2. Group Devotional Singing/Prayer with members of family once a week

There is an age-old axiom, -'the family that prays together stays together'. Sai Baba is merely trying to remind us of this forgotten truth. In the early days families used to eat together and pray together, in recent times the notion of every man for himself seems to have crept into families too.

Some Sai devotees have expressed this problem -'I am the only Sai devotee in my house - the rest refuse to accept him - how can I keep to this point of the code?' Baba does not say pray to Him! Have your family prayers in the traditional method of worship, be it Hindu, Christian or whatever.  We need not even have Baba’s photo there, if this will help achieve the objective of weekly family prayer and family unity. We should have HIM in our heart.

Also, it does not matter if all refuse to join. Start the family prayer with whoever is willing. Keep to a fixed date and time and continue with faith, let Baba do the rest. Many such family prayers that started with one or two, now include the whole family. If need be, start alone and leave the 'door' open for others to hear your prayer and to join.

The important thing to remember is not to be disheartened by the attitudes of others who do not join. Give them time! Not all buds bloom at the same time when the sun shines, but the sun does not give up, it shines daily and silently, and over time, all will bloom!!

However, it is important to show that we have bloomed - through our prayers and other spiritual practices. Our family members should see the visible, positive transformation in ourselves - that our spiritual paths have made us more loving, more kind, more gentle, more understanding. This will have a greater effect on non-participating family members than our actual 'prayer' itself and encourage them to join us, that is, we should make the whole day an extension of our morning and evening prayers. Slowly, they will be drawn to the power that has transformed us and will join us.

It is important to be aware that if we as wives and husbands, sons and daughters or fathers and mothers after starting prayers, after becoming 'born again', become intolerant, demanding, insensitive to the physical or worldly needs of others, and take a 'holier than thou' attitude, then we will drive our family members away from our prayers. Moderation and love should be the key guiding factors.