Devotion Wing

About the Devotion Wing

The Devotion Wing is an integral part of our Organization. The primary objective is to facilitate individual spiritual progress, based on the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, by conducting multiple spiritual activities in accordance with the Organization’s guidelines.

The Devotion Wing focuses on group devotional singing, study circle, prayers, meditation and other activities designed to strengthen one’s faith, devotional fervor and understanding and practice of spiritual principles. Seminars or talks on various devotional topics and quarterly informal meet and greet sessions are held to welcome all newcomers to the center.

Study Circles (Discussion Groups)

Under the Devotion Wing of our Organization, members meet regularly to discuss spiritual topics, and find their practical application in daily life. The study groups enable us to learn from the wisdom of saints and other great spiritual leaders.

The study circle carries many benefits to participants. The primary benefit is the acquisition of Self-knowledge. Bhagawan says, “In the study circle you can learn a lot of things, but the most important thing to be learnt is your own true nature – your atma- tatwa. Learning all about external things without knowing your real Self is like studying the branches of a tree, ignoring its roots.”

Swami also cautions us with the following statement not to turn the study circle into a reading group. “Study with faith and devotion. Delve into the significance and the meaning of what you read, and always have before you, the goal of putting what you read into practice. Unless you do so, the study circle will remain a half-circle forever; it cannot be a full circle.”

Meditation

Swami says “Meditation (dhyana) induces God to come down to you and inspires you to raise yourselves to Him; it tends to make you come together, not place one in a lower level and the other on a higher. There are the three stages: concentration, contemplation, and meditation. Gearing all the senses into action is concentration. Right from dawn to dusk, whatever activities we perform, they are done with concentration. There is a border between concentration, which is below senses, and meditation, which is beyond senses. This border is known as contemplation. When contemplation deepens, it moves naturally into meditation. Meditation is entirely above the senses; it transcends the senses”

All spiritual activities (Bhajan, Nagar Sankirtan) include a few minutes for meditation. Also, as per the organization’s code of conduct for its members and participants, meditation should form an integral part of daily activities. Meditation can take various forms such as Japa (Meditation on the Lord’s name) and Jyoti Meditation (Meditation on the Light).

Jyoti Meditation Video (Meditation on the Light) 

Devotional Singing

Devotional singing (bhajan) is the process of singing that originates in the heart, not from the lips or the tongue. It is the expression of the joyous thrill that wells up from the heart when the Glory of God is remembered. It is the spontaneous manifestation of inner ecstasy. No attention is paid to the blame or praise that others may give. It does not seek the admiration or the appreciation of the listeners.

It is said that when several people gather together to sing the Glory of God, then the atmosphere becomes purified. Mankind, to day, is forced to breathe an atmosphere polluted by sounds that spring from violence, hatred, greed and wickedness. The singing of Bhajans radiating devotion and love, with the melody emerging from the heart, creates a sacred sound that can help purify both the individual and the world.

   Power of Namasmarana

• Namasmarana is the best antidote for overcoming anger & sorrow.

• Namasmarana instills faith that everything is God’s will and teaches you that you have no right to despair

• Namasmarana purifies the mind, senses and we enjoy continuous, un-alloyed peace and bliss

• Nama is packed with infinite potential to purify, sublimate and transform the mind and the heart

• Namasmarana is the best medicine. Only you do not believe that it can cure or save you

• In the Kali age, Namasmarana is the spiritual discipline to attain liberation

• Namasmarana is the best medicine. Only you do not believe that it can cure or save you.

• In the Kali age, Namasmarana is the spiritual discipline to attain liberation

• Namasmarana is the best means for correcting and cleansing the mind. This is a raft which will take us across hate & fear, churned by anxiety & terror

• Namasmarana knows no failure, overcomes all obstacles and leads to the ultimate goal

• Namasmarana gives strength to bear our sorrows & tears

• Namasmarana makes His majesty, His grace, His potency and His pervasiveness fixed in the conscious of the devotee to achieve humility and surrender.

• Namasmarana is the easiest means to cross the ocean of delusion, bondage and attachment.

• Namasmarana has infinite power and potential to become one with the infinity

   Swami’s Guidelines for Devotional singing

• Bhajan is a Sadhana (spiritual discipline) for all who share in it. Sing familiar Bhajans, so that all can share the Ananda (bliss)

• Pay attention to the tune, the meaning, the variety, the voice, the raga (notes), the tala (rhythm) and other fine points of the Bhajan.

• The Bhajans must be sweet to the ear. If your voice is not pleasant or sweet, keep quiet; that is the best service you can do. Do not cause discontent, discord or disharmony, insisting on singing because you are an-office bearer.

• Do not monopolize the time in Bhajans in singing one song for six or ten minutes, repeating the same line often. Repeat each line only twice and no more. Have only two speeds – one slow and the other fast. In this way you can have more songs in one hour of Bhajans.

• When you sing Bhajans dwell also on the meaning of the song and the message of each name and form of God.

•  Bhajans have to be sung and offered to God in an attitude of utter humility. They have to please the Lord, not your fans.

• Unless you sing Bhajans for your own joy, you cannot bring joy to others. Only when the devotional feeling arises in the singer’s heart, the song will appeal to the hearts of others.

• Bhajan has to be a thrilling experience, which must leave the participants full of pure energy and elevated enthusiasm. With each Bhajan song the mind must be rendered purer, freer from passion and stronger in faith.

• People should return from Bhajan carrying the elevated, uplifted and sublime mood created by the atmosphere at the Bhajan. Therefore, after the Bhajan people should disperse quietly, maintaining silence. Then the joy and peace derived at the Bhajan will linger and abide in the heart.

      Sunday Activities – Ongoing

       Study Circle: 9:30 am – 10:40 am

       Meditation: 10:40 am – 11:00 am

       Vedam and Devotional Singing: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm