1. Pilgrimage to Prashanthi Nilayam from Chicago & Region 5
Journey from I to We to He

2. Pilgrimage Preparations
Importance of the Pilgrimage
Group Vs Individual trip
Essential Requirements & Group Discipline
Accountability and Preparations
Regular attendance, tracking our progress

3. Importance of Pilgrimage
Swami has invited all of us:
“Place all burdens on me and start the spiritual pilgrimage this very day”
Our unique chance:
Meeting Swami
Receiving His Blessings
A successful pilgrimage

4. Preparations
In preparation for this journey we will implement several activities to intensify our spiritual discipline over the next two months.

5. Group vs. Individual
All pilgrims should follow through with the activities with all the strength and intensity that Sai expects from us! We should remember that although the effort is individual, the commitment is as a group

6. Grace and Effort
“My Grace is proportional to your effort. Try to win grace by reforming your habits, reducing your desires and defining your higher nature. One step makes the next step easier; that is the excellence of spiritual journey. With each step, your strength and confidence will increase, and you will get bigger and bigger installments of Grace.” 6

7. Essential Requirements and Group Discipline
1) Have Faith With No Expectations! 2) Be United and Have Swami as Focus 3) Adhere to the Discipline of the Group 4) Participate in all the Group Sadhana and Unity-Building Activities 5) Participate in local and Parthi Service opportunities 6) Be from Region 5 and associated with a Sai Center in Region 5 7) Be with the Group in Prashanthi Nilayam for the ENTIRE trip – June 28 afternoon darshan – July 4 morning darshan

8. Essential Requirements and Group Discipline
8) Purchase Ticket (s) By May 15th
9) Attend Pilgrimage Preparation meetings in your local area 10) Attend Mandatory Mini-Retreats in Chicago (May 16, June 6) 11) Learn Group Songs and Vedam
Additional Requirements To Be Part of the Presentation:
12) Attend all Pilgrimage Preparation meetings in your local area and both Mini-Retreats 13) Attend additional small group practice sessions as needed (singing, instruments) 8

9. Accountability and Incentive
Regular attendance
Active participation
Goals: Journey from I to We
Support Individual Transformation
Promote Spiritual Growth and Upliftment of all members
Build Unity among all pilgrims
Strengthen and Energize the Sai Centers
Win Swami’s Grace

10. Teams Group Sadhana and Unity-Building Team Service Team
Logistics Team
Presentation Program Team
Presentation Offerings Team
All teams will have local and Parthi duties. 10

11. Pilgrimage Preparations… Group Sadhana and Unity-Building Team11

12. Spiritual Discipline (Sadhana) and Unity Team
All actions that we do should be pleasing to the Lord. In whatever action we perform, the question must be asked, "Will this please the Lord or not?" God means in effect your conscience. You should not do anything which does not give you self-satisfaction. Whatever you do that pleases God will be holy.
Ganesh Chathurthi Discourse September 03, 1989
On this slide it is important to talk about why group discipline is important in Parthi and what the purpose of Spiritual Disciplines are

13. Team Overview
Help with group implementation of three Spiritual Disciplines (Sadhana)
Chant 21 Gayatri Mantras daily
15 min of silent sitting or meditation daily
30 min of reading or listening actively to Swami’s words
Coordinate unity building activities at meetings and retreats
Facilitate group logo and name selection
Collect personal experiences to present to Swami and share with group
Maintain group progress to present to Swami
Assist in creating group disciplines
We are here to serve and help the process
These three initiatives should jump start group’s efforts or reinforce what is already being done
Need to work hard towards internal personal progress… that’s what Swami loves seeing and it is the purpose for being born

14. Flight & Parthi Discipline
Flight sadhana
Coordinate seva dal volunteers not the process at the Mandir
Facilitate group discipline
Bullet point number two. Please elaborate the difference. When I went 3 years ago, the group was small (30?) and we had one main point person or two. We self-policed each other (punctuality, etc). So we did not have “seva dal” volunteers internal to the group. Who is explaining “flight sadhana?”

15. 3 Spiritual Discipline To help all of us in the Group,
Spiritual disciplines have been chosen
Spiritual disciplines/Sadhana team ed spiritual disciplines survey to ___________. Those who responded to the survey had input. The most frequently chosen spiritual disciplines were selected as the three being presented today. There were 9 disciplines to choose from, suggested by this team, keeping in mind wanted united participation by young and old.

16. 21 Gayatri Mantras Daily (at a consistent time) Benefit:
Gayatri mantra has three parts: praise, meditation and prayer.
First, the Divine is praised, and then it is meditated upon in reverence and, lastly, prayer is offered to the Divine to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to awaken and strengthen the intellect. Chanting of the Gayatri mantra purifies the mind and confers devotion, detachment and wisdom.
You should chant the Gayatri mantra everyday, in the morning, noon and evening. (Sathya Sai Speaks: Vol 33)
Ideas:
Chant with your family
Chant with friends in person or on the phone
Chant while commuting to work
Chant while doing housework
Chant while on lunch break
Swami says that this is a universal prayer, to be prayed by all (regardless of gender, clime, or creed.) c.f. Sathya Sai Speaks III, 242

17. 15 min of Silent Sitting or Meditation Daily (at a consistent times)
Benefit:
Quiet the mind
Connect with Swami
Prepare for silence and sitting on the floor in Prashanti Nilayam
Ideas:
Heart meditation beneficial for the world (on under meditation at the bottom of the page)
Light (Jyothi) meditation (on under meditation at the bottom of the page)
In the same place to keep the vibrations and train the body and mind
Sit silently or meditate with family or local group
Take a trip to a scenic place and meditate in nature
Soham meditation may be mentioned also.

18. Read or Listen to Swami’s teachings for 30 min
Benefit:
Sanctify our minds
Good thoughts lead to good actions and words
Reflect and act upon Swami’s words
Ideas:
Download discourses to your portable music player (iPod, etc)
Read during lunch or while commuting (if not driving )
Read with family or with a group
Informal discussion with family or reading buddies on what was read
Recommended readings:
Prema Vahini (
Chinna Katha (
Discourses (
Where do people sign up for Chinna Katha list?

19. Tracking
Explain tracking and how it will be done
Present to Swami
Gayathri count
Silent sitting/meditation minutes
Pages read? Books read? Mins spent listening to His voice or reading His words
I may need more RAM on PC to be able to access spreadsheet. I have this on order. I do not know if this will be an issue for others. I defer to Yamini’s comments on spreadsheet itself.

20. Tracking

21. Pilgrimage Preparations… Service Team21

22. Service to Man is Service to GOD

23. Role of Service Team
To create a simple framework to engage all pilgrims in service locally before going to Parthi
To identify and coordinate service activities during the group trip in Parthi

24. To promote our own spiritual upliftment
Goals of Service
To promote our own spiritual upliftment
To motivate ourselves to take part in service in our own community
To engage the group in service in Parthi
To create a volunteer base when we come back from Parthi

25. Pilgrimage Service Framework
Suggested offering of 9 hours of group service activities before travel to Parthi
Types of Service we can do
Sai Organization Service
National Youth Conference help
Center set-up/clean-up
Community Service
Ongoing existing Center service-projects
Large Scale, One-time projects
Smaller Scale, ongoing projects

26. Pilgrimage Service Framework
Propose to document the service activities of all centers in the Region and make a booklet as an offering to Swami

27. Project Ideas Large Scale Projects
30-50 or more volunteers participating
Small Scale Projects
5-10 participants
Parthi Service Projects: details are forthcoming
National Youth Conference
Ongoing Service Projects
Miscellaneous Projects

28. National Youth Conference
Transportation
Friday, May 29: AM/Afternoon/PM- 10 cars
Sunday, May 31: AM/Afternoon/PM- 8 cars
Child Care
Four hour shifts, Sat and Sun: 8AM-Noon and 1-5PM
Food Prep
Friday night: please contact Hina Gandhi if you’re interested
Materials needed: 10 flashlights

29. Ongoing Service Projects
You may join ongoing service projects at any of the centers
Please contact your respective service coordinators for more information

30. Miscellaneous Service Projects
If you are working on a personal service project, please bring it to the attention of the Service Coordinators of your local centers. They may try to incorporate it in this Service Project Framework.

31. Service
"Engage yourselves in service activity. Consider social service as service to God. This is the best way to earn God's Love. Love all and serve all. Your entire life will be sanctified thereby." - Sathya Sai Baba

32. Pilgrimage Preparations… Logistics Team

33. Logistics Details Location for Mini Retreats
Ramada Inn at Glendale Heights
Pilgrim Travel and other Information
Would be collected by the logistics
team to plan travel / accommodation
for pilgrims in India 33

34. Logistics Details No chartered flights for the pilgrimage
No group travel rates on airlines. Choose the airline of your choice and price.
You have the option of making your air travel arrangement with your travel agent or you can use the travel agent identified on the FAQ (website)
Large group travel from Bangalore Airport to Parthi and back will be arranged by Logistic Team via Bus.
Individuals who arrive outside of group travel can take taxi service or other methods to arrive at the ashram.
Recommendation is to stay inside the ashram in Parthi.
Recommendation is to eat food at Sai Canteens in the ashram 34

35. Logistics Details Accommodation in Parthi
Being worked out for registered pilgrims.
Information needed for room registration will be collected from pilgrims
Accommodation in Apartments outside ashram
If you own an apartment, use it and indicate to us
Accommodation in Hotels outside the ashram
We do not recommend Hotel accommodation
It is the responsibility of the individuals to secure rooms.
Details of available hotels can be obtained via public website link: 35

36. Logistics Details Food in Parthi Pilgrims dine at the canteens.
Food For Mini-Retreat in Chicago
Planned for lunch and snacks
Food For Weekly Meetings
Individuals and Families should plan for their food
Coffee / tea will be available 36

37. Logistics Details Scarves and Badges
Standard USA and Custom Scarves is being investigated
Sai Logo Button is being reviewed
Men’s Uniforms in Parthi
See FAQ on Website
Women’s Uniforms in Parthi
Planning team is addressing feedback from devotees 37 37

38. Finance Details Common Expenditure Examples Mini Retreat Hall Rentals
Paper Products for Food
Stationary
Booklet Printing
Mailing Expenses
Scarves & Badges
Offerings like Prasadam at Parthi (tbd)* (Cost information to follow in next few slides..) 38

39. Finance Details Individual Expenditure examples
(not included in common expenditures)
Local Transportation in India- Airport to Parthi/Return
Bus is preferred
Cars are also being considered
Accommodations In Parthi
Food at Parthi Canteens
Sundry expenses
Uniforms for Men
Uniforms for Ladies 39

40. Finance Details $10,000 Budgeted
Voluntary / Anonymous Contributions towards Common Expenditure
$10,000 Budgeted
Individual Voluntary / Anonymous Contributions Around $50 ~ $100
Please contact your Liaison/Pilgrimage Coordinator for more details
Note
This cost does not include other individual expenses in Parthi
Any additional cost related to Service Project will be addressed by Service Team and is not included in this estimate 40

41. Finance Details Total cost lower range: $1600
Expected overall cost of the trip per person
Airline Ticket from Chicago to Bangalore
$1500 ~ $1800 range
Voluntary/Anonymous Contribution to common expense
$50 ~ $100 range
Individual Expense
$100 ~$200 range
Total cost lower range: $1600
Total cost upper range: $2100 41

42. Pilgrimage Preparations… Presentation Offering Team42

43. Offering Team Role Local preparation
Facilitate local offering preparations
Parthi preparation
Facilitate Parthi offering preparations
Weekly Group Letters to Swami
Editorial task for all offerings made

44. Local Preparations Theme Based booklets
Center Offerings based on the activities they conduct
Each center – 2 pages maximum (size 8” by 11’’)
Submission Due Date – May 16th Mini-Retreat
Journey to Sai Booklet
Offering to Swami about the preparation before our arrival
Photographs, details about local preparations
Weekly updates to be mailed to the offering team – every Friday

45. Local Preparations Flower/Bouquet
May 16th Mini Retreat each person will be given a petal/paper
One can write their names and 2 lines of prayer/express gratitude
Heart Based Card
Made by SSE children
Template design will be communicated to all coordinators by the end of next week
Submission Due Date – May 16th Retreat

46. Local Preparations
Letters to Swami
At every meeting (Mini Retreat and weekly meetings), everyone will write letters to Swami
Weekly progress update to Swami by the Offering team

47. Parthi Preparations
Planning Stage…
More to come…

48. Pilgrimage Preparations… Presentation Program Team48

49. Our Effort + His Grace Dedicate 108% effort
Work together in unity as a region
Have fun, enjoy the process
Feel Swami’s presence through every step
Leave the rest to Him
Remember
No formal approval has been given for a presentation
There should be no expectations
Pray for an presentation offering opportunity in His Divine presence

50. Presentation Framework
Prepare for 1½ hours of Musical Offering
1 hour devotional songs
½ hour Bhajans
Prepare and learn Vedam chanting
Represent the diversity of our group
Give opportunity for all pilgrims including Adults, Young Adults, SSE and Pre-SSE
Create a collective offering from our Region

51. Presentation Framework
Vedam
Mantra Pushpam
Narayana Suktham
Shivopasana Mantra
Musical Offering
4 Large group songs – English, Hindi, Telugu (Swami’s composition), English Bhajan Medley
2 SSE group songs
4 Small group songs – Telugu, Spanish, English, Qawali
Group Bhajans – 2 SSE, 7 Adults/YA

52. Presentation Team Role
Finalize songs, Vedam, Bhajans
Facilitate group songs and Vedam learning
Identify and Assign singers and instrumentalists, keeping Quality as the focus
Make Audio and Text available for download

53. Preparations by Pilgrims
Time and Commitment
Time and commitment required from each individual to make a worthy offering for Swami
Level of Practices Needed
Individual Practices
Local Group Practices
Large centers - meet regularly for group practice
Small centers - practice with nearby centers and with the audio
Regional Mini Retreat Practices (May 16, June 6)
Come prepared, practice the Vedam and songs prior to each retreat

54. Remember No Approval No Expectations Work in Unity and Love
Pray to Swami for His guidance throughout this process

55. Pilgrimage Preparations… Introduction of Liaison OR Pilgrimage Coordinators for each center55

56. Pilgrimage to Prashanthi Nilayam
May Swami Bless us as we take this pilgrimage to His Divine Lotus Feet
Jai Sai Ram