Uconnect@srcm.orgyouconnect@srcm.org

Connecting with Youth in Universities

Youth – “A time of promise and effort” – Revered Master

Survey Says

1. How many of you think there is no God or higher power? 9%

(91%)

2. How many of you believe there is a God of the Religions? 42%

(58%)

3. How may of you believe there is a higher power and that can not be explained by any one? 83%

4. How many of you think meditation is a means to become spiritual 62%

What is U-Connect? Three progressive threads – Overview of topics,

Introspective engagements and Meditation sessions Values, Yoga, Religions, Meditation Systems, Personal

Responsibility

An open minded and secular approach

Engender a culture of Spirituality

Approach towards personal experience

Not about the introduction of the Mission and the Master but the method first

SUSTAINABLE programs

Long term presence in the institutions

What we OfferCurriculum Design

Contents

Facilitating the program completely

Guest Speakers

Training on meditation

On going campus support

Train their faculty to sustain the program

What Universities OfferMeditation Room

Multi media enabled auditorium / class rooms

Library for Self Development

Allocate an hour or two per week for this course as part of the time table

Pay for Guest Speakers if they travel from other states

Repeat the program every semester or year

What is the course?Mission statement of the course: To offer the youth of this country an aspirational set of values to live by; to help them achieve a balanced life focused on a spiritual goal and an ethical material life; and to contribute to nation building.

Curriculum Objectives:

a. Better understanding of various philosophies and respect for various religions

b. Inspired and self motivated to pursue a balanced life

c. A deep interest in a Spiritual sadhana

d. Honest and capable students with hopes of a better India and humanity

Course Elements To develop a set of practical and interactive curriculum spanning

a. Values and Yoga - relevance to self-development

b. History, purpose and practice of religions

c. Explore spiritual systems and tools that interface the ever-changing human situation with the unchanging Absolute

d. Tips for Self-Development

e. Practical sessions of meditation

Approach to this course Self Discovery

Self is the biggest mystery with greatest potential

Take Interest in oneself

Aids to self discovery

Workshops - Interaction, Participation and Learning together

Listening to Speeches/ expert videos

Reading some suggested materials

Keeping a diary

Write one’s observation, Review, Measure and Gain confidence

Preparing and Participating

Less Academic - More practical and exploratory

Key words and key concepts

Adopting practical tips and experimenting on oneself

How do we adapt for the USA and ROW

Nothing new – we have done classes etc before..

Same multi threaded approach as U-Connect

Six week sessions

Community colleges, YMCA & Community centers

First Draft of content is available on FTP

A few possible pilots in the next few months Jacksonville, Atlanta? , Miami?, Denver, New Jersey

How is this different? Engagement oriented

Practical sessions

During the 6 week duration, participants get practical exposure to apply Introspection and Meditation for solving their personal issues

Topics like Stress management, Success management, Balancing life and creating a fulfilling relationship with self, family and community are explored

We are not experts but have used the tool ourselves.

If venue costs money, it is ok to charge fees

Transition management of those that start in these programs

Most ImportantlyWhat is in it for me?

Benefits……

Balance

Normalization

Intuition

Happiness

Also progressive interest into Self Realization

Values Education In addition to Self Development program offered by

SRCM under its U-Connect initiative

SHPT revamped VBSE into Values Education in 2013.

6 Core values and 20 total classes from Grade 8-12 Sincerity, Humility, Courage, Responsibility, Love and

Freedom

Abhyasi volunteers teach the classes

Repeatable engagement with the Schools in India

Adapted for Sahaj Marg children in the USA

How can you get involvedEither in U-Connect or with Values

Education

Coordinate and present (for a pilot team), help in

content development etc

https://www.sahajmarg.org/resources/programs/

uconnect

https://www.sahajmarg.org/resources/programs

/valueseducation

uconnect@srcm.org

vbe@shpt.in