1. The goal

The goal was to find a way to answer to the Organization's request after the 1st National Convention of the Office-bearers of the Sri Sathya Sai Centers:

 role of the 9 points of the code of conduct in a devotee's life.
 putting the teaching of the 5 human values into practice, a little practice being better than a lot of theory.
  how to raise our consciousness of the inner Divinity ?
 the Divine part in each individual.
 world Peace through Unity.

We looked for a way allowing to bring together a maximum of data:

  in theory: to increase our knowledge on the notion of service, human values and spirituality.
  in practice: to call upon the creative skills of each individual.
  allowing each one to share one's personal experiences with human values.
  integrating the notion of service, ceiling on desires.

2. The way

In order to reach these goals in a recreational way, we devised a cooperative game for people of all ages and all backgrounds.

This game is made up of question/answer cards on different subjects. It was worked out by members of the Youth Wing, by the centers and groups of the Sai Organization as well as by people who do not belong to the Sai Organization.

Through the principle of the "cooperative" game we unconsciously integrate some associated values such as:

The notion of cooperation is a sub-value of non-violence.

2.1. What is a cooperative game?

Contrary to a conventional game, which favors principles such as individualism, competition and exclusion, a cooperative game develops other values:

  observation, active listening.
  to help and be helped: the player finds a benefit in helping others and accepting help from others.
  solidarity: the players have a common goal (for a group), which can be attained only through:

- exchanges
- communication
- services
- joint actions
- sharing (experiences, knowledge...)

 

2.2. For whom is this game meant?

2.2.1. This game could be for children

At the moment, there is a lot of talk about the impact of education on the development and stability of the character.

While playing, juggling with notions of human values such as service and sharing, children could integrate in a natural way some principles, which will awaken them to the consciousness of the Divinity in themselves or help them stay in this consciousness.

2.2.2. This game could be for adults

Often adults "know everything" but have more difficulties going from information to transformation. This game could give anyone the possibility to become aware of values that could then be put into practice.

2.2.3. This game could be for people who don't know Sai Baba

It seems essential to us to share the great treasure of the knowledge of human values.

The game of the 5 values could be played in the Sai Organization's centers and groups, within the family, and mainly with people from outside, for example during children workshops. Members of the Youth Wing will meet other youth in order to share human values.

2.3. A game with potential for extension

This game will be adjustable according to its players. We could put aside a part of the game - for example the questions/answers concerning Sai Baba - if the people playing don't know Him.

The game could evolve in time; in a family, parents or children could add cards to enhance the game according to their experience.

This game could help everyone:

to see the omnipresence of human values in the world (through religions, the life of great figures, stories from different cultures...).
to know and practice human values in their daily lives.
to experiment other ways of communication (similar to the kind of communication in study circles, active listening...).

3. Presentation of the game

3.1. Outer appearance of the game: the form

The game looks like a flower with 5 petals representing the 5 human values.

In its center, a quotation from a great saint must be discovered. To discover this quotation, you have to get sub-values cards, which allow you to reach the individual goal, then the common goal, each one being represented by a human value.

We can get sub-values cards in the following ways:

by answering a question
by undertaking actions (miming, becoming aware...)

This game is cooperative because its goal is first individual then common. Solidarity is present, all are complementary and not opponents.

3.2. Inner meaning of the game: the essence

The game comprises of two complementary themes:

knowledge
putting knowledge into practice

3.2.1. Knowledge

With the questions/answers we could raise our knowledge in different fields such as:

religions (what they have in common, their connection with human values)
great figures
human values
different spiritual discipline
service
Sathya Sai Baba, the ashram (spiritual sanctuary), the Sai Organization, future projects

3.2.2. Put the human values into practice in our daily lives

This second part includes three complementary themes:

service
human values
spirituality

4. Conclusion

"The player is alive and, whether he is working or playing, these two things are only a mirage, a mirage resulting from the player's belief to be his body and the author of his actions. It is however through this mirage that he discovers reality, therefore he needs 'to play the game' with utter seriousness. Indeed, the player will soon realize, if he plays correctly and with knowledge, that the action of throwing the dice and the fact that it falls on this square or that one is not a matter of chance. After a certain time, certain patterns appear, which have a real meaning for the player. However, the only reality is the player himself; if he plays seriously, the game will answer seriously; if he doesn't believe in it, the game will not express what it has been created for. When you start a game, it should be with absolute concentration and with a real desire to reach liberation."