BMCM Video Study Guides
Satsang Coordinators Curriculum for
St. Francis: Becoming an Instrument of Peace
Lesson One
Read the first Practical Exercise on page 7 of the St. Francis Study Guide:
Practical Exercise: The Mantram as an Eraser
In this talk, Sri Easwaran recommends the mantram as a tool for cultivating forgiveness, by
gaining freedom from hostile thoughts and old resentments:
"Resentments eat away our vitality. Hostility undermines our immune system . . . I would say,
keep repeating your mantram. Whenever you feel hostile or angry or revengeful or want to take
it out on others, go for a walk repeating your mantram. . . . It will act as an eraser. As soon as
revenge appears, it will erase the word and finally the day will come when all your thoughts of
revenge will turn to thoughts of reconciliation, when all your thoughts of retaliation will turn to
thoughts of reconciliation. That is the magic of the mantram."
In this approach, Sri Easwaran is not counseling us to pretend that past injuries did not happen.
He is encouraging us to develop a calmer, more peaceful, more forgiving outlook which will help
us see old injuries more as opportunities for forgiveness than as causes for resentful brooding.
Every day for a week, spend at least five extra minutes repeating your mantram silently with
great intensity, either while you walk, or while writing the mantram. To write the mantram,
simply write your mantram over and over on a blank sheet of paper, or in a blank book
dedicated to that purpose. Do not try to summon up resentments or hostilities (that is rarely
necessary!), but if they arise during this week, use the extra mantram time to try to erase mental
impressions made by resentful thoughts. It takes a great deal of practice and effort to free
oneself from a habitual negative thought, but after even a few days of intense effort you may find
that you have gained a moment or two in which you can let go of the thought. With practice you
can extend that period and gradually free yourself of that resentful thought once and for all.
At the end of the week, reflect on your experiences with this exercise. If it has been useful to you,
consider how you might incorporate these extra minutes of mantram time into every day.
Then, read and consider the following idea for reflection: "For Sri Easwaran, becoming an
instrument of peace does not necessarily require action on a grand scale. Rather, it is in the
little moments of giving and forgiving that we can find the best opportunities for being a
peacemaker. Have you seen this happening in your life through your use of the Eight
Points? How can you use the mantram to be more peaceful at heart?"
Give the group a few minutes for silent reflection, and then ask them to share their responses.
Read the Introduction on page 5 of the St. Francis Study Guide and watch Instrument of Peace,
the first of the two talks on the St. Francis tape. (This talk is 37 minutes long.)
Finish with thirty minutes of meditation.
Lesson Two
Ask the group: "Did anyone try the Practical Exercise from last week on using the mantram
to free oneself from habitual negative thoughts? Do you have any observations to report?
Have you had any more thoughts about how the Eight Points have helped you be an
instrument of peace?"
Then, at the end of the fellowship section, ask someone to read the second Practical Exercise on
page 11 of the St. Francis Study Guide:
Practical Exercise: Training Attention at Mealtime
The theme of training attention runs through all the topics in this talk. By learning to redirect
our attention, we can become more understanding, more patient, more aware of the needs of
those around us.
Sri Easwaran singles out mealtime as an ideal opportunity for training our attention. First, he
suggests that we not divide our attention by reading, listening to music or the radio, or watching
TV while we eat. Then he draws a simple, attractive portrait of a good meal: When you want to
eat, sit down in a nice chair with your family or friends, take your time, eat slowly. In this one
everyday occasion, which can be very enjoyable, we have the chance to reduce the hurry in our
lives, unify our attention, understand our family and friends better, and start cultivating a more
peaceful mind.
At least once this week, set aside enough time for a leisurely meal with family or friends. The
food and the setting needn't be elaborate or expensive. Follow Sri Easwaran s ideal: simple,
tasty, healthy food, served in a loving atmosphere. During the meal, listen and respond in a
relaxed, one-pointed way to what others are saying. Try to make the meal a nourishing
experience for everyone: not just in body but in spirit too. If you find yourself getting speeded-up
or if your attention starts to get divided, repeat the mantram to yourself and concentrate on
enjoying the meal and the company.
Afterwards, reflect on the experience. If you found it satisfying, make a plan to make time for
such meals regularly.
Read the Introduction on page 9 of the St. Francis Study Guide and watch In Giving We
Receive, the second of the two talks on the St. Francis tape. (This talk is 30 minutes long.)
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. 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