SIP: Day 1

Four individuals were we; a mix of friends, strangers, some familiar names and familiar faces. Whatever our relationships at the beginning of abhyaas varg C, by the end of the first day a mutual understanding of who we were and what we may be doing started to become apparent.
Day 1, Karyalay, Leicester.
The first activity was done in the mind of:
"Leave the place in a better state than that in which you found it." And so began Safai, as would be the norm for the next few days. This was followed by prathna and meditation. Excellent!
After a breakfast of everything you'd expect to find in a well balanced meal (toast, tea, pizza, cereal) we assembled for the first session: choice. We all sat waiting, eager to know what thought provoking issues would emerge from the first session, as Dipvandana and Dharmesh stood facing us.
“Welcome to SIP" said they, more or less, and then they left the room. No instructions, no explanation, nothing. Initially we sat, rooted to our chairs anticipating their imminent return... but alas! They did not come! And so we were left to our own devices. In the room was a table laden with bits and bobs; books, articles, DVDs, and some board games, including monopoly... and so we decided to play, just until they came back, mind you! We played, not strictly in accordance with the rules, for one hour, with still no sign to suggest that we had not been abandoned. It was then that it dawned on us that a game of monopoly would not be much to show for an hour and that something must be done. Janak checked on his laptop, revealing to us all that the first session was entitled CHOICE. With this in mind, we did choose to get something constructive done. Having been assigned two projects each, we worked and talked about ideas and potential avenues leading from our projects. All in all we had about 2.5-3hours. During a lunch that followed, we were asked "why do we think session 1 was designed the way it was?" It was only then that we began to see how those three hours reflected how we use our free time in our day to day life. When no one from school/university/work is telling us what to do, how do we organise our time and make the maximum use of it? How do we get the drive to get off the sofa and work without external instruction? Leaving us on our own without any push in any direction was a clear message from the SIP organisers that during the course of this programme, we will not be instructed or mothered. Rather that the drive to act and to do has to come from yourself. Organising the time you have and deciding how to spend it is vital; this way you can still meet with friends and do other things that you want to do.
After lunch and a bit of time for general replenishment, we began session 2: conditional sewa. Dipvandana and Dharmesh decided to stay fro the entire course of this session which we were very glad of. This session looked at a number of issues/topics/questions:
“How far are we willing to go to find a solution?"
Too often we are very quick to react to a problem, whether it be the weather, what we see on the news, traffic etc. What has to happen for us to get out of this cycle of simply criticising? Creating potential solutions as ways of combating the problems is a much more useful way of spending time.
“Be thankful to every poor person in the world; they enable us to serve."
This statement is something I have never considered. With it comes humility, a quality that allows us to see and appreciate this relationship of give and take; how you are receiving and growing in the service you are giving. Their state of poverty gives you an avenue for personal and spiritual growth.
“If you have come here to help me then you may leave BUT if your liberation is bound with mine then we may work together.”
"Service is the rent we pay for our space on this Earth"
We as British citizens are amongst the richest 2% of people in the world. But what is it that we have done to deserve it? What have we done to enjoy this Earth? We don’t make much of a sacrifice to enjoy the fruits of this life, and we cannot see anything unjust in this relationship of taking so much from Mother Earth. It is the service we do that must balance all that we have received.

The evening’s dinner plans were to be at different venues. We were all to go to different shakha households and spend the evening, from 18:30-22:00. Amidst the normal bustle of evening activities we were to find out as much as possible about our respective hosts. Later on that night, we re-adjourned for feedback. Listening to the different family stories of their past gives a fragment of understanding other peoples lives.
It was decided later on that night that all four of us were to follow a topic each in current affairs during the course of the month, ensuring that we withhold personal judgment. In this way a solid understanding can be gained.

The day ended with some meditation that strangely seemed to drift into sleep- it had been a long day!