1. Peace: The Universal Goal Sub Value: Self-Acceptance

2. Light Meditation

3. 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.

4. What is Self–Acceptance?
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.

5. Physical, mental & emotional levels
What is Self–Acceptance cont’d
What self–acceptance is
What self–acceptance is not
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
Having faith in Swami
Having faith in the mind or one’s 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

6. 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

7. Physical, mental & emotional levels
Why Self–Acceptance?
Physical, mental & emotional levels
Spiritual level
Carrying positive energy long term can lead to beneficial physical and mental health
If we don’t 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
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 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
There cannot be peace of mind without Self-acceptance

8. Why is self–acceptance important?
Why Self–Acceptance?
Self-Realization
Self-Sacrifice
Self-Satisfaction
Self-Confidence
Self-Acceptance/Faith
Peace
Why is self–acceptance important?
Self-Realization would result in eternal peace
Self–confidence is the basis for Self-satisfaction, Self-sacrifice
and Self-realization
Self–acceptance is the foundation for Self–confidence

9. A story on self–acceptance….
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."

10. Self–acceptance story cont’d
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?

11. 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?

12. Techniques
Identify the qualities in ourselves that do not demonstrate Baba’s teachings. For the next month practice not acting out these qualities.
Just after waking and before our minds engage in all the day’s 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 Baba’s 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.”

13. 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 Baba’s presence within your heart.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.