51st Annual Memorial Day Weekend Retreat

Rain and freezing temperatures failed to dampen the joy for more than 500 attendees during Region 2’s 51st Annual Memorial Day Weekend Retreat, May 22-24, 2026, in Poyntelle, PA.

With the theme: ‘Be the Light, Share the Light,’ the retreat featured inspirational talks, soul-stirring bhajans, informative workshops, delightful cultural programs, and delicious healthy meals. The featured speakers, Dr. Sanjay Mahalingam and Ms. Aparna Murali, shared engaging stories about personal interactions with Swami, giving thoughtful insights for many to reflect upon.

Region 2 President Sreejith Narayan noted that Swami’s blessings were profoundly felt this year, “first when vibhuti manifested in Swami’s room during the camp set up, and especially when a storm caused a power outage. In that unexpected moment, everyone stepped up, helped one another, and truly lived the retreat theme by being the light and sharing the light.”

The retreat opened on Friday night with rousing bhajans in the camp’s gymnasium, with omkar and Suprabhatam on Saturday morning. Participants conducted the retreat sadhana (spiritual practice) — STEP (Strides Toward Everlasting Peace) with Sai, in conjunction with Vedam chanting and nagarsankirtan around the camp. The procession ended with a flag hoisting outside Swami’s room.

Dr. Mahalingam, who lived in the presence of Swami for seven years as a student and research scholar at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, gave examples of effective ways to align ourselves more deeply with the Lord, noting that Swami once said to him with sadness in His voice, “All these people are looking at Me. As My wheelchair is passing, they still are thinking that there is something here that is not inside them.”

Dr. Mahalingam challenged listeners to, “Go to the next step of evolution, moving from doing, having and becoming to embracing being an expanded, responsive being. Replace your inner noise with the presence of Swami in your heart. Dare to fall in love with your own self and not be afraid to say that Swami, you and I are one.”

Ms. Murali, the Zone 1 Education Coordinator, shared three insights and three stories that tied in with the retreat’s theme, expounding on the definition of light and darkness and explaining that in darkness the light shines bright. “Blessings can come out of both. Every single one of us is blessed because He has lit the lamp of love in our heart and that is our good fortune,” she stated. “There are so many things that we cannot see with our eyes but are filled with light,” and she encouraged everyone to be aware of Swami’s grace and blessings.

The weekend’s four workshops included discussions on how to reduce our environmental footprint; how to use Sai’s teachings to overcome challenges in our daily life; how to use positivity and kindness to brighten our everyday life; and how to improve one’s health though holistic, preventive health care in general and specifically for the bones.

Additionally, two uplifting cultural programs drew inspiration from Swami’s core values. ‘Fist of Faith,’ a presentation by SSE children, gave examples of how one can practice right action even when they believe God is not watching. A Young Adult play, “It’s All in the Head,” beautifully depicted how surrendering one’s ego and respecting others can transform a toxic workspace into a productive environment.