WYC II - November 21, 1999

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Peace The Universal GoalSub Value
Self-Acceptance
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Light Meditation
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Review prior study circles

• Spend the first 10 minutes to review the previous
  study circle.
• What were the techniques used?
• Spend a few minutes to share experiences from the
  Sai Challenges.
• Share any insight as well as difficulties
  encountered in these challenges.

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What is SelfAcceptance?

• We have various strengths and weaknesses that we
  often identify ourselves with. We carry over
  several tendencies from our previous lives and
  form new ones in this life. But in reality we are
  beyond these attributes. Thus Swami always
  addresses us as Premaathmaswaroopulara /
  Divyaatmaswaroopulara
• Swami addresses us as embodiments of Love and
  embodiments of Divine Atma reassuring us of our
  true nature.
• He further tells us, Having faith in our true
  Self, which is Divinity itself, is Self
  -Acceptance.

The shell that encloses the pearl might be dirty.
But the pearls within the shell are pure.
Similarly, within the shell of the vasanas
(tendencies or impulses) we are all pure Divinity.
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What is SelfAcceptance contd
What selfacceptance is What selfacceptance is not
Physical, mental emotional levels Physical, mental emotional levels
Identifying our own faults objectively Unwillingness to identify personal issues
Accept ourselves in spite of our faults Justifying our incorrect actions
Willingness to correct our faults/mistakes Willing to accept ourselves with faults/mistakes
Correct the faults/mistakes Unwillingness to change
Spiritual level Spiritual level
Having faith in Swami Having faith in the mind or ones own abilities
Accepting that we are the embodiment of Swami Rejecting oneself as not being Swami because of ups and downs on the spiritual journey and therefore not believing that Swami resides in our heart
Realizing the Swami within ourselves and others Stopping our journey once we have corrected our faults on the physical, mental and emotional levels instead of moving on to realize the Swami within
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What Swami says.

• Never, never demean yourself again.
• Never, never hide your talents from this day
  hence.
• Your potential is unlimited. Who else among My
• creations has mastered gravity, has pierced the
• heavens?
• There was no one to know who I am, until I
  created the Universe at My pleasure with one
  Word. The first place was granted to mankind,
  and My knowledge was placed in his mind.

• Look at Me within you. I look at Myself in you.
  You are My life, My breath and My soul. You are
  all, everyone of you, My form. When I love you, I
  love My own self. When you love yourselves, you
  are loving Me.
• I separated Myself from Myself to love Myself

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Why SelfAcceptance?
Physical, mental emotional levels Spiritual level
Carrying positive energy long term can lead to beneficial physical and mental health If we dont have self-acceptance we can more easily fall into the monkey mind trap we may not be able to grow and move up on the spiritual path
Gives us a chance to live in the present vs. carrying things from the past If we dont have self-acceptance we can more easily fall into the monkey mind trap we may not be able to grow and move up on the spiritual path
Allows us to keep our emotions in check Gives us the courage to listen to our hearts and follow the inner call, the voice of conscience
Avoids condemning ourselves, but condemn the bad action, so that we do not continually repeat the same negative behavior Gives us the courage to listen to our hearts and follow the inner call, the voice of conscience
Gives us the self-confidence and courage needed to be successful in life Self-acceptance is the foundation to Self-realization, the ultimate goal of human birth, breaking the cycle of birth and death, and merging with God
Gives us the virtues of patience and tolerance to deal with ourselves as well as others Self-acceptance is the foundation to Self-realization, the ultimate goal of human birth, breaking the cycle of birth and death, and merging with God
There cannot be peace of mind without Self-acceptance There cannot be peace of mind without Self-acceptance
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Why SelfAcceptance?

• Why is selfacceptance important?
• Self-Realization would result in eternal peace
• Selfconfidence is the basis for
  Self-satisfaction, Self-sacrifice
• and Self-realization
• Selfacceptance is the foundation for
  Selfconfidence

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A story on selfacceptance.
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each
hung on the ends of a pole which she carried
across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in
it while the other pot was perfect and always
delivered a full portion of water. At the end of
the long walks from the stream to the house, the
cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full
two years this went on daily, with the woman
bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was
ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable
that it could only do half of what it had been
made to do. After two years of what it perceived
to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one
day by the stream "I am ashamed of myself,
because this crack in my side causes water to
leak out all the way back to your house."
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Selfacceptance story contd

• The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there
  are flowers on your side of the path, but not on
  the other pot's side?
• "That's because I have always known about your
  flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of
  the path, and every day while we walk back, you
  water them. For two years I have been able to
  pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the
  table. Without you being just the way you are,
  there would not be this beauty to grace the
  house.
• Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the
  cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives
  together so very interesting and rewarding.
  You've just got to take each person for what they
  are and look for the good in them.
• Discussion questions about the story
• What did the story mean to you?
• How did you feel listening to the story? Did it
  remind you of anything at home, in the office, or
  at Center activities?
• Like the cracked pot, how have you demeaned
  yourself by comparing yourself to others?
  Instead, have we actually been sowing good deeds
  that will flower beautifully?

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Discussion Questions

• Is Self-Acceptance an all or none concept? If
  not, does it vary during the day, from day to
  day, situation to situation etc.? Should it vary?
• What do you see as the greatest challenge to
  attain Self-Acceptance? Is it internal or
  external?
• Self-Acceptance vs. self-acceptance? (capital S
  vs. small s)
• What is the difference between the two?
• Can you have one without the other?
• Which one do you think would lead you to Swami?
• How does Self-acceptance help to build
  self-confidence?
• If I have done an inappropriate action, how do I
  condemn the action or behavior and not condemn
  myself?
• Any why is that important?

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Techniques

• Identify the qualities in ourselves that do not
  demonstrate Babas teachings. For the next month
  practice not acting out these qualities.
• Just after waking and before our minds engage in
  all the days upcoming activities, even before
  getting out of bed, picture Swami within our
  hearts and repeat 9 times I am the embodiment
  of Love. I am God.
• At the end of the day recollect the behaviors
  that were not done in accordance with Babas
  teachings. How would we have acted if we
  demonstrated Self-acceptance, i.e., how would we
  have acted in the presence of Swami.
• Remind ourselves that our habits are just the
  vestures that we are wearing and that we are not
  those habits.

5. As Swami said in the valedictory discourse
of the World Youth Conference III, whenever evil
thoughts enter your mind, remind yourself, This
is not good this is not mine not mine, and
drive away those evil thoughts. Tell yourself,
These are all not my property my property is
good thoughts and good ideas only.
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Sai Challenges

• To demonstrate faith in our true Self/Swami, be
  unaffected by all the pleasant and unpleasant
  situations in the month as gifts from Swami and
  offer them back to Him. Identify the lessons
  that Swami has given us through these situations
  and realize that He has given us these
  circumstances so that we learn the lessons in our
  journey to the true Self.
• Identify a difficult situation at home or at work
  each day for the next month where you find it
  difficult to deal with, separate out the quality
  from the person involved in the situation, and
  address the person involved as the embodiment of
  God and not address the quality.
• Swami says Never, never demean yourself again.
  Never, never hide your talents from this day
  hence. Your potential is unlimited. List one
  talent that Baba has manifested through you in
  this life. Focus on manifesting that talent for
  the benefit of your family, friends, and work
  colleagues. Do not get distracted and demean
  yourself, even if your falter in your practice.
• Baba says Look at Me within you You are all,
  everyone of you, My form. Each day upon waking
  for the next month, sit quietly and focus with
  intention, and feel Babas presence within your
  heart.

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Extreme Sai Challenges

• God / Self is always happy. Create a worry-free
  time zone for 2 hours per day. Increase the time
  every week. Do not let anything bother you
  during this period for the next month.
• God / Self is always serving others. Knowing
  that the Self in others is the same as the Self
  within you, for the next month pick a person at
  work as well as home and reach out to them. See
  your Self in all aspects or your interaction with
  them. Treat them exactly the way you would treat
  yourSelf, i.e., talk sweetly, act kindly.

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Next steps.

• Take first 10 minutes during the next study
  circle to recap Self-Acceptance
• Share experiences on how the week(s) after this
  study circle was different by practicing
  Self-Acceptance Sai challenges both challenges
  and successes.

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Jai Sai Ram
Where there is faith, there is love, Where there
is love, there is peace,Where there is peace,
there is truth, Where there is truth, there is
God,Where there is God, there is bliss.