South Africa - Celebrating Easter at the Sri Sathya Sai Centre of Roodepoort, Gauteng
On a serene and auspicious Easter Sunday morning, the Sri Sathya Sai Centre of Roodepoort radiated with spiritual fervour as Devotees from diverse backgrounds gathered to celebrate the Spiritual Essence of Easter. The program, held on 31st March 2024, transcended religious boundaries, embracing the universal teachings of love and unity.
As the morning air buzzed with anticipation, the central theme of the program was the Resurrection and Teachings of Lord Jesus Christ. Devotees sang hymns in praise of Jesus as well as universal bhajans that embraced all faiths, weaving a tapestry of love, selflessness, and compassion.
The highlight of the morning was the presence of a Guest Speaker: Lorato Sherpenhuyzen, a remarkable community worker and founder of a registered Non-Profit Organization that actively serves four different informal settlements, providing food, holistic healing programs, and emotional support. Lorato’s spiritual journey began tenderly within the Roman Catholic tradition. Her path evolved, embracing diverse spiritual practices while staying rooted in her faith. In her talk, Lorato shared insights into the observance of Easter. But beyond that, she revealed how she was inspired by the timeless teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
At the age of 15 years old, Lorato was drawn to pictures of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and during a visit to India, she was fortunate to step into the sacred precincts of the Sri Sathya Sai Sundaram Ashram in Chennai. There, amidst fragrant incense and hallowed silence, she had a profound experience, an encounter that further deepened her connection with Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The program concluded with an extract reflecting on the Divine experience of Dr John Hislop – author of the book My Baba and Iwhere he shared an incredible incident that took place in 1973, when Swami had materialised a sacred crucifix for him.
Amidst the high energy and deep spiritual connection we celebrated Easter not merely as a Christian festival but as a universal reminder that love conquers all, and compassion knows no boundaries.
Echoing the profound wisdom of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba:
There is only one caste - the caste of Humanity.
There is only one religion - the religion of Love.
There is only one language - the language of the Heart.
There is only one God - He is Omnipresent.
May we embrace these truths, transcending the limitations of our minds, and recognise the unity that binds us all.
Jai Sai Ram
