Development 1969 Formation of Sri Sathya Sai Bala Vihar in Bombay. 1970 The First All India Bal Vihar Teachers’ Conference held at Bombay.1971 – Bhagavan renamed Bal Vihar as Bal Vikas and clarified the objectives of child education which were to promote the blossoming of the values of Truth, Beauty and Goodness. Formal structure was given to Bal Vikas with rules and regulations for conducting the classes. Syllabus was drawn up and the First Manual for Teachers was developed. Aims of Bal Vikas were clearly defined as Vikas or Blossoming in respect ofDeha Vikas (Physical Development or Blossoming of Body)Mano Vikas (Mental Development or Blossoming of Mind)Buddhi Vikas (Development or Blossoming of Intellect)Bhava Vikas (Development or Blossoming of qualities of Heart)Atma Vikas (Development or Blossoming of Spirit) 1971 First Issue of magazine in the name of ‘Sri Sathya Sai Bala Vikas’ released. 1973 The Second All India Conference for Teachers was conducted at Rajahmundry, AP. Bhagavan addressed teachers as ‘Gurus’, clarifying that Guru is one who dispels darkness and helps the child to understand divinity within and in the Universe. Bhagavan directed that an All India Training Course be organized to enhance the quality and to bring in uniformity in Bal Vikas Education. A Three stage curriculum was developed here. 1975 The Third Conference was held in Prasanthi Nilayam. Bhagavan stressed upon personal Sadhana for Gurus leading to synchronization between one’s thought, word and deed. He directed the Gurus to teach with Love, through Love and Blend Love through Discipline. Baba always directed the gurus – “Be, Do and Tell”. Without practicing the human values, Gurus cannot acquire the moral authority to influence the children. Syllabus for Group III was prepared in this conference. 1975 Bal Vikas was introduced to other countries. 1975 All India Rally of over 2000 Bal Vikas students from all states held in the presence of Bhagavan in Prasanthi Nilayam. 1976 Scientific Research of Bal Vikas Programme in Bombay and Bhopal conducted by Professors of Bombay University. 1977 The Fourth Conference was organized in Prasanthi Nilayam. Bhagavan motivated the Gurus to adopt and propagate ‘Ceiling on Desires’. Bhagavan revealed Non-Violence includes saving on food, water, energy, time and money, and how waste leads to violence. Baba stressed on how desires ignite violence and the only remedy to curb violence is to minimize desires. 1977 First All India Examination in Group III for Bal Vikas students held. 1977 Introduction of ‘Diploma in Sai education’ 1978 Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas – Central Training Camp for Gurus at Brindavan, Bangalore 1980 In the 3rd World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, at Prasanthi Nilayam Swamy introduced Ceiling on Desires Programme. He said “Children must be taught not to waste Food, Water, Time, Energy and Money”. 1980 Second All India Rally of Bal Vikas students from all states held in the immediate presence of Bhagavan in Prasanthi Nilayam. 1981 A conference for the overseas teachers was held in Prasanthi Nilayam. It was in this conference, the concept of Education in Human Values was introduced. 1983 Central Training of Overseas Bal Vikas Gurus and Group III Bal Vikas Gurus in Prasanthi Nilayam 1998 Parenting Workshop at Prashanti Nilayam. 2000 Educare Conference 2005 ‘Glory of Sai’, Children’s Festival in the Divine Presence at Prashanti Nilayam. First Convention of Bal Vikas Past Students at Prashanti Nilayam. All India Bal Vikas Gurus’ Conference. 2007 All India Workshop on Parenting 2008 World Education Conference 2009 Awareness Programme for Master Trainers

Expansion Swamy said, “Children are the crops growing in the fields, to yield the harvest on which the nation has to sustain itself. They are the pillars on which the future of the nation is built. They are the roots of the national tree, which has to give the fruits of Work, Worship and Wisdom to the next generations.”(10-07-1974). Following the promptings of Bhagavan, the mothers gradually changed their attitudes from ‘my children‘ to ‘our children‘ treading the path shown by Bhagavan in the journey of ‘From I to We’ and started Bal Vikas Classes in the villages and in the neighbourhood and started seeing mankind beyond the narrow corridors of home, caste, colour, creed and religion. It was in 1974 that Bhagavan gave a new identity to the teachers of Bal Vikas as ‘Gurus’. It was the beginning of the expansion of Bal Vikas. Devotees took up the clarion call of Bhagavan and in one year by 1975, the number of Trained Gurus rose to 3,500 and little over 50,000 children were encouraged to join Bal Vikas. It was also decided to make Easwaramma Day Celebrations as an integral part of the Bal Vikas Programme. In the early 1970s a Bal Vikas programme was begun in the United Kingdom. In 1977, Swami’s devotees started Bal Vikas in United States of America. The Bal Vikas programme began to spread rapidly to other countries all over the world.. and in 1981, a conference for the overseas teachers was held in Prasanthi Nilayam. It was in this conference, the concept of Education in Human Values was introduced. In 1983, the 15th anniversary of Bal Vikas was held in Prasanthi Nilayam. In 1995 at the Sixth World Conference, in order to emphasise the Universality of the Bal Vikas Programme, it was decided to change the name to Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) in countries outside of India. Bal Vikas classes are designed for children whose parents are primarily devotees of Bhagavan. The core content relates to the Five Universal Human Values of Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love and Non-Violence. In the early 1980s a modification of the Bal Vikas programme was developed for children whose parents were not devotees of Baba. It was given the name Sathya Sai Education in Human Values. It promotes Character development and seeks to instill in the students, a respect and reverence for nature and for the rights of others.

Parenting PARENTS – PAY RENT “One’s body is derived from the flesh and blood of the mother. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the life you lead are all the gift of your parents. It is one’s primary duty to please one’s parents. Serve your parents.” Parent means ‘pay rent’. Children should pay the rent of respect and service to parents who gave them the room called body. Mother is the first guru of the child. “Great mothers create great men”. Indian culture emphasizes the importance of mother, father, teacher and God. Swami has said that parents are living Gods. Children are their most valuable treasure. Parenting is nothing other than ‘Family Sadhana’. Parenting Programme of Sri Sathya Sai Balavikas aims atA – AwarenessI – InductionM – Motivation The objectives of parenting programme are : To fulfill Swami’s vision that every home must be a Balavikas class and every mother must be a Balavikas guru. For this we have to work with great momentum.To highlight the need of individual transformation and the family transformation.To heighten the parents self – awareness and self – knowledge.To let every parent get the benefit of Sai experience.To inculcate the idea not to send parents to old age homes. All India Workshop on Parenting – 20-21 November, 2007 – Prasanthi Nilayam On the morning of November 20, Sai Kulwant Hall witnessed the inauguration of the two-day Workshop on Parenting organised by the Education wing of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation. Swami lit the ceremonial lamp at 9.30 am. A vedic invocation and three short speeches followed. The speeches were by Smt.Nimmi Kanwar, Smt.Vidya Srinivasan and Dr.L.Sasi Bala who spearhead the Balvikas and Parenting initiatives of the Sai Organisation. The content was mainly based on inputs that Swami had given at various times on the Bal Vikas programme and the role parents have to play in bringing up their children. Sri. V. Srinivasan, All India President inaugurating the workshop Parenting Programme in various states Kerala BV trainers are equipped with material and methodology. Parenting programs are conducted regularly and members of EHV wing and Sai Teachers Forum associate with parenting activity. Karnataka Exhibition on dynamic parenting at samithi an taluk levels.Publication of quarterly news letter on parenting.Encourage parents to become Balavikas gurus. Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh Intensive house to house parent contact: This was done at least once a year through out the state. For this teams comprising of male Samithi members & B.V.Gurus visit all houses of the specified area. Although the questioner [as per B.V.manual] is not filled but its contents are covered during the verbal talks with the parents.Mothers Meet was conducted at few places. Inviting parents in B.V. classes by respective Gurus.Exhibition on parenting in urban Samithis. Tamil Nadu All the districts have conducted parenting meeting at the Samithi level. All the samithies organize Matru puja where the children worship their parents with all devotion by washing the feet of parents and doing archana by reciting sathya sai Ashtothram.In school Balvikas, parenting meeting was conducted when the parents mentioned that their children stopped taking non-vegetarian food and prevented their parents from cooking non-vegetarian dishes.The parents addicted to alcohol changed their habit because of their children who are in Balvikas. The children who attended Balvikas prayed to Bhagawan to change the habit of their parents.The constant pressure exerted by the children brought about a favourable attitudinal change in the parents.The workshop on parenting facilitated an understanding and adjustment between daughters in law and mothers in law. It helped in eliminating the animosity between the in laws.Parenting has helped the youngsters to respect the elders and the elders to understand the problems of the youngsters.The great weakness among the parents noticed in the parenting programme is that they were highly interested in the academic achievements of their children. It took great deal of time to convince them of the importance of overall personality development consisting of emotional, mental, intellectual, psychological and spiritual dimensions.The parents who were ready to go for divorce actually changed their ideas as the programme on parenting helped them to shed their egoistic attitude and helped in bringing about a positive change in their mental outlook.Successful Parenting programme and balvikas have helped the parents to join in the organization either as Balvikas Gurus or sevadals .One person has become a samithi convenor too. Maharashtra The Parenting Exhibition with sub titles in Regional Language held at Samiti Level was a Great Success.Parenting Workshops — Quiz, Dialogues etc. with active participation of the parents held Funfair with a spiritual themes – where both Parents and children together participated was also a success.

Concepts of Bal Vikas Teaching The Balavikas course is based on two principles – Existence of GodDivinity in man The ultimate aim of Balavikas is to let the child realize that Divinity dwells in him. The child is ignorant that he or she is Divine though pure at heart, soft in physique, tender in mind and nascent in intellect. What you sow, so you will reap. It is here that the teaching techniques assume importance. All the techniques are meant to achieve the two important goals mentioned above. Essence of education and knowledge have been clearly emphasized by Swami as ‘The end of education is character’‘The end of knowledge is Love’ Swami says – “Man is endowed with knowledge, skill, balance and insight, but balance of man is upset today. The cause can be traced to the fact that man is killing knowledge instead of skilling it. As soon as balance is lost, man’s insight suffers a setback.” The imbalance caused by the external education is balanced by the skill of human values and thus the imbalance is corrected and balance is restored. To attain the illumination level of the mind, balance is a pre-requisite. Education process that Bhagawan has designed is for the transformation of man into a human with a character of nobility, compassion and love for mankind. It is the Divine education (Brahma Vidya) not just the academic education (Bahya Vidya) which can achieve this. Balavikas aims to develop the five aspects of child’s personality i.e. Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Psychological and Spiritual aspects, by kindling the intrinsic human qualities, thereby achieving a complete, well rounded personality aiming at individual transformation. The skill, maturity, intelligence and commitment of guru lies in helping the child blossom into an excellent personality nurturing the five human values and developing the five attributes of an integrated personality. Bal Vikas Teaching Methodology The hall mark of Bal Vikas is that the programme is conducted by devotees who have tremendous commitment, faith and love for Bhagavan and children. The programme has an integrated plan for motivating parents’ participation and involvement of students who complete the 9 years course too. Since the values are inherent in the child, the guru has to gently encourage these values to emerge from within the child by adopting certain teaching methods and helping the children master their minds to become master minds. This task is accomplished by synchronizing the five teaching techniques of Prayer, Silent sitting and Meditation, Group Singing, Story Telling and Group Activities. The Bal Vikas Guru must follow the Divine Principle of “Be, Do and Tell”. “Be, Do and Tell” – Leading by Example Implementation of Bal Vikas curriculum lays stress on using the Five Teaching Techniques in a systematic and integrated manner. The Five Human Values are elicited through lessons based on the Five Teaching Techniques. A Bal Vikas Guru teaches through love. It is through love ultimately the desired transformation takes place. When the process of Educare is uppermost in the mind of the guru, the process of teaching and learning becomes experiential and joyful. For each age group, from young children to teen-age youth the Bal Vikas Guru takes on a specific role linked to psychological development of the child. For Group I, it is that of a mother: discipline established and good behaviour is positively rewarded. In Group II, the teacher takes on the formal teacher’s role and the children develop a sense of order and respect for rules. Finally in group III, the teacher is a friend helping the children to develop firm principles and become actively aware of their conscience. In Group I learning is attained through ‘doing and making’, in Group – II ‘doing and thinking’ and in Group III ‘Planning and Achieving’.

Aims The Sanskrit phrase, Bal Vikas, means “Blossoming of the Child”. Accordingly, rules, regulations and a course syllabus were developed in order to enhance the blossoming of “truth, beauty and goodness” (Satyam, Sivam and Sundaram) in the child. The aims of Bal Vikas are to foster character development and spiritual transformation and To inculcate habits of discipline and self-discipline so that students learn to be masters of the mind and not slaves and have absolute control over sense organs. To engender in children a desire to be of service to all humanity and in this way to be of service to God by helping them learn about the life and teachings of Swami. To Cultivate Humility, Practice Ceiling on Desires and render Self-less Service. To train them to be able to discriminate between right and wrong, between truth and non-truth; that is, to follow always the inner promptings of the Divine. To help children to be fully aware of the Unity underlying all faiths and all mankind. To guide all children to have Purity and Harmony in Thought, Word and Deed. To help children realise their conscience and follow that as the path for attaining Divinity To give priority to the development of character, self-confidence and self-sufficiency. To foster the understanding and practice of the five inherent human values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-Violence.