Giving

To understand the power of contribution

(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 : Be aware of yourself in the room…
Let a feeling of goodwill expand to fill the room, the building… the town… Now imagine joy and happiness expanding to cover all the earth… Everyone is your brother or sister… Everyone needs to be cared about. Each one of us is worth caring about…
Think of a time when you gave something to someone without considering getting anything back… And another time… And another…
Congratulate yourself for being able to give unselfishly… Resolve to be more open and giving in the future… Think how you will do it…

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