Discrimination is Essential for Realization of Truth

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Light Meditation

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Unity of Thought, Word & Deed Review

Spend the first 10 minutes to review the unity of thought, word and deed study circle and supplemental materials.

What were the techniques you used?

Spend a few minutes to share experiences from the last week’s Sai challenge. Share any insights as well as difficulties encountered in the challenge.

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What does Discrimination Mean to You?

What is right or wrong?

What is good or bad?

What is real or unreal?

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What is Discrimination? The process of differentiating and selecting good from bad The gift of faculty that distinguishes the beneficial from the non-

beneficial Tells us when and how much importance is to be given to various

aspects in a given situation Constant investigation of truth (real versus unreal) Example: Atomic energy may be used for creating destructive

weapons, or, if used properly can generate beneficial electric power

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Two levels of Discrimination Individual discrimination: Arises out of and promotes selfishness Fundamental discrimination: Arises out of awareness of the Self and

promotes the welfare of one and all

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Discrimination in Thought, Word & Deed

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Good thought, word and deed

Harmful thought, word and deed

Discrimination is weighing the possible harmful or beneficial consequences of one’s thoughts, words, and actions, and, following through with the good and one’s duty

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Discrimination in Thought, Word & Deed (cont.)

Thoughts Not to hurt others or ourselves by our thoughts Swami says, “As you feel, so you become”

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Words Always speak truth Swami says, “You may not always be able to

oblige, but you can always speak obligingly"

Deeds Strengthen selfless approach and attitude by

constantly serving the needy Swami says, “Service to mankind is service to

God”

For Example:The tongue displays a sense of discrimination in the choice of food. It hasalso a remarkable ability to observe restraint by not getting bitten by theteeth. It never goes beyond its bounds. Such a highly valuable organshould be used for the sacred purposes for which it is intended. This is theexhortation of the Upanishads to all mankind. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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Why Discriminate?

Cultivate Broad Feelings

Process of Enquiry

Eliminate Evil Qualities

Eliminate Ignorance

Eliminate Ego

Control Mind

Control Temper

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Discussion

How has the above information changed your perspective on what discrimination is and why it is needed?

What are the different aspects in life where we need to apply discrimination?

Discuss at least one situation where you applied discrimination and how you felt? What was the result?

What were the challenges faced? How did you resolve the challenges?

Did you like the taste of discrimination and its after-effect?

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Swami says…. Man is endowed with the special instrument of discrimination which,

among all animals, he alone possesses. The more he uses this instrument, the stronger it becomes. He has to use it to realize the divinity immanent in him.

Viveka (discrimination) along with vairagya (renunciation) is essential to remove the greatest obstacle to experience Truth, i.e., ahamkara (egoism) and mamakara (mineness or possessiveness).

The illumination of viveka (discrimination) will remove the darkness which hides the Divine essence of Man.

One should discard Individual Discrimination and have only Fundamental Discrimination.

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Techniques Filter your thoughts through the five human values:

Is this action or thought loving?Is this peaceful?Is this truthful?Is this non violent?Is this a right action?

Ask yourselves if you would do this in front of Swami?

Would you still  have unity of thought word and deed if you did this?

Write out a pro and con list. If the pro outweigh the cons, then it is a good idea or vise versa.

Would you be embarrassed if your Sai family or your friends witnessed your actions?

Can you identify acts of discrimination that Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi practiced?

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Sai Challenges Identify the negative thoughts you have even against the people you like. Try to

reduce them in half.

Identify the activities in which you would not bring Swami with you in your daily life, and why.

Discriminate between the positive and negative energy in a situation. Don't concentrate on the negative, discriminate by sending positive energy. For example, the war in the Middle East.

For the next two weeks self analyze your thoughts and actions by using a pro and con list. If the pros outweigh the cons then proceed with unity of thought, word and deed.

“When you get angry you loose your sense of discrimination.”Don't get angry at any situation, person or yourself for the next two weeks.

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Extreme Sai Challenge Try to reduce the number of negative thoughts that could be hurtful to

people you do not like, by half.

Change all activities in your daily life where you would not feel comfortable bringing Swami in.

Discriminate between eternal truth and factual truth.Example: Factual truth- J.B. is a liar.Eternal truth- if we look past this comment we can see that Swami is in J.B. as well (eternal truth).

When you have a difference with another person think of what Swami would do and act accordingly.

“When you get angry you loose your sense of discrimination.”Don't get angry at any situation, person or yourself until the WYC.

Next Steps

Take the first 10 minutes during the next study circle to recap discrimination

Practice discrimination and build from the previous study circles Share experiences on how the week(s) after this study circle was

different by practicing discrimination. Ensure that a holistic picture is obtained by sharing both challenges and successes

Try to incorporate the unity of thought, word and deed subvalue in your efforts to practice discrimination and discover similarities between the two.

Practice Discrimination as an important step as an ideal Sai youth, with the goal of uniting with Swami and His mission.

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Jai Sai Ram

Through renunciation alone, can you attain immortality", declare the Vedas! This truth must be implanted in the mind by discriminating reason. That is why Sri Krishna says, "I am discrimination in the human being." That is the distinct feature of man. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba