Sai Labor Day Retreat 2018 - Speakers
Dr. S. Kumar was born in a Sai Family who were devotees since 1960s. Kumar was into Carnatic classical training during his Balavikas days at Neyveli. His music guru was Sri CHEMBAI ANANDAMANI. Kumar got the opportunity to join the SUNDARAM Bhajan group in early 80s where he got the opportunity to sing in the divine presence for the first time.
He joined Swami's college for Masters in 1984, went onto complete his PhD and was a faculty member in Department of Math & Comp.Sc. Kumar's job brought him to the US in 2000. Since then, Kumar has been actively involved in many SAI retreats giving talks, Bhajan workshops and music programs. He is currently located at Washington, DC and works for FAA on an IT contract.
Andrew Barker has been a Sai devotee for 20 years. He served in the capacity of center president for the Seattle-Eastside center for 4 years and as Regional male YA advisor 2006-2011. He began meditation at the Seattle Zen Center in the late 70’s and Tibetan Buddhism in the mid-80’s and has been studying religious and spiritual practices around the world since his days as an Anthropology student at the UW. He is a professional horticulturalist, owns a landscape design company in Seattle.