Life Cycle Management Newcomers Providing a pleasant human experience in associating with us Victor Kannan

Introduction One-on-one relationship between prefects and abhyasis Introduce with considered conversation Introduce with personal touch and spread out No Assembly line type introduction Plan on having an hour for each abhyasi No more than 3 introductions per prefect per 3 days

Priorities – First 6 months Group Satsanghs – over Individual Sittings Informality – over Discipline Relationship – over Positions Timed Release of instruction – over overwhelming with information Gradual involvement - Handholding – Over quick intake – Transfer management

Transfer Management Students and abhyasis transfer from home center to another location – for job or higher study or simply go home after graduation Find a uconnect representative in the incoming center to handhold the transference Connect the abhyasi with that person via conference or video call Keep in touch after handover for a few weeks to ensure proper integration in the new center

Hospitality Have tea or meals – With a few abhyasis of similar background Invite to homes and ashrams – Have a small group to interact – Talk about personal reasons for meditation Our love and devotion is personal – Hence not talked about Introduction to simple mission books and videos – Make sure it is something you have read or watched – Must be carefully selected Don’t bore them with too much spirituality – Show your human side

Relationship Caring and Nurturing Being involved without being attached Being Empathetic without interfering Each sitting must be give in the best possible condition of the prefect Prefects to pray for a profound experience in sittings The last two are very important in retaining the abhyasis long term

Do’s Lead by example than by preaching – Let them adopt more and more on their own Expose them to your “normal” family life – Let them know we are all in the same boat Let them get multiple perspectives – Slowly increase their social circle in Sahaj Marg Share your ups and downs in Sahaj Marg – Sahaj Marg is “flexible” and “natural” not “rigid”

Don’t… …insist, just suggest about various things – Wed Satsanghs, Volunteer work, Reading books,… …push them to attend every Satsangh – Don’t remind them of a missed Satsangh/Sitting …counsel them on their personal problems – Listen but refrain from giving advise. …talk about Master unless they want to – Let them build their own relationship with Master

Schedule of Support First 2 weeks – – Group Satsangh/Individual Sitting – Mention registration, Ashram in second week Next 4 weeks – Sunday Satsangh, Wednesday Satsangh – Introduction to Social circle