Transcript Slide 1

Heart to Heart
Interactive Workshop Self‐Development
National Orientation & Welcome Day 2012
Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation UK
Objectives
1. To be aware of the process of self‐
development whilst on a spiritual journey
2. To reflect on the shared experiences in facing
the challenges to self‐development
3. To identify some tools that ensure success and
fulfilment to those practising
self‐development
‘This Organisation must elevate the human in to Divine’- SSS Speaks Vol.7
Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation UK
Structure
3 parts
• PART 1-
Quick recap of the terms‐ spiritual,
self‐development, and service.
• PART 2-
Recognise the challenges faced
along the way
• PART 3-
Discuss the tools that aid and
ensure successful self‐development
Please keep your comments brief;
this will allow everyone to participate
Do not be part-time devotees; be ever Sadhakas and Sevakas- Baba
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General Comments
• The motive and attitude behind this Workshop is
one of Sharing & Learning only: NOT TEACHING
• There isn’t anything in this that is new or previously
unknown
• All scenarios are fictional and situational
• Let us keep Bhagawan firmly in our hearts and
minds in this Workshop.
‘All individuals are expressions of My Will’ – Baba SSS Speaks Vol.8, p29
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Part 1
Sai Organisation is for Spiritual
or Self‐ Development
National Orientation & Welcome Day 2012
Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation UK
Objectives
• Reiterate the Purpose of the SSSS Organisation
• Understand the terms ‘ Spiritual’ and ‘Self
Development’
• Understand the role of activity in ‘Self‐
Development’
‘Purpose of the Organisation is to bring one closer to God’- Baba
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Scenario
Sai, Raju, and Mike are active
workers who have just come out of
their Regional Meeting and walking
back to their cars...
Be always in the attitude of servants; that is the best training
to become masters- Baba
Discussion Pointers 1
• Which spiritual qualities come across well in
this scenario?
• Which ones from the 9‐point code of conduct
are missing?
• The context and nature of our Organisation is
spiritual. What does ‘spiritual’ mean?
Sai Organisation is a ‘Spiritual’ Organisation
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Spirituality
• Spiritual or Spirituality means
‘God-Centredness’ or ‘God-Consciousness’.
• Any activity undertaken- be it bhajans, study
circles, meditation or service- as an offering
of worship to God, and thus establishing one
firmly in the awareness and experience of
this Divinity, is spiritual.
‘All activity and discipline is Sadhana: Mental clean-up!’- Baba
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Spirituality
‘Truth about oneself is to be learnt first. When
one does not know one’s own Truth, how can one judge or deal with
others? When man knows that he is the Indestructible, Eternal
Atman, he is free from fear. Truth can shine forth only from a purified
mind and a clarified intellect. The units of the Organisation must be
ever active in following and observing the disciplines laid down for
these two processes. Man has to overcome the animal in him. The
beast (Pasu) has to be laid low and GOD (Pasupati), the Master of all
beings, installed in the heart. This aim has to be constantly borne in
mind by the Organisation and its members; the journey towards it
has to be steady and fervent.’ SSS Speaks Vol .10 p44
Sai Organisation is a ‘God-Centred’ Organisation
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Discussion Pointers 2
• What does “self development “ mean?
• Are service and spirituality different?
What is the purpose of our Organisation?
Sai Organisation is a ‘God-Centred’ Organisation
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Spirituality- Service
People say that service of man is service of God, that Manava Seva
is Madhava Seva. That is a true statement. But though service of
humanity is holy, unless it is merged in the bigger ideal, men will
not benefit however huge the service. Mere repetition of the slogan
is useless, if service is done without faith in the divinity of man, and
with an eye on name, fame, and fruits of one’s action. Whatever
action one undertakes, if one has as constant companion the
contemplation of the Lord and if one has faith in the essential
divinity of man, then the statement about ‘Service of man being
Service of God’ is justified- Prema Vahini p79
‘God-Centred Work’ elevates good work into Service or Seva- Baba
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Spirituality- Service
There is however a deeper significance in the word ‘service’ and all
should understand it. It is just not doing some service, good though it
may be. Service does not simply mean doing something good for
others. Thus each one of you should cultivate that attitude and spirit
of service, that whatever service you are rendering to others is
service rendered unto God Himself. The service should be free from
all selfish motives, and you should never think of reward for such
activities. Neither should you expect, or desire gratitude from the
person you serve. Everything you do, you have to do as worship of
God- Sanatana Sarathi July 1980
‘God serves; He allows you to claim that you have served’- Baba
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Key Messages 1
‘ The sole objective of the Sathya Sai Organisation is to
enable man to discover his innate divinity, regain his
self‐confidence and faith in God. The power and strength
derived from the faith in self, which itself is from the Faith
in God, will be enduring and ever sustaining. The
objective of the Organisation is to make people again
become aware of this truth and live in that awareness.
Truth(God) is One. The unity of all faiths is the main plank
of Sai Organisation.’
Bhagawan Baba, Sevadal, 1983 p4
Truth about Oneself is to be learnt first- Baba
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Key Messages 2
‘The Organisation is intended to broaden your
love, to channelize your activities through
devoted service. It has not been devised to
parade devotion, or collect devotees to canvass
for some new‐fangled breed. It is dedicated to the
great task of progressively aiding people to
realise their Reality and merge in it.’
Sathya Sai Speaks Vol.3, p44
‘God is Love, Love is God. Live in Love’- Baba
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Part 2
Obstacles to Self
Development
National Orientation & Welcome Day 2012
Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation UK
Objectives
• Recognise the traits and tendencies that
hamper spiritual growth, and thus need to be
overcome
• Recognise the root cause for these behaviour
patterns
Part 2 - Obstacles to Self Development
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Background
‘You must have the firm belief that the aim
of this Organisation is to remove the
obstacles that keep man away from God,
that separate Manavathwa from
Madhavathwa. There can be no human: It
is all Divine. This Organisation must elevate
the human into the Divine’‐
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.7 p324
Part 2 - Obstacles to Self Development
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Scenario
The following Role Play involves discussion
amongst members of planning team for
Swami’s Birthday celebrations.
Examine the springs of action; disinfect them from all trace of ego- Baba
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Discussion Pointers 1
1. What are your feelings as you watched
this scenario unfold?
2. What tendencies and attitudes did your
mind notice?
Man has to overcome the animal in him- Baba
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Discussion Pointers 2
3. What does your intellect say is the root cause
for the behaviour of Saravanan, Bhavin….and
Amit?
4. What is the correct attitude to adopt?
Truth shines forth from a purified mind and clarified intellect- Baba
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Key Messages 1
‘The greatest evil that undermines the units of this
Organisation is pride and the jealousy that it
engenders. When one person exudes the pride that he
alone can sing bhajans well among the group,
naturally others develop anger, jealousy, hate, malice
and such other deleterious traits. Beware of Pride; be
always aware that you are but instruments in My
Divine Mission of Dharmasthapana: Revival of
Righteousness. Try to be more and more efficient as
such instruments.’
– Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.7, p181
Spiritual Pride is the most poisonous of all varieties of Pride- Baba
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Key Messages 2
‘I find that, after these units have started working,
the cordiality that prevailed previously has
disappeared. Differences of opinion are being
exaggerated, tempers are getting frayed, and
misunderstandings and factions are raising their
heads. Men who were together are drifting apart.
‘Tat’ and ‘Twam’, that and this, are the same; but
you are forgetting this and becoming distant from
this....’ SSS Speaks Vol 6, p262
Do not infect the Associations of Aspirants for My Grace with
virus of rivalry and factions- Baba SSS Vol. 7, p154
Key Messages 2 ….
....When you approach the senses, the spirit is far;
when you approach the spirit, the senses will be afar.
Attach yourself to the sensory and the worldly‐ that is
to say, develop apeksha‐ and you bind yourselves with
the chain of likes and dislikes. Detach yourselves from
the craving for fame and comfort‐ that is to say,
develop upeksha‐ and you are free.’
– Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.6 , p262
‘Conflict and discord in the world will cease when people learn to
practice sense-control’- Baba
Part 3
Self Development for
Spiritual Fulfilment
National Orientation & Welcome Day 2012
Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation UK
Objectives
• Understand how to overcome the obstacles and
achieve the purpose and objectives of our
human life?
– By influencing our individual behaviour – To be, To do
– and thereby Organisational behaviour – To see, To tell
• Identify tools and tips that help change
behaviour
‘One must become a model by personal example’- Baba
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Individual Behaviour
Sow a thought, reap an action
Sow an action, reap a tendency,
Sow a habit, reap a character
Sow a character, reap a destiny
You are verily the makers of your destiny
– Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
‘WE ARE WHAT WE REPETITIVELY DO’‐ Aristotle
‘Leaders should do and show what they want others to follow’- Baba
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Bhagawan’s ‘WATCH’
Method of
Transformational Leadership
Watch your Words, Actions, Thoughts,
Character, Heart
– Become aware of this every time we look at a
watch.
– Awareness progressively becomes a habit by
repetitive behaviour
‘Be intent on the development of the man-mind, not the monkey- mind’
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‘WATCH’
Transformational Leadership
• WATCH method of leadership is a
value‐oriented transformational process of an
individual. Thus, one leads oneself first and
foremost.
Love + Words
Love + Action
Love + Thought
Love + Discrimination
‘Love is My Form, and so is yours’- Baba
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= Truth (Sathya)
= Righteousness (Dharma)
= Peace (Shanti)
= Non-violence (Ahimsa)
‘WATCH’
Transformational Leadership
• Being a transformational process, the method
aids in bringing about sustained
self‐development.
• Decision making and behaviour are thus
guided by shared values, rather than merely
by the leaders ‘orders’.
‘Watch for Divinity that is latent in every being’- Baba
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‘WATCH’
Transformational Leadership
‘Leaders should do and show what they want
others to follow. Leaders should not be like
history or geography teachers, who just place
facts before the students, but should be like
drill masters, who demonstrate and show
everyone the exercises. Likewise they should
be good, do good and see good’
– Sevadal 2/81 p9
‘In My Institutions, minds must mutually harmonize’- SSS Speaks Vol. 7 p159
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Watch Your Words
• Sound is Sacred energy that makes
subconscious recordings, affecting
behaviour.
• Main causes of discord and conflict
– Carelessly spoken words
– Heartlessly written words (emails)
‘Cleanse your speech of cynicism and sarcasm’- Baba
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Golden Rules –
Ten Commandments of the Tongue
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Thou shalt not gossip;
Thou shalt not use a multitude of empty words;
Thou shalt not boast;
Thou shalt not flatter;
Thou shalt not grumble;
Thou shalt not backbite or slander;
Thou shalt not mock or make fun;
Thou shalt not lie;
Thou shalt not swear and shout;
Thou shalt not argue in anger .
Engage the toungue in the constant repetition of the Divine Name
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Golden Rules
Watch Your Words
• ‘You may not always oblige, but you must always
speak obligingly’
• Speak Truth, Speak with love and pleasingly, Do
not speak that fact which may sound unpleasant.
• Use emails for disseminating positive
communication only.
• Delay pressing the ‘send’ button by 24 hours for
negative emails. Better still! Press the ‘discard’
button!
‘Faultless people are unable to find faults in others’- Baba
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Scenario‐ Effective
(non) Communication
Mrs A helps in the ladies kitchen at a Sai centre
and other ladies often talk in their native dialect,
which Mrs A does not understand. They can
speak English as well. She feels excluded and
unwelcome by the other ladies.
• How would you feel?
• What could be some of the reasons that this is
happening?
‘Remember all are sons and daughters of Sai Maatha (Mother)’- Baba
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Swami’s Examples
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Key Message
‘Speak the truth, but speak pleasantly. Simply
because a statement will be welcome to the
listener, don’t speak it out to win approval; if
speaking truth will cause grief or pain, keep silent.
That is the vow of truth in ordinary daily life. Don’t
have hypocrisy or crookedness in your speech.
Both unpleasant truth and pleasant untruth have
to be avoided’‐
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.6 , p 104
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Key Message
‘Speaking obligingly means that you have to
cleanse your speech of cynicism and sarcasm, and
be sincere and sweet. You may differ from
co‐workers on methods and programmes, but this
should not leave a scar on your heart or theirs.
Office bearers are guides who walk the path they
wish others to take; they shall not command or
punish, they can only persuade and advise.’
– Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.10, p222‐224
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Watch your Actions
• Type of Actions performed
– Sensory or Binding Actions (Vishaya Karmas)
– Liberating Actions (Shreyo Karma)
• Motives and Attitudes of Action performed
– 100% Involvement, Zero% Attachment= Karma Yoga
– Seva = Service with love for God, and faith in the
divinity of human beings
– Humility, special love and care, selfless intentions,
joyful
‘Have the conviction that I am everywhere, watching everything’- Baba
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Scenario 1 – Love in Action
A young man influenced by Bhagawan’s Message of
Universal Love has been visiting a Sai centre for
Group devotional singing. He begins to feel
uncomfortable after a few weeks. He felt the whole
setup was geared towards Hindu worship. Now he
has stopped attending Group devotional singing and
centre activities and worships at home instead.
– What could be some of the reasons that this is
happening?
– What steps could be taken to avoid this?
‘Group Bhajan must be arranged to suit the convenience of the
locality and the people’ – SSS Speaks Vol. 6, p 180
Scenario 2 – Love in Action
A fellow‐devotee who has a disability attends a Sai
function. There were no lifts at the venue, and he thus
could not participate in the workshops being conducted on
the upper floors. He feels that people with disabilities are
not valued or supported at these functions, as similar
things happened on many previous occasions too.
– What could be some of the reasons that this is happening?
– What steps could be taken to avoid this happening
again?
Always try to put yourself in the position of the other and judge your action
against that background. You won’t be wrong then’- SSS Speaks Vol.7, p96
Swami’s Examples
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Key Messages
‘Do not serve for the sake of reward, attracting attention, or
earning gratitude, or from a sense of pride at your own
superiority of skill, wealth, status or authority. Serve, because
you are urged by Love. When you succeed, ascribe the success
to the Grace of God, who urged you on, as Love within you.
When you fail, ascribe the failure to your own inadequacy,
insincerity or ignorance. Examine the springs of action,
disinfect them from all trace of ego. Do not throw the blame
on the recipients of Seva, or on your collaborators and
co‐workers, or on God.’
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.7, p54
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Key Messages
‘God will not ask you what Seva did you
do? He will ask with what motive did you
do it? What was the intention that
prompted it? God seeks quality‐ the
quality of the heart, purity of the mind and
the holiness of the motive.’
‐Bhagawan Baba, Sanatana Sarathi December 1981
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Key Messages
‘When you offer milk to a hungry child, or a blanket
to a shivering brother on the pavement, you are but
placing a gift of God into the hands of another gift
of God! You are reposing the gift of God in a
repository of the Divine Principle! God serves; He
allows you to claim that you have served! Without
His Will, not a single blade of grass can quiver in the
breeze. Fill every moment with gratitude to the
Giver and the Recipient of all gifts.’
‐Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.7, p55
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Watch Your Thoughts
• Mind is a bundle of thoughts ‐ ‘Master the mind and
be a Mastermind’.
• Thoughts mould desires‐ ‘Peace of mind means
absence of desires; Peace of mind really means
complete purity of consciousness’
• Mind determines self‐image, personality, behaviour,
and circumstances. If thoughts are positive,
self‐image and behaviour too will be positive.
‘Think God, Desire God, Attain God’
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Thought Regulation
– Role of Food
– Role of Breath regulation (Pranayama)‐
– Rate of thoughts changes in proportion to rate of
breathing
– Role of Seva, Satsang, Bhakti, Namasmarana‐ part of
9‐point Code (Service, Holy Company, Love for God,
Chanting the Divine Name)
SSS = Silent Sitting, Self Study, Self Examination
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Key Message
Dust if you think, dust you are;
God if you think, God you are;
Verily thoughts decide who you are,
Decide your thoughts carefully.
-Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Watch your Character
• Development of Individual Character needs a great deal
of regular practise (Sadhana)
• Virtues and weaknesses exist in every individual. Their
balance sheet determines one’s Character.
• Self‐discipline, selflessness, loyalty, readiness to accept
responsibility, willingness to admit mistakes, willingness
to sacrifice when needed, faith in God‐ these constitute
Character.
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Watch your Heart
• Watch both the physical and the spiritual
hearts
• Spiritual heart‐ Centre for Goodness,
Compassion and Tolerance
• Sharing, Serving, and Faith in God‐ foster
Purity of the heart
• Heart to Heart Communication is truly the
Most Effective Communication
Act and serve, because you are urged by love- Baba
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Key Messages
‘The longest way to God, the Indirect
one, lies through the intellect;
The shortest way lies through the heart;
Here is my journey’s; Here is its Start’
‐ Bhagawan Baba
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Key Messages
‘In our Organisation, in its several Wings, your
participation should not be merely for the sake of
participation, just for the purpose of doing
something. It should bring out a transformation
in your heart. The work should be done with love
in your heart. The service you do should radiate
the fragrance of love.’
-Bhagawan Baba, Sevadal, 4/83, p6
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Conclusion
• The Sai Organisation provides a framework for the fulfilment
of the purpose of our human lives as Sai devotees and
spiritual aspirants.
• To take advantage of this framework and progress along the
spiritual path requires patience, perseverance, and constant
practise.
• The WATCH Method of Transformational Leadership is a
practical tool for Self‐Development, for purification of mind
and heart, that can be applied in everyday life by all aspirants.
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Concluding Message
-Bhagawan Baba
The task before mankind is:
To plant the seeds of Truth, Righteousness,
Peace and Love in hearts made ready for their
reception; To foster the saplings and watch over
them with love and care until they grow into
trees, yielding rich harvest of sweet fruits; And
to enable all to share in that sustaining repast...
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Concluding Message
-Bhagawan Baba
...Sages who have succeeded in this beneficial culture
have laid down the means and methods, the steps
and slips, the helps and hindrances, that men have to
consider while engaged in this task, and millions have
benefited by their counsel. But, never before, has this
become an organised movement in which the entire
humanity was involved. Unless it becomes so, there
can be no liberation from fear, anxiety and injustice.’
-Bhagawan Baba, Sanatana Sarathi, June 1976, p91
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