Sathya Sai Spiritual Education
SLIDE SHOW of Easwaramma Day Celebrations at Mill Hill Sai Centre
Sathya Sai Spiritual Education classes cater for five age groups:
1. Foundation: 4 yrs to 6 yrs ,
2. Group 1: 6 yrs to 9 yrs,
3. Group 2: 9 yrs to 12 yrs,
4. Group 3: 12 yrs to 14 yrs,
5. Group 4: 15 yrs to 16 yrs.
Aims:
The aim of the Sai Spiritual Education is to help children realise their own divine nature and potentialities, wherein lies the basis of good conduct and selfless service to others. The inner life of children is strengthened by making them realise the importance of namasmaran (repetition of God's name) and silent sitting which leads to better concentration and meditation.
With the help of prayers and stories of great men and women, it helps the child to appreciate the truth , simplicity and goodness of all faiths and beliefs. These are simple and enjoyable techniques, yet they are a very powerful combination.
Objectives:
Classes at the centre are planned to inculcate , in the growing child, ethical, moral and spiritual values founded on the five basic Human values Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non violence.
1. Truth: Progress towards pursuit of Truth is achieved in two ways
a. By improvement of the memory as an aid, by reciting prayers from various religions.
b. Episodes selected from epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharatha , from scriptures and the lives of Avatars, prophets and saints from major religions of the world
2. Right Conduct: The value of right conduct is achieved through three group of skills which students need to cultivate. By keeping spiritual diary the following skills are achieved through self audit
a. Ethical skills:
Not stealing, not quarrelling, avoiding wasting time, speech and energy, the willingness to work hard and cultivate simple habits.
b. Self-help skills:
Body care, personal hygiene, cleanliness etc. Concentrating on whatever work is being done, correct posture proper breathing, keeping silent.
c. Social skills:
Listening, speaking, obeying rules, sitting in rows, maintaining silence, order and discipline, arranging prayer blankets, decorating pictures, keeping books in order. Punctuality. After the class, rolling up the blankets rearrangement etc.
3. Peace: This value is achieved through respect for parents, elders and teachers. Brotherliness, friendliness , humility, honesty and fair play. Sharing with others simple living and simple habits.
Group activities like public performances on festival days, speaking thought of the day, excursions , display of artwork etc gives a chance to the child to contribute and feel approved . Self-confidence is nurtured by adult approval and through group activities.
4. Love: The value of Love is developed through faith and devotion. Children are encouraged in group devotional singing and bhajan workshops are held regularly to develop child's devotional singing. Discipline is enforced with love and understanding by the teacher.
Teacher loves and treats the students as their own.
Love of God as the basic principle of all festivals is stressed. Children are encouraged to love flowers, birds and animals .
5. Non Violence: Children are made to recognise the divine in all living and non-living beings and not to cause unnecessary pain to any animal or plant life and to other human beings through thought, word and deed.
Children from a young age are encouraged to put into practice the principle of "Ceiling on desires" and utilise any savings thereby generated for the service of mankind.
Speaking softly and lovingly with everyone with whom they come into contact.
Avoid talking ill of others, especially in their absence.
Children are also encouraged in community service and other programmes of the organisation.
The inter -relationship of the five human values and the five teaching techniques in the SSE lessons help the child's development of the total personality.
Sathya Sai Spiritual Education awakens the spiritual aspect and draws its teaching material from the great religions of the world. It is not a religious instruction. It is a spiritual instruction, which draws on the values and understanding already in the child and illustrates the unity in the apparent diversity of the world's religions.
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