Spiritual formation and its awareness.

1. Charles Grand John
Spiritual Formation – Awareness

3. In this logo there
is an embedded
image! A
concealed
hidden image!

4. The designer of this logo is
brilliant.
Between the E and X he has
put an arrow mark.
A white arrow between these
two letters!
 If you can’t see it, come and see me later, I will
give the number of good ophthalmologist in
Chennai, you can have your eyes checked there.

5. Half of us are aware,
 Half of us have no
clue,
Some got excited after
knowing.

6. OUR
AWARENESS
IMPACTS OUR
EXPERIENCE

7.  Some people were never aware
something like this has existed.
 Now the next time you see a fedex
vehicle, flux, banner or board, you will
see the arrow first then the word itself.
 When I saw and came to this
awareness, it’s a big revelation to me.
 After which, every time I see a truck, its
not the fedex that comes to my mind but
the arrow because of my awareness to
this idea of FEDEX.

8. IMAGE OF GOD
When you meet a person and come
to the awareness of the light that
every person is an incredible
creation in the image of God.
We often see people as
disappointments, frustrations, we
take them for granted, even in
families, supermarket, parking,
roads, etc…when we interact with

9. IMAGE OF GOD
 But let me tell you, it would
drastically change, if we see
them via this different lens, we
will realize they are a human
beings, creation of God in his
image, our awareness will
change our experiences.

10. CODE OF JEWISH LAW –
AWARENESS
In Maimonedes-Moses ben Maimon,
commonly known as Maimonides –
says
A.A person who sits in their home and
is aware of the fact that they are in
the presence of God does not
conduct themselves in their
thoughts, and their speech and

11. CODE OF JEWISH LAW –
AWARENESS
B. They speak about
the idea that
someone is always
looking at us and we
changes the way we

12. CODE OF JEWISH LAW –
AWARENESS
Example: Uncle bobby’s
presence in this class
will give me a different
approach and response
from you than his

13. Application
It is sad that we are so caught up and
worried about
1. What others see,
2. What others think,
3. What others feel
4. Than what God thinks!
For a Jew, it is always about what his creator will
think about him? He is caught up in that
awareness. So that awareness of God
watching over will shape his experience in his

14. So the awareness
PEOPLE OF GOD:
creator and creation
PRESENCE OF
GOD: Creation and
Observance

15. Spiritual awareness
twisted
1.AWARENESS AS
OBLIGATION
2.AWARENESS AS

16. Examples: Two musicians
Think of two musicians, who is part of
a wedding band each one plays in a
wedding band.
GROUP 1-These guys play gigs for
four, five hours as long as the
wedding goes on. For one of them
it’s a job, so that is how he earns his
money, He is honest in that Job, he is
a noble man!

17. Examples: Two musicians
Think of two musicians, who is part of
a wedding band each one plays in a
wedding band.
GROUP 2- The other musician doing
the exact same thing, for the same
length of time, but its for him a
passion, he is doing it with this
thought of getting the bride and
groom united in their most amazing
night, I am here to give them a

18.  So their awareness of
what they do has severe
consequences in their daily
lives.
1.AWARENESS AS
OBLIGATION- will fade
and drain away.
2.AWARENESS AS

19. HINDRANCES TO
THIS
AWARENESS

20.  Close your eyes and don’t think of
anything for the next 45 seconds.
How many of your were able to
succeed?
Now lot of ideas kept flooding in your
mind!
 You start wondering about lot of
things, What am I doing this for?
Its pretty weird! Its cold out here, I
am tired, when this period will get

21.  Baal shem Tov says,
you are where your
thoughts are.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY
PRAYING AT ALL PLACES IS
ENCOURAGED. IN HOUSE,
OUTSIDE, TIE, DOORPOST
etc..!

22. Doing things in life
without consciously.
Doing things in life
mindlessly.
Doing things as part of
life
Will lead him or her

23. In Jewish tradition, if a friend
loses their close relatives-
during the time of death to
burial it’s a period called onen.
In this period a person is
exempted from performing
mitzvoth such as praying,
recited blessings, wearing
teffling etc…they don’t do any

24. One of the greatest rabbis
Yitzhak—during is mothers
death, started performing
mitzvoth, he caught himself
several time after
performing the action of
prayer for food etc.. so the
question is why is that it is

25. Because it has been
performed every single day,
7 days a week, 4weeks a
month, 12months a year.
It is a habit that was
inculcated, so mindlessly
performing a Mitzvoth.

26. Spiritual formation
has to be part of the
DNA system that
has to be in our daily
lives and it is to be
embedded in us.

27. Inward
Discipline
s
Outward
Discipline
s
Corporat
e
Discipline
s
Meditation
Fasting
Prayer
Study
Simplicity
Solitude
Submissio
n
Service
Confessio
n
Worship
Guidance
Celebratio
n

28. Call for Christians
We need to have this
Awareness
You are called to see
everyone in the image of
God
 You are always under the
presence of God

29. Call for Process
 Spirituality is a continuous
process
It is not affected by place,
people or time
Taking every effort to meet
creator
Trying to be in relationship with
a creator all times.

30. Six Jewish Strategies for Spiritual
Growth
Sara Debbie Gutfreund
1. Make gratitude a habit. By
praying three times a day you
start your day saying thank You,
you stop in the middle of the
afternoon to recognize the Source
of our blessings, and you think
about all your gifts before going to

31. Six Jewish Strategies for Spiritual
Growth
Sara Debbie Gutfreund
2. Elevate the physical world.
Through Jewish practice you
channel the material for a higher
purpose.
Blessings over food transform
eating into a spiritual act.

32. Six Jewish Strategies for Spiritual
Growth
Sara Debbie Gutfreund
3. Be kind to others.
Give others the benefit of
doubt and don’t judge them
for their weaknesses.
Practice daily kindness

33. Six Jewish Strategies for Spiritual
Growth
Sara Debbie Gutfreund
4. Count each day.
Every day has a purpose,
whether you’re working or
on vacation. Know your
goals and make each day

34. Six Jewish Strategies for Spiritual
Growth
Sara Debbie Gutfreund
5. Pick yourself up often
King Solomon said, “A
righteous person falls seven
times and gets up.” Don't let
the fear of failure get in the
way. Keep trying; the effort

35. Six Jewish Strategies for Spiritual Growth
Sara Debbie Gutfreund
6. Prioritize rest.
Muscles don't grow during a
workout; they grow at rest during
recovery time. Souls also need
recovery time. Shabbat gives our
souls the chance to strengthen
and grow by granting us this
precious "recovery" time each

36. CONCLUSION STORY
FLIGHT ATTENDANT