Tuesday April 17^th, was a bitterly cold day, and there was ice on the streets and sidewalks as far as the eyes could see; however, the inclement weather did not dampen the loving spirit and undiluted generosity of Swami’s devotees of Region 1. Region 1 was given a window of time between 6 and 8pm by the Canadian Blood Service. Devotees drove in straight from work despite their hectic schedules, the harsh weather and poor driving conditions.

The announcement of the scheduled Blood Donation Drive on the 17^th of April was warmly received and many devotees signed up to donate blood in memory of Swami’s teachings of self-less love and of “help ever, hurt never”. Swami has said: “The fulfilment of man’s life on earth consists in filling himself with love of God and transmuting that love into acts of service; service to man who is the embodiment of God. If man has no love in him and he does not show it with beings in all creation, he is but a burden to earth. –Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 10, Chapter 34”

It is to honor Swami’s words and His memory that Sathya Sai organizations all over the world come together to perform this collective selfless service. It is selfless service because the recipients of the donated blood will not know the donor; in addition, the act of donating blood is the wilful suppression of the individual ego as the act of donating blood is locked in anonymity. It is collective service as it is a global initiative undertaken by devotees in Sathya Sai Centers all over the world.

The Drive was a co-ordinated effort by the Service Wing and the Ladies Wing. All devotees received emails emphasizing the importance of a mindful diet before donating blood, which Swami had called “liquid love”. After weekly bhajans, the President of all Centres underscored the benefits of giving blood and reminded the devotees of the importance of April 17^thand the opportunity of serving the community.

Seventeen members of Region 1 were accepted as donors. A few were disappointed because they were rejected because of low iron levels or for travel in the past six months to regions exposed to certain types of viruses. The act of donating blood has helped all devotees to realise how deeply a small act of service can have far-reaching benefits for many people. Although this Blood donation drive was to honor and practice Swami’s teachings of self-less love and service to humanity, it was also to honor and revere His memory on April 24^th, Aradhana Mahotsavam day. The Blood donation drive was held in the premises of Canadian Blood Services, Heartland Town Centre, 765 Britannia Road West, Unit#2, Mississauga, Ontario.