An offering with reverence and love

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An offering with reverence and love
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Devotion

• The goal of man is to realise the divinity that
  is in him. Without devotion, awareness of the
  Divine cannot be experienced. Devotion is the
  state of mind in which one has no separate
  existence apart from God.
• -Sathya Sai Baba

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Nine Point Code of Conduct

1. Daily meditation and prayer.
2. Devotional singing/prayer with family members
   once per week.
3. Participation in Sai Spiritual Education by
   children of the family.
4. Participation in community service and other
   programmes of the Organisation.
5. Regular attendance at devotional meetings
   conducted by the Organisation.
6. Regular study of Sathya Sai Baba literature.
7. Use of soft, loving speech with everyone.
8. Avoidance of talking ill of others, especially in
   their absence.
9. Practice of the principles of ceiling on
   desires..

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Devotion Wing

1. Devotional program
2. Study circle
3. Newcomer welcome and orientation
4. Altar
5. Library

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Feedback from Centers

1. Improve Devotion program quality, provide
   guidelines
2. Improve Study Circle quality and increase
   participation
3. Improve newcomer integration and outreach

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Challenges

• Low energy/vitality/enthusiasm
• Low participation
• Long time center members
• Parents
• Young adults

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Challenges

• Logistics
• SC time does not overlap with SSE
• SC conducted only once or twice a month
• Content
• SC participation topic based, inconsistent
• SC above level of understanding
• SC topics not practical (too abstract)
• Participant experience
• SC dominated by some while others are silent
• SC dominated by 'experts
• SC, an experience sharing session

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Objectives

• Improve quality
• Improve experience
• Increase participation

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Plan

• Study Circle workshop
• Devotion Coordinators
• Study Circle Facilitators
• Study Circle Supporters
• Take information back to centers to invigorate
  and increase participation

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Objective of this workshop

• Information sharing from the National Devotion
  Coordinators' meeting
• Presentation
• Mock Study Circle
• Sharing of 'Best Practices
• Experience sharing by centers
• Practical example of a Sai Ideal Study Circle
• Breakout session

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Agenda

• 1000 - 1010 3 Oms, Devotional singing
• 1010 - 1020 Opening remarks
• 1020 - 1045   Why Study circle?  
• 1045 - 1100     Roles, tasks
• 1100 - 1120    Mock Study circle
• 1120 - 1130    Practical points
• 1130 - 1140     Going forward 
• 1140 - 1230      Experience sharing 
•  

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Agenda

• 1230 - 100       Lunch
• 100 - 210 Breakout session
• 210 - 220         Closing remarks
• 220 - 230         Devotional Singing/prayers
• Provide Feedback, please!

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Sathya Sai Organization of USANational
Devotional Coordinators Meeting
Sai Ideal Study Circle
Orlando, Fl Oct 22, 2011
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Swamis directives.

• Why Study Circle?

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Uniqueness of human birth

• We see a large number of living beings in this
  world. But none of them has the greatness, wisdom
  and discrimination of man.
• That is why it is said, Jantunam nara janma
  durlabham (of all living beings, human birth is
  the rarest).
• SSS 40-12

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Goal

• Your reality is the atma, a wave of the
  paramatma. The one object of this human existence
  is to visualize that reality, that atma, that
  relationship between the wave and the sea. All
  other activities are trivial. You share them with
  birds and beasts, but this is the unique
  privilege of man.
• SSS 6, p224

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Three bodies, five sheaths
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Mind and Intellect

• The mind must become the servant of the
  intellect, not the slave of the senses. It must
  discriminate and detach itself from the body.
  Like the ripe tamarind fruit, which becomes loose
  inside the shell, it must be unattached to this
  shell, this casement called body.
• SSS 4, p273

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Intellect and Atma

• It is only with the help of buddhi, which is
  free from rajasic (active) and tamasic (slothful)
  gunas (attributes) that we can realize the atma.
  The bliss of atma can be experienced only through
  buddhi.
• Summer Showers 1978, p91

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Three paths

• Service Karma
• Adoration Bhakthi
• Illumination Jnana

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Three paths

• Karma leads to the consciousness of the
  ever-present, immanent, all powerful God.
• Upasana, or adoration of that God, leads to the
  knowledge that He is in all.
• When you experience that there is no second, that
  is Jnana (wisdom).
• SSS 4, p 318

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Three stages

• all three stages are really integral. Just as a
  flower by stages becomes a ripe fruit, similarly
  through karma, upasana, and jnana the final stage
  of Self-realization is reached.
• SSS 23, p163

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Jnana

• Q. You have been saying that Jnana is essential.
  Well, what exactly is the function of Jnana?
• A. Jnana makes you realise the Atma Swarupa,
  that is to say, your own Reality.
• -Prasnottara Vahini, Chapter IX

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Balance
Spiritual Practice
Devotional Singing
Service
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Balance
Spiritual Practice
Study Circle
Devotional Singing
Service
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Ladder
Goal
Service
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Ladder
Goal
Devotional Singing
Service
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Ladder
Goal
Devotional Singing
Study Circle
Service
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Study Circle

• Swamis thoughts..

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Study Circle

• It is not just reading books. Circle, study
  circle means taking a point and each person
  discussing what is the meaning of the point to
  themlike a round table conference. Each person
  gives his point of view, and finally values are
  derived from this.  
• Conversation With SSB, pp.125-126

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Practical Spirituality

• That which is seen, heard or read must be put
  into practice in actual life. Without this,
  reading is mere waste of time. If anything is
  read to pass time, it passes the time and nothing
  remains.
• Prema Vahini, p1-4

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Practical Spirituality

• Delve into the significance and the meaning of
  what you read, and always have before you the
  goal of putting what you read into practice.
  Unless you do so, the study circle will remain a
  half-circle forever it cannot be a full circle.
  
• SSS 9, p.59

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Practical Spirituality

• What is eaten should be digested and then only
  you should eat again. In the same way, you should
  listen (eat) in the Study Circle and put into
  practice (digest) what you have learnt.
• Now what you are doing is only loading and
  loading and no unloading. How much can you
  sustain like that? So, you should go on loading
  and unloading, listening and practicing. You have
  to practice whatever you have learnt. Then only
  it becomes a
• real Study Circle 30-1-1985

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Information for Transformation

• Theoretical knowledge is a burden, unless it is
  practiced, when it can be lightened into wisdom
  and assimilated into daily life. 
• Not information, but TRANSFORMATION,
• not instruction but construction should be the
  aim.  
• SSS 9, p.56

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Group Synergy

• The topic is viewed the study circle looks at
  different facets. It is like a diamond with its
  different facets, but there is one facet that is
  flat, the top facet, and from this all can be
  viewed.
• To discover the top facet is the task purpose
  of study circle.  
• Conversation With SSB, pp.125-126

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• Roles and Tasks

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Who is responsible?

• Devotion Coordinator
• Can delegate
• Facilitator
• Rotate position (weekly or monthly)
• Presenter
• Rotate position (weekly or monthly)
• Scribe (optional)
• Rotate position (weekly or monthly)
• Participant
• Beneficiary

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Facilitator

• Requires skill
• Skill comes with practice
• Skill improves with training
• Facilitator training sessions?

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Facilitator tasks

• Set schedule of presenters and topics
• Make announcements
• Reach out to YA reps
• Encourage participation
• Keep on time
• Keep focused on topic

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Facilitator Tasks

• Encourage all to contribute
• Lovingly draw out, but without pressure or
  obligation 
• Give those who passed an opportunity to share
  before end
• Limit those who dominate or veer off topic
• Lovingly with gentleness
• Correct a wrong statement  
• When important to intervene, when better to
  ignore
• Lovingly correct someone violating a rule

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Presenter Tasks

• Prepares topic for week
• Key is to be practical  
• Minimize use of foreign words, esoteric
  concepts
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• Gives theme and quote, and perhaps one or two
  practical questions in about 5-10 minutes
• Summarize all viewpoints, not just their own
• Can attempt to present the top facet
• Pose a few practical affirmations, tasks,
  "homework" to work on for coming week
•  

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Participant

• Not just an observer
• Analogous to devotional singing
• Analogous to service project
• You may be the instrument Swami uses to help the
  group or a person in the group

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Participant

• Sharing our thoughts is a service to the group
• In the Study Circle, whatever we listen and
  assimilate in the mind should be distributed to
  others. In that way we show gratitude for what
  we have received. We should not listen and keep
  it to ourselves only for our benefit.
• 30-1-1985

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Participant

• Be earnest and have faith in importance of
  exercise
• Participate and contribute during Study Circle
  and sincerely make effort to put into practice
  the following week
• Realize the power of Unity.  Just as when we sing
  together it is more powerful and when we serve
  together it more powerful, when we study and
  practice teachings together there is power. 

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Possible Comments

• Give an opinion on what something in the passage
  meant.
• Pose a question that the passage brings to mind.
• Answer a question that someone previously posed.
• Discuss how you have practically struggled or
  succeeded in apply related teachings in day to
  day life

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• Mock Study Circle

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• Practical Points

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Practical Points - Starting

• Facilitator
• a formal welcome
• asks Swami to guide the group
• Briefly reviews purpose and rules
• Presenter
• gives theme and quote

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Practical Points - Overview

• No Experts
• Discipline of waiting turn
• Rotation of presenters
• Weekly Takeaways
• Practice log

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Common Pitfalls

• Perceived Expert
• Rush to finish agenda or syllabus
• Esoteric philosophical topic without practical
  relevance
• List of extensive terms requiring definition
• Veering off topic
• Personal therapy session
• Commenting on others statements
• Speaking out of order

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What is the ideal topic?

• Direct Sathya Sai Quotes
• Practical topics helpful in day to day lives
• Avoid esoteric philosophical concepts
• Avoid having to review extensive vocabulary terms
• Bible or Koran Passages Interpretations based
  upon Swamis quotes
• Holiday themes from various faiths
• Ramadan, Hanukah, Easter, Prashanti festivals

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• Going forward

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Best Practices

• Let Swami have the last word
• Suggest a life application exercise
• Start the following session with sharing from
  exercise
• Focus on how participants have overcome
  difficulties while following teachings

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Best Practices

• Video Introductions
• Swamis discourse for 10-15 minutes
• RadioSai video for 10-15 minutes
• Study circle format discussion needed after
  viewing video

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Best Practices

• Use practical topics of interest to group
• Parenting issues
• Marriage related issues
• Work related issues
• Teen/YA issues
• Multiple groups, each studying different topic

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Best Practices - Topics

• Value based topics
• Unity in Diversity (multi-faith topics)
• Spiritual significance
• Swamis teachings
• Festivals
• Center related topics
• Devotional singing
• Service
• Study Circle
• Universal, broad topics

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Best Practices Broad topics

• What is Love? Grace? Surrender? Forbearance?
• What is True friendship? Spirituality?
• How to apply Spirituality in my daily life?
• How to practice Patience practically in daily
  life?
• How to incorporate meditation into life?
• How to recognize the oneness in each other?
• Practicing the presence of Swami in daily life
• How to practice being the witness in daily life?
• What does transformation of the heart mean to
  you? How to put into practice?

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Best Practices Broad topics

• Why do we criticize others? How can we stop?
• How does jealousy interfere with relationships?
  How to remedy this tendency?
• Can you love others if you do not love yourself?
• What develops Self-Esteem?
• Discuss obstacles to practicing unity in thought
  word and deed?
• What are the causes of stress in our life?
• How to reduce stress in our life?

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• Experience Sharing

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Experience Sharing

• Reports
• Peninsula
• Sacramento
• Fremont
• Written reports (to be read out)
• Santa Rosa
• Reno
• Participant sharing
• Peninsula
• Central San Jose
• Fremont

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• Breakout Session

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Breakout session

• Count out 1, 2, 3 to form 3 groups
• Meet with groups after lunch

Grp Facilitator Presenter Report Out
1 Duncan Maneesha
2 Vijay Sai Krishnan Sai Krishnan
3 Kondal Madhura Giri
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• Things to consider.

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Promote Study Circle

• Study Circle workshop provide feedback
• Take information back to centers
• Present, Why Study Circle? to all center
  members
• Discuss ways to Improve Study Circles with SC
  participants
• Presentation on Roles/Tasks
• Discuss topic options
• Mock Study Circle 1
• Mock Study Circle 2
• Video Study Circle

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Promote Study Circle

• Facilitator Training Workshop?
• Region-wide Study Circle meeting?
• Create a database of SC materials
• Set up database
• Populate with information

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Feedback

• What did you like about the workshop?
• What points will you take back to your center?
• Please provide constructive suggestions for
  improvement.
• Would it be useful to have a Regional SC
  Facilitator training workshop? YES NO
• Should we have a Regional Study circle meeting
  for all center members? YES NO
• Can you share information on SC related topics
  (for the database)? YES NO 
• Please use the back if you have additional points
  to share.
• If you wish to share feedback anonymously,
• please do so on a separate sheet of paper. Thank
  you.
•  

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Offered at the Lotus Feet of Our Dear Lord Sathya
Sai Baba
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Please Provide Feedback