National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Welcome to the Messenger Workshop

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Characteristics of a Messenger

Hanuman

Jesus

Prophet Mohammed

Arjuna

Mother Teresa

Mahatma Gandhi

Nelson Mandela

14 th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso)

Queen Elizabeth II

Albert Einstein

Martin Luther King

Abraham Lincoln

Questions for discussion o What are the ‘top 5’ characteristics that made them ‘BE’ the messengers they are? o Which ones really resonate with you? o Which ones would you like to work on to make YOU an ideal Sai messenger?

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Break

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Being His Messengers ….. really??

Hmmm... Interesting... Something doesn’t seem right.....

Oh dear

I can’t believe it - have you seen what they’re doing?! Calling themselves messengers - LOL!

They’ve just walked past this... and ignored it...

I’m not sure I want to see any more if this is what they learnt at NYC?!

And walked past this....

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear....

And ignored this: “someone please help!”

Oh I can’t bear to hear or watch any more....

One is NOT amused.

What does Swami say? “One of the speakers quoted Swami, "My life is My message." She also referred to the statement, "your life is My message." You should understand the meaning of these statements clearly. Proclaiming that your life is Swami's message on the one hand and at the same time indulging in wicked activities and unrighteous deeds is treacherous. That constitutes 'your' message, not My Message. You can declare that your life is Swami's message only when you take to the path of truth and righteousness, install peace and love in your heart and uphold non-violence.” ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, World Youth Conference 1999~

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Let’s delve a little deeper….. [UNDER 25s]

Scenario 1 You're still at school. After your mothers prayers, she insists on putting Vibhuti on your forehead before you leave for school. You find this embarrassing, especially once you walk out of the house. The people at school ask you awkward questions, and you're not sure how to answer them. When you walk out of the house, would you wipe off the Vibhuti? If you would not wipe off the Vibhuti, how would you answer the awkward questions from your peers? How is this related to being a messenger?

Scenario 2 Everyone at school has a smart phone (iPhone). You’re still stuck with an old pre-smart phone which does not even have a camera. You come from a working class background so money is a bit of a constraint. You have managed to save up enough money for a new smart phone (old model but at least you will have a smart phone), but at home your father has just been made redundant. You really want to fit in at school, and you know by not having a decent phone your going to be ostracized from your peers. What would you do? Would you buy a smart phone? How is this related to being a messenger?

Scenario 3 You’re heading to your first job interview since you graduated from university. It’s a really perfect role for you, and is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You have made lots of preparations for this interview, but you are running slightly late. As you're heading to the interview you have to walk across a bridge. Whilst walking over the bridge you notice a man standing on the other side of the railings looking like he is going to jump. As you get closer you realise it’s an acquaintance of yours. Would you stop to help him or would you carry on walking and let him do what he needs to do. If you stop to help him you will be really late for the interview and will lose the opportunity for the job. What would you do? How is this related to being a messenger?

What does Swami say? “ It is your foremost duty to put into practice the dictates of your inner voice (antarvani) and follow the good qualities that are within you..... Never ignore your inner voice. It is your true property. When you develop the ability to listen to your inner voice, you will make great progress in life.... In fact you can attain everything when you follow the values that originate from your heart. You will be immersed in worldliness when you go against the inner voice. Indulgence in worldliness will take you away from your inner voice and innate values. Following the inner voice is true spirituality. You should not hurt anybody, nor should you get hurt in the process.... For those who adhere to their inner voice, all-round well-being is assured. True spirituality envisages that you should not act contrary to your inner voice. ” ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Discourse 14 th January 2009~

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Let’s delve a little deeper….. [OVER 25s]

Mahatma Gandhi

What does Swami say? “The harmony between thoughts, words and deeds is the first step in spiritual growth. Lack of correlation between ideas, utterances and actions leads to self deception, hypocrisy, and spiritual bankruptcy. The proper study of mankind is man. The generation, expression and efflorescence of humanitarianism depends on the proper integration of thought, speech and action. In other words, the rapport between mental and physical activities is an essential ingredient of spiritual training.” ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Summer Showers 1979, p22~

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message How can we become messengers? What tools can help us?

What gets in our way?

Swami has said.... o “Follow the Master, face the devil, fight to the end, finish the game.” o “You must welcome tests because it gives you confidence and it ensures promotion.” o “Learn to speak what you feel, and act what you speak.” o “The grace of GOD is like insurance. It will help you in your time of need without any limit.” o “If you take one step towards me, I will take ten steps, nay, a hundred steps toward you. Shed one tear, I shall wipe a hundred tears from your eye. I am closer to you than your eyelid is to the eye.”

What can we do about it?

20 Questions.... Guess who?

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Chart “TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.” “SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.” “ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.” “RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.” “FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.” “INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’e in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.” “SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.” “JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.” “MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.” “CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.” “TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.” “CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.” “HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”

FRANKLIN Log Focus for week: Be more humble To be AchievedMoTuWeThFrSaSu Be more enthusastic at work Speak more lovingly at work Wake up early every morning Do my meditation Be more humble Attend a service activity

What does Swami say? “You must have noticed three hands in the wall-clock. When the second hand which is the most active moves 60 paces, the minute hand performs a little jump and advances one bit. When the minute hand moves 60 paces, the hour hand has advanced a twelfth of the circumference. All the activity of the two other hands is to serve the hour hand which progresses silently and steadily. The second hand represents the body which has to be active and alert. Its round of activity is for the purpose of serving the minute hand, the heart. When the heart fulfils its duty of purification and clarification, the hour hand reveals the time. That is to say, the Aathmic (divine) principle manifests itself.” ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks Volume 14, Chapter 26~

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Soham Meditation

“… chant Soham, inhaling So and exhaling Ham. Soham means 'He is I'; it identifies you with the infinite and expands your consciousness. Harmonize breath and thought. Breathe gently, naturally; do not make it artificial and laboured. Slow breath quietens and calms the emotions. The mood of relaxation [is] produced by this Soham recital …” ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks VII, Japa Sadhana~

Soham Meditation Guided Soham Meditation

Soham Meditation “This Inhalation and Exhalation process goes on continuously for 21,600 times in a day in us. This means, you welcome God into you and drive out ego from you as many times” ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Divine Discourse, September 1998~

Soham Meditation “ Aim high, resolve on the supremest adventure --everything will be set right to lead you on to the goal. In fact, you are urged on toward this adventure by your very breath, which repeats 'He-I (Soham)' 21,600 times a day, thus emphasizing the identity of the Indweller with the Principle that is Imminent in the Universe. You may declare "There is no God" with your tongue, but the breath repeats So as it goes in and Ham as it goes out, making it clear that the He who is imminent is the I that is resident!" ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Speaks VII, Assert with Every Breath~

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Summary and Wrap Up

Divine Guidance “From today, as “messengers of God," you have to demonstrate to the world the purity, the Truth and the Love that the Divine symbolises. When you lead a life of purity and morality, you are entitled to regard yourselves as "Sons of God." God is the embodiment of Love and you should not do anything which is contrary to the love that God represents. You should develop those good qualities which can make you worthy "sons of God." In the Bible it is recorded that Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. When they asked him why He was doing so, Jesus answered: "I am washing your feet as your servant, so that you may learn to serve the world." Every man is, to begin with, a messenger of God. When he fulfils his duties as a messenger, he realises that he is a son of God and then achieves oneness with the Divine.” ~ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Christmas Day Discourse 1984~

National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Cover Title Here National Youth Conference 2013 How To Make OUR Life HIS Message Sai Ram!