or SSE classes at a local Sai Center. She started facilitating SSE classes in 2002 and has since then held several positions in the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization at the regional and national levels. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow through this experience.
Currently, she is serving Swami as the National Female YA advisor.
Prity lives in NJ with her husband and mother.
Jan DiSanti
Sister Jan DiSanti is a life-long educator who was introduced to Sathya Sai Baba by her fourth-grade
student in 2009. Soon after she traveled to Puttaparthi with the 2010 USA Pilgrimage praying
for Swami’s blessing to visit His schools. Indeed, Swami not only blessed her to visit His schools,
but He also instructed Jan to get trained in Human Values Education. After arriving back in the
U.S. Jan attended a Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) training, started teaching SSE at the Sathya Sai
Baba Center of SE Denver, took SSEHV Courses one and two from the Institute of Sathya Sai
Education- USA (ISSE-USA), and experienced her SSEHV fieldwork within her fourth-grade
classroom. Now, Swami’s blessing on her life has come full circle serving as Faculty for the ISSE-
USA since 2018. Jan also recently became the SSE Coordinator of Sathya Sai Baba Center of SE
Denver, Colorado, after serving four years as President (2015-2018), and four years as Vice
President (2019-2022).
Currently, Jan is serving as Region 9 ‘InSAIde SOUL Sisters’ Peer
Enrichment Group Co-Lead, and Region 9 Devotion Coordinator with deep love and gratitude to
beloved Baba.
Fun Fact: Jan is officially a ‘Fire-Walker’ as in July of 2012 she walked across the fire at ‘Unleash
the Power Within’ and claimed a new life in service to God!
"Savitri fought with the God of Death (Yama) and succeeded in getting her husband back to life. Can you find any instance in the scriptures or history where a husband was prepared to do sacrifice for his wife? If the wife is dead, he is ready to have a second marriage. Such unfair things are happening in the world in respect of women. That is why it was decided to celebrate not only 19th November but 19th of every month as Mahila Day."
Breakout Sessions
Please join us for this fun breakout activity, we will learn how to make a modest cardigan-style Kimono. You will need to bring: Fabric of your choice or a soft saree you would like to repurpose, about 60” in length by 44” in width, plus or minus 10 inches depending on the desired size of the Kimono. Scissors, needles, matching thread, measure tape, pins, sewing machine (optional).
Join us for an interactive session on building Self-Confidence and leadership skills made for women by women. Be ready to step outside your comfort zone and take on new roles in order to learn and grow. We will end in reflection and gratitude.
"Women must realise the enormous power of the mind for good or evil and see that its power is used only for doing good. The mind can make a person a demon or Divine. The mind is under the control of the intellect. The intellect is governed by the Aathma. Self-realisation will bring about control over everything. The dire conditions prevailing in the world are known to everyone. The root cause of all this is the failure of people to realise their inherent divinity. Excessive desires, fuelled by selfishness, are the cause of all troubles. The primary requisite is confidence in one's self. Without that confidence, nothing can be accomplished."
Service
“Hands that help are holier than lips that pray.” – Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
We have an incredible opportunity to serve our Greater Bay area Women’s shelters with the listed items.
These items are essential for the Women and children in the shelters. On the Women’s Mini Retreat day, these items will be sorted out during the breakout sessions at the identified shelters.
Please sign up for items and pick the location to be sent to Sister Shibani Dey’s house address.
For anyone who wishes to offer items for this seva, here is the procedure:
1. Click on this link: To Order.2. Choose the item/ items and quantity you wish to buy. Add to cart
3. Go to your cart and click on "Proceed to checkout"
4. On the Shipping address screen, select "Shibani Dey's Gift Registry Address" as the Shipping address and click on "Use this address"
5. On the Choose gift options page, click on "Save gift options and continue"
6. On the Choose a payment method page, select own credit card for payment, their personal address as the billing address and click on "Use this payment method"
7. On the Review items and shipping page, choose fastest and free delivery option and click on "Place your order"
Note: The most important step is that Shibani Dey's shipping address should be selected in the checkout process.
"More fragrant than the sweet-smelling flowers
like the Jasmine and the Champak,
Softer than the cheese and the butter,
More beautiful than eye of the peacock,
More pleasant than the moonlight,
Is the love of the mother."
Bring Your Own
"As today is a sacred day dedicated to women, they should change themselves and help to change the men and the children. They should develop the qualities of sympathy, compassion; love and sacrifice. Study the lives of our great women, who were models of patience, fortitude, compassion and sacrifice. I desire that you should take up the reins of leadership and bring peace and prosperity to the nation by leading ideal lives."
Regional Women's Coordinator
Pavithrah Tharmaseelan
Saipavithrah@gmail.com
Event Coordinators
Krutika Puntambekar: kru93tika@gmail.com
Dharmistha Patel : dharmistha.patel009@gmail.com
Pinki Sinha: icchapuran@yahoo.com