May

May 16

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We collected students' opinions about their Inspiration Project Presentations from last week

• Sankaran Sir discussed about Swami Maharshi Dayanand Sarasvati and Shankarāchārya, and their stories.

• We also had some discussion questions at the end of our readings in the class textbook that we discussed to understand the main ideas of Hinduism.

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to read the following sections:

• Section 20.0 "Who is a social reformer?" Pages 233, 234

• Section 20.4 "Maharishi Dayananda Sarasvati" Pages 240-243

A few things we would like to update you on are:

• If you did not receive the link for last week's recording of the students' Inspiration Project Presentation, here it is: https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/annual-presentations-2021

• We are inviting you parents to join your children once more for their final class next week. We will conduct some fun and interactive things to collect your feedback for this class. Class will start at regular time next week at 10:00 AM CST, with the same link.

May 9

Excellent job students on presenting your Inspiration Project to the entire class and their families. Thanks parents for joining the session to see your children’s brilliant presentations. Here is the link. for the class presentation recording. https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/annual-presentations-2021

May 2

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We discussed the festival of Hanuman Jayanti

• We had the majority of the students discuss what they had prepared for rehearsal and feedback

Homework for this week :

There is no new homework, make sure students are caught up on their interview project, by Thursday. Then they should share the presentation with the teachers on their emails, so we can share their slides if they face any difficulties on the day of the presentation. The teachers' emails are: sankaranmala1@comcast.net, admulti9@yahoo.com, ishaan.goyal.1000@gmail.com, and arrehjain@gmail.com.

Things to keep note of are:

• We are holding a prep/help session for the students who need it for their project, on Thursday at 6 PM CST. We need to see Akshath, Hasini, Aryan, Sravani, Ashwanth, for sure, but other students are welcome to join if they need help. The meeting link for the help session is: https://meet.google.com/aqd-havj-jsk?authuser=1&hl=en

• If anyone of the students' family members wants to join the class to watch the students' presentation, they can join on Sunday, May 9th next week, at the regular class time of 10 AM CST. Don't worry about the participant limit, the meeting is open for all the family members to join that day. We open up the meeting 15 minutes early at 9:45 AM CST, so they can join then onwards. Also, students will be required to notify us in the chat that who all are joining from their family from a separate device. The meeting link is the same as it has always been for class. Here it is: https://meet.google.com/aqd-havj-jsk?authuser=1&hl=en Whoever cannot join and wants to see the students' presentation, the recording details will be shared later.

April

April 25

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We reviewed the interview project with the students, giving them some tips for

• We had majority of the students discuss what they had prepared for rehearsal and feedback

Homework for this week :

There is no new homework, make sure students are caught up on their interview project.

April 18

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We introduced students to Swami Vivekananda's inspiring lectures and essays. His way of awakening Indian youth made a tremendous difference at a time when the spirits of Hindus was very low, That was the situation in India after a few centuries of going through the Mughal empire's oppression of the Hindu religion, followed by British occupation that conquered the country that put down the Hindu religion and instigated in-fighting between religions.

•We played the youtube video of Swami Vivekananda's 1893 lecture in Chicago which was a watershed in influencing the western culture to respect Hindu religion. Attached is the video and its text of Swamiji's lecture in a PDF file.

Swami Vivekananda Speech Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIOtnn6meWA

Attachment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1coKpHVZ5J9d4fXhhmimsCza4N3mfS5cr/view?usp=sharing

• We covered Swaminarayanji's contribution to reform of the religion by fighting oppressed practice and social evil (Adharma) that crept into the Country.

• We discussed "Reformer Saints" in the fight against (Page 233 of the textbook) "Evil Customs in Hindu Communities": Sati, Discrimination of lower case and looking down on laborers doing physical work, Women illiteracy and female infanticide, the peril of widows and superstitions. We showed pictures of Swaminarayan temples (Delhi, Chicago and Minneapolis) and the volunteers make a huge difference in Seva (service).

• Students Malini, Sidhi, and Sanjana provided a preview report of their respective class projects. Students were provided three examples of last year's students' project report/presentation. This is to help the students complete the work.

∘ Students should provide a draft report a day before the next class (Saturday, May 24). Teachers can work with them to improvise the project work. May 9 is the class presentations that will be virtual during regular class time. It is also Mother's day and the parents join the virtual class to listen to the presentations.

Homework for this week :

There is no new homework, make sure students are caught up on their interview project.

April 11

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We discussed New Year & Spring Festivals celebration in India, and its significance and purpose

• Sankaran Sir discussed about Tenāli Raman, King Krishna Deva Raya, Sant Thayumanavar, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Rani Rasmani, Sister Nivedita, Devi Kali, and Mūrti Pūjā.

• We reviewed the interview project with the students

Homework for this week :

Students need to make progress on the Inspiration Project. Please make sure to give the following link to your children for their information:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MGPa526QcDTjGCgT_lWvBXRK6S3OCxV6?usp=sharing

March

March 28

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We discussed a few stories as well as some details on how Holi is celebrated

• We checked in with the students about their project

• Sankaran Sir discussed about Rani Lakshmibai, The Bravery of Unniyarchā, and Akbar & Birbal

As a Holi occasion fun video we went over Sri Krishna’s playful child pranks in Gokulam. Clip below is a Guruvayur temple skit that is acted by children several times a year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTj2Rtt35lg

Class discussion on Women in Hindu Religion:

Hinduism is the ONLY major religion that worships God also as a woman. All other major faiths see God as a ‘Fatherly’ figure only. Even in Male oriented traditions, Devi plays an important role.In Hindu Dharma, Wisdom/Knowledge, Prosperity, Power etc., represented symbolically by feminine Hindu deitiesIt would be a fair statement to make that of all the organized global religions in the world today, women perhaps have the most visible and prominent presence in Hindu Dharma. Feminine spirituality is not something that needs to be grafted onto Hindu Dharma. It has always been a part of the core of our faith

Homework for this week :

Next week is also Spring Break, make sure students are caught up on their interview project. If any student has problems finding interviewees, please feel free to reach out to us. We can help arrange interviews among Dharma teachers.

March 21

• We started off by chanting mantras

• Sankaran Sir discussed about Pannā Dhāī, Rani Durgāvatī, & Ahalyabai Holkar.

• We checked in with the students about their project, and reviewed the project rules.

Homework for this week :

There is no new homework, students are expected to catch up on their interview project.

March 14

• We started off by chanting mantras

• Sankaran Sir discussed about Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mahārāṇā Pratāp, and The Emperors of Vijayanagara

• We checked in with the students about their project, and reviewed the project rules.

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to read section 17 from the textbook and be prepared to share a story that interested them. Additionally, students should catch up on their presentation projects. The presentation day is not decided precisely, but expect it to be sometime in May, keeping in mind that the last day of HATS this year is May 16th.

March 7

• We started off by chanting mantras

• Dineshji & Ishaan discussed the details and stories about Mahashivratri

• Dineshji discussed the beginning of our next lesson from the textbook about "Hindu Kings of Medieval and Modern Period".

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to review today's readings from page 190-210.

February

February 28

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We reviewed stories from the textbook that we have read so far and other stories that we knew, about: Goswami Tulsidas, Guru Nanak, Sultan (Devotee of Krishna), Mirabai, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, & Narsi Mehta. Our goal was to connect the main ideas of these stories.

Homework for this week :

• Students are supposed to catch up with their readings up to page 210.

February 21

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We answered a few questions the kids had about the guidelines of their Inspiration Interview Project.

• Dineshji shared stories of Guru Nānak, Goswami Tulsidas, Sūrdās, & Mīrābāī.

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to read from page 190-210 and take notes on the key ideas about what they read.

February 14

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We discussed some details about Vasant Panchmi and how we worship Saraswati Mata this festival.

• Nirav Ji conducted his meditation session sharing sone benefits of doing it.

• We played some games that the students suggested to end the class in an interactive way.

Homework for this week :

There is no new homework, students are expected to catch up on their previously assigned homework and work a little bit on their project as well.

February 7

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We reminded the kids about the guidelines of their Inspiration Interview Project and checked in with them to get an update on their progress on the project.

  • Project Guideline PDF Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uBJ8wC6ojgcUfL90GSLLzE9BW4vxnwcZ/view?usp=sharing

• Dineshji shared stories of Bhakta Narahari, Dāmājī Pant, Shri Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, and Madhusūdana Sarasvati from the textbook readings and discussed their meanings with the students. The main idea repeated in all these stories is that God is always there to guide his devotees.

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to read from page 170-190 and take notes on the key ideas about what they read.

January

January 31

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We discussed the guru mantra in class:

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Maheshwara

Guru sakshat, param Brahma, tasmai shri guravay namah

• Dineshji also shared a few stories from the textbook readings and discussed their meanings with the students

• Dineshji also talked about moksha and karma and students asked questions

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to read to page 170 and take notes on the key ideas about what they read.

January 24

Materials covered in class:

• We started off by chanting mantras

• Dineshji, another one of our Dharma 8 teachers, discussed with the class the meaning of the Pavamana Mantra:

असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय ॥

asato mā sadgamaya,
tamaso mā jyotirgamaya,
|mṛtyormā'mṛtaṃ gamaya

From the unreal lead me to the real!
From the darkness lead me to the light!
From death lead me to immortality!

• Dineshji also shared a few stories from the textbook readings and discussed their meanings with the students

º These stories were about Sant Tukaram and Bahinabai

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to read from page 140-160 and take notes on the key ideas about what they read.

January 17

1. PT meeting started after the conclusion of prayers. More or less, all the parents attended the meeting. It was a good coverage. Many parents gave their comments and observations which the class teachers found helpful. Overall, the PT meeting went with more details and substance than that of the physical meetings of the past, perhaps owing to the easy availability of parents in a virtual setting right there at home, and perhaps also due to their rightful concern of trying to understand how the virtual classes are really helping the children.

2. For synapsis of contents, we used what is updated in URL below - but in the chronological order of SPE - JAN period as attached - to brief the parents on what’s being covered in Dharma 8 classes: https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/classes-dharma/dharma-8?authuser=0

3. The methods used in the class were discussed:

   • a) Dharma foundation is the fabric in which the class is woven and stressed upon, as we cover the inspirational stories of these great leaders.

   • b) reading assignments of stories periodically - certain pages to read as homework when the normal school work is not in its peak.

   • c) small exercises (e.g., write down in journal who you are grateful to, and small things you can do to show it; among the six internal enemies (desire, anger, greed, arrogance or ego, delusion and jealousy) which one you think you have and methods you can show to control). We introduced how to fight procrastination in doing right things – “Do it quickly, but not in a hurry” – meaning doing small incremental things quickly and rapidly towards a larger goal which is not to be hurried up as this is a continuous work, and you don’t stop saying you reached the goal.

   • d) discussed the YouTube links we went over (see the synapsis): examples: each are 5 - 10 minutes long: Gandhiji film clips, TED talk of a young girl of Indian origin who successfully overcame the acute struggle of cultural values and identity conflict which she faced as a teen ager, Adi Sankara/Sri Ramanuja – Acharya’s teachings to young children, Katopanishad - Chariot analogy and mind cobtrol through Nachiketa story.

   • f) for example for Makara Sankarant, we asked children to reach out to parents/grand parents to understand how the region where they are from and the ancestors had celebrated Sankarant for the students to get to know their origin.

   • g) Inspiration project the children will do in JAN-MAR period of interviewing two generations above: which leaders and which Dharma values they were drawn towards and how they used them in their life (role models, values, their life stories where it mattered) and the student’s own thoughts for themselves after they assimilate the interviews.

4. Parents feedback:

   • a) comments of appreciation of the teachers, student teachers and the HATS curriculum, and suggestions for methods and specific needs.

   • b) interactive mode for certain topics to have the students display what they had learnt: we discussed what we do so far in “chats” which students provide, and “raise” hands to speak, how we collect the chats later to review.

   • c) how can the parents assess the students growth: we discussed how the parents can review the project Inspiration report of the children to appreciate and calibrate their growth.

   • d) some methods to assist children how to build more self-confidence. I think there are good example stories of great leaders. We will use them and stress upon them in the future classes.

January 10

Materials covered in class:

• We started off by chanting mantras

• We discussed some Makara Sankarant festival special information. We asked the students to check with their parents/grandparents to understand how your early generations celebrated Sankarant in India, and try to understand their Indian subcontinent regional or ancestral practice. We gave examples of Punjab (Lohri) and Kanupongal (Tamilnadu) for bonfire-based-celebrations to brothers giving gifts to the sisters respectively as some regional example. We talked of Gujarat and Andhra examples of kite flying contests. Some students expressed their experience (jaggery and sesame based snacks) in regions such as Karnataka.

• We explained the “Inspiration” project they will do - quick but small steps spread over three months of Jan-Mar. Showed the students how to navigate and find the weekly class notes and documents. https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/classes-dharma/dharma-8?authuser=0 . The December 20 class notes - in this link above - has the project guidelines and student template. We took the time to explain to the students what is expected of them. They are asked to make a plan at this time (who are the interviewees and the information of what you will tell them).

• We reviewed the last class information and went over the powerful Purandara Dasa story, an inspiring story of how he used to be a greedy jeweler, and how the incidents in his life that changed him to be a “Dasa” or Bhakta of Sri Vishnu, and his contribution to the classical (Carnatic) music - thousands of songs composed by him - that memorializes his contribution to music and bhakti movement.

Homework for this week :

There is no new homework is assigned. We expect the students to have caught up with previously assigned reading assignments - through page 140 of the textbook. Many students could not do reading assignments in early December due to tests/exams. They need to catch up. We expect all are caught up by next week class.

December

December 20

Materials covered in class:

• Prayers and meditation with Aham Brahma-Asmi - words

• Review of last few classes and home work quantity discussions

• Intro to class project:

Inspiration Project Guidelines CLICK HERE & Inspiration Project Template CLICK HERE

Homework for this week :

Students should start preparing for their project over the break.

December 13

• Started off by chanting mantras

• Continued from last class on Bhakti yoga and the highlights of the involved saints. Visited an instructional video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8gEdSQ9fZE that has 12 minutes of a Student-Teacher interaction of a video clip that covered “Influence of Acharyas Ramanuja and Adi Shankara on Bhakti Movement”. The emphasis was not to get overly caught on philosophy differences, but choosing a path towards the goal of aligning our Atma (soul) in the universe, control of senses, peacefulness of alignment. “Aham Bramhasmi” (I am an integral part of the core of the Universe and not different). This is known as “Maha Vakya”. Also, stressed the importance of taking care of our bodies and the Aatma. All the students remember “Chariot Analogy”.

• Briefly discussed several stories of 63 Nayanmars (Shiva saints) and their humble beginnings but extraordinary achievements. The “four or Naalvar”: Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, Manicka Vachagar were.

• Reviewed if students are able to relate to the off-the-class work of slow pace but regular small effort. We see some gaps of not knowing where this information is. One assistance we need from parents is to ensure the children have access to this weekly notes URL link. It is very easy to have them check the link and the students can record information related to the slow-pace projects in their personal class notebook. https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/classes-dharma/dharma-8 Usually by mid-week this URL is updated with the class notes. Can you ensure students know this and becomes a habit for them to check it once?

Homework for this week :

In light of exams in the next 10 days for the children, there will be no reading or any assignments from this week. There will be a cross-generational effort for children to connect within your family as an on-going exercise and a project that is slow pace for three months. We will start sharing the info’ before the break when there are no classes - Weeks of December 27 and January 3rd. This is not a one day project. Slowly and steadily we will go through the project w/ the students.

Thanks and Regards

December 6

We covered:

The timeline of history from vedic period of BCE 15 th century to that of BCE 2 rd century:

1. Golden age of Gupta period: Chandragupta (who adopted Jainism), Chanakya who wrote Artha Sastra, the first political science text book of strategies/tactics, about Greeks and Guptas, to that of:

2. King Ashoka ( Kalinga war and its mass destruction, his remorse, adopting and spreading Buddhism). We discussed Ashoka’s influence on India and global influence of non-violence principle. Discussed various inscriptions on pillars and boulders he created across the country which are still there in Bihar, U.P. and west Bengal states.

3. A ‘wheel’ called ‘Dharmachakra’ (the wheel of Dharma) from a pillar that Emperor Asoka had constructed is included today in the national flag of India. He left a strong influence that is lasting over two millenniums. The Dharma he spread in essence across India and the world are the principles below:
1.Give up violence against other people.
2. Avoid hurting or killing animals.
3. Respect one’s parents, friends and teachers.
4. Give charity to Brahmanas and to the Sadhus.
5. Respect the beliefs and religions followed by others. Not say that one’s own religion is better than that of others
6. Live with a pure mind and lead a disciplined life.
7. Always practice the path of Dharma
8. Emperor (himself first) is to work for victory of Dharma and treat his subjects as if they were his own children.

4. We moved on to highlights of Bhakti Movement of the South India where Hindu religion flourished in the time line of ACE 5 th-12 th century, slide deck on temples, the sixty three Nayanmars (Saiva saints) and twelve Alvars (Vaishnava saints) of South India. We saw selected temples’ pictures (Thanjavore big temple, Srirangam Ranganatha temple highlights).

Homework:

• From their past homework: Children to enter it in to Dharma 8 class notebook, bring their class note book, and share highlights in the next class:

  • a) list of people they are thankful for, and what will they do show their gratitude, and

  • b) one internal enemy they think they need to control and how will they go about.

• Reading: Pages 121-140 of the textbook

November

November 22

• Started off by chanting mantras

• Did 3 minutes of meditation

• In the context of Nachiketa story shared and discussed two important messages:

  • taking care of our body by exercise and any timely healthcare needs,

  • taking care of our intellect by training of our “focusing” skill. Body training (exercise, sports, yardwork, snow removal) and mental training (meditation) were stressed upon.

• Shared the Kathopanishad video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6HZIaxkf7I&t=85s for the powerful Katha Upanishad analogy of Chariot (Body), You the rider (Atma), and the Driver (Intellect or Budhi) using the Reins (Mind or Manas) to control the Horses (five Sensory organs). Video clip does a great job of making it a story and easy to comprehend.

• Discussed how India and Bharath names came from Indus Valley civilization and King Bharata.

• Discussed Astronomers (Aryabhatta, Varahamitra), Jantar Mantar (Delhi planetarium), Bhaskara who made us of PI, Pujyam (zero) and infinity and use of Algebra.

• Discussed Srinivasa Ramanujan, mathematician who died at the age of 32 gave birth to the continued work provided some three future Nobel prize winners who used his work as their basis.

Homework for this week :

• Read Pages 90-120

• Finish past homework using a journal entry – some had not done. https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/classes-dharma/dharma-8 - refer to October 25 homework of “people to whom you are grateful to” and “one out of six internal enemies (e.g., anger) – that you pick and you would want to control.

• Suggested for holiday period movie watching:

  • Gandhi film of Ben Kingsley, Richard Attenborough (Amazon Prime – there is a fee, think it is $3.99)

  • Man who knew infinity on Netflix (Ramanujan – Mathematician story)

  • Brainchild (Netflix – for tweens (10-12 y old’s) on Science, Math, Arts.. (4 episodes of one hour each)

November 8

Today we:

• Started off by chanting mantras.

• Did a Diwali Trivia and reviewed some facts about Diwali.

• Had a guest speaker conduct a lesson on meditation.

Homework:

• Read page up to page 92 of the text book.

November 1

• Started off by chanting mantras

• Recapped on who we are as souls and our purpose in life

• Focused on two stories, of Shukhdeva and Nachiketa

• Discussed about Raja Harishchandra

Homework:

• Read page up to page 71 of the text book.

• Do a project that is to jot down 5 points about each of the 5 enemies discussed in the class and write about how you faced any obstruction while experiencing the same, so we can discuss about this in the next class.

October

October 25

• We started off by chanting mantras

• Assembly slides of Saraswathi Puja and Vijayadasami (today). Discussed the Dussehra and Navaratri festivals, and different regions in India focused them

  • Northern region celebrating the victory of Rama (Dharma) over Ravan (Adharma) and Devi Durga (Parvati) destroying the demon (Mahisha- asura) to reestablish Dharma. Folk tales and dramas of Ramayan in villages and "Ravan effigy" set to fire with fireworks to symbolize victory of Dharma.

  • Southern regions: Durga-Lakshmi-Saraswati worship, classical music, Golu (dolls assembled in the prop with several steps). Saraswati puja is celebration of study, knowledge and work that we do by decorating for blessings from Saraswati (known as Kala-Vani, the master creator of 64 arts that represent all different forms of knowledge and work).

• Briefly discussed the homework and discussion of page 22. Equality vs. Justice topic. Students related to affirmative action related history in US, as well as why younger children get some preference in homes.

• We also briefly talked about the following topics:

  • Six enemies: Lust, Anger, Greed, Delusion (ignorance), pride, jealousy.

  • Four-fold mind: Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (will), Ahamkara (ego)

  • Stories of Viswamitra, Ashtavagra, Garki and Maitreyi.

• Checked HATS Dussehra project pictures: https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/other/cultural/festivals/dussehra- project

Homework for this week :

• Open a note book for Dharma 8 projects.

• Write 5 to 10 people names you are thankful for, and why so. Do a small action that shows your gratitude. (helping parents or younger siblings). Discussed the quote: "be quick but do not hurry". How to break it as small steps and doing it quickly, instead of procrastinating to do something big, or not hurrying to do some thing big which will never get done right.

• Write down one negative quality among six enemies specified above that you want to control.

• You can discuss if you want to. You do not have to if you don't want to. Read pages 28 - 57 (30 pages of stories).

• Watch Youtube link: YOU and THE CHARIOT ANALOGY - from the Kathopanishad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6HZIaxkf7I

October 18

Today we:

• Started off by chanting mantras

• Discussed the significance of Navaratri

• Discussed what children can very easily do at home

• Suggested that we (including the students) should read shlokas of Durga Mata, Lakshmi Mata, Saraswati Mata everyday including just before school/work begins. You can access the prayers with the images attached below.

Durga Mata Mantra:
sarva-mangala-maangalye shive sarvaarthaadike |
sharaNye tryambake gauri naaraayaNi namo'astu te ||

Lakshmi Mata Mantra:
padmaasana-sthite devii parabrahma-svaruupiNi |
parameshi jaganmaatar-mahaalakshmii namo'astu te ||

Saraswati Mata Mantra:
sarastii namastubhyaM varade kaamaruupiNii |
vidyaarambham kariShyaami siddhirbhavatu me sadaa ||

• Had a review of Rishi Vishwamitra story with Rishi Vashishtha and concluding lessons of six internal enemies:...Every person has six internal enemies – lust/desire, anger, greed, arrogance or ego, delusion and jealousy. Overcoming them and the greatness that follows is in the stories of these saints. It shows us the path and helps us understand best methods to overcome these internal enemies.

• Reviewed Narada Muni's stories: A poor man's simple prayer and the Gopikas' bhakti and love for Sri Krishna: how superior they are. Emphasis of the quality and power of such true bhakti, as opposed to any pride or lavish ways or boasting about one's own devotion to God.

Homework:

Students should read pages 17-26 of the text book (Saints Valmiki, Sabri, Ved Vyas, Gargi, Maitreyi etc.). Pay attention and make your notes to discuss Page 22 Class exercise (Ved Vyas topic).

October 11

Today we:

• Chanted some Mantras

• Discussed about Hindu and Western Culture values, getting good aspects from both cultures

• Discussed Gandhiji’s clips and how Ahimsa shows courage and strength and not weakness

• Watched a TED Talk Video about how a college girl went through her cultural struggles and she incorporate both Hindu and Western Culture and became a successful young woman.

You can reference the TED Talk with the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv_UfDBNWI8&t=320s

Homework:

• Watch Gandhi’s videos from last week, for those who did not get an opportunity to do so.

• Read Pages 6-16 about Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Rishi Narada, Rishi Dadhichi, and Rishi Pippalada

October 4

Today we:

• Started by chanting mantras.

• Looked at what philosophies Mahatma Gandhi believed in.

• Studied what values we should take from Hindu and western culture, from the book

Homework:

• Find 5 western values and 5 Hindu values.

• Watch the videos below

  • https://youtu.be/-Y3tZpAdWTc

  • https://youtu.be/WW3uk95VGes

  • https://youtu.be/rfm2QrCWnDk

September

September 27

Materials covered in class:

• We started off by chanting mantras

• Dinesh sir talked about dharma, karma, and moksha.

• Had a brief discussion and a look at the book.

• Dinesh sir briefly gave us an introduction of Sant Narsi Mehta.

Homework for this week :

Students are supposed to read Chapter 11 about Sant Kabir on page 126 and about Sant Narsi Mehta on page 143-144. Then, students should do some research on these Sants.

September 20

Title of our class - Dharma 8 - Inspiration from Lives of Great Hindus

• Materials covered in class -

* Started by chanting some Mantras

* Had an introduction among the teachers and the students

* Introduced the textbook which your children will be reading in this class, with what we’ll cover in our class this year

• Homework for this week - The only homework assigned to the students for this week is to get access to the textbook, so they have it available for next class. The link to access and save the textbook can be found above.

• Any other information you would like me to update your class webpage with - Not applicable