Pilgrimage to Prashanthi Nilayam from Chicago & Region 5 Journey from I to We to He
Pilgrimage Preparations Importance of the Pilgrimage Group Vs Individual trip Essential Requirements & Group Discipline Accountability and Preparations Regular attendance, tracking our progress
Importance of Pilgrimage Swami has invited all of us: Place all burdens on me and start the spiritual pilgrimage this very day Our unique chance: Meeting Swami Receiving His Blessings A successful pilgrimage
Preparations In preparation for this journey we will implement several activities to intensify our spiritual discipline over the next two months.
Group vs. Individual All pilgrims should follow through with the activities with all the strength and intensity that Sai expects from us! We should remember that although the effort is individual, the commitment is as a group
Grace and Effort My Grace is proportional to your effort. Try to win grace by reforming your habits, reducing your desires and defining your higher nature. One step makes the next step easier; that is the excellence of spiritual journey. With each step, your strength and confidence will increase, and you will get bigger and bigger installments of Grace.
Essential Requirements and Group Discipline 1) Have Faith With No Expectations! 2) Be United and Have Swami as Focus 3) Adhere to the Discipline of the Group 4) Participate in all the Group Sadhana and Unity-Building Activities 5) Participate in local and Parthi Service opportunities 6) Be from Region 5 and associated with a Sai Center in Region 5 7) Be with the Group in Prashanthi Nilayam for the ENTIRE trip June 28 afternoon darshan July 4 morning darshan
Essential Requirements and Group Discipline 8) Purchase Ticket (s) By May 15 th 9) Attend Pilgrimage Preparation meetings in your local area 10)Attend Mandatory Mini-Retreats in Chicago (May 16, June 6) 11)Learn Group Songs and Vedam Additional Requirements To Be Part of the Presentation: 12)Attend all Pilgrimage Preparation meetings in your local area and both Mini-Retreats 13)Attend additional small group practice sessions as needed (singing, instruments)
Accountability and Incentive Regular attendance Active participation Goals: Journey from I to We Support Individual Transformation Promote Spiritual Growth and Upliftment of all members Build Unity among all pilgrims Strengthen and Energize the Sai Centers Win Swami s Grace
Teams Group Sadhana and Unity-Building Team Service Team Logistics Team Presentation Program Team Presentation Offerings Team All teams will have local and Parthi duties.
Pilgrimage Preparations Group Sadhana and Unity- Building Team
Spiritual Discipline (Sadhana) and Unity Team All actions that we do should be pleasing to the Lord. In whatever action we perform, the question must be asked, "Will this please the Lord or not?" God means in effect your conscience. You should not do anything which does not give you self-satisfaction. Whatever you do that pleases God will be holy. Ganesh Chathurthi Discourse September 03, 1989
Team Overview Help with group implementation of three Spiritual Disciplines (Sadhana) Chant 21 Gayatri Mantras daily 15 min of silent sitting or meditation daily 30 min of reading or listening actively to Swami s words Coordinate unity building activities at meetings and retreats Facilitate group logo and name selection Collect personal experiences to present to Swami and share with group Maintain group progress to present to Swami Assist in creating group disciplines
Flight & Parthi Discipline Flight sadhana Coordinate seva dal volunteers not the process at the Mandir Facilitate group discipline
Spiritual Discipline To help all of us in the Group, 3 Spiritual disciplines have been chosen
21 Gayatri Mantras Daily (at a consistent time) Benefit: Gayatri mantra has three parts: praise, meditation and prayer. First, the Divine is praised, and then it is meditated upon in reverence and, lastly, prayer is offered to the Divine to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to awaken and strengthen the intellect. Chanting of the Gayatri mantra purifies the mind and confers devotion, detachment and wisdom. You should chant the Gayatri mantra everyday, in the morning, noon and evening. (Sathya Sai Speaks: Vol 33) Ideas: Chant with your family Chant with friends in person or on the phone Chant while commuting to work Chant while doing housework Chant while on lunch break
15 min of Silent Sitting or Meditation Daily (at a consistent times) Benefit: Quiet the mind Connect with Swami Prepare for silence and sitting on the floor in Prashanti Nilayam Ideas: Heart meditation beneficial for the world (on www.saiyausa.net under meditation at the bottom of the page) Light (Jyothi) meditation (on www.saiyausa.net under meditation at the bottom of the page) In the same place to keep the vibrations and train the body and mind Sit silently or meditate with family or local group Take a trip to a scenic place and meditate in nature
Read or Listen to Swami s teachings for 30 min Benefit: Sanctify our minds Good thoughts lead to good actions and words Reflect and act upon Swami s words Ideas: Download discourses to your portable music player (ipod, etc) Read during lunch or while commuting (if not driving ) Read with family or with a group Informal discussion with family or reading buddies on what was read Recommended readings: Prema Vahini (www.sssbpt.info) Chinna Katha (http://bababooks.org/chinnakatha1/index.html) Discourses (www.sathyasai.org)
Tracking http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=po W- xaanwsiiwem8fmq0vba&inv=saivanaja@ yahoo.com&t=6392238832618248765&guest Explain tracking and how it will be done Present to Swami Gayathri count Silent sitting/meditation minutes Pages read? Books read? Mins spent listening to His voice or reading His words
Tracking
Pilgrimage Preparations Service Team
Service to Man is Service to GOD
Role of Service Team To create a simple framework to engage all pilgrims in service locally before going to Parthi To identify and coordinate service activities during the group trip in Parthi
Goals of Service To promote our own spiritual upliftment To motivate ourselves to take part in service in our own community To engage the group in service in Parthi To create a volunteer base when we come back from Parthi
Suggested offering of 9 hours of group service activities before travel to Parthi Types of Service we can do Sai Organization Service National Youth Conference help Center set-up/clean-up Community Service Pilgrimage Service Framework Ongoing existing Center service-projects Large Scale, One-time projects Smaller Scale, ongoing projects
Pilgrimage Service Framework Propose to document the service activities of all centers in the Region and make a booklet as an offering to Swami
Project Ideas Large Scale Projects 30-50 or more volunteers participating Small Scale Projects 5-10 participants Parthi Service Projects: details are forthcoming National Youth Conference Ongoing Service Projects Miscellaneous Projects
National Youth Conference Transportation Friday, May 29: AM/Afternoon/PM- 10 cars Sunday, May 31: AM/Afternoon/PM- 8 cars Child Care Four hour shifts, Sat and Sun: 8AM-Noon and 1-5PM Food Prep Friday night: please contact Hina Gandhi if you re interested Materials needed: 10 flashlights
Ongoing Service Projects You may join ongoing service projects at any of the centers Please contact your respective service coordinators for more information
Miscellaneous Service Projects If you are working on a personal service project, please bring it to the attention of the Service Coordinators of your local centers. They may try to incorporate it in this Service Project Framework.
Service "Engage yourselves in service activity. Consider social service as service to God. This is the best way to earn God's Love. Love all and serve all. Your entire life will be sanctified thereby." - Sathya Sai Baba
Pilgrimage Preparations Logistics Team
Logistics Details Location for Mini Retreats Ramada Inn at Glendale Heights Pilgrim Travel and other Information Would be collected by the logistics team to plan travel / accommodation for pilgrims in India
Logistics Details - No chartered flights for the pilgrimage - No group travel rates on airlines. Choose the airline of your choice and price. - You have the option of making your air travel arrangement with your travel agent or you can use the travel agent identified on the FAQ (website) - Large group travel from Bangalore Airport to Parthi and back will be arranged by Logistic Team via Bus. - Individuals who arrive outside of group travel can take taxi service or other methods to arrive at the ashram. - Recommendation is to stay inside the ashram in Parthi. - Recommendation is to eat food at Sai Canteens in the ashram
Logistics Details Accommodation in Parthi Being worked out for registered pilgrims. Information needed for room registration will be collected from pilgrims Accommodation in Apartments outside ashram If you own an apartment, use it and indicate to us Accommodation in Hotels outside the ashram We do not recommend Hotel accommodation It is the responsibility of the individuals to secure rooms. Details of available hotels can be obtained via public website link: http://www.saibabaforbeginners.com
Logistics Details Food in Parthi Pilgrims dine at the canteens. Food For Mini-Retreat in Chicago Planned for lunch and snacks Food For Weekly Meetings Individuals and Families should plan for their food Coffee / tea will be available
Logistics Details Scarves and Badges Standard USA and Custom Scarves is being investigated Sai Logo Button is being reviewed Men s Uniforms in Parthi See FAQ on Website Women s Uniforms in Parthi Planning team is addressing feedback from devotees
Finance Details Common Expenditure Examples Mini Retreat Hall Rentals Paper Products for Food Stationary Booklet Printing Mailing Expenses Scarves & Badges Offerings like Prasadam at Parthi (tbd)* (Cost information to follow in next few slides..)
Finance Details Individual Expenditure examples (not included in common expenditures) - Local Transportation in India- Airport to Parthi/Return - Bus is preferred - Cars are also being considered - Accommodations In Parthi - Food at Parthi Canteens - Sundry expenses - Uniforms for Men - Uniforms for Ladies
Finance Details Voluntary / Anonymous Contributions towards Common Expenditure $10,000 Budgeted Individual Voluntary / Anonymous Contributions Around $50 ~ $100 Please contact your Liaison/Pilgrimage Coordinator for more details Note This cost does not include other individual expenses in Parthi Any additional cost related to Service Project will be addressed by Service Team and is not included in this estimate
Finance Details Expected overall cost of the trip per person Airline Ticket from Chicago to Bangalore $1500 ~ $1800 range Voluntary/Anonymous Contribution to common expense $50 ~ $100 range Individual Expense $100 ~$200 range Total cost lower range: $1600 Total cost upper range: $2100
Pilgrimage Preparations Presentation Offering Team
Offering Team Role Local preparation Facilitate local offering preparations Parthi preparation Facilitate Parthi offering preparations Weekly Group Letters to Swami Editorial task for all offerings made
Local Preparations Theme Based booklets Center Offerings based on the activities they conduct Each center 2 pages maximum (size 8 by 11 ) Submission Due Date May 16th Mini-Retreat Journey to Sai Booklet Offering to Swami about the preparation before our arrival Photographs, details about local preparations Weekly updates to be mailed to the offering team every Friday
Local Preparations Flower/Bouquet May 16th Mini Retreat each person will be given a petal/paper One can write their names and 2 lines of prayer/express gratitude Heart Based Card Made by SSE children Template design will be communicated to all coordinators by the end of next week Submission Due Date May 16th Retreat
Local Preparations Letters to Swami At every meeting (Mini Retreat and weekly meetings), everyone will write letters to Swami Weekly progress update to Swami by the Offering team
Parthi Preparations Planning Stage More to come
Pilgrimage Preparations Presentation Program Team
Our Effort + His Grace Dedicate 108% effort Work together in unity as a region Have fun, enjoy the process Feel Swami s presence through every step Leave the rest to Him Remember No formal approval has been given for a presentation There should be no expectations Pray for an presentation offering opportunity in His Divine presence
Presentation Framework Prepare for 1½ hours of Musical Offering 1 hour devotional songs ½ hour Bhajans Prepare and learn Vedam chanting Represent the diversity of our group Give opportunity for all pilgrims including Adults, Young Adults, SSE and Pre-SSE Create a collective offering from our Region
Presentation Framework Vedam Mantra Pushpam Narayana Suktham Shivopasana Mantra Musical Offering 4 Large group songs English, Hindi, Telugu (Swami s composition), English Bhajan Medley 2 SSE group songs 4 Small group songs Telugu, Spanish, English, Qawali Group Bhajans 2 SSE, 7 Adults/YA
Presentation Team Role Finalize songs, Vedam, Bhajans Facilitate group songs and Vedam learning Identify and Assign singers and instrumentalists, keeping Quality as the focus Make Audio and Text available for download
Preparations by Pilgrims Time and Commitment Time and commitment required from each individual to make a worthy offering for Swami Level of Practices Needed Individual Practices Local Group Practices Large centers - meet regularly for group practice Small centers - practice with nearby centers and with the audio Regional Mini Retreat Practices (May 16, June 6) Come prepared, practice the Vedam and songs prior to each retreat
Remember No Approval No Expectations Work in Unity and Love Pray to Swami for His guidance throughout this process
Pilgrimage Preparations Introduction of Liaison OR Pilgrimage Coordinators for each center
Pilgrimage to Prashanthi Nilayam May Swami Bless us as we take this pilgrimage to His Divine Lotus Feet Jai Sai Ram