I feel quite at home here, despite the heat, as I have been here on so many times before, and participated in the Poojas and Satsangs on those occasions.

Thank you for your kind invitation to my wife, Gloria, and me to be with you this morning. We are both delighted to be here to take part and to join with you in this inaugural ceremony to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the birth of our Sadguru, His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji.

We have both had the great honour, privilege and pleasure of meeting and speaking in private audience with His Holiness on several occasions since we first met Him a few years ago and I believe that we, all of us here are all blessed to be associated with such a great spiritual master and Guru. It is one's good luck or good fortune which enables one to become close to any spiritual master and I must congratulate you all who are His devotees for your continuing commitment and devotion to your Sadguru. It is a great compliment to you all that you have been able to so organise yourselves as to bring the community together in worship, prayer and spirituality.

It is organisations like this that have a most important role to play in the strengthening of the family and the society and consequently in the building of a healthy, clean and prosperous nation.

As I look around and I see the large number of children who are with us this morning it gives one a feeling of pride that we are imbuing in the minds of the younger ones, the virtues of the principle that 'a family that prays together, stays together'. And this is indeed very good for the nation.

I am aware of the fact that there are many families here who come very regularly to this Ashram to engage themselves in doing 'Seva'(i.e., selfless service) not only to the upkeep and maintenance of this Ashram and its precincts, but to the community at large.

Research has shown that people who perform 'Seva' regularly are less prone to suffer from stress or depression and quite apart from the public service which they give, they improve their health in the process. Perhaps those of you who do 'Seva' may not be aware of this benefit.

When people are committed to a good and noble cause as undoubtedly you all are in this Ashram and you live clean and respectable lives and they do 'Seva' they become the exemplars in the society. It is upon such persons that the strength of the community is built. These are the persons who help to enhance the community. They organise projects, they contribute financially, they give helpful advice and assistance to others and they are always there to promote the image and welfare of the community. These are the people who matter, irrespective of their social or educational status. They are true leaders.

We must show respect to them and acknowledge them for the sterling contribution that they are making to the community and to the society at large.

Too often we tend to denigrate and bring down our exemplars and our leaders.

Swamiji, in his birthday message last year said, and I quote: "We must speak good words. It is the tendency of human beings to find fault everywhere. The cause behind this tendency is that they themselves are full of faults. If the mind is flawless, the world also appears flawless. Therefore O! Man, consume useful knowledge and acquire useful Mukti".

I would add however, that the statements of others cannot hurt you, except through your own thoughts and mental participation. Identify yourself with your aim which is peace, harmony, joy and 'Seva'. You are the only thinker in the universe.

If another criticises you, and these faults are within, you rejoice; give thanks and appreciate the comments. This gives you the opportunity to correct the particular fault.

Despite these negativities which I am sure many of you have had to endure, we must make every effort wherever we live to get others involved in organisations of this kind. We must never turn a blind eye to the problems of others. We must always lend a helping hand. We must become our brothers' and sisters' keepers. If we fail to get involved in 'Seva', we are relinquishing our obligations to our community.

It is Swamiji who once said and I quote again: "The trees provide their fruits for the benefit of the world. The rivers flow for the good of the world. The cows yield milk for the use of others. The body is to be used for the welfare of others"

This is why it is so important to give 'Seva'. The good you do, the kindness proffered, the love and goodwill you send forth will come back to you multiplied many, many ways.

I have been made aware of the many good deeds of the devotees of this Ashram. I nave been told that your community work includes providing lunch on a monthly basis to the children of the Orangefield Hindu School.

I understand that your Ashram pre-school provides free schooling for children under 5 who live in the community. I am advised further that you also run a free medical clinic; and that legal advice and counselling are also provided free of charge for those in need of these types of services.

These are the types of outreach programmes that go beyond the boundaries of worship and spiritual development. These are the types of programmes that help build a community. No praise can be too high for your efforts; and what is significant is that you do it outside of the search light of publicity.

I implore you on this special occasion to renew your vows to the ideals of your Guru. I urge you to spread your Guru's mission of love, truth and seva (selfless service) to your fellowmen.

All you really owe any person in the world is love, and love is the wishing for everyone what you wish for yourself.- viz., health, happiness and the blessings of life.

Today, dear devotees, is the beginning of many activities that will take place over the next seven days in respect of Swamiji's birth anniversary.

It is significant that they take place simultaneously, when we celebrate the 153rd anniversary of the arrival of our forefathers to these shores. The very nature of this morning proceedings, the Kalasha Pooja, the beautiful musical renditions, the scintillating dances put on by the children are all part of the legacy bequeathed to us by our fore fathers. Although we remain fiercely Trinidadian and Togagonian we must never ever forget our heritage. We must never forget our traditions. Indeed, we must practise them to ensure that they never die.

May your celebrations of Swamiji's birth anniversary be as successful as those which you have had before, and may your lives continue to be enriched by the teachings of our Sadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. I would like to conclude by again quoting Swamiji if only to remind you of the vast wisdom of this great spiritual master:

Flowers are many, but worship is one;
Cows are many, but milk is the same.
Languages are many, but liberation is one.
Names and forms are different and yet God is the same
Flames are myriad, yet light is the same. Gurus appear many, Yet he is only one.

May God bless us all.
May God bless our nation.
Guru Datta.