Members Study Swami’s Teachings at Regional Conference

In study circles and workshops at the Mid-Atlantic Sai Conference, members explored, debated, and reflected on the application of Sai’s teachings in various situations. Below are some thoughts that were shared within these groups.

How Swami’s Teachings Can Help Us Deal with Difficult People in Our Daily Lives

Family and work are divine opportunities for learning to deal with others. We have to develop the inner vision of the soul instead of seeing only the outer. Baba says names and forms are different naturally, but they are all aspects of the ONE. He urges us to serve all as His images.

Robert M. Bramson, in his book, Coping with Difficult People, describes seven types of difficult people:

1) Hostile-aggressives, who bully their way around; 2) Complainers, who don’t improve their situation; 3) Silent and unresponsives; 4) Super-agreeables, who don’t produce what they promise; 5) Negativists, who object to any project proposed; 6) Know-it-all experts; and 7) lndecisives, who are always waiting for the perfect answer. To these, the facilitator added an eighth category, the controlling-manipulatives.

Participants made many practical suggestions for dealing with difficult people. You can see Baba in their heart, pray to Him, or use mantras. Recognizing each incident as Swami’s leela (play) and looking at the situation as a lesson are also helpful. Other ideas included countering hostility with humor, focusing on the positive, and following your heart, even if that means giving back a negative signal.

But no matter what the method used, it’s important to avoid getting caught up in the difficult person’s emotions and to accept where he or she is at. Baba says that “when someone insults you or defames you or ignores you, accept it with a smile. This is the way of the world: it is basically ungrateful, ill-mannered. ‘They are doing me a good turn; my strength is under trial; I should not yield to anger or resentment! Tell yourself such invigorating things, and be quiet, with a smile of triumph on your lips,” He says.

A basic change in outlook is essential in dealing with difficult people. If you see negative traits in others, they are reflections of what is going on inside of you. It’ s the way you are looking at others. Don’t ask, how can I fix all that up? Nothing anyone is going through is your business. And don’t be upset if people don’t act up to your expectations. As one of the participants noted, “You can’t transform the other person; you can only change yourself. Transforming them—that’s Swami’s job.” They are doing the very best they can at this moment. So, receive what they give with love.

Develop forbearance. Baba says, “Only when we are able to develop the feeling that we are all children of God, that we are all one brotherhood and that really none is apart and alien to us, will the flower of forbearance blossom in our heart. Only when there is love, will there be forbearance. Forbearance is but the result of love and compassion towards all beings.”

How to Cultivate Devotion

Starting with the devotional song “Sai Bhajan Bina Sukha Shanti Nahi” and its explanation, the facilitator said: “Without singing bhajans (devotional songs), there is no peace or happiness. Without God’s name, there is no bliss. Without love and devotion, there is no upliftment. And without serving the Master, there is no liberation.”

Baba says that bhakti, or devotion, is the supreme single-pointed love for the Lord. In this state of mind, the devotee has no separate existence apart from God. The two types of bhakti are saguna bhakti, in which you think of God as far away and plead for His mercy, and nirguna bhakti, in which you see God in all beings and experience unity with all creation.

The Upanishads (Hindu scriptures) prescribe nine steps in devotion: 1) describing God’s actions; 2) singing about the Lord; 3) allowing the mind to dwell on the glory of God; 4) adoring the feet of the Lord; 5) worshipping the Lord in a systematic ritualistic way; 6) experiencing gratitude and joy at the Lord’s grace; 7] feeling like His instrument and devotedly serving all; 8) thinking of the Lord as a friend; 9) surrendering totally to God.

You can also express devotion by constantly practicing equanimity, loving the Lord as a mother loves a child, and fostering the quality of love within. But any expression of devotion has to be guided and controlled by discipline. Only then can you realize the goal—liberation.

According to the Vedas (Hindu scriptures), liberation is a three-stage process. First the devotee is drawn to physical experiences, such as idol worship, repetition of God’s name, visits to holy places, and service. Then, by controlling the senses and cleansing the mind of impure thoughts, the devotee becomes aware of the atma (individual soul) within. Finally, through deep inquiry into the reality of the inner self, he or she realizes that there is no difference between the atma and the Paramatma (the Absolute).

Baba says that everything in a devotee’s life must revolve around God. ‘”Whatever you do, wherever you are placed,” He says, “believe that God has put you there to work; then it becomes an education, a sadhana (spiritual discipline). Every day, with every act, every thought, every word, you must approach nearer and nearer to God. That will give you the super most bliss. That will confer true liberation.”

Spirituality Through the Native American Tradition

Native Americans are often called the caretakers of the Earth because of their communion with, and great respect for, nature. They believe that everything in nature is in constant prayer—such as the grass and the tree branches that grow up, reaching to the heavens. They also accept nature as their teacher, learning from animals, plants, the four winds, and whatever else is around them, as Baba encourages us all to do.

The facilitator of this workshop was a pipe carrier in the tradition of the Huichol tribe of Mexico. In that culture, the pipe is one of the most sacred objects on Earth. being a direct contact to universal energy. Each part of the pipe has significance, representing both the masculine and feminine aspects of creation. Even the carvings on the pipe bowl and the feathers have meaning, denoting qualities of nature. The fire used to ignite the herbal smoking mixture (mullein, bearberry leaves, and sweet clover) represents the light of wisdom, burning out any lower desires. The smoke from the pipe is considered to be the visual breath of God, permeating the air and fusing into all of nature. In smoking the pipe, a person becomes the connection between the creator and the creation. The remaining ashes symbolize the cycle of life and all of nature’s return to ashes. The pipe is the center of the Huichol nation, and they have different pipes for different occasions, such as wedding ceremonies and hunting expeditions.

No one decides to become a pipe carrier, but rather, pipe carriers are individuals who have received a calling from God to perform designated responsibilities, such as prayer and living a pure life. When called, the pipe carrier is assigned a personal pipe, a family pipe, or a working-pipe, which is the most difficult and demanding of the three and is reserved for spiritual healing.

Sadhana in Everyday Life

The main idea of this workshop was that sadhana [spiritual practice) is not an isolated activity that you do separate from your daily life. Rather, it is the attitude with which you carry on all your activities. Everything you do should be offered to God. You can get close to Swami in an instant by dedicating your actions to Him.

The focus is not on the activity but on your attitude while serving. In doing the service, you should follow Baba’s example, and not exclude anyone or anything.

Offer love to Swami, fully and unconditionally. Deepen this love. Common concerns expressed by most people regarding sadhana are: There is no time, there is so much to do. How can I concentrate when I have to work and take care of so many things? When you truly love someone, don’t you dwell on that person even if you’re busy? Similarly, if you deepen the intensity of your love for Swami, you cannot but help dwell on Him in the midst of all your activities.

At the point when you are upset—that is the moment to remember Swami’s message. His words will help you respond better to the situation. Do not ask Swami for material things. Instead, ask for the intelligence and power to praise the Lord and to discriminate between good and bad. Ask Him to direct you in the right way, to practice His teachings a little better each day; to do your best and leave the results to God. Imbibe His glories and enjoy bliss.

Meditation Workshop

One of the facilitators began by saying, “Nobody can teach you meditation, but you can learn to concentrate on the glory of God and gently slip away to your point of connection, of unity with your true Self, with Swami.” The purpose of meditation, according to Baba, is to know your oneness with God—with your own Self. He talks about three stages of meditation: concentration, contemplation, and meditation.

To keep the mind one-pointed, the meditator begins with concentration, which can be on a name and form of God, an object such as a candle flame, or the Sohum (God I am) breath. To concentrate on the breath using Sohum, breathe in while mentally saying “So” and breathe out while mentally saying “hum.”

In contemplation, the meditator goes beyond the body to feel the Divine within. When you are at this stage, you don’t see any difference between yourself and God. For example, you can contemplate on Baba’s feet and feel their beauty within yourself.

ln actual meditation, the mind closes down and no words can possibly explain the experience. “When you’re beyond the mind,” said one of the facilitators, “you don’t realize you’re beyond the mind until you come back.” Then you feel the peace of God inside.

For meditation, you can sit either on the ground or in a chair, but you should keep your back straight and your body still, letting any noises go by. If your mind wanders, go back to your point of devotion.

Swami recommends the Jyoti (light of God) meditation. This kind of light never changes, as light never leaves its creation. The vision of the light is Swami, is all the forms of God. Initially, picture a candle flame at the third eye and see that light focusing on Swami in the heart. Then see a flower unfolding with the attributes of the Divine—such as compassion, unity, and love—on each petal. See this light fill the whole body from head to toes. After filling yourself with light, see the light radiating out to family, friends, co-workers, and the world.

This visualization, one of the facilitators explained, is only the beginning point—”verbal steps on a ladder to your own process inside.” Meditators can leave these words behind and go into their “own soul’s guidance” at any time. Eventually, everyone needs to go beyond the light to God, to a place where we are all one.

Developing the Relationship Between the Individual and Lord Sai

The first step in developing a relationship with Baba, the facilitator said, is acceptance of His Divinity, which encourages each one to turn to Him. Baba says that in this Kaliyuga (age of iron), the individual does not have the strength to make spiritual progress alone. He therefore encourages all to ask Him directly for help, so each one can reach his or her ultimate destiny of atma (Self).

Participants talked about ways they had used concentration on Baba’s name or picture or on thoughts of Him to detach from worldly negativity. They shared experiences showing that Swami teaches balance and practicality.

The group also discussed surrender. One participant commented that surrender meant giving up your desires, and another added that Divinity requires getting rid of vanity, which blocks spiritual progress.

Talking about changing the individual, the facilitator said, our sadhana includes recognizing our faults, isolating their causes, and with Baba’s guidance, uncovering layers in the depths of our subconscious.

Finding Unity in Diversity

Cultural and social diversity in America were explored in this workshop. Participants paired with persons of different ethnic persuasions, interviewed each other and then shared their discoveries. In the American Sai Centers, we tend to congregate with others from our own ethnic group because it is comfortable, some members felt. It is much more of a challenge to reach out to others who do not look like us, do not speak our language, or speak our language with an accent. As small children, we knew nothing of ethnic, color, or racial discrimination—we played with everyone. But as we grew older, we learned the ways of this world—the lighter our skin, the higher our education, the more money we possessed, the more superior we were. But we are not of this world, we are Sai Baba—we are LOVE. Sai devotees cover the spectrum of human experience, yet Sai Baba loves each of us the same. That is why it is so disheartening to be amongst Baba’s devotees and be treated as if one doesn’t exist. It hurts.

So, what is the solution? LOVE. Treat others the way we want to be treated. See others as we see ourselves, for that is the way Baba sees us. Communicate, talk with each other, break down those barriers by reaching out to others. Even though our backgrounds may be different, we have something of eternal value in common—each of us loves Sai Baba. Let us be active listeners, for only then can we hear what the other is saying. Communication is like magic—we’re instantly changed, for now we know more about another of Baba’s creations and therefore know more about Baba, about ourselves. The format of interview sessions or group discussions used in the workshop could be used in Sai Centers throughout the year to help us know and learn to truly love each other.

“Dharma” for Women in Our Society—Swami’s Teachings on the Role of Women

There were chuckles at the significance of where this study circle was held—the laundry room! The facilitator started with Swami’s teachings on the importance of modesty and chastity for women. Swami says that women must be educated to understand the problems of the country, community, and the family. Women shape the new generation and therefore are the backbone of progress. Women’s mission is to lay down morality for society. The level of education of women determines a nation’s progress or decline.

In ancient times during war, women carried on all the actions of daily life and that is how societies survived war. But in current times, society has lost the power or shakti by not recognizing and valuing this contribution. Nowadays women try to copy men.

Among the thoughts expressed in this study circle was that there is an imbalance in society today. Women have been devalued for so long that there are no role models. Baba says we have to reach way back into antiquity for these.

Spiritual leaders through the ages embody and extol what we understand as feminine qualities. Some young adults felt that we err in dichotomizing qualities as masculine or feminine. ‘Why not have ‘human qualities’ instead?

The qualities associated with the feminine have come down to us with negative connotations for a long time. However, this is not what is written in the scriptures and not at all what Baba teaches. He says that the woman is the concretization of the will of the Lord. “Women are in no way inferior,” He says. We can understand this as women are worth emulating, respecting, valuing to a much greater degree than is taking place now. The worldly imbalance cannot be corrected without attention to this aspect. Male domination is not good for society. Traditional roles work only when there is respect on all sides.

As a debate on traditional versus modern values erupted, it was clear that people who are not yet clear on Baba’s teachings experience conflict. Baba’s views are very clear: He equates mother with God and addresses all women as ‘ma’, which is mother.