SAI Spiritual Education

1. SAI Spiritual Education Welcome to the SSE Students/Parents/Teachers meeting September 9th, 2007 • Agenda: • SSE Overview • Song • Question / Answer Session • Children’s Feedback • Parents Feedback Note: Parents please don’t forget to fill out the SSE Registration Form

2. Human virtues cannot be acquired from others. They cannot be nourished from mere study of books. Nor can they be acquired ready- made from teachers. They have to be cultivated by each person and the resulting joy has to be experienced by him. The world sorely needs today human values. Attempts are being made to promote these values in the educational field. But they cannot be promoted through materialistic, worldly or scientific means. Without developing devotion to God no human quality can grow. The first requisite is faith in God. - Divine Discourse, September 26, 1987.

3. Be assured that the Lord has come to save the world from calamity. Your duty is to keep calm, to pray for the happiness and prosperity of all. Do not pray for your own exclusive happiness and say, "Let the rest of the world go to pieces." You cannot be happy when the rest of mankind is unhappy. You are an organic part of the human community. Share your prosperity with others; strive to alleviate the sufferings of others. That is your duty. - Divine Discourse, March 17, 1961.

4. SSEHV Program Objectives • Transformation through the experience of Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love and Nonviolence within the individual. • Self-confidence, self-esteem, self-reliance and self-discipline that enable children to effectively make decisions and solve problems. • Academic, communication and social skills leading to individual excellence.

5. SSEHV Program Objectives (cont.) • Balanced physical, cognitive, affective, moral and spiritual development • Increased consistency of positive thoughts, words and action • Positive regard for the rights, life and dignity of all people

6. SSEHV Program Objectives (cont.) • Love for country and the desire to contribute to the well being of society • Interdependence of the human family • Reverence for the unity of life, under God

7. Sai’s Determination “I have a vow, to lead all those who strayed from the straight path back to goodness, I will not rest until I have transformed mankind. This is My Mission, this is My determination, and I know I will carry it out”. -- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

8. Sai’s Directive If human values are not there, humanity will be destroyed. Our life itself is human values… Manifestation of latent human values is Educare. Human values have come from inside not from anywhere outside. The very name is human values. They come out of the heart. That is what the term Educare means. “To bring out” means to translate them into action. There are valuable ideals within us. You have to develop them more. Sathya Sai Strengthening Values Education Conference 09/26/00

9. SATHYA SAI EDUCARE “The rainbow in the sky is formed by dispersion of one single pure white ray by raindrops. It symbolizes multiplicity in nature caused by the prism of the mind. The diversity of the five elements in creation has its origin in the pure Divine Light within. Revelation of this Truth is Educare.” Sri Sathya Sai Baba

10. The Five Values As The Power Of Life These five values are verily the five life-breaths of man. One who considers human values as his life-breath alone is a true human being. These five values are the fundamental powers of human life. Forgetting these fundamental powers, man relies more on worldly power. Our ancients realized that these five values are meant for the peace and prosperity of the world. Without understanding the significance of these values, one cannot understand humanness at all. Human values are not something that you need to acquire anew. They are born with you and are innate in you. As they are hidden in an iron safe, within man’s body lie the valuable jewels of human values. They are covered by the door of the heart. You must earn the key of Love for it. When the safe vault of the heart is opened by the key of love, the valuable qualities of human values emerge. Sai Discourse Strengthening Values Education 9/26/00

11. Five Human Values TRUTH:God, the Love Principle, is dancing in every atom of the Universe. RIGHT ACTION:Actions come from the unity of Head, Heart, and Hands. 3HV. PEACE:Good actions and harmony of senses result in Peace. LOVE:Love is the unifying force. Love is God. Love is Truth. NONVIOLENCE:Unconditional Love for all creation. “The five elements have inner peace, harmony, and beauty in them. When in balance there is peace in the world. The 5 elements are maintained in balance by the 5 senses and are directly related to the senses. Balance in life and balance in nature. Both are equally important and interrelated. A ceiling on desires should be placed on the consumption of the human resources. The 5 elements were created by the One Divine Principle of Love from Chaitanya (Universal Sat-Chit-Ananda). The 5 elements and the 5 senses will be kept in harmony by the practice and integration of the 5 Human Values.” International SSE Conference 07/04/01

12. Sathya Sai Educare Overview 5 VALUES5 ELEMENTS5 SENSES Truth Space Sound (Word) Right Action Air Touch Peace Fire Sight Love Water Taste Non-violence Earth Smell 5 HUMAN 5 LEVELS OF THE 5TRANSFORMATION RESOURCESHUMAN BEING (KOSAS)TECHNIQUES Time Body Duty Knowledge Vital Breath Discipline Energy Mind Devotion Money Conscience Discrimination Food  Atma Determination

13. Individual Transformation Occurs Through The MIND First of all, the mind should be transformed. Then the entire world will be transformed because the mind forms the basis for the entire world. When you insert the key into the lock and turn it to the right, the lock opens; you turn it to left, it gets locked. The heart is the lock, the mind is the key. You get attachment, when your mind is turned towards the world. When it is turned towards God, you attain liberation. It is the same lock and the same key that are responsible for bondage and liberation. The mere change in the direction causes a change in the consequence, namely bondage or liberation. “Take care of your thoughts. Then actions will take care of themselves. You sow an action and reap a tendency. You sow a tendency and reap a habit. You sow your habit and reap a character. You sow your character and reap your destiny.” Therefore, destiny is in your own hands. Sathya Sai Baba November 22, 1990

14. The Mind and the Senses “The mind is the basis for the actions of the eye, the ear and the tongue. In the waking state, the eye sees, the ear hears and the tongue speaks. In the dream state, the eyes, the ears and the tongue are inoperative. The mind alone sees, hears and does the talking. The mind does all of the functions of the senses. It is the inner operator of all the sense organs. Without the control of the mind, man cannot have peace even for a moment. One who wishes to lead a happy and peaceful life, must exercise control over his senses. Man today has lost peace of mind because he has no control over his senses.” -- Sathya Sai Baba

15. Inner Meaning Of M-A-N Being born as a human being, one has come to attain Atma Ananda. Such a being is called man, ‘M-A-N.’ M: overcomeMaya(illusion). A: experience the vision of theAtma,Divine Self. N: means to attainNirvana,Liberation. This is the important inner meaning of Man. Mayashould be given up. One should have the vision of Atma. Nirvana should be attained. Life as a human being has been gifted in order to inquire into these three qualities. We have to change our outer vision to inner vision. Then it will be possible to understand that the Atma is our very form.Sai Discourse 07/04/01

22. SSE Program Overview "The ideal of the Bal Vikas (Sai Spiritual Education) program is to raise a generation of boys and girls who have a clean and clear conscience. The actual syllabus is not so important as the creation of an atmosphere where noble habits and ideals can grow and fructify." - Baba ( at Bal Vikas Teachers Training Camp, 6/6/78 )

23. SSE Program Overview The five human values of Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love and Nonviolence are the pillars of the Sai Spiritual Education program The SSE (Sai Spiritual Education) program places a strong emphasis on: - righteous conduct - the Brotherhood of Man and the Unity of Faiths - self-discipline - a life of selfless service

24. SSE Class Groupings Group - 1 Ages 6 – 9 yrs Group - 2 Ages 10 – 12 yrs Group – 3 Ages 13 – 15 yrs

25. Each class has five components as follows: Silent sitting - A few minutes of silent or guided meditation allows the child to concentrate better Quotation - From Swami, which fits in with the theme of the class Bhajan - Children join together in learning a bhajan. This instils peace and joy. Story - This is usually a time for the children to listen and learn, capturing their imagination and promoting discussion. The story gives a clear idea of how and why we should practice the value in question. Group Activity - An opportunity for the children to have fun together while reinforcing the theme of the class. Life Application - Incorporating their new understandings into their daily life

26. SSE Theme 2007 - 2008 “The Earth, The Environment and Global Issues” Key Essence: How can apply five human values to improve our Earth and her natural environments / resources? Some Thoughts; • Conservation of Natural Resources • Reduce, Re-use, Recycle • Keeping our homes and neighborhoods clean • Putting a “Ceiling on Desires” for our home energy use • Global Warming • Wildlife conservation (helping endangered species) • ….. • ….

27. Discussion With Parents

28. SATHYA SAI EDUCARE FOR PARENTS When there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in character. When there is beauty of character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world. People living in families do not realize that a soft heart and sweet mind are readily available to them. The family is like a pair of spectacles in front of your eyes. While it may appear to be an obstacle in front of the eyes, the glasses actually help to improve one's vision. Sai Discourse 11/14/2000 Today even the parents and the children, the husband and the wife lack faith in each other. One should have 'heartful' faith in order to experience true love. Parents are the first teachers. The teachers and parents are responsible for the good and bad in students. Students have no respect for their parents and society. Respect and be respected. Practice before you preach. Man should become a composer, not a computer. A composer is one who practices what he preaches. Sai Discourse 07/26/99

29. The Home Is A Bridge The Parenting Process: 1. Self Awareness: Spiritual Practice 2. Practical Techniques shared with the child: a) 3HV (head-heart-hands) b) spiritual sadhana / practice c) Practical / situational discrimination (vs. fundamental discrimination)

30. Observation #1 Parent’s spoil their children or fail to provide them with examples of honesty, sense control, and discipline. Observation #2 Both parents and teachers are primary influences for the child – the parent is the first teacher. Each play a role together, but have not understood their role, in shaping the lives of children.

31. CHILDREN COPY THE PARENTS Children have unselfish love; they are innocent onlookers; they observe the actions of the elders and learn their lessons from the home much earlier than from school. So parents have to be very careful in their behaviour with the children and between themselves.Mother and father are the first examples of social behaviour that the child sees before it learns to imitate.

32. PARENTS AND TEACHERS WORK HAND IN HAND The father and mother must supplement at home the training given by the teacher at school. They must acquaint themselves with the lesson the child receives at school and see that their conduct and advice do not conflict with what the child learns from the teacher whom he adores.Children must be led into good ways of living, into simplicity, humility and discipline. All parents must be persuaded lovingly, through the example of bright, cheerful and co-operating children in Bal Vikas classes, to send their children also to these classes. Teachers should not be content with merely teaching the children. They should contact the parents and ascertain how they are behaving at home. Knowledge can be given by the teacher; however, the discipline, the rigorous control of the senses and behaviour must be administered by parents. Then the children become sacred souls, holy, sanctified individuals.

33. Inner meaning of Discipline Disciple… Student… Teacher… Parent and teacher have a joint responsibility: a) Teach about the impact on our environment: we are a microcosm of the entire universe b) Maintain continuity of practice: thought=action=habit=attitude=character=realization.

34. TEACHERS OF SATHYA SAI EDUCARE There are three types of teachers:Those who complain, Those who explain, And those who inspire. • A teacher without devotion is worthless. • In days gone by those who taught heart-to-heart were called Acharyas. • Who is an Acharya? One who practices what is taught and, in so doing, transmits his practice to his students. • What you have taught to your students today will be learned by your children tomorrow. • Teachers, you must feel that the children you teach are children born out of love, dear to one, but not one’s own. • All teachers are like water tanks and children are like the taps. Only when the tank is full of pure water, pure water will also come through the taps. • Teachers, to develop pure hearts, you have to sacrifice. • Everything that is good will attract help. Help will come automatically to those who do good things. Teachers! Do not worry at all about the problems in the house. I am your family. I am not separate. You are not separate. I and you are one. Firmly develop your faith in this Truth. Sai Discourse 09/24/2000, 09/30/2000