For each topic, here are some questions to respond to:

• What do you think of this topic
• What issues are relevant to acarya education in this sphere
• What skills are required, and how do you think they can be taught
• What are your specific suggestions
• Do you have knowledge or experience of any particular resources that would support this learning process, and can you contribute something concrete in this regards
• How much time should be spent learning in this area
• Do you have some anecdotes about your own experience which would be useful to contribute to this topic
• Do you have knowledge or skills which you would be happy to share

Content areas for units to be taught to acaryas

Part A – spiritual training: 6 - 12 months

Philosophy

Spiritual philosophy

There are core components of AM spiritual philosophy which are obviously essential to acarya training. But learning philosophy is more than simply being able to repeat concepts, phrases, words and slokas.

This deeper digestion comes through asking penetrating questions, interrogating the ideas rather than just repeating them, looking for real life applications, and relating to personal experience.

Spiritual development

Development of a devotional core

This is clearly the heart of acarya training, in the first phase.

What is the collected wisdom, over 50 years of acarya training, as to what enhances this process

There are pitfalls in any intensive spiritual training process, what are they, and how to deal with them

Deeper understanding of sadhana, the lessons

Some acaryas teach the lessons in a very basic way. Others develop a sophisticated and in depth understanding of each lesson. Can such more advanced knowledge be passed on?

Bengali

What are the best ways for this to be studied

Slokas

What are the best ways for this to be studied

Sutras

What are the best ways for this to be studied

Acarya Rules

What are the best ways for this to be studied

Part B – Socio training: 1 year

Philosophy

Comparative spiritual philosophy

A deeper understanding of AM philosophy can be achieved by comparing its philosophy with other systems of thought and belief. This requires a study of comparative philosophy and religion, which also then enables conversation with people from other perspectives.

Prout

Prout philosophy is obviously also a core part of acarya training. The philosophy is very broad, but its like a skeleton, than needs flesh put on it.

This could consist of firstly, gaining a deeper understanding of other socio-economic philosophies which Prout stands in relation to. This requires study of those streams of thought, and an examination of successes and failures.

It could also consist of developing knowledge and skills required for effective social action, local organising, and managing the dynamics of political processes. There are many resources available for study in this area, and such knowledge would greatly increase an acarya’s effectiveness in implementing Prout.

Microvita

What is it useful in studying this subject, and how much do acaryas need to know about it

Neo humanism

This is a special subject Baba created, and it has great value for the world. What is the best way to teach it, and what should be covered

Sexuality

Celibacy

Other than family acaryas, celibacy is one of the central practices of being an acarya. For a few its relatively easy. For a larger number, its difficult at times. Over the course of the lifetime of an acarya, its likely to become challenging at some point to keep on the celibate path.

Given the challenges faced in this arena, and the danger of slipping up, support and self awareness are essential. For this to occur, it has to be a topic that acaryas are comfortable talking about, including being able to honestly talk with each other the places of difficulty. Training centre is an place where this openness to dialogue can be established. What is the connection between spirituality and sexuality

We are not like the catholic church, but what is actually our position

Baba has said very little about the area, leading to much space for intelligent thinking and discussion.

The erotic

The erotic has also been called life energy, and apart from someone being emotionally dead, the currents of this energy exist in many personal interactions for everyone, celibate or not. Especially where there is warmth and close relationship, the erotic is part of the binding force of holding two people in a connected way. That can range from the playfulness of two long term friends, who greet each other warmly, right through to the other extreme of sexual current and verbal or physical sexual connection. Towards that end, it appears sometimes as flirting, or seduction.

This is not something that anyone can completely ignore, and acaryas, being celibate, need especially to know something about what they do with their erotic energy. Simply suppressing it or ignoring it will not work.

To deal with this energy in a wholesome and choiceful way requires awareness and knowledge of self and the nature of relationship.

So for instance, sometimes dada’s flirt with didi’s. Not intentionally, not with any awareness of sexual overtones, and not necessarily likely to lead to any kind of sexual behaviour. But its important to be aware of just where that energy is between any two people, and to be able to live with in a relaxed and comfortable way – neither making it too big, nor trying to make it too small.

The erotic is about attraction. In that sense you could say, devotion is a spiritual direction of erotic energy. Mundane attraction occurs as well, and it can destabilise marriages, and acarya role stability. What can acaryas do about this in a realistic and aware way.

What conditions arise to make this more difficult to deal with?

Child abuse

Child sexual assault is a crime against humanity. And it occurs. And it has occurred in Ananda Marga, perpetrated by acaryas. So, it's a topic which must be faced.

It has brought world wide shame to the Catholic church, and their policies have been exposed, which essentially allowed the abuse to go on, unchecked. Even today, their policies are still worded in ways which put some of the responsibility on the child.

So acaryas need to understand in depth how, where and why such abuse occurs – both in the world in general, and the marga in particular. They need to know the emotional, organisational, professional and legal dimensions of the subject. They need to know what to do when its uncovered. And they need to know about the way it occurs.

It's a very unpleasant subject to learn about, but ignorance is part of what perpetuates it.

Pornography

Why on earth would acaryas want to know anything at all about pornography

Those 70% of men and 30% of women who look at porn – surely there’s no margiis amongst them

Porn is a feature of modern internet life. And if margii adults are not looking at it, then their teenage kids probably are.

This is one of those topics that's good to be informed about. ‘Just say no’ is a limited an ineffective response to a range of social issues, of which this is one. How can acaryas give people grounded guidance on this and other related subjects.

Dealing with personal sexual trauma

Around 25% of women and 10% of men have experienced sexual abuse. So its likely that someone becoming an acarya may have been subject to abuse. Without this being addressed fully enough, it can become suppressed or spirituality or celibacy used to try to distance from the pain. It can create distorted filters when dealing with the subject – personally, or in the acarya role.

Homosexuality

Around 2% of any population identify as homosexual. This is a controversial subject in AM, as it is anywhere else, and there is certainly no position that everyone agrees on. Acaryas have power in their position, and can and have made life hard for people who identify as homosexual. It's a topic which usually has very positional debate, with little intelligent examination of the actual ideological issues. How can this topic be discussed in a way which leads aspiring acaryas to a deeper understanding.

Personal management

Goal setting and resistance

Baba’s system of RDS is very valuable. It requires setting goals in the first place. This can be very simple process, but there are also valuable management skills which can be learned to increase the likelihood of success. There is some kind of balance between ‘going with Baba’s flow’, and making things happen.

Goal setting is one aspect of good planning, but understanding resistance is another. Everyone has some degree of resistance to moving ahead or doing certain kind of tasks. At times that resistance can become large enough to sabotage success. Understanding one’s own style of personal resistance is important in order to be able to work with it, and not let it get in the way of important work. This awareness requires self reflection, feedback, and strategies to preempt problems.

Time management

As Baba said ‘time is the naughtiest factor’. Acaryas have a very full life, and a never ending list of things to do. How can they manage their time most efficiently. This is an important skill, and can make a difference to productivity and stress levels.

Contacts

The acarya life is often varied, and involves movement and travel. Acaryas meet many people over time, each a potential margii or supporter. Its easy to lose track of this stream of people. A system of recording and tracking contacts is a valuable base underpinning the people-oriented work of being an acarya.

Managing travel

Many acaryas travel extensively. This is a complex process and its easy for things to go wrong. It can also be wearing. What are the elements of success in managing a travelling life.

Managing personal finances

In some places acarya upkeep is sustained though supportive margiis or established projects which provide a kind of ‘wage’. But this kind of dependable support is often not the case. Acaryas find ways to sustain themselves in a range of ways. At times this work can absorb a large amount of acarya time, leaving little left over for actual AM service work.

Often acaryas have just depended on Baba for something to show up to help them. And often Baba has responded, ensuring that there is always some kind of support.

But in recent times, acaryas have often found themselves in something like a job, working for their maintenance or the maintenance of the jagrti. These kind of financial pressures can be very stressful, and demoralising.

How can acarya training prepare people for managing this dimension

What kind of topics need to be discussed, what kind of knowledge and skills need to be developed.

Balancing education, work, leisure & spirituality

Acarya work can be 24/7, and often acaryas work in a highly dedicated way for many years. But if there’s is a not a personal prama, the result can be burnout – emotionally or physically. It's a phenomenon that as they age acaryas often get many illnesses as a result of unbalanced lifestyles.

How can a potentially workaholic lifestyle be brought into harmony with the different needs we have.

Rest and leisure are needed by everyone. What is a reasonable amount of this in an acarya life.

Are some leisure pursuits better than others.

Do acaryas need ‘holidays’.

The contemporary understanding of education is that it can be ‘lifelong’ rather than something that just occurs in one part of one’s life. What are the ways that acaryas can chart such a direction; what kind of study is appropriate, useful, relevant. How much time should be spent in further study.

How much study is essential for work in various professional areas, such as education

It is relevant to pursue educational qualifications.

How much is a reasonable amount of money to spend on further education.

In a service organisation, in a life dedicated to service, when and how do acaryas draw limits on their availability, hours or capacity to give or be with others

Spirituality is at the core of an acarya’s life. What is a reasonable balance between spiritual practices and productive work.

What is spiritually nourishing, and how can that be achieved amongst the busyness and demands of acarya external commitments.

In the bigger picture, how can education, service work, and leisure be balanced together.

Health

Ananda Marga promotes a basically healthy lifestyle. Yet acaryas can and do get sick. How to maintain ones’ health for long term service potentiality.

What are the pitfalls that acaryas fall into, and what an be done about them.

Necessary knowledge includes nutrition and eating a balanced diet. Physical fitness is not something acaryas always address above and beyond asanas.

Health is not just physical, but also emotional. How to recognise the signs of poor emotional health, and what to do about them.

What happens when acaryas get unfit and overweight? This is not a good example of yoga. What is needed to deal with this?

What is involved in keeping emotionally healthy?

In order to assist others to be healthy, acaryas need to set an example. This involves both attention to self, and the development of knowledge around health. This includes some knowledge of different diseases, some training in how asanas and other aspects of Baba’s health system can be applied.

Mental health is also an important area to understand, and some basic understanding of mental illness is essential to be able to work with others, and to ensure acaryas are setting an example.

Counselling

Basic skills

♣ Expressive skills

♣ Listening skills

♣ Dealing with shame

♣ Dealing with different types of conflict

♣ Negotiation skills

♣ Mediation skills

Most acaryas will be approached at some time or other by margiis or people from the general public, who want help and guidance with emotional and family problems.

To know how to even talk productively about these issues requires some basic skills, which go beyond basic listening.

This also applies to dealing with various types of emergency situations.

Its important that acaryas learn at least the core skills involved in counselling, as these will always be useful in a variety of situations, including being a supervisory worker.

A portion of most acarya’s roles requires these basic skills. Being able to give basic counselling can help people. Doing it badly can hurt people. Some people have these skills naturally. Others don't. These need to be included in a basic acarya curriculum. But what is best way to learn them, and how much skill and knowledge should be required

Better quality counselling requires personal awareness, interpersonal skill, and an ability to enter into dialogue. This requires some training, and a willingness to develop emotional intelligence (another section).

Dealing with group dynamics

An additional set of skills is required when dealing with the complex dynamics of groups. This involves the ability to think in complex terms, to know when and how to intervene, and to understand the nature of group dynamics.

Understanding professional limits

One difficulty with being in the role of acarya is that people will come wanting help with often quite serious problems, which are beyond the scope of basic counselling. Its essential to have an understanding of where the limits are to being able to help someone, and how to refer them on.

Interpersonal skills

Preventing, and working with, Religious Wounding

Religious wounding occurs when people experience trauma in a religious context, generally through the misuse of power, but also through a variety of other circumstances including hypocrisy, discrimination and exclusion.

Ananda Marga is not a religion (unless you believe Mr Dawson), and yet people can and do experience this type of wounding, especially from acaryas because of their position of power.

Its clearly something that is against Ahimsa, and that acaryas would theoretically want to avoid. To practically do so requires self awareness, willingness to accept feedback, and knowledge about how such wounding comes about.

Utilitarian versus existential value

Baba clearly states that we should value people for who they are, not what they can do. Yet the operation of an organisation involves getting work done, targets achieved, and this requires the utilisation of people as a means.

This becomes problematic when it either triggers someone’s innate sense of low self esteem, or where it is overused, and there is a lack of emphasis on personal value.

Acaryas need to know where this occurs, and how to avoid it, while at the same time being dedicated to achieving their service outcomes.

In team terms this is know as task and maintenance functions, and the two need to be balanced. This is a skill that is important to acquire.

Personal awareness

Understanding emotions

Emotions can be seen as unruly, and something to be either transcended or directed devotionally. But we are complex beings, and the seemingly irrational nature of emotions cannot be easily ignored or dismissed without problems occurring.

Understanding the role of emotions in the life of a spiritualist, and being able to recognise and articulate them is an important skill for an acarya.

If a simplistic approach is adopted, it can lead to a lack of balance, and this can only be maintained for so long before problems occur.

Understanding the influence of family context and the development of personal style

Part of understanding oneself is understanding how one has been shaped by the family and culture we grew up in. This helps us understand our bias, our filters, and how our way of looking at the world was formed.

Such knowledge can help greatly in understanding more deeply our strengths and limitations, what can be understood as Personal Style. This can lead to insight about how we go about things in the world, and the resultant effect.

For acaryas to have this kind of knowledge makes a big difference in how they work, how they relate to margiis, and how much good or harm they can do.

Authenticity and responsibility

The principle of Satya is highly relevant when it comes to interpersonal relations. The more an acarya is able to know themselves, and be honest about who they are, the more likely they are to be effective, and inspire others.

This kind of Satya practice, or authenticity is not easy, and needs training and skill to do to any significant depth.

Its also related to responsibility – one of the Shiilas, and clearly an essential element of successful acarya life. The more self awareness someone has, the more able they are to be honest with others and take full responsibility on a personal, interpersonal and professional level for choices they make.

There are some very useful philosophical traditions which talk about this – for instance existentialism. Knowledge of the concepts, and an ability to apply them can deepen the work acaryas do.

Penetrating exploration of what it means to live ethically

We have Yama and Niyama, and the centrality of that is embedded in the Supreme Command. Yet to really live those ethical principles in a way which honours our spirituality, our relationships with others, and professional behaviour, requires a great deal of self reflection, receptivity to feedback, and a willingness to really be challenged.

For acaryas to be able to integrate this kind of awareness and behaviour on a deep level, a thorough understanding of professional ethics is essential. Because acaryas play so many roles, it becomes particularly important to be able to recognise conflict of interests, and all the places where the acarya is a one-up power position.

In order for acaryas to come up to, and surpass the current level of expectation in the professional world, they will need to receive a thorough induction into the real of applied ethics.

Part C – Missionary training: 1 year

Computers

Typing skills

Computers are a basic part of the life of any working person. But many people peck away with two fingers on the keyboard. The efficiency of an acarya's time can be greatly increased if they are able to touch type, and thus move from a speed of 15 wpm to 60 or more. This also increases their likelihood to utilise internet and computer technology as a part of their acarya work.

The skill level of a student would need to be assessed first, goals established, and timeposts created for progressive improvement markers to be reached.

Research skills

There is so much information available now on the internet, and so many resources available. But to access these requires research skills, which do not come naturally to many people.

If an acarya knows how to effectively research, record and compile information relevant to a project, they will be able to access resources available and connect to others working along similar lines.

Management of one’s computer

Computers are central part of being effective in the world. But not everyone is well versed in using computers in general, specific programs in particular, deal with systems when they have problems, or know how to manage and file information.

Email management

Email is also a key part of modern life, but it can easily consume hours of time everyday. How can an acarya use email, but not drown in it

What are some creative and effective ways to use it to serve the work of being an acarya. What kind of problems emerge, and how can they be dealt with

Webpage construction and management

Webpages can be a very effective way to do pracar, provide information, advertise activities, and coordinate projects.

Creating them involves some level of knowledge and skill, as does managing them.

Most acaryas will not want to be involved in this complex topic. But nevertheless, it may be necessary to manage a webpage – updating details like current events. Even this much takes some knowledge and confidence.

Business

Operating a small business

Much of what an acarya does in the world resembles managing a business. This may be as small as running meditation classes, or it may be a large as running a project involving hundreds of people and many thousands of dollars. Sometimes acaryas run profit-making enterprises such as shops or import-export operations.

All this requires essential and universal skills, without which predictable mistakes occur, conflicts emerge, and financial loss or project failure is a real possibility.

These skills can be learned by doing, but that involves reinventing the wheel, and that can be a time consuming and costly process.

Bookeeping and accounting

A very specific skill necessary for almost all acarya activity is accounting for finances. This is a very important capacity, and is relevant both on the level of personal finances, as well as any project, from running a retreat, to dealing with a whole sector.

These skills require study, and for some that will be easier than others. There are basic principles of accounting which are essential to understand, and there are many computer programs which make the actual process of accounting much easier.

Its also important for acaryas to have the knowledge and skill to read a balance sheet, in order to not be solely oriented around cash flow. The financial health of a project is fundamentally related to capital issues, and this is a place where people often founder.

Management

Retreat management

One of the centrepieces of acarya life and responsibility is the running of retreats. The basic structure is generally the same; and given that it's a repeated procedure, there are many ways to increase the efficiency and smoothness of retreat management.

This requires some content knowledge, and a skill set. Each acarya can learn this from scratch, for themselves. Or they can benefit from the collected experience, wisdom and learning’s which have accumulated over the many years that these have been run in Ananda Marga.

Margii community management

The sangha is very important – one of our treasures as Baba points out. Like any community, there are synergies, collective successes and strengths, as well as conflicts, bad behaviour, and interpersonal failures.

An acarya can have a positive, neutral, or destructive role in the development of margii community. Obviously the goal is to have a positive and constructive role. This requires many skills, and much wisdom.

The role of supporter and guardian of community is a very complex and demanding one, and requires a great deal of support. Recognising the nature of the support needed, and ensuring that they are sufficiently resourced is key to the ability to support others.

Community development

Beyond the margii community are service projects that function in various ways to support the development of the wider community.

The same skills are relevant, and more are required – dealing with people with other ideological positions, political and religious orientations, and whose behaviour is not constrained by a common set of values.

Records management

In the course of acarya life, there is a great deal of information which an acarya comes across, and may (and perhaps should) record. This includes basics such as address details, and extends to various types of personal information, correspondence, as well as official records such as minutes.

There are important issues about how this information is kept, preserved safely, kept private, and what is relevant to share.

Knowledge of how and when to responsibly manage record and information is important in a range of ways. Mailing lists can be extremely useful if kept up to date and used properly. Any kind of personal or official information needs to be guarded properly, and acaryas need to know how to do this.

Good management also includes knowing when and how to hand on information to incoming charges, and where it is appropriate to share such information.

Working with a board

Acaryas do not always work as sole operators. When working in a range of contexts including non-profit forms of organisations, schools and projects receiving funding it will be necessary to work with or under a board.

This involves a set of skills and knowledges that can make a big difference between successfully working together, or disharmony and entrenched conflict developing.

Boards are important in any organisation, and AM is no exception. How do AM boards work

How much is this possible, and how can and does this work within legal frameworks of countries

How can a board be best run

What are the dangers, and potential strengths

What are the responsiblities of board members

How to deal with conflict on boards

How to deal with representation – gender, margii/acarya balance, and other interests

How to get full participation of all members

How often do boards have to meet to be effective

What is the scope of their power

What can render them toothless

Leadership development

There are many ways in which an acarya is in a leadership position. There’s a great deal that can only really be learned by experience. But there’s also a lot of very useful knowledge about leadership which can help develop and refine that capacity. Support and guidance are also essential.

Being a position of responsibility and influence, it is an important ethical issue as to how an acarya exercises their leadership.

Project management

There are specific projects, such as retreat management. But in general, much of what an acarya does involves project management in general. Sometimes those projects are essentially businesses. But other times they may be service projects, such as sadavrata, or any number of other activities within the scope of Ananda Marga.

There is a great deal of knowledge available regarding project management and how to do it. It is important that acaryas acquire some of that knowledge, and get some support and supervision about putting it into practice.

Meeting management

One of the functions of any organising work is participating in or conducting meetings. This can be a key part of working successfully with others. It can also waste a great deal of valuable time.

Knowledge about how to run efficient meetings which are incisive and result in concrete action is essential in this area.

Quality management

This refers to a cycle involving setting goals for productive activity, measuring whether those goals are being achieved, and then making adjustments to better move towards those goals.

This process is often complex, and requires advanced organisational skills. It is important because it can result in an organisation which is really putting into practice what it says it wants to achieve. Without this, mistakes can just keep being repeated in an organisation, without any real change.

If there is any auditing going on, this is an essential process to ensure that required standards are being maintained.

The process can lead to what is called ‘continuous improvement’ in an organisation, which establishes functioning at a very high level.

Being an advanced skill, this requires a significant learning process to be able to manage in this way.

Strategic planning

Strategic planning involves moving beyond the day to day operation of an organisation or project, to consider what is coming up in both the short and longer term, and make plans as to how to move ahead.

Effective strategic planning can result in a well managed organisational process. Without it, things tend to be adhoc and crisis based.

Thinking skills – lateral, post-logical etc

Thinking is something that gets developed with normal educational processes. Often it is primarily logical skills which are worked with. But there are also other thinking skills which can be very useful in the course of the complex nature of acarya life. These include lateral thinking, and systemic thinking.

Just as with logical thinking, these generally need to be taught and practiced to develop people’s capacities. The result is a more sophisticated capacity to engage with the world, be in relationships, and conduct creative and effective work lives.

Understanding and facilitating action learning processes

Action learning refers to an ongoing cycle of action, reflection, and then a more sophisticated set of actions. It ensures that maximum learning takes place, and that learning is applied immediately. It can be applied at a personal, and collective level.

This is part of the idea of RDS, and by fully understanding how to effectively do this, an acarya can increase the quality and productivity of their work.

Relations with margiis

Staying with margiis

There are times when an acarya stays with margiis, where there is no jagrti in an area. This is often fraught, as it involves a great deal of sensitivity to boundaries. Margiis often report problems associated with this, and there is a fairly constant pattern to these reports.

Some acaryas manage to do this more successfully than others.

To be able to do this in a way in which margiis maintain their respect for acaryas, and where acaryas attend to their own needs is important. Its not automatic, and requires a range of interpersonal skills and awareness’s.

Managing multiple roles with margiis

The nature of acarya life is very complex. There are many roles that an acarya can and does play in this process of interacting with individual margiis, and the wider margii community. Sometimes these roles may be in conflict with each other (eg, spiritual advisor, disciplinarian and friend). It is important that acaryas are able to identify their different roles, recognise the responsiblities related to each role, work to deal with conflict of interests, and skill up in each of those roles.

Without this recognition, its quite possible that various abuses can occur. Its not possible to avoid this kind of complexity, but with awareness and dialogue, the dangers can be averted, and people can feel respected in the process.

Although the primary motivation for an acarya is service, there are many small and large ways in which their own self interest comes into interactions. If there is a willingness and capacity to recognise that and be open to feedback, this can be kept in the context of being human. But without this recognition, people can get hurt, or an acarya can be seen as being hypocritical.

Hence the need for knowledge and personal insight in this area. It is one which other spiritual and religious authorities have not always managed well, and which acaryas can hopefully set an good example in.

There are many roles that an acarya can and does play in this process of supporting and sometimes managing the margii community. Sometimes these roles may be in conflict with each other (eg, spiritual advisor, disciplinarian and friend). It is important that acaryas are able to identify their different roles, recognise the responsiblities related to each role, work to deal with conflict of interests, and skill up in each of those roles.

Role as spiritual advisor to margiis

This is one of the core duties of an acarya – to initiate, and provide ongoing spiritual guidance. Some acaryas are more confident and skillful in this capacity than others. The quality of guidance, and the management of initiates is a very important issue which does not always receive sufficient attention in the many competing demands of acarya life. Some acaryas see their duty fulfilled when they initiate someone – they are on their own after that. Others follow through. But such follow-through can be time consuming, and its only possible to be tracking and supporting so many people. How can acaryas deal with these challenges.

There are also many potential pitfalls as well in the provision of spiritual guidance. People often come to acaryas with their problems, both worldly and spiritual. Acaryas have a lot to offer, but they also have limits on how they can help people.

This is an area which deserves a lot of discussion, guidance, and receptivity to feedback.

Role as acarya to initiates

Managing initiates is a skill and artform. Do you just initiate, and leave them to their devices? Do you try to involve them in the organisation straight away? When do you ask for donations? How can you followup all the people you initiate? Can you form a facebook group just for them? Sometimes initiates just fade away. How can you move them towards membership of AM, without seeming too pushy?

Issues related to jagrti management

Jagrtis server multiple functions – accommodation, office, a place for spiritual functions to name a few. The management of these different purposes is an issue which requires a range of skills.

Jagrtis are also collective places, and that can be fraught. Questions of responsibility, differing standards around issues such as cleanliness, and the management of the finances can be very difficult at times. Interpersonal issues between acaryas can also come to the fore. Given that the same kind of issues tend to be faced, it's a place where learning could be passed on. Successful management of a jagrti can make a significant difference in the margii community, and in the wellbeing and effectiveness of the acaryas inhabiting it.

Relations with other acaryas

Peers

Peer relationships are important for acaryas. As Baba says it's a hard and adventurous life. And in some ways, its only possible for acaryas to really understand each other, sharing in similar kinds of challenges.

The support that can be available is significant. Whilst this is often spontaneous, its something that is useful to reflect on an take into account as one of the elements of successfully working as an acarya in the long term.

Some relationships can be supportive, but they an also result in subgroups which are not always of complete benefit to the larger acarya body. Some awareness of these dynamics is important.

The other side of cooperation and support is conflict and competition. In the nature of human relationships, this also occurs between acaryas. It is important therefore for acaryas to learn skills to deal with such tension, and to know how to resolve it, or live with it in ways that are not personally or interpersonally destructive.

Higher authorities

Dealing with those with authority over one can be positive or negative. If there is good quality guidance received, along with support and good management, it can be a pleasure to work with higher authorities.

If the opposite is the case, it can be a negative experience, which undermines an acarya both personally and in terms of their work.

Dealing with such difficulties from a one-down position is a very important skill which can significantly influence an acarya's capacity to function, and to stay in the long run. Knowing how to deal with authorities who do not always use their power with awareness or benevolence is an essential survival skill in an organisation

This is not an easy area to talk about, but there are certainly skills and experience which acaryas can benefit from learning.

Lower authorities

Being a higher authority oneself, and dealing with people under one, is a significant responsibility. How to manage that responsibility well is an important skill. By carrying out this function in a benevolent way, a great deal of dynamism can be created in the organisation. Being a supervisor is a very important part of developing the organisation, and the people in it. To successfully perform this role requires knowledge about what is entailed, and the ability to put that into practice.

Different cultures have different attitudes towards how to deal with those working under you. Some are more authoritarian. What are the pros and cons of the way this tends to be done in AM, and what are some alternatives.

How to make these alternatives workable.

Career as an acarya

Areas of confidence and skill

 

Areas targeted for development

 

The importance of support

 

Lifelong learning

 

Acarya role

Initiation

 

Conduct rules

 

Setting an example

 

The real dangers of dogma

 

The uses and abuses of power

 

Managing conflicting role priorities

 

Burnout and leaving

Pastoral care

Pitfalls of the ‘priest’ mantle

Pracar

Using social media

Other forms of networking

Keys to successfully inspiring people

Managing contacts

Teaching

Public speaking

DC talks

Teaching & learning processes

Avoiding dogma in teaching

Teaching asana classes

Teaching meditation classes

Running seminars for margiis

Culture and society

Encountering a new culture

Awareness of own cultural filters

Awareness of own prejudices/sentiments

Understanding of patriarchy and sexism

Tips about working in specific cultures

♣ India

♣ China

♣ Taiwan

♣ Korea

♣ Japan

♣ Africa

♣ European cultures

♣ Russia

♣ The middle East

♣ USA

♣ Australia

♣ UK

♣ South America

etc

Counselling

Basic skills

Understanding professional limits

Dealing with crises and extreme conditions

Interpersonal skills

Expressive skills

Listening skills

Dealing with shame

Dealing with different types of conflict

Negotiation skills

Utilitarian versus existential value

Managing group dynamics

Preventing, and working with, Religious Wounding

Personal awareness

Understanding emotions

Understanding the influence of family context

Understanding personal style

Authenticity and responsibliity

Penetrating exploration of what it means to live ethically

Sexuality

Celibacy

Flirting and seduction

Child abuse

Pornography

Dealing with infatuation

Understanding the nature of the erotic in relationships in general

Dealing with sexual trauma

Understanding the connection between sexuality and spirituality

Personal management

Goal setting

Time management

Record keeping

Personal resistance/sabotage

Managing travel

Managing personal finances

Balancing education, work and leisure

Boundaries and limits

Rest and recreation

Spiritual nourishment and development

Intellectual development and further education

Self care

Health

Knowledge of nutrition

Physical fitness

Dealing with sickness

Staying healthy

Emotional health and sickness

Philosophy

AM Spiritual philosophy

Prout

Neo humanism

Comparative philosophy

Spiritual development

Development of a devotional core

Deeper understanding of sadhana, the lessons

Structure of AM

Margii-wholetimer relationships

Knowledge of the structural design of AM

Boards and their operation

Dealing with the splitting within AM

Knowledge of the functions of departments of AM

AMURT/EL

ERAWS

Prout/GV

PR

Legal affairs

Commerce

(etc)

Running a school

Administration

Child psychology

Discipline

Teaching and learning

Attachment theory

Funding

Grant writing

Working with funding bodies

Accountability

English

Language comprehension and expression

Written comprehension and expression

Practical skills

Growing vegetables

First aid

Medical

Homeopathic

OH&S

Vehicles

Premises

Projects

Children

Events

Specific learning for male acarays

Power sharing

Specific learning for female acaryas

Assertiveness

Self defence

Empowerment of women

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