BMCM Video Study Guides
Satsang Coordinators Curriculum for
Patience Attains the Goal
Lesson One
Introduce this month's curriculum: "This month we are devoting our attention to the often
neglected treasure of patience - where to find it, how to draw upon it, and how to cultivate it as a
valuable support in the practice of meditation.
"First, let's reflect for a moment and identify a situation that consistently makes us impatient, such
as waiting in line or in traffic, listening to a very talkative person, or having to repeat oneself to a
child or an inattentive person.
"Our goal in this discussion will be to redefine these situations as exercise stations for
strengthening our patience. What will be your strategy for using the Eight Points to extend your
patience in that situation? How might you use the Eight Points at other times to prepare yourself
for that challenge?"
When it's time for inspiration, read the introduction from the video study guide and watch the first
of the talks on this month's video tape, Lessons in Patience from the Elephants, which is 30
minutes long. For groups that aren't using the video tapes, please start by reading Chapter 23 of
the Dhammapada, "The Elephant." Then start reading the chapter entitled "Patience" in Original
Goodness.
End the session with thirty minutes of meditation.
Lesson Two
Introduction: "This week we're continuing with our exploration of the practice of patience. We'll
start with a brief reading from this month's featured chapter in Original Goodness. In it, Sri
Easwaran draws a connection between our conditioned responses, stress, and a speeded-up mind:
"My submission is that those whose minds are prone to race off in any kind of conditioned
response to life's ups and downs - whatever the cause, whatever the response - are going to be
subject to stress everywhere they go, simply because the mind is constantly subjecting the body to
physiological arousal. By contrast those who know how to keep their mind on an even keel will
respond to life's challenges with calmness, alertness, and even eagerness. Events that others call
stressful will be, for them as for Dr. Selye, 'the spice of life.' I want to emphasize this conclusion,
because it differs significantly from current thinking. What makes the difference is not
personality type but evenness of mind - which is a skill that anyone can learn."
Ask the group: "Have you seen this dynamic at work in your own life? How could your practice
of the Eight Points help you see life's ups and downs not as an occasion for elation or frustration,
but as 'the spice of life'?"
When it's time for inspiration, please read (or continue reading) from the chapter entitled
"Patience" in Original Goodness.
End the session with thirty minutes of meditation.
Lesson Three
Introduction: "This week, we continue with our theme of building patience, but now we will apply
it to the actual practice of the Eight Points.
"Take a moment to reflect and identify one of the Eight Points that you seem to get weary of at
some time during your normal routine. Find a time in your day or week when you find it especially
hard to practice the point that is appropriate at that moment. Here are some examples:
* At the end of the work day, when you have planned to go home and meditate, your capacity for
training the senses wanes and you find yourself in the bakery rather than in your meditation room.
* You know it would be best for you and your family to spend more time together, but your
enthusiasm for putting others first is eclipsed by the evening news.
* You're waiting in line at the supermarket - an ideal time for repeating the mantram - but it feels
as if the mantram is worn out and you spend several minutes flipping aimlessly through a magazine.
"In the situation you've identified, how might you extend your patience a little bit? The idea is to
practice the spiritual discipline you've chosen for yourself patiently. Be patient with the fact that it
will be a bit uncomfortable. Be patient with yourself for not wanting to do it. But do it anyway.
"Can you observe the effects of patience and impatience in your practice of the Eight Points?
Those of you who have been attending the satsang during the past few weeks, what have you
learned from your efforts to extend your patience in various situations?"
When it's time for inspiration, read the introduction from the video study guide and watch the
second of the talks on this month's video tape, Putting Meditation First, which is 30 minutes long.
For groups that aren't using the video tapes, please continue reading from "Patience" in Original
Goodness or move on to the chapter entitled "Deepening Meditation" in Climbing the Blue
Mountain.
End the session with thirty minutes of meditation.
Lesson Four
Introduction: "This week we will be picking up the theme of last week's video tape: Putting
meditation first."
Read aloud the following excerpt from "Deepening Meditation" in Climbing the Blue Mountain:
"Let me share with you one of the most helpful pieces of advice I know, gleaned from experience:
never allow anything to come in the way of your meditation. Meditation cannot be done by fits
and starts. It cannot be left for when we think of it or feel like it or have nothing more pressing to
do. With this one simple decision - 'I'm going to put meditation first' - we save ourselves from
innumerable doubts, difficulties, and indecisions."
Ask the group: "Let's reflect together on putting meditation first. On the occasions when you've
put your meditation first, have you found that it's saved you from 'doubts, difficulties, and
indecisions'? In what ways do you find it hard to put meditation first? What comes in the way?
How can we all do better at it?"
When it's time for inspiration, continue reading in the chapter entitled "Patience" in Original
Goodness, or read the chapter entitled "Deepening Meditation" from Climbing the Blue Mountain.
End the session 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. But we do suggest that you
follow the order of the lessons as they appear here. For groups that meet monthly, you may want
to use only the lesson sections that include videos, or to cover two lesson 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:
satsang@nilgiri.org
Robbie Nichols
BMCM
P O Box 256
Tomales, CA 94971
Copyright (c) 2003, Blue Mountain Center of Meditation