Compassion and Selflessness

To understand the greatness of the human spirit

(Teacher reads the exercise slowly, pausing at the dots… If you wish, you can play soft music in the background).

Step 1 : “Firstly, sit in a comfortable position on your chairs, or cross legged on the floor. Make sure your back is straight and head is upright. Take a deep breath and relax as you breathe out. Take another deep breath… and another…”

Step 2 : Now relax any tensions in the body. Stretch your toes, then relax them. Tighten and tense the calf muscles, then relax them. Tense the muscles in your upper legs and thighs, and relax them. Pull in your stomach muscles, then relax them. Pull the shoulders back, then relax them. Shrug the shoulders up and down. Look left, look forward, look right, look forward. Now screw up the face muscles and relax them. Feel your whole body relaxed – all tensions have gone.

Step 3 : Keep your eyes closed, breathe out any unpleasant and uncomfortable thoughts within…
Know that you have the love and compassion inside you to be unselfish… Know that you have the strength and fortitude to keep going under difficult circumstances.
You are the very essence of love itself…
You can decide to share your love and goodness with the people around you…
Think whether this is what you would like to do…

Step 4 : Now bring your attention back to the classroom, open your eyes and stretch, as the exercise has finished. Smile at the person next to you.

Adapted from ‘Sathya Sai Education in Human Values’, Published by BISSE Limited