Bal Vikas (Sai Spiritual Education) is the primary basis of the great movement to restore righteousness (dharma) in the world….The ideal of the [program] is to raise a generation of boys and girls who have a clean and clear conscience.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, SSSS Vol 10/Chap 33, June 6, 1978
“The end of education is character. Education without character is of no value.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Prasanthi Nilayam, November 20, 2001
Educare as an approach that brings out the inherent qualities of truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence, aligning the heart, head, and hands.
True education, according to Sai Baba, “broadens the heart and deepens love.”
It fosters unity, brings out divine qualities, and shapes a well-rounded personality.
- Group 1: Grades 1-3
- Group 2: Grades 4-6
- Group 3: Grades 7-9
- Group 4: Grades 10-12 (Classes are held virtually)
Uniform: Khaki pants And Orange Polo shirt with Logo (Shirt can be purchased from the SSE coordinator)
Along with active participation of all parents. Sai Parents study circles are held every Sunday during SSE class time and all parents are highly encouraged to participate regularly.
The success of the SSE program relies on a strong partnership between parents, students, and teachers (gurus). Parents are expected to ensure their child’s regular attendance, discipline, participate in SSE activities and center events, and adhere to the 9-Point Code of Conduct.
- Schedule: Sundays, 9:45 AM – 12:00 noon.
- Start Date: Sunday after Labor Day in September.
- End Date: Mother’s Day weekend in May(Graduation Day)
Sai Center of Greater St. Louis
11952 Natural Bridge Rd,
Bridgeton, MO 63044
- The Core Principles
- Divinity manifests as love, which underlies all human values.
- Educare reveals innate human values and integrates them into daily living.
- The goal of education is to lead a life that is both human and spiritual.
- The essence of education is character, which expresses itself in unity of thought, word, and deed.
Objectives of the Sai Spiritual Education Program
“The aim of Educare is to teach the child awareness of the Self.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- To instil love for God in children.
- To develop character and inspire spiritual transformation.
- To cultivate self-discipline and mastery over the mind.
- To nurture a spirit of service towards all beings, recognizing them as part of one universal family.
- To instil a sense of responsibility towards the environment and encourage moderation in desires.
- To enable children to distinguish between right and wrong and to follow their inner conscience.
- To promote an understanding of the unity of all faiths and that all religions lead to the same divine source.
- To encourage purity in thought, word, and action.
- To develop self-confidence and self-reliance.
- To foster reverence for nature and the environment as divine creations.
Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) Program
Bal Vikas means, literally, “blossoming of the child.” Bal Vikas or Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) as the program is known outside of India encourages children to live by the ancient truths or Sanathana Dharma that Sri Sathya Sai Baba, by His life and message, exemplifies.
The primary objective of the program is to awaken the latent divine qualities within each child. This is done gradually, through an emphasis on the cardinal human values of Truth, Right Action, Love, Peace and Nonviolence. The teaching is a process of what Sri Sathya Sai Baba speaks of as educare- knowledge revealed from within. One of the most important factors in the process is the teacher him or herself: the SSE teacher must be a living example of the values and virtues being taught.
Onsite SSE classes
Onsite SSE classes are organized by the Sathya Sai Baba centers and held weekly at a time and place suitable to the members of the Center. Typically, the classes are conducted between September and June following the regular school year. The program is an integral part of the Center activities.
Students are enrolled in the program in four SSE groups according to the grades they are attending in secular school:
SSE group 1- Grades 1 through 3
SSE group 2- Grades 4 through 6
SSE group 3- Grades 7 through 9
SSE group 4- Grades 10 through 12
There are 10 regions in the United States with over 100 SSE programs at Sathya Sai Baba Centers. The program has grown significantly, and currently there are over 3000 SSE students and over 750 volunteer teachers and coordinators who dedicate their time and energy to create a purposeful program for the students.
Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) Online SSE Program
The SSSIO Online SSE program is an International Program for children who are unable to attend a Sathya Sai Baba center SSE Program for various reasons. If you have SSE classes at a nearby Sathya Sai Baba center, we request you to please enroll your children for the in-person SSE program at the respective Sathya Sai Baba Center.
Please find the details of the program in this SSSIO Online SSE Program Description.
You can apply to this program if you would like your child to be considered. There are a limited number of seats and students are selected on a case by case basis. Please fill out the registration form: Online SSE Program Registration.
Sathya Sai Education in Human Values
By the 1980s, the SSE program was also adapted to foster human and spiritual values in children in the local community without the focus on a specific spiritual teacher. This new program called Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV) is taught in community and after-school settings.
“What the head thinks must be examined by the heart and then put into action by the hands. Education must broaden the vision to include the entire world and all mankind.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
