"In 2018, the world's most religiously and culturally diverse interfaith event will be meeting in the world's most diverse city! More than 10,000 people of faith and conscience will come together in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the 7th convening of the Parliament of the World's Religions. Together, they will bring the wisdom of more than 80 nations and 200 unique spiritual traditions to share, learn, network, and celebrate. They will explore what "The Promise of Inclusion" and "The Power of Love" means in the pursuit of a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. The 2018 Parliament will build upon our legacy of initiating dialogue and facilitating positive relationships among people of vast spiritual, ethnic, and national identities, providing a framework for expressing many visions of a just, peaceful and sustainable future. We meet at a time of promise for the world's people to be motivated to tackle the most pressing dangers of our times together. In this moment, the powers of the world are bringing civic and religious spheres into one to make a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. This is our reason for meeting. Our future generations and planet need us now." (Parliament of the World's Religions 70 E. Lake St., Ste. 205, Chicago)

1. "How can I avoid being outraged by men?"
2. "Why is suicide not an option?"
3. "How to cope with stress while preparing for the Grade 12 examination?"
4. "What is the importance of forgiveness in our lives?"

These are a few searching questions raised by learners from the schools in Ladysmith at a special follow-up workshop held on Friday, 9 March at the Agra Crescent Hall. Eighty-one learners from the following schools participated in a workshop to help them overcome drug addiction and other social ills: Ladysmith Secondary, Windsor Secondary and Acaciavale Primary. Our presenters, who are volunteers, are drawn from the medical, social science, academic and business spheres with vast experience. They answered these questions with great sympathy and understanding. Due to time constraints we were not able to answer all the questions.

This auspicious event on the calendar of Divine Life Society of S.A. commemorates the day when a unusual spiritual power descended into Pujya Swami Sahajananda on 1 March 2007. Regarding the significance of this auspicious day we read the following excepts at our Satsang:

"In November 2007, Pujya Swamiji made the following utterance: "Since the 1 March I am enjoying 24 hours unbroken peace of mind. Previously there used to be a sharp pain inside, but now there is nothing."

Drug addiction is destroying the lives of thousands of individuals in this country and it is for this reason, out of deep concern for the lives of these victims, that Sri Swami Sahajananda designed the Sunlit Path Programme in 2006 to assist them to overcome this disease. In striving to offer this valuable service, especially to children and youth, Swami Sahajananda laid great emphasis on aspiration for the Divine and for the enjoyment of inner peace. This inner peace programme incorporates prayer and introspection as key elements in the programme. To date, Divine Life Society of S.A. has reached almost 70 schools in KZN, in an effort to prevent this scourge from spreading and to rehabilitate afflicted learners.

Mahasivaratri which means "the great Night of Siva" was observed at all Ashrams and branches of Divine Life Society of S.A on Tuesday 13 February 2018. It was pleasing to see that devotees gathered in large numbers to fervently worship Lord Siva.