IDEAL SATHYA SAI CENTRE 1. Opening prayers (1 minute) 2. Introducton-please introduce yourself and the topic briefy. (3 minutes) Topic Intro- Pointers: There are Sathya Sai Centres in more than 126 countries today. Their potental as spiritual powerhouses and lighthouses for individual and societal peace and harmony, based on Swami s message of universal love and service is immense. (Reference to John Hislop s conversaton with Swami on Sai Centres) Sathya Sai Centres are consttuted by devotees who wish to undertake collectve sadhana (spiritual practces). Hence for Ideal Sai Centres to fourish, the necessary factors are Ideal devotees and Ideal actvites- both based on Swami s Divine Injunctons. 3. Short Sathya Sai Story (2 minutes) Facilitator to share a short, sweet/ humorous Sai experience to remember His grace and love. The evening bhajans (devotonal singing) were in session in the Mandir Bhajan Hall in Prasanthi Nilayam, and Swami was seated on His Throne at the front of this Hall. One of the boys started singing the popular bhajan, Sai Pitha Aur Matha Sai (Sai! You are my father and mother). A couple of lines into this song, Swami got up from His Seat and exited the bhajan hall, much to the disappointment of the singer as he wanted Swami to hear his song. The boy felt that perhaps Swami did not like his singing that day. Afer a while however, Swami returned to the bhajan hall and joined the session. Unknown to the boy, and many others in the bhajan hall, Swami went to visit the boy s mother who lived in the Ashram. She hadn t been keeping well over the past few days and was unable to come for Darshan. Swami blessed her profusely and gave her Padanamaskaar before returning to the bhajan hall. Later He said to the boy, When you were addressing Me as Mother and Father in your song, I couldn t just sit here any longer! I had to go and answer your mother s prayers! She is very happy now. Are you happy? And what could this devotee say to the Loving Lord, except wash His Feet with his tears of grattude! Every prayer and every song, every thought and every act, when ofered to Him with a simple and pure heart, He accepts instantaneously and flls us with immeasurable bliss.
4. Objectves- review with partcipants (5 minutes) Facilitator to review these with their group members. 1. Understand at a deeper level the purpose and role of a Sathya Sai Centre 2. Recognize that service, devoton and wisdom are interconnected. 3. Appreciate the sweetness of chantng God s name and the bliss it confers. 4. Resolve to treat everyone who comes to the Sai Centre as brothers and sisters, and with love, understanding and respect. 5. Questons for refecton/self-assessment (15 minutes) Icebreaker/ warm-up questons. 1. What is the purpose of a Sai Centre as you see it? 2. As devotees, do you think we have some role(s) in ensuring that our Centres functon as Ideal Sathya Sai Centres? If so, how would you describe these roles? 3. The 9-Point Code is a simple formula that integrates the 3 paths towards realizaton i.e. those of devoton, service and wisdom - into daily practce. What has been your experience of this Code a) in your personal life; and b) at your Sai Centre. 4. How can we learn to expand our love whilst working at the Sai Centre? 5. Are you familiar with the 10 guiding principles given by Swami? Share one or two that you practce. 6. What has Swami said on the topic and sub-topics? (5-7 minutes) Coordinator(s) to research Swami s teachings and other appropriate sources. Kindly include references. Experiences or stories can be included. [You can request a delegate volunteer to read them out loud. You can add more quotes regarding the sub-topics and share them if tme permits.] 1. You know that these organisatons---seva Samithis, Bhajana Mandalis, Seva Sanghams---are for awakening in man the consciousness of the Divinity inherent in him and to encourage him to cultvate it, so that he could blossom into a real Sadhaka and then into a Sadhu (detached, devoted, virtuous, wise, aspirant), and fnally into a Liberated Personality merged in the Supreme. - SSS 7:46, 20-12-1967 2. I must say plainly that ninety out of a hundred among you have not clearly visualised the purpose for which I have allowed you to form these Organisatons. It is not to give some people places of authority or power, or for ensuring fame and publicity for Me. It is to build upon the earth the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men on strong foundatons. This must be clearly grasped by all of you. You are not engaged in social service through these organisatons; you are engaged in your own service. All the items of work are aimed at expanding your heart and purifying it. - SSS Vol 8: 43, 21-11-1968
3. It is the code of conduct which is responsible for the Organisaton moving forward growing from strength to strength. The ofce-bearers should exercise maximum care to see that the code of conduct is adhered to and guide others also in the right path. When a cook in a house works with integrity, the master on his own will entrust him with the keys of the house. Similarly, God also will appreciate only men with integrity. The desire to please God should be the fundamental motve. SSS 16:03; 19-01-1983 4. "The devoton of an individual is open to suspicion if he has love for God but does not pay heed to God's word. Desire for God but neglect of His injunctons cannot be the true characteristc of devoton" SS 1979, Ch. 8, The Word of God 5. It is only when all actons are done as an ofering to God that Anapeksha (desirelessness) prevails. When such a feeling flls the heart of the devotee, the Divine confers beattude on him. Such a devotee is dear to the Lord. If you want to earn the love of the Lord, you have to render service to anyone, anywhere, as an ofering to the Lord. - SSS 23:31, 20-11-1990 6. The essence of Bhakt is Love and not formal exercises in japa or worship of various kinds. Worship should be ofered to the Divine who resides in all beings. Love is God: live in love. Love is the means of realising the bliss of the Self, which is centered in ourselves. It need not be sought elsewhere. It can be found within one's self when all thoughts are controlled and the mind is turned inwards. Dedicate all actons to the Lord. This is the highest knowledge. It is the sumnum bonum of existence. Love should become a way of life. That alone is true devoton. -SSS 19:22, 8-10-1986 7. "What is a 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 them. Like a round-table conference. Each person gives their point of view, and fnally values are derived from this. If there is just reading, there is doubt. But if each one gives his view, doubts will be answered. The topic is viewed; the study circle looks at diferent facets. It is like a diamond with its diferent facets, but there is one facet that is fat, the top facet, and from this all can be viewed. To discover the top facet is the task of the study circle. Conversatons with Sathya Sai Baba by Hislop. 8. Let all Faiths exist; let them fourish and let the Glory of God be sung in all the languages and in a variety of tunes. Respect the diferences between the Faiths and recognize them as valid as long as they do not extnguish the fame of Unity. The basic Truth in all religions, irrespectve of country or race, is One and the same. All religions exhort man to cleanse the heart of malice, greed, hate and anger. Swami s message at the Interfaith Conference, Prasanthi Nilayam, 22-07-2005 9. The proper plan of study is reading, refecton, and regular applicaton in life. Study is work. Inquiry into the value and applicability of what is studied is worship ; the experience of the validity and value of the practce is wisdom. SSS 12:30, 3 March 1974
7. Discussion questons (20 minutes) 1. The main objectve of a Sai Centre is to foster God Consciousness amongst its members and in the community around it. Please discuss how, in a mult-cultural and global context, this sacred objectve can be achieved by a Sai Centre- A. Through Devotonal Singing (bhajans, prayers, chantng, music, interfaith etc.) B. Through Study Circles (Sathya Sai Speaks, Summer Showers, Vahinis, RadioSai, Sanathana Sarathi, Other Sai Literature, Other Scriptures) C. Through Service actvites (Healthcare, Aquacare, Sociocare, Envirocare) D. Through Educatonal actvites (SSE, SSEHV, Leadership Programmes etc.) 2. In your experience, what is the most important quality of an ideal devotee? Specifcally, what spiritual practces will help us to develop that quality? 8. Actvity (optonal) 1. Master the.. mind, Be a.. 2. lives by giving and forgiving, lives by getng and forgetng. 3..all,..all 4...in the Forest; in Society 5. Do all acts as oferings to.. 6..of Educaton is. 7. the Master,..the Devil,..to the End,..the Game 8. Tell me your.., and I shall tell you what you are 9. Speak., practse 10. God is.., Live in.. 11. is selfessness, Selfshness is 12. All life is.my Dear Son, Be to everyone 13. There is only..religion, the religion of. 14. Let the diferent.. exist, let them fourish and let the glory of God be sung in all.. and in a variety of. 9. Actonable goals (15 minutes) Coordinator(s) to prepare questons based on topic & sub-topics that are direct and will elicit responses to encourage delegates to commit to actonable goals. Document the responses as this will be included in the summary report that Coordinators will submit on fnal day.
1. What should I do to be an ideal Sathya Sai devotee? 2. I will contribute positvely to the study circle at my Centre in the following ways: a. b. c. 3. I will contribute positvely to the devotonal singing at my Centre in the following ways: a. b. c. 4. I will contribute positvely in bringing out the universality of Swami s teachings and SSIO at my Centre: 5. I partcipate actvely in the following Service actvity at my Centre: 10. Summary (5 minutes) Summarize the highlights from the workshop, connect the discussions, actonable goals back to the objectves that was introduced at the beginning. Have a scribe record in detail as this will be included in your report on the fnal day. Keep the summary simple and tangible so that the delegates will remember.