An offering with reverence and love Slide 2 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 Slide 3 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.. Slide
4 Devotion Wing 1.Devotional program 2.Study circle 3.Newcomer
welcome and orientation 4.Altar 5.Library Slide 5 Feedback from
Centers 1.Improve Devotion program quality, provide guidelines
2.Improve Study Circle quality and increase participation 3.Improve
newcomer integration and outreach Slide 6 Challenges Low
energy/vitality/enthusiasm Low participation Long time center
members Parents Young adults Slide 7 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 Slide 8
Objectives Improve quality Improve experience Increase
participation Slide 9 Plan Study Circle workshop Devotion
Coordinators Study Circle Facilitators Study Circle Supporters Take
information back to centers to invigorate and increase
participation Slide 10 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 Slide 11 Agenda 10:00 - 10:103 Oms,
Devotional singing 10:10 - 10:20Opening 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 Slide 12 Agenda 12:30 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 2:10Breakout session 2:10 - 2:20 Closing remarks 2:20 - 2:30
Devotional Singing/prayers Provide Feedback, please! Slide 13
Sathya Sai Organization of USA National Devotional Coordinators
Meeting Orlando, Fl Oct 22, 2011 Sai Ideal Study Circle Slide 14
Swamis directives. Why Study Circle? Slide 15 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 Slide 16 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 Slide 17 Three
bodies, five sheaths Physical Gross Vital energy Mind Subtle
Intellect Bliss Causal 5 Sheaths 3 Bodies Slide 18 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 Slide 19 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 Slide 20 Three paths S erviceKarma A
dorationBhakthi I lluminationJnana Slide 21 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 Slide 22 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 Slide 23 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
Slide 24 Balance Spiritual Practice Service Devotional Singing
Slide 25 Balance Spiritual Practice Study Circle Devotional Singing
Service Slide 26 Ladder Service Goal Slide 27 Ladder Devotional
Singing Service Goal Slide 28 Ladder Study Circle Devotional
Singing Goal Service Slide 29 Study Circle Swamis thoughts.. Slide
30 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 Slide 31 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 Slide 32 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 Slide 33 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 Slide 34 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 Slide 35 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 Slide 36 Roles and Tasks Slide 37 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 Slide 38 Facilitator Requires skill Skill
comes with practice Skill improves with training Facilitator
training sessions? Slide 39 Facilitator tasks Set schedule of
presenters and topics Make announcements Reach out to YA reps
Encourage participation Keep on time Keep focused on topic Slide 40
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 Slide 41 Presenter Tasks 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 Slide 42 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
Slide 43 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 Slide 44 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. Slide 45 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 Slide 46 Mock Study
Circle Slide 47 Practical Points Slide 48 Practical Points -
Starting Facilitator a formal welcome asks Swami to guide the group
Briefly reviews purpose and rules Presenter gives theme and quote
Slide 49 Practical Points - Overview No Experts Discipline of
waiting turn Rotation of presenters Weekly Takeaways Practice log
Slide 50 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 Slide 51 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 Slide 52 Going forward Slide 53 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
Slide 54 Best Practices Video Introductions Swamis discourse for
10-15 minutes RadioSai video for 10-15 minutes Study circle format
discussion needed after viewing video Slide 55 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 Slide 56 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 Slide 57 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? Slide 58 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?
Slide 59 Experience Sharing Slide 60 Reports Peninsula Sacramento
Fremont Written reports (to be read out) Santa Rosa Reno
Participant sharing Peninsula Central San Jose Fremont Slide 61
Breakout Session Slide 62 Breakout session Count out 1, 2, 3 to
form 3 groups Meet with groups after lunch
GrpFacilitatorPresenterReport Out 1DuncanManeesha 2VijaySai
Krishnan 3KondalMadhuraGiri Slide 63 Things to consider. Slide 64
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 Slide 65
Promote Study Circle Facilitator Training Workshop? Region-wide
Study Circle meeting? Create a database of SC materials Set up
database Populate with information Slide 66 Feedback 1.What did you
like about the workshop? 2.What points will you take back to your
center? 3.Please provide constructive suggestions for improvement.
4.Would it be useful to have a Regional SC Facilitator training
workshop? YESNO 5.Should we have a Regional Study circle meeting
for all center members?YESNO 6.Can you share information on SC
related topics (for the database)?YESNO 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.
Slide 67 Offered at the Lotus Feet of Our Dear Lord Sathya Sai Baba
Slide 68 Please Provide Feedback
