JOURNEY THUS FAR

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2 JOURNEY THUS FAR

3 Sadhana An Inward Path Sadhana Chatushtaya (Four Spiritual Disciplines) Viveka (Discrimination between the transitory and eternal) Vairagya (Renunciation of the desire to enjoy the fruit of one s actions; non-attachment) Shat Sampatti (Six primary virtues) Mumukshatva (Longing for liberation through conquest of ignorance) Sama (Mind control) Dama (Body & Sense control) Uparathi (Withdrawal from sensory objects) Thithiksha (Forebearance) Shraddha (Unshakable Faith) Samadhana (Equanimity)

4 Mama Dharma My Duty Sadhana An Inward Path Time To Take Stock LOVE SOURCE, PATH, GOAL B.A.B.A. Be Alert Be Aware MAHASAMADHI Introspection Reconciliation

5 Taking Stock Last several years have been focused on aspects of Sadhana Building block towards inspiring / inculcating sense of Inner Strength to our SPIRITUAL INQUIRY External & Internal Discipline Be Aware Be Alert Immortality attained only thru Sacrifice Sai Into Action Love Is My Form Love: the Source, the Path and the Goal Bliss Is My Nature, Realize It My Duty Developing the mindset required for SPIRITUAL JOURNEY Sadhana - The Inward path The focus always has been, is and in the future should be SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, but concepts should not remain mere ideas We focus on cultivating this mindset further We focus on practical application We focus on staying on track no matter what curve ball life throws at us

6 Questions To Ponder Is there a difference between spiritual and secular/practical life? Are Swami s message and the various concepts we have studied applicable to our present station in life? Or is that to be left for later in life? How do we stay focused on our target amidst the cacophony of life and making a living? What is our target after all? What is the purpose of our life? Do we have integrity of thought, word and deed in this direction?

7 Questions To Ponder How do we stay confident and focused on the Self in light of severe competition everywhere around peer pressure at work and in society the need to stay recognized need to keep worrying of what others think about us Digital lifestyle has taken over our life -- social media in a subtle way has taken over our decision making processes Can Swami s 4S's help us to create a personalized framework that each one of us can use to live our lives grounded in the true reality of who we really are

8 Begin the Quest The Quest Of The SELF In the Geetha, Krishna declares: "Jnaathum, Dhrashtum, Praveshtum" (the three stages of knowing, seeing and experiencing in Self-Realisation) You have heard about something: that is Jnaathum You wish to see what you have heard about: that is Dhrashtum And then you wish to have the experience of what you have seen: that is Praveshtum Only when these three take place can the human being attain the Divine At present, you are merely studying the scriptures or listening to the expositions of scholars You must embark on an undertaking to ascertain whether what you have heard can be found and put into practice You have to begin the quest But where is the quest to be made? Not outside you. Everything is within you. All that is outside is a reflection of the Inner Being -- SSS26, Chapter7, Pg38

9 Study Circles for YEAR Theme: The Quest Of The SELF Sub-Topics: Self-confidence, Self-satisfaction, Self-sacrifice Self-confidence: Develop the greatest faith & confidence in your Big " S" - Divine Self Practice: Fearlessness, Equanimity Self-satisfaction: Develop satisfaction & contentment by focusing on the Big S Practice: Ceiling on Desires, W.A.T.C.H. Self-sacrifice: Develop sacrifice of the small s or the ego Practice: Give & Forgive, J.O.Y. - Self-less Service References: Sathya Sai Speaks

10 Swami said: You are 3 people: the one you think you are, the one others think you are, the one you really are Three qualifications are essential for listening to this exposition of the Bhagavad Gita: surrender(saranagati), onepointedness (ekagrata), and the sacrifice of worldly desires (vairagya) Ashanthi (Restlessness) -> Prashanthi (Absolute Peace) -> Prakanthi (Bright Spiritual Illumination) -> Param Jyothi (Supreme Divine Radiance)

11 The Quest of the SELF Self-Confidence (Ekagratha or One-pointedness) Fearlessness Equanimity The Quest of the SELF Not s but the S SSS->S Self-Satisfaction (Vairagya or Detachment) Ceiling On Desires W.A.T.C.H Self-Sacrifice (Sharanagathi or Surrender) Give & Forgive J.O.Y Selfless Service Practice Is More Important Than Precept Baba: SSS02, Ch 11, Pg 57

12 Self-Confidence Self-confidence - Develop the greatest faith and confidence in your Big 'S" - Divine Self Have you faith at least in yourself? Which is your Self? Your Self is God. You have faith in your judgement, your intelligence, your ability, because God within you tells you not to falter or fear. That assurance wells from within, from your basic truth, which is otherwise called God. It does not matter if you do not call it God; it is enough if you believe in yourself; that is the real test of theism. The body is the temple of God; in every body, God is installed, whether the owner of the body recognizes it or not. It is God that inspires you to good acts, that warns you against the bad. Listen to that Voice. Obey that Voice and you will not come to any harm. SSS 2.3: February 27, 1961 Your journey starts with self-confidence and ends with the realization of the Self. That Self is you; it is God. This is who you really are. Selfconfidence is unwavering love for the divinity within. What will help you to develop this confidence? Be equal-minded. Be satisfied with what you have. Don't hanker for anything outside. That is a great truth. Always have complete faith in God, Who takes care of everything.

13 Self-Satisfaction Self-satisfaction - Develop the greatest satisfaction in one s Big "S" - Divine Self Uparathi is the process of turning the mind inward and purifying one s thoughts and feelings. By these means of self-control and self-regulation, one should try to get Selfsatisfaction. This comes when one lives up to the dictates of his conscience. Make your conscience your master. SSS 21.15: June 23, 1988 Four steps are laid down in the scriptures to help man succeed in this effort: discrimination between the permanent and the impermanent, withdrawal from the process of catering to the senses, positive control of the feelings, thoughts and pursuits, and incessant yearning for liberation from all bonds. SSS 12.36: June 10, 1974

14 Self-Sacrifice Self-sacrifice- sacrifice of the false /small "s" or ego God is love, and love is selflessness. Selflessness is the abolition of all sense of the ego and separateness, of all spurious identification with the isolationist life of that counterfeit thing called self (ego); self (ego) is separateness, and separateness is the denial of wholeness, holiness, God. The Godward process called self-sacrifice is, in its essence, love. For God is love, and love alone can lead to Him. Love must be totally selfless to be Godward, to be Divine. Its criterion must be, the Beloved, first ; its technique must be your happiness before mine. The way to happiness is to forget oneself and to remember God. The Atma-tathwa (Atma Principle) can be realized if only one could shed the feeling of I and Mine. Today, many people make efforts to realize Atmatathwa. But their efforts do not succeed since they are unable to get rid of the feeling of I and Mine. In fact, they are the obstacles to selfrealization. First and foremost, one has to remove the feeling of I (ego). Then realization will dawn on you. The religious symbol of Christianity also denotes this cutting off of ego ( ). The ego-centric assertion of I is the root cause for all sorrows, unrest, and difficulties. One has to realize this truth.

15 The Eternal Charioteer - Swami Swami has said and explained ALL THAT needs to be heard and understood it is for us to pick up pace and put this treasure into practice

16 REGIONAL CALENDAR (FOR CONSIDERATION)

17 The Quest Of The SELF SSS->S Fearlessness Self-Confidence Equanimity Self-Satisfaction Ceiling On Desires W.A.T.C.H Give & Forgive Self-Sacrifice J.O.Y Selfless Service

18 September 2017 Fearlessness October 2017 November 2017 Equanimity December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 Ceiling On Desires W.A.T.C.H March 2018 Give & Forgive April 2018 May 2018 J.O.Y Selfless Service

19 REGION 1, USA, ZONE 1

20 Put Into Daily Practice Study Circle Topics WORLD INDIVIDUAL FAMILY COMMUNITY SAI CENTER WORK PLACE / COLLEGE / SCHOOL

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