Satsang Coordinators Curriculum for From Negative to Positive

Note to Coordinators: Please ask members to bring a copy of God Makes the Rivers to Flow with them to your meetings while you follow this month's curriculum. It would be a good idea to have a few extra copies available (if you have them) for those who don't have their copy with them.

Week One

Introduce this month's curriculum by telling the members: "This month our focus will be on the practice of meditation – how we can build upon our natural personal strengths to deepen meditation, and so rise above our weaknesses. In tonight's video, Sri Easwaran will be talking about ten aids to meditation, according to the Buddha. To prepare for the video, let's read through those ten aids and reflect on how they are present or absent from our practice."

Then ask a member to read aloud the following list of definitions for the ten qualities that aid meditation. It would be helpful to print out this list, along with the list of inspirational passages from next week's curriculum, and have a copy for each member of the group to follow along, or to write the list on a blackboard or flip chart.

* Dana is "giving," which in Sri Easwaran's presentation can be a revolutionary concept. It represents a reversal in consciousness. If we want peace, love, health, and happiness, Sri Easwaran says, we need to change our attitude from getting to giving – of our skills, time, and talent – without counting how much we will get in return.

* Sila means "sweetness and tenderness" in our dealings with others. But sila is not soft, since real tenderness requires inner toughness.

* Paricchaga means "renounce and rejoice." Be detached from self-interest. Why? Happiness is not something that we can get. Paradoxically, as long as we pursue happiness it eludes our grasp. But when we turn our back upon ourselves, joy follows us. So if we can give up any strong attachments, or palate cravings, or entertainment which lacks high ideals, it will deepen our meditation.

* Achava is "straightforwardness." Achava includes the capacity to be courteous, even in personal differences and disagreements. The born leader will have this capacity, but it can be cultivated by all of us who would like to become small leaders in our home and community.

* Mardava means "tender, soft, sweet, yielding, and lovable." Mardava in thought, word, and deed helps to prevent resentment, ill will, and hostility, which impede meditation.

* Tapa is usually translated "austerity." "But in my presentation," Sri Easwaran says, "tapa means simplicity in one's daily life: getting the maximum effect from minimum means. This is key to the art of living."

* Akkodha Kkodha means "anger" or, in fact, "fury." The 'a' prefix is negative, so akkodha means free from any trace of fury. In order to deepen your meditation, do not consider anyone your enemy. Do not allow yourself to become resentful. Learn to deal with everyone affectionately and with compassion.

* Avihimsa We may be more familiar with the Sanskrit word ahimsa, which has the same meaning: "nonviolence." But complete ahimsa is not achieved even by banning nuclear weapons or abolishing war. True ahimsa is a very high ideal, implying freedom from any act, word, or thought that hurts others – whether they be people, animals, or the environment.

* Avirodha recalls the words of Jesus, "Resist not evil." As Sri Easwaran says, this is very subtle advice. Mahatma Gandhi taught that evil has no existence of its own; evil exists only as long as we support it. When we withdraw support from harmful influences, and try to persuade other people also to withdraw their support, we are releasing our original goodness, which is our true nature.

* Khanti is the capacity to bear with others, with people's frailties, foibles, and outbursts of temper. "The more deeply aware we become," Sri Easwaran says, "the more understanding we will have towards others. We will not blame anybody."

Now, ask the group to reflect on the list in terms of their own personal practice: "Which one of these qualities is a strength for you? Which comes naturally? In what sphere of your life does it come naturally? How might you carry it beyond that sphere?"

When it is time for inspiration, read the introduction from the "From Negative to Positive" video study guide and watch the first talk on the video tape, Ten Aids to Meditation.

If your group is not using the video, read aloud from the chapter "All Life is Yoga" in Conquest of Mind.

Meditate for thirty minutes.

At the end of the program, remind everyone to bring their copy of God Makes the Rivers to Flow to the next meeting.

Week Two

Note to Coordinators: For this meeting it would be very helpful to post or make available copies of the following list of inspirational passages. If there are people attending the meeting who weren't there last week, take a moment to review the list of ten qualities that aid meditation.

Introduction: "This week we will work to deepen our particular spiritual strength by studying an inspirational passage that emphasizes or nourishes that quality."

Then explain: "These are meditation passages recommended by the BMCM to enhance each particular strength. Choose the one corresponding to the strength you've chosen (or another passage from God Makes the Rivers to Flow which seems appropriate to that strength). Read it through silently with deep concentration. One way to do this is to read one line, stanza, or sentence, stop and reflect, and then read the next. You may want to write down your reflections. This type of slow concentrated reading is a potent way to nourish that quality in yourself."

Dana – The Prayer of Saint Francis
Sila – Beloved of the Soul
Paricchaga – The Inner Ruler (Isha Upanishad)
Achava – Duties of the Heart
Mardava – Invocations of Ansari of Herat
Tapa – The Brahmin
Akkodha – The Way of Love
Avihimsa – Discourse on Goodwill
Avirodha – The Sermon on the Mount
Khanti – The Whole World Is Your Own

Give the group at least five minutes to do this exercise. Then ask each member to read aloud the passage which they have been studying.

When it is time for inspiration, read aloud from the chapter "Tremendous Trifles" in Conquest of Mind.

Finish with thirty minutes of meditation.

Week Three

Note to Coordinators: As before, if there are people who weren't there in the previous two weeks, briefly recapitulate by going through the list of ten qualities that aid meditation, and then introduce this week's theme.

Introduction: "This week we return to the list of ten qualities that aid meditation. But this time we search out a quality that needs strengthening in our life.

"This exercise is based on Sri Easwaran's approach to self-improvement: not to dwell on our negative qualities or failings, but instead to find a corresponding positive quality to strengthen. In the previous exercise, we practiced developing positive qualities that come naturally to us. Now we build on that experience by working on qualities that don't come so easily.

"Review once again the list of ten aids to meditation. Find one quality which you feel needs strengthening in your life. Look up the passage associated with that quality (or find another suitable one in God Makes the Rivers to Flow), and read it through silently with deep concentration. One way to do this is to read one line, stanza, or sentence, stop and reflect, and then read the next. You may want to write down your reflections. This type of slow concentrated reading is a potent way to build up that quality in yourself."

Give the group several minutes to read through the passage they've chosen, then ask for comments. If any members would like to share the passage they've been reading, they are welcome to, but it's not required.

When it's time for inspiration, read the introduction from the "From Negative to Positive" video study guide and watch the second talk on the video tape, Changing Attitudes from Negative to Positive.

If your group is not using the video, read aloud from the chapter "The Forces of Life" in Conquest of Mind.

Finish with thirty minutes of meditation.

Week Four

This week is a review and wrap-up session for this month's curriculum. Ask the group if they have any comments or observations on doing this exercise.

Then, for the time remaining (perhaps 10 to 15 minutes) in the fellowship portion of the meeting, try this experiment. Ask everyone to use the time to work on memorizing an inspirational passage. If they like, they can use one of the passages they've studied for this month's curriculum, or another passage they've been wanting to learn. This is a kind of "silent fellowship."

When it's time for inspiration, read aloud from the chapter "Obstacles and Opportunities," Section 2: "Ill Will" in Conquest of Mind.

Finish with thirty minutes of meditation.


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How to Use This Curriculum

The BMCM monthly video series presents a special opportunity for BMCM Satsangs to enrich the content of their meetings and coordinate their program with the Center and with other Satsangs. Each month many of our Satsangs will be following this program, which has been created by workshop presenters at the BMCM, based on programs at our Tuesday night Satsangs in Petaluma and Berkeley.

This video curriculum is not required. The choice of which of our approved formats to follow is up to you and your Satsang. We understand that not all groups have access to a TV and VCR for showing video tapes. While the videos are a great aid in using this curriculum, it is also possible to follow it without the videos, using the questions for reflection and readings that are contained in this curriculum.

We do recommend this curriculum (and especially the videos) as an ideal way for a new group (or a "Satsang of One") to get well grounded in Sri Easwaran's core teachings and to feel more "in touch" with the Center. If you would like assistance in deciding on a format, please feel free to contact us at the address below.

The choice of when to start using the curriculum is also up to you. Week One, therefore, may end up being the second or third week of the month. That's fine. But we do suggest that you follow the order of the weekly curricula as they appear here. For groups that meet monthly, you may want to use only the weekly sections that include videos, or to cover two weekly sections if your meeting is longer.

We have tried to make this Satsang curriculum flexible enough that it can be used completely within the Eight Point Format, as outlined in the Satsang Guidelines. For your "Eight Point Focus" you can continue to cycle through the Eight Points weekly or monthly as it suits your group, and use this curriculum to deepen your study of Sri Easwaran's teachings.

For those of you who distribute messages via email to your Satsang, feel free to forward parts of this email to members as a preview of the coming month's program.

We are eager to hear about your experiences with this curriculum, and welcome your feedback. Please send it to:

robbie@nilgiri.org
Robbie Nichols
BMCM
P O Box 256
Tomales, CA 94971


Copyright (c) 2003, Blue Mountain Center of Meditation