| From Hislop's "Conversations".
From discourses by Sathya Sai Baba. Discussion on holding a workshop on study circles. |
What is a study
circle? Return
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"What is a study circle? It is not just reading books.
Study circle means taking a point and each person discussing what is the
meaning of the point to them, like a round-table conference. Each person
gives their point of view, and finally values are derived from this. If
there is just reading, there is doubt. But if each one gives his view,
doubts will be answered. The topic is viewed; the study circle looks at
different facets. It is like a diamond with its different facets, but there
is one facet that is flat, the top facet, and from this all can be viewed.
To discover the top facet is the task of the study circle. "
"Swami's talks may be taken, or other scriptures. "
"Take a point. Have everyone think about it and discuss it, and come to the final point where doubt is decreased. If only one person reads, there will be only one meaning. All misunderstandings, all points of view --after these are brought out, the study circle members will get confidence. There is no doubt of this. "
"If each one only reads, this may go on for a year or two, then an allergy to reading develops. "
"Centers must have study circles in this way, and none will note the passage of time. Each one listens eagerly and many will give their point of view. The Bible, the Koran, the Gita, Swami's books may be used. What is wanted is a study circle; rotating. Each one must be given a chance."
Conversations with Sai Baba,
by Hislop: pp.125-126 in older edition; pp. 137-138 in new edition)
Practise what
you learn (Discourse,
30 January 1985
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A STUDY circle does not mean only just reading and discussing
and taking information into the head, but also putting into practice what
is learnt. If knowledge is stored in the mind, it causes confusion and
confusion leads to blowing of the fuse. How will real jnana (spiritual
wisdom) develop if there is too much confusion? For instance, if you go
on eating all the 24 hours, it will result in indigestion. This will lead
to disease. What is eaten should be digested and then only you should eat
again. In the same way, you should listen {eat) in the Study Circle and
put into practice (digest) what you have learnt. Again you can have another
round of listening in the Study Circle. Now what you are doing is only
loading and loading and no unloading. How much can you sustain like that?
So, you should go on loading and unloading, listening and practising. You
have to practise whatever you have learnt. Then only it becomes a real
Study Circle.
It is important to learn your true nature
In the Study Circle, whatever we listen and assimilate
in the mind should be distributed to others. In that way we show gratitude
for what we have receded. We should not listen and keep it to ourselves
only for our benefit. Whatever we hear and practise should also be distributed
to society at large, Such gratitude is very important for man. If one does
not have gratitude, he leads the life of an animal. Even a dog shows gratitude
if you give a little rice. In the Sathya Sai Organisation, keeping this
in mind, we should maintain unity and help the world. Other organisations
may not know the inner meaning of this, but in our organisation we should
know the inner meaning and we should practise it, otherwise it is of no
use. You should therefore be an ideal to others.
In the study circle you can learn a lot of things, but
the most important thing to be learnt is your own true nature --your Atmathathwa.
Learning all about external things without knowing your real self is like
studying the branches of a tree, ignoring its roots. There are many fruits
on the tree. We can see the fruits. What happens if you water those fruits?
They will fall down. But if you water the roots down below, the tree flourishes
and will give fruits which can be enjoyed. You have to develop self-knowledge
and self-confidence and then only you can help others.
Full circle
or half circle? (Discourse,
3 March 1974) Return
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You have joined the study class at Dharmakshetra, and
are engaged in poring over all types of books and gathering information
and instruction. But, what have you gained? Knowledge about what this author
says or that sage teaches is not what your study circle must aim to acquire.
Not information, but transformation; not instruction, but construction
should be the aim. Theoretical knowledge is a burden, unless it is practised,
when it can be lightened into wisdom, and assimilated into daily, life.
Knowledge that does not give harmony and wholeness to the process of living
is not worth acquiring. Every activity must be rendered valid and worthwhile
by its contribution to the discovery of Truth, both of the Self and of
Nature. Of what use is it to know everything about nature, if you do not
know anything of the Self? Nature is only a projection of the Self, and
so, unless the Self is known, knowledge of nature is either distorted or
deceptive. The Self is Atma, of which
the entire Creation is composed, so knowledge of the Self alone can quench
the thirst of man.
...
Every one of you is a pilgrim on that road proceeding at your own pace, according to your qualification and the stage reached by its means. The advice that appeals to one of you or applies to one of you might not be appropriate to another, who has traveled less distance or reached a more advanced state. When I tell one person to follow one line of sadhana (spiritual discipline), it is specifically for his benefit; do not take it as prescription for your benefit also, saying, "Swami told him thus; let me also adopt it." Each has a different make-up --mental, physical, and spiritual. The doctor directs one patient to drink curds and prohibits another from drinking it. When a man is obese, he advises certain types of food; when he is lean, he advises other types. When doctors who treat diseases of the body have to prescribe different remedies, how much more specific and personal must be the remedies for the complex and varied conditions of mental situations and spiritual yearnings and aspirations?
Unless you make earnest inquiry, you cannot discover the
remedy applicable to your temperament and its problems. Study with faith
and devotion. Delve into the significance and the meaning of what you read,
and always have before you the goal of putting what you read into practice.
Unless you do so, the study circle will remain a half-circle for ever;
it cannot be a full circle. And, pay attention to one other point also.
Do not confine your studies to this circle and these books. The whole Universe
is University for you. You can imbibe wisdom from the sky, the clouds,
the mountains, the rivers, the daily phenomena of sunrise and sunset, the
seasons, birds, trees, flowers, the insects --in fact, all beings and things
in nature.
Education
in the Sai era (Discourse,
18 February 1980 ) Return
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Study the best means of bringing peace. What can gatherings,
meeting and sessions of learned bodies achieve? The conclusions arrived
at after extensive discussions are not put into practice at all. Large
sums of money as well as countless reams of paper are wasted. The recommendations
and resolutions must be tasted on the touchstone of practice. The money
can be better spent on raising the standard of life of the village folk.
You have formed a study circle. Study the best means of bringing peace and apply those means in a few villages to prove their validity. They can then be taught to people in other lands also. Members of the circle can help students who are handicapped or defective and who have not been able to keep abreast of the rest, by giving them extra attention and special guidance.
Holding a workshop
on study circles Return
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The study circle is an integral part of Sai Organization
activities. Some devotees, especially new ones, may not know the goals
of study circles and how they work. The quotes from Hislop's Conversations
and from Sai Baba's discourses that are found on this page will be useful
in this regard. However, it sometimes helps to hold a workshop at a retreat
or conference, where the participants can discuss the study circle, with
a facilitator leading the discussion. Below are some ideas on holding such
a workshop.
It may be useful to hold the workshop like a study circle, in the following sense. The facilitator can discuss an issue for 3-4 for minutes and present some point on it. Then, the facilitor can have the participants contribute their ideas and suggestions on the issue. Go around the circle of participants, asking each person for their contribution (if they want to). The facilitator ensures that people don't break in but wait their turn.
The workshop can concentrate on these four issues:
The basic goal of a study circle is, of course, to help us understand how better to lead a spiritual life, to come closer to God. As Sai Baba says in one discourse, it is important not simply to read and understand but to find something to put into practice. At the start of the discussioin of the goals of a study circle, the facilitator can discuss the overall goals, quoting from Sathya Sai Baba. Then, one can ask the participants for their ideas of the goal of a study circle. Someone could write their ideas on a blackboard as they come out. Below are a list of goals/subgoals that came out during one study circle (the facilitator should not give this whole list --leave this to the participants!).
B. The process.
The general process is to read a passage, and then go
around the circle, giving each a chance to comment on the passage. People
should refrain from jumping in when it is not their turn; if this happens
once or twice, the facilitator can let it go, but if it becomes a problem,
the facilitator has to put a stop to it.
Generally, people should refrain from personal remarks that may harm someone. Also, it should not turn out to be a social therapy session. Ideas like the following cam from participants in one study circle.
C. The job of the facilitator.
The facilitator can be any person; it need not be the
devotion coordinator.
Being a good facilitator takes practice; it is a skill that has to be learned. Here are some points that were brought up in one study circle --again, this list is only for illustration. Don't simply give out this list; let the participants make up their own list.