Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samiti - Qatar, Nine Point Code of Conduct.

Prayer
Pray in whatever way familiar to you – this reinforces your meditation. You can chant mantras, sing bhajans, hymns, kirtans, or just speak to God in your own way – whatever makes you feel closer to Him and makes you truly feel that you are communicating with Him. Prayers, bhajans etc., should be done joyously, giving you a sense of upliftment. God is “Bliss” – “Joy” – “Peace” and when you think of Him and sing or speak His name, the same bliss, joy and peace should fill your being. The hunger for prayer should be intense. Pray at least twice a day to feed the “soul” or the inner being. There will come a time when every moment, every act, every word, becomes a prayer for you.
Devotional singing/prayer with the members of the family once a week:
Have your prayers in the traditional method of worship, be it Hindu, Christian or whatever faith.
Also it does not matter if all join in the beginning. Start the family prayer with whoever is willing. Keep to a fixed day and time and continue with faith. However it should be important that your family members should see the visible, positive transformation in you – that your Sadhana has made you more loving, more kind, more gentle, more understanding. This will have a greater effect on non-participating family members of urging them to join you, than your actual prayer itself. If on the other hand a member of a family after doing prayers becomes intolerant, insensitive or condescending, then you will drive your family members away from your prayer – and you yourself will never enjoy the benefit of your Sadhana.
Participating in Sri Sathya Sai Spiritual Education Programme (Bal Vikas) organized by the center for the Children of Sai Devotees:
The reason for this code is obvious when one becomes aware that what is taught to the children in the Bal Vikas classes are:
1. One’s own religion – chanting of prayers, songs, hymns, lives of great saints, etc.
2. Knowledge and respect for other religions.
3. Human values – respect for parents and elders, cleanliness, good conduct, confidence, co-operation, self-help, etc.
4. The life and message of Bhagwan Baba.
These are taught through sophisticated, dynamic programmes where only gurus who have undergone a specific training programme will be required to teach. All the children may not have the opportunity of being in the direct physical presence of Bhagwan Baba to foster their love, devotion, and thirst for spiritual knowledge and world welfare. Their spirituality must thus be fostered from within. The Bal Vikas programme is designed to create a new generation of spiritually motivated, dynamic youngsters who will become a credit to themselves, their families, society and nation – and uphold all the great human values that can make man great, grand and Godly.
Participating in the community work and other programmes of the organization:
This is merely a codification of an injunction that is in every religion of the world – to serve man and thus serve God – “Service to man is service to God”.
The qualification of membership of a Sai organization is not just to attend bhajans and to love Baba, but to accept the 9 – point code as part of our life and to render service to the poor, the sick and the needy. The spiritual seeker is thus able to stride forward in his Sadhana with bhakti (devotional love) and Karma (selfless service) towards the inevitable prize of jnana (divine knowledge) while practicing dhyana (meditation – refer code I) and finally attains liberation – moksha. Bhagwan has declared “Hands that help are holier than lips that pray”.
Service forms important part of spiritual Sadhana and if leader of any Centers are found to be not sufficiently active, spiritual seekers should be urging, such Center leader to organize meaningful service activities to fulfill their spiritual yearnings. Leaders of the Sai Centers who have taken up the divine task of leading a Sai Center should be fully cognizant of their divine responsibility. If they do not fulfill their responsibility in this respect, they face the karmic consequence of stunting the spiritual development of those who look up to them for guidance, and it is wise for them to step down and allow those with time, energy and initiative to take over the running of the Center in line with Sai ideals.
Attend at least once a month Group devotional singing organized by the Center:
The significance of the requirement “at least once a month” is that devotees should not remain at Bhajan level, which is only the foundation of the Sai movement.
The pursuance of bhajans alone as a principle Sadhana, ignoring the other aspects of Sadhana can lead to many devotees slipping backwards in spirituality, rather than moving forward.
The sincere aspirant must be so deeply absorbed in the words and tunes of devotional songs (Bhajans) that he has them ringing in his ears all the time, analyzing the meaning of the songs and their messages and using them as a guide, as a beacon of love in his daily life. Only then will the Bhajan bring about the necessary results, - the softening of the heart, the gentleness of the speech, the kindness of thoughts, the yearning to serve, and general transformation in character and behaviour. Without this transformation, the devotional songs have little or no spiritual significance.
Regular study of Sai literature:
This should not be interpreted in a narrow chauvinistic way – that only books about Sai must be studied. All Sai devotees are expected to study the life, messages and teachings of Bhagwan Baba. However, literature of all the great religions and saints should also be the part of the study material, as Baba’s teachings cover the teachings of all religions and saints.
Speak Softly and lovingly to everyone:
The code enjoins us to speak with love – lower our volume, but love is the essence. Harsh words hurt even if spoken softly.
Not to talk ill of others especially in their absence:
Backbiting, character assassination, falsehood about another, trying to belittle or bring down the esteem of one in the eyes of others – this is the deadly cancer that has destroyed many groups, even great movements, and most certainly must be considered anathema to any spiritual body.
Here, not talking ill or finding faults, should not be mistaken as being blind to the genuine faults or mistakes of others. It simply means that if you do talk about the faults of others in their presence, then it should only be with love, because you genuinely wants to help, to improve and elevate, not to degrade and condemn.
To put into practice “Ceiling of Desires” and to utilize savings generated for service to mankind:
The code urges all aspirants along the spiritual path to put a rein on growing desires, within an increasingly materialistic, uncaring, waste and obsolescene oriented society.