1. Heartfulness Workshops in residential societies
Webinar 22nd Aug, 2015
Harpreet Bhan

2. Message from Rev Master
Dear ones, Copied below is one very significant message that was received on 10th December 2004 where in Pujya Shri Babuji inspires us to simplify the way we approach seekers, importance of experience, simplification of the system and about the ascending spiritual movement represented by Sahaj Marg. With prayers to beloved Master for His love and blessings. Kamlesh

7. Our Purpose is to make it known that Sahaj Marg is available Whether they choose to follow or not is up to them

8. FYI
In the past 3 months approximately 10 Lakh ( 1 M) people have come to know of Sahaj Marg meditation

9. Todays Program
HFN Workshops for residential neighbourhood and societies
Mock HFN Workshop
Some Learnings to share
What can we do going forward

10. Essential Fundamentals
Shri Rama Chandra Mission is our Mission
Sahaj Marg is the Path
Heartfulness is the Approach through which we introduce Sahaj Marg to willing aspirants
Approach is how we do little little things, how we behave, how we interact… are we able to transmit our love when we even give a glass of water to someone.. Or say a simple hello or….
We get conditions by the Grace of our Master.. Each one better than the previous one.. Should we just hold on to it for ourselves or give it freely instead?

11. What is Heartfulness?
Step-by-step, scientific approach to the practice.
Allows the aspirant to accept and understand components of Sahaj Marg at his or her own pace.
Includes an additional technique of relaxation which prepares one to meditate.
Heartfulness is giving our best to others hopefully without being even conscious of it ultimately.. Eg mother child relationship..
Anything done from the heart, with feelings, oriented towards others rather than my own self is probably heartfulness..

12. Heartfulness Workshops & Website: General Guidelines
Seekers can meditate before being introduced
Seekers may join satsang before being introduced
Seekers may be introduced in groups
Seekers may be introduced remotely

13. Initial Meeting with Society officials
Make initial pitch
Introduce SRCM/SMSF, established since 1945
Introduce our experiential scientific approach and mention 100+countries, 100,000’s seekers
Open to all faiths, religions, walks of life
Voluntary; No commercial considerations
Q&A

14. Initial Meeting with Society officials
Conclude with
Decision whether
3 day ( 90min+ 60 min+60 min) - Ideal
1 day ie 90 minute time slot – At least
or weeks program - Best
Fix venue, date and time for Workshop
Permission to put flyers on notice board

15. Initial Meeting –Shared learnings
There are subtle differences of what one does in the initial seeding conversation vs the presentation to seekers
One has to be more open to Q&A in the initial meeting than in the actual HFN workshop
Be ready to show/ a presentation or send a letter or speak
Listen to them
Make your self available and then let them decide. Dont oversell . Don’t Over Commit. Don’t chase them.

16. Initial Meeting –Shared learnings
Feel free to say we are from SMSF/SRCM.
If they ask if we have a Guru, we should say Yes with no hesitancy.
At the same time don't eulogise Master/Method/Mission at this stage . They will realise on their own, at the right time.

17. Pre Workshop Preparation
Assign HFN team
Post flyers on notice board
Circulate info of workshop to all in Society
Local abhyasi contact to be available to answer queries

18. Pre Workshop Preparation- On the Day
Reach venue early
Ensure venue availability 1 hour before
Projector , mic working well before time
Stationery – paper , pencil
Seating arrangement done
Standees at vantage point
Have a small typed introduction with what you want the Society President to read out
Receive all with a warm welcoming attitude

19. Heartfulness Workshops
Short Intro and Opening talk
Instructions and Q&A
Meditation without Transmission
Relaxation -> Meditation with Transmission
Fix Time for follow-up Workshop
Follow up

20. Residents Welfare Association, XXXXXXX, New Delhi
Meditation Workshop
Residents Welfare Association, XXXXXXX, New Delhi

21. Introduction of Speaker
Technology Entrepreneur and was Vice President of System Solutions at Comverse, Inc. Prior to Comverse, GM for Polycom India Innovation center
Over 20+ years in the technology industry … Held several leadership positions in engineering and product management
Received my Master's degree in business administration from Kellogg School of Management,  and M.S in Computer Science from Louisiana State University. 
Started practicing Heartfulness meditation in 1994 while studying in LSU

22. Heartfulness
A scientific approach to heart based meditation for Self Development and Transformation

23. Meditate on the heart Its all about feelings
Our entire life is led by feelings and inspirations- That is the role of the heart
When we listen to our feelings and capture the inspirations from our heart, we can master our lives
The exercise of fine tuning the heart with the mind is done through meditation on the heart
Its simple, easy, effective and can be done daily from the comfort of your home

24. Scientific Approach- See for yourself
First you will meditate on your own
Write down your observations after this
Then you will be guided through a relaxation technique and meditation using Yogic Transmission by a trainer
Write down your observations again
Compare your notes
Please meditate on any way that you have done before
If you have not meditated before , gently close your eyes and suppose that the source of light is illuminating your heart from within.

25. Meditation on your own
Please meditate on any way that you have done before
If you have not meditated before , gently close your eyes and bring your awareness to the Source of Light which is already in your heart
If your mind wanders gently bring your attention back to the heart
Take participants through each step in the Heartfulness Meditation Exercise.
Clarify that the exercise will take 10 to 15 minutes and that there is no Yogic Transmission with this meditation exercise.
Ask them to sit comfortably and close their eyes. You can start with “Please start” and end with “That’s all”.

26. Note Your Observations
Any observation
For example, how do you feel?
How long was I able to meditate?
Where was my attention during meditation?
Ask them to write down their experiences, and you can go through these questions.

27. Meditation with Yogic Transmission
Find a comfortable position. Please follow instructions that will be given to you. We will start with a guided relaxation technique and lead into meditation. All you have to do is follow the instructions.

28. Meditation with Yogic Transmission
At the point when you hear “ Please start meditation” Gently think of the Source of Light present in Your Heart
Note, it is best to have the instructor who is giving the sitting also be the person who is guiding the participants through the relaxation technique.
We also recommend practicing this a few times on your own before going “live” with this at a workshop.
You can let the participants know that this is a very simple, useful and practical relaxation technique that they can use daily to calm down, relax, and to help get to sleep.
It is also a useful practice to do prior to doing the heartfulness meditation.
We also have a video of this technique on our website, Heartfulness.org (with one “l”)
Take the participants through the relaxation technique.

29. Meditation with Yogic Transmission
Rather than visualising any light be open to any experience We will do this for about 30 minutes and in silence If your mind wanders gently bring your attention back to the heart You may open your eyes gently when you hear “That’s all”
Take participants through the Heartfulness Meditation Exercise.
Clarify that the exercise will take 30 to 35 minutes and that there is Yogic Transmission with this meditation exercise.
Ask them to sit comfortably and close their eyes.
You can start with “Please start” and end with “That’s all” .

30. Any Questions

31. Ready ????? Close your eyes. Allow your breath to be normal and calm. Relax.
Take them thru Relaxation technique either live or through relaxation video . Once they reach the heart in relaxation, please gently say “ Please start meditation” and …Don’t ask them to open eyes after reaching the end of relaxation and before starting meditation..
Gently say “That’s all” after about 30 minutes ..Softaly ask them to “gently open your eyes please”. When thye have opened their eyes, as them to write their observations on a piece of paper

32. Lets try it now

33. First Meditate on your own In your own way ( 10 mins)

34. Write your observations on a sheet of paper

35. Meditation with Yogic Transmission Please follow instructions of the Trainer

36. Write your observations on a sheet of paper and compare this with the unguided meditation you did before

37. Deeper Connection Evaluate for yourself how was the meditation.
You meditated for about 30 minutes!!!
Would you like to experience this again? ( fix time and place next day if that’s agreeable)
for more information
A trainer will confirm the timing and meditate with you for 30 minutes
Explain that to get a deeper connection through Heartfulness, which will help teach them to have deeper meditation experiences on their own, our trainers can sit with a participant for three or four days in a row.
Fix a convenient time for all of them and go to their location
You can mention that there are never any costs or fees for this practice.

38. The following introductory sittings
A very high degree of flexibility is needed from our part
If people can’t come for three consecutive days, we will find a solution for them
We never say that they can’t start if they can’t come during three consecutive days.

39. Thank you for coming and participating in Heartfulness Meditation
Thank you for coming and participating in Heartfulness Meditation. Contact information: Xxxx
At this point, make sure that each person has a rack card with the Heartfulness contact name, phone # and address.
Provide follow up information on additional workshops and/or sittings.
Thank the participants for coming to this workshop.
At this point, try to avoid questions (or too many questions).
It is better to wrap up the workshop and leave them with a sense of contentment, wonder and desire for more!

40. Some answers to FAQs
When you lead the Relaxation do so from the deepest depths of your heart with all your warmth and feelings
In Unguided meditation, our Facilitator sits on the side and not facing them
In Guided Meditation , Facilitator takes place in front of seekers
Leads to meditation straight from relaxation
Prefect Gives first sitting – Cleaning Only
Prefect “carries” all seekers with them throughout the day and gives 2nd and 3rd sitting as per established method.
Abhyasi can also lead these workshops where prefect may not be available. ( remote sitting)

41. Opening Talk
Intro by host preferably
Brief and relax the organisers who are hosting the function (where applicable).
Opening talk ideally is 5-10 mins. Be mindful of “speak less”. Emphasise “experiential”
Give instructions on what to do in both exercises
Take Q&A
Welcome guests to the workshop and introduce yourself
Make sure everyone has a pen/pencil and sheet of paper
Introduce the need for meditation and why we meditate on the heart
Talk about the scientific basis or experimenting and experiencing
A unique element of Heartfulness is “yogic transmission” – an energy that is transmitted during the session that allows one to go deeper into meditation. Today you’ll have the opportunity to experience this.

42. Tips from Revered Master
“We should roll out the program as per the availability of volunteers. It is rather too easy to introduce the system, but later maintenance MUST be well calculated with proper assignment of person before hand “

43. Tips from Revered Master
“We should mainly focus NOT on knowledge but how through this practice where there is no more exercise than closing ones eyes and relax while allowing the work supported by pranahuti to happen / unfold. Heartfulness is all about heartfelt experiences and not about mental jargon and heavy bookish loads “

44. Some Shared Learnings Have courage/confidence; you can do no harm
Don't be compelled to give answers even though you may know. Particularly spiritual questions. Infact it's best to leave them hanging with questions.
Make it somewhat mysterious. Encouraging them to find their own answers.
Don’t be defensive. Smile . Keep atmosphere light.
Polite, heartful not rigid and preachy
Talk of simple little things not lofty ideas ( laya)

45. Some Shared Learnings
Balance with humour. Speak from your own experience. Make it interactive‎ (time permitting)
Thin line between: enthusiasm /over enthusiasm; empathy and condescending ; smart/over smart
Stick to time
Work on the small things - mic projector speakers working; stationery arranged; volunteers in the right place: seamless working
Be prepared for things not to work.. Plan B, Plan C
Don’t rush/push them

46. Some Shared Learnings The Volunteers to continuously put thoughts –
deeply absorbed,
being attracted to our Great Master
Change any of the guidelines you want to. Just know the repercussions of it and don’t lose sight of the larger picture

47. Most importantly Be yourself. You Decide what’s best.
Follow your heart .
With a purpose to serve them.
This is what establishes trust..
There are no FIXED RULES. Only GUIDELINES
At times you may end with relaxation only. Its OK.
Have Confidence and Courage to take a dip
If it’s a group of intellectuals.. Have more time for Opening talk/Q&A.. If you get 1-1/2 hrs then you can increase duration of any subpart as you wish

48. Train the Trainer Program
Abhyasi Bulletin: No: Monday, 17 August Heartfulness on-site training
Our beloved Kamlesh bhai has invited every abhyasi to participate in this movement, and there is an immense need for skilled volunteers to contribute their services.
We hope that at least 1000 trainers will be trained by the end of the year.  
Online application by 29 August 2015

49. Train the Trainer Program

50. What can You do Volunteer Heartful Attitude
Presenter/Facilitator
Volunteer- logistics, Coordinator
Trainer
Heartful Attitude
Cooperate, Collaborate
Work in anonymity
Approach your friends, society in conjunction with HFN team
Keep yourself updated

51. What can You do All can contribute Thoughts
Master is leading the way forward
Deeply absorbed
Craving souls attracted to Great Masters
Universal Prayer
Night Prayer -We not I
Practice relaxation at home to start with

52. Summary Sahaj Marg is the Path, Heartfulness is the approach
Welcoming and heartful attitude – non judgemental
Openness
No rushing: Customised for each seeker, at their pace
Different people in same group may need next stages at different speed
Encourage them to practice on their own, in steps as per their comfort.
Reach them and not pull them to where we are: weekday satsangh / group sitting in their premises

53. HFN Workshop Template Short Intro / Opening Talk
Meditation on your own
Note your observations on paper
Heartfulness Relaxation, followed by Heartfulness meditation with Yogic Transmission
Note and Compare your observations
Continuing on your own – deepening the experience

54. Go forth with courage and confidence
Most importantly
Go forth with courage and confidence

55. Prayer
Good Luck May we all cooperate to the fullest extent in these exciting times and assist our Great Master and the Hierarchy as they wish