Youth Sahavas over the Generations

One of the great joys for Center staff is to watch pilgrims return to the Center. Over the years, newcomers become old timers, their love and relationship with Baba and the Center grows, and somewhere in there, they bring their families. Most naturally, as is Baba’s way many a time, they become part of the Center family as if they always belonged.

Over the years, the Youth Sahavas has seen the family tree grow. Children of Baba lovers attended the first few Sahavases. The word spread, and friends and siblings came over the years. Now that Sahavas is more than three decades old, the children of those early Sahavas participants are coming to Sahavas! One can’t help but wonder how their experiences differ from those of their parents.

What is it that draws this new generation to come? “The main thing that prompted me to go was that my mom and aunts had all gone and it was a natural thing to do,” says Lucia Ballard whose mother, Alethea Gard’ner, attended the first Sahavas. But to hear about something is one thing and to experience it is another. For Lucia, her mother prepared her by describing daily events so she could imagine her days before her first Sahavas. Lucia did not know anyone ahead of time but had expressed that she missed going to the Center after the family had moved to California when she was in third grade. She has been back each year after her first year in 2019.

Last year was the first year as a camper for Dorian Harmon and it was simply “magical.” Growing up, Dorian’s father, Charles Harmon, had nothing but positive things to say about Sahavas. Charles had also stressed to his son the importance of making life-long Baba friends. So again, it was natural for Dorian to try it out. “It exceeded my expectations,” he says. For Lucia it was not only better than what she expected, it was life-changing. She says, “My relationship with people and Baba grew tremendously. I was able to open up in ways that I have never been able to before.”

The phrase life-changing seems to be recurrently used. Many campers and Sahavas staff seem to express an effect on their lives which not only keeps them coming back but has transformed them inwardly. Laura Smith attended Sahavas as a counselor and worker for five years. One cannot put words to such a transformation, but Laura tries. “It was life changing because it was life giving. Like Manna from Heaven. At Sahavas Baba came into my heart to stay. I experienced Baba’s wholehearted acceptance and love for me exactly as I am and the power and quality of that love – it healed me. It set me on track – it gave me fuel to move forward in my life.”

Baba’s presence at Sahavas is palpable for these youngsters. They show up, He shows up and He opens their hearts in a collective outpouring. When Lucia went back home, she felt that she had taken Baba’s love with her. Her mother Alethea says, “When she returned, I gave her my Baba necklace that I had worn as a teenager and that went to India with me and into the tomb many times. She was also interested in having Baba pictures in her room, expressed a desire to go to India and has had daily contact with her best friend from Sahavas.”

Apart from love, sahavasees take back lifelong memories. Laura has many memories that still make her smile. They include the first men’s play that was watched by Kitty Davy, the first talent show that was met with a raucous standing ovation, talks by Darwin Shaw and many meaningful discussion groups. One of her favorite memories, though, is of her friend writing a poem on the row-boat and concocting an original idea for the talent show. “We were a trio, she read her poem, while another friend played the piano and I did an improv modern dance, all together! It was the perfect example of the spontaneity, freedom and acceptance at Sahavas.” It is no surprise that Laura’s son, Darwin Mini, who went for the first time this year, expressed that Sahavas was the best five days of his life. But now that it’s over and his heart is full, what else did he bring back with him? “A T-shirt,” he says with a charming smile.