SSE Gurus

Previous Events:

Working with Swami's Children

April 16, 2022 (Click here to watch the session)

This session was led by Sister Ramalakshmi Janamanchi. Sister Ramalakshmi is a high school teacher from Cleveland, Ohio. She has been part of the Cleveland Sai Center for the past ten years and has been learning from Swami's children throughout her life. 

SSE: Universal & Effective

June 5, 2021

This session was led by Sister Kalika Grana, the Director of the Institute of Sathya Sai Education - USA (ISSE-USA). Mrs. Grana has known, visited and served Swami for about three decades. Starting as an SSE teacher at a very young age, Mrs. Grana has hosted many Sai-based workshops on subjects such as parenting, teacher training, the developmental stages of children and various aspects of Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV) curriculum. Having also been a member of the nation SSEHV committee for about a decade, today Mrs. Grana serves as the Chair for Partnership Schools and is a faculty member of the Institution of Sathya Sai Education, USA. 

Swami's SSE

April 16, 2021

In this session, the children from the regional SSE student council lead the teachers through an SSE class. During this class, they shared some of the most memorable lessons and activities from SSE as per students across the region. We invited all the teachers to join a fun filled night to commemorate all of your efforts as teachers of Swami's message. Click the links below to access each group's lesson plan from the session. 

Planting the Seed

April 10, 2021 (Click here to watch the session)

Sister Varalakshmi Kanduru lead this session. Sister Varalakshmi is from the Detroit Metro Sai Center. She has been involved with SSE for many years as both a guru and an education coordinator. She is someone who loves Swami and SSE. 

Preparing for Swami with Srinivas Manthripragada 

March 18, 2021 (Click here to watch the session)

This is a session open to all SSE teachers led by Srinivas Manthripragada. Srinivas Uncle has been a part of the American Sathya Sai Organization for the last 40 years. He is an SSE teacher and teacher trainer, and a faculty member of the Institute of Sathya Sai Education, USA. He has had the privilege of taking a number of groups, mostly SSE families, to Prasanthinilayam with musical and dramtic offerings. 

Sai Parenting Workshop with Suguna and Mohan Chunduri 

February 27, 2021

The Region 5 SSE Team is excited to present an SSE Parenting Workshop facilitated by Suguna and Mohan Chunduri on Saturday, February 27, 2021. In 2007 Swami asked them to speak on parenting in Sai Organization which they have been doing as per the divine instructions. In recent years they began doing more intense workshops across many regions in the US. In their Parenting workshops both Mohan and Suguna bring their vast knowledge learnt growing up in Swami’s fold as students in SSE, Gurus in SSE and along with the experience of bringing up their own children in SSE.  They also run a non-profit organization helping school children to learn and inculcate Human Values.  They currently live in Carmel Indian, Indianapolis.

Vital Pursuits 

February 18, 2021 (Click here to watch the session)

Vital Pursuits is a game based on Swami's 5 D's and the Ceiling on Desires. This is an easily adaptable format that uses stories, songs, videos, games and open-ended questions to take students on the journey of transformation. This session included a demo of the game and explained how it can be modified for different situations. Please click here to access the session resources. 

SSE Teacher Training

January 16, 17, 23, and 24, 2021

With Swami's grace, we are offered SSE teacher training in Region 5. We were delighted to offer this SSE Fundamentals Online Teacher's Training for new teachers from the comfort of your own home!  It spread over 2 weekends: January 16-17 and January 23-24. Saturday training was held from 1:30 - 5:30 pm CST both weekends, and Sunday training was held from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm CST both weekends. Criteria for registering is you have to be a Center member in good standing. (Attendance all four days is mandatory). If you would like an SSE Teacher Manual, please reach out to Manjula Guru. 

Sai Treck - Episode 1

January 9, 2021 

With Swami's grace, the technology workshops offered at the Unity Conference were well received. Pursuant to that, we saw that there was a need for more of such workshops - for not just SSE children, but also for the SSE parents and teachers. It is with that in mind that we offered a series of technology education workshops for both adults and children in 2021. 

It is with great happiness that we are opened registration for the first Multi-Region Technology Workshop - SAI TRECK - Episode 1 which was held on January 9th. The objective of  both workshops was 'to provide information that empowers them towards Right Action and help them get a perspective of the 'sacredness of life' beyond screen'. 

Bhajan Bonanza- Game of Bhajans with Sai Prasanna Ravichandran

November 18, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

This workshop for Group 4 teachers will go over the Game of Bhajans. In the Game of Bhajans, children will recollect and relive the bhajans they know and get an opportunity to learn how much they remember and understand the routine devotional activities, and learning implicitly. 

"What Can We Offer?" with Jayashree Tatavarti

October 31, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

This session was conducted by Sister Jayashree Tatavarti. Sister Jayashree Tatavarti has been in Swami's fold since childhood. She was trained as a Balavikas Guru in 1981, and taught Balavikas in Andhra Pradesh, in the New Delhi slums, and in the Tokyo center, Japan. Sister Jayashree was the founder member of the Ottawa Sai Center, Canada. She is currently an active member the Chicago Metro Sai Center and has been teaching in Chicago since 2008. She has served as an Education coordinator in Ottawa, Canada and in Chicago. 

Tricky Technology - "Be Aware, Be Alert" with Shalini Krishnan

October 24, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

This workshop for Group 2 teachers aims to provide awareness on right and safe use of technology as relevant to Group 2 children. The workshop has simulated scenarios. It is be interactive in that children will respond and provide possible solutions to the presented problems.    

SAI Games - "Sai Marvels: Endgame" with Preethi Nair and Latha Conjeevaram

October 21, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

This workshop for Group 3 teachers walks through a scenario based interactive game for Group 3 students. The objective of this activity is to make students use their critical thinking and collaboration skills to gain awareness and deepen the understanding of fundamental spiritual concepts/principles expounded by Swami. Students work as teams to sharpen their power of discrimination and their ability to practice life application of Swami's teachings.  Click here for resources used during this session.

SAI Games - SAI FACTILE with Anusha Ramani

October 13, 2020 (Click here to watch session) 

Sai-FACTILE is a team trivia challenge for Group 2 teachers! The children will be tested on their knowledge about several categories of Sai-Trivia but ultimately remembering to -- L(isten) O(bserve) V(alue) E(xpereince) ALL (inclusive of all faiths). Click here for resources used during this session

Going Behind the Scenes - The Heart and Brain of Technology with Ramya Kumar

October 10, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

Have you thought about how you can leverage technology to market yourself? What is your online brand? What would Swami say about your online brand? Can human values and technology co-exist? This workshop for Group 4 teachers explored some of these questions in a fun and interactive way. Click here to access the resources used during the presentation for the Group 4 students. 

Tricky Technology - WATCH with Nirmala Jayaraman

October 7, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

This workshop for Group 1 teachers facilitated stories, discussions and games about what we watch and see.  Please click here for resources used during this session. 

SAI Games - Love Makes the World Go "Round" with Supriya Kharod 

October 6, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

In this workshop for Group 4 teachers, teams will be given a mission and a series of puzzles to solve, which will lead them around the world virtually on a spiritual quest to expand their personal awareness and understanding of  "Love All, Serve All." Please click here for resources used during this session.

Tricky Technology - YOUR Internet Profile with Anisha Guru

October 3, 2020

Social Media is fun!... or is it? By using different social media applications like Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, and Snapchat, this workshop for Group 3 teachers showed how activity on social media has consequences. Please click here for resources used during this session.

Sumana Murali's Talk

August 6, 2020 (Click here to watch session)

Sumana Murali is a proud alumna of the SSE program, a Sai student, an SSE Guru, a public elementary school teacher. She is the 4th generation of her family that love and worships Sathya Sai Baba. She has always been an active member of the Sathya Sai Organization and has served in different roles. She is currently Region 2’s Education Coordinator. Sumana derives great joy while working with children- whether it’s school or SSE. She lives in NJ and shares this beautiful journey with her husband Murali and her son Shreyas.