Regular study of Sathya Sai Baba literature

“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.”

• “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

Daily meditation and prayer.

• Daily meditation and prayer.

• Devotional singing/prayer with family members once per week.

• Participation in Sai Spiritual Education by children of the family.

• Participation in community service and other programmes of the Organisation.

• Regular attendance at devotional meetings conducted by the Organisation.

• Regular study of Sathya Sai Baba literature.

• Use of soft, loving speech with everyone.

• Avoidance of talking ill of others, especially in their absence.

• Practice of the principles of “ceiling on desires”…..

Devotional program

• Devotional program

• Study circle

• Newcomer welcome and orientation

• Altar

• Library

Improve Devotion program quality, provide guidelines

• Improve Devotion program quality, provide guidelines

• Improve Study Circle quality and increase participation

• Improve newcomer integration and outreach

Low energy/vitality/enthusiasm

• Low energy/vitality/enthusiasm

• Low participation

• Long time center members
• Parents
• Young adults

Logistics

• 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

Improve quality

• Improve quality

• Improve experience

• Increase participation

Study Circle workshop

• Study Circle workshop

• Devotion Coordinators
• Study Circle Facilitators
• Study Circle Supporters

• Take information back to centers to invigorate and increase participation

Information sharing from the National Devotion Coordinators' meeting

• 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

10:00 - 10:10 3 Oms, Devotional singing

• 10:00 - 10:10 3 Oms, Devotional singing

• 10:10 - 10:20 Opening remarks

• 10:20 - 10:45   “Why Study circle?”  

• 10:45 - 11:00     Roles, tasks

• 11:00 - 11:20    Mock Study circle

• 11:20 - 11:30    Practical points

• 11:30 - 11:40     Going forward 

• 11:40 - 12:30      Experience sharing 

•  

12:30 - 1:00       Lunch

• 12:30 - 1:00       Lunch

• 1:00 - 2:10 Breakout session

• 2:10 - 2:20         Closing remarks

• 2:20 - 2:30         Devotional Singing/prayers

• Provide Feedback, please!

• Why Study Circle?

“We see a large number of living beings in this world. But none of them has the greatness, wisdom and discrimination of man.

• “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

“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.”

• “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

“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.”

• “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

“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.”

• “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

Service Karma

• Service Karma

• Adoration Bhakthi

• Illumination Jnana

“Karma leads to the consciousness of the ever-present, immanent, all powerful God.

• “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

“…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.”

• “…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

Q. You have been saying that Jnana is essential. Well, what exactly is the function of 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

• Swami’s thoughts..…

“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 them—like a round table conference. Each person gives his point of view, and finally values are derived from this.”  

• “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 them—like a round table conference. Each person gives his point of view, and finally values are derived from this.”  

• Conversation With SSB, pp.125-126

“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.”

• “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

“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.”

• “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

“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.…

• “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

“Theoretical knowledge is a burden, unless it is practiced, when it can be lightened into wisdom and assimilated into daily life.” 

• “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

“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.

• “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

• Roles and Tasks

Devotion Coordinator

• 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

Requires skill

• Requires skill

• Skill comes with practice

• Skill improves with training

• Facilitator training sessions?

Set schedule of presenters and topics

• Set schedule of presenters and topics

• Make announcements

• Reach out to YA reps

• Encourage participation

• Keep on time

• Keep focused on topic

Encourage all to contribute

• 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

Prepares topic for week

• Prepares topic for week

• Key is to be practical  
• Minimize use of foreign words, esoteric concepts
•  

• 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

•  

Not just an observer

• 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

Sharing our thoughts is a service to the group

• 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

Be earnest and have faith in importance of exercise

• 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. 

Give an opinion on what something in the passage meant.

• 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

• Mock Study Circle

• Practical Points

• Facilitator

• a formal welcome
• asks Swami to guide the group
• Briefly reviews purpose and rules

• Presenter

• gives theme and quote

• No Experts

• Discipline of waiting turn

• Rotation of presenters

• Weekly Takeaways

• Practice log

Perceived Expert

• 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

Direct Sathya Sai Quotes

• 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 Swami’s quotes

• Holiday themes from various faiths

• Ramadan, Hanukah, Easter, Prashanti festivals

• Going forward

Let Swami have the last word

• 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

Video Introductions

• Video Introductions

• Swami’s discourse for 10-15 minutes
• RadioSai video for 10-15 minutes

• Study circle format discussion needed after viewing video

Use practical topics of interest to group:

• Use practical topics of interest to group:

• Parenting issues
• Marriage related issues
• Work related issues
• Teen/YA issues

• Multiple groups, each studying different topic

Value based topics

• Value based topics

• Unity in Diversity (multi-faith topics)

• Spiritual significance
• Swami’s teachings
• Festivals

• Center related topics

• Devotional singing
• Service
• Study Circle

• Universal, broad topics

What is Love? Grace? Surrender? Forbearance?

• 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?

Why do we criticize others? How can we stop?

• 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?

• Experience Sharing

Reports

• Reports

• Peninsula
• Sacramento
• Fremont

• Written reports (to be read out)

• Santa Rosa
• Reno

• Participant sharing

• Peninsula
• Central San Jose
• Fremont

• Breakout Session

Count out 1, 2, 3 to form 3 groups

• Count out 1, 2, 3 to form 3 groups

• Meet with groups after lunch

• Things to consider….

Study Circle workshop – provide feedback

• 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

• Facilitator Training Workshop?

• Region-wide Study Circle meeting?

• Create a database of SC materials

• Set up database
• Populate with information

What did you like about the workshop?

• 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.

•