Dharma 7
Hindu Ideals and Values
Class Information -
This class covers: Review inspiring life stories of Hindu/Jain Sages and Saints (such as Mahavir Swami, Tulsidas), Kings (e.g., Shivaji), political leaders (e.g., Mahatma Gandhi) and major historical events. Use these biographies and events to teach Hindu values such as Ahimsa, compassion, Bhakti respect, morals, and so on. This class also has a major focus on our internal enemies and how to overcome those. Students also learn about Ashtanga Yoga and the 16 basic steps of Hindu Puja ceremony. This course focuses on ‘saadhaarana dharma’/ sanaatana dharma (general ethical precepts of Dharma) from a Hindu standpoint.
Ages: 10-11 / Grade: 5-6
Download PDF copy of book: CLICK HERE
Teachers -
Teachers:
Bhakti Modi
Jayant Anand
EMAIL teachers: bhaktibm@gmail.com, jayant@jayantanand.com
Teenage Volunteers:
Adhvaith Sridhar
Ishaan Goyal
Tanisha Sinha
Class & Homework -
April
April 30
Materials covered in class:
Talked about presentation from last week
Talked about most important value
Ahimsa and what can be ahimsa
When to step in to a violent situation
Preventing harm
People who can’t fight for themselves
Helping:
When someone is in need
Assisting others
Without exceptions
Without judgement
Perspective matters
Homework:
Read Ch 33 & 34 - Charity & Seva:
What’s the difference
Some people will research a few charities for a fundraiser:
Find name, values, who are they helping, are they certified (501c3)
You can use charitynavigator.org
Class will vote on a charity
April 23
-Amazing job with your presentations
-No homework
April 16
-Keep working on slides and be prepared to present on Sunday.
-Memorize the Gita Slokas
- Slokas 62 and 63 (chapter 2)
-Be able to say your selected sloka/mantra for presentation
April 9
Today in class we spent time preparing for our upcoming presentation. We discussed good presentation tips as well as did breakout sessions to prepare for topics.
Few things to keep in mind about the topics:
There are 4 things each student has to present for each topic:
Meaning, real life example, Hindu history example, any prayer related to the topic
The slides can be customized per the students, can leave it blank or add design/color/images to it if you see fit
For the prayer, you can pick a prayer from anywhere, Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, General HATS prayers, etc.
During presentation, the student will have to say the prayer they selected, read the meaning, and be able to explain why they chose that prayer for that topic
Many topics won't have direct prayers, it's ok to think outside the box and find meaning in the prayers that match the qualities and meaning of the topics
(e.g., RESPECT: prayer could be gurur brahma or twameva mata, because they talk about how we should respect important people in our lives, OR could be sahana vavatu because it talks about how we should work together)
Also, all students will have to say the two Gita shlokas together as a class at the end, so please practice and memorize with meaning:
Next week in class, we will call on random students and ask them to sing either of these prayers without reading
Presentation slides:
CLICK HERE to download slide template
Example slides have been added as a reference
Each student should download the slides and fill out the information based on their assigned topics
They should use the textbook materials, anything we covered in class (see notes on webpage), and personal information for the slides
Dates:
4/16 - deadline!! finish slides and send to Tanisha: sinha.sana12@gmail.com
The final slides can be your own Google Slides shared with Tanisha - or downloaded and emailed separately as a pptx file - DO NOT SEND PDFs
4/23 - presentation during dharma class time (parents/family/friends requested to join!) @ 10:30am in auditorium
March
March 26
Please see End of Year Presentation details for Dharma 7.
Presentation slides:
CLICK HERE to download slide template
Each student should download the slides and fill out the information based on their assigned topics
They should use the textbook materials, anything we covered in class (see notes on webpage), and personal information for the slides
Gita Shlokas to memorize with meaning:
Chapter 2, Shloka 62: https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/2/verse/62
Chapter 2, Shloka 63: https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/2/verse/63
DATES:
4/9 - have notes and details for each section ready - will do breakout sessions in class to review and finalize
4/16 - deadline!! finish slides and send to Tanisha: sinha.sana12@gmail.com
The final slides can be your own Google Slides shared with Tanisha - or downloaded and emailed separately as a pptx file - DO NOT SEND PDFs
4/23 - presentation during dharma class time (parents/family/friends requested to join!) @ 10:30am in auditorium
Tips on Doing a Good Presentation:
Know Your Audience
Think about their skill level
Present as if you’re teaching the topic for the first time
Have some formality
Get Comfortable with your Environment
Limit your distractions
Stand comfortably, but not TOO comfortable
Be alert
Focus on speaking skills
LOUD - but don’t scream/yell
Test sentence - ask can you hear me clearly
Take your time - take pauses between thoughts
ENUNCIATE - pronunciation, emphasize, open your mouth
NO MUMBLING
LCS - Loud, Clear, Slow
OK to use hand to emphasize, but not too much
Learn from the Pros
Watch some good TED talks or other presentations
Learn from how others are doing
Watch a presentation on a topic of your interest
Know your Material
Be FLUENT in your topic
Be the EXPERT in your topic
DON’T READ OFF SENTENCES
Speak in your own words
OK to have reference points - but don’t be robotic
USE YOUR OWN WORDS!!!!!!
Don’t read off slides directly
Make it a conversation
Practice
Practice practice practice
Record yourself - listen, try again
Build your confidence in material and skills
Encourage yourself
Practice saying your prayer!!
MISTAKES ARE OK
If you mess up, pause, take a breath, start again
Don’t panic if you make a mistake
Slides
Shouldn't be too wordy
Should supplement what you're talking about
OK to use picture and visual aids
Don't make it too colorful or distracting
Font should be easy to read
Topic Assignments - Click here
March 19
Commitment
Work on time
Sticking to something (Ideals and values)
Grit
Persistence
Promise to self
Internal motivation
-School/work
-Home
Chores
Family/pets
-Self
Exercise
Sleep
Yoga
Food
Hygiene
-Friends
-Sports
-Hobbies
-World
Environment
Economy
Politics
Charity and service
Homework
For the topic chosen in class
Find examples
Examples in Hindu history
A prayer related to a value or topic
March 12
Ishwar:
Someone who is the master, supreme power, energy(Bhrahman + control)
-Eesh(ish):Master of
-War(vaR):Possessor of
Bhagwaan:
Someone who possesses extreme values(Manifested for of Ishwar “values”)
Bhag:
Prosperity
Wan(van):
Possessor of
Bhraman:
Energy (Shakti)(Unmanifested shakti)
Yog
Karma(actions)->Bhakti(Devotion)->Gyan(knowledge)
How to practice VALUES
Do everyday
Repetition
Second nature
HABIT
21 DAYS
Habits to choose from
Making bed
Exercising
Household chores
A compliment a day
Studying
Waking up on time
Healthy meals
Praying
Drinking “enough” water
For presentation pick a subject within one of these chapters
6 internal enemies (Kaam, Kroadh, Lobh, Moh,Mad, Matsarya)
4 forms of worship (Japa, Pooja, Yagna, Yoga)
Humility/Respect
Ahimsa
Empathy, Compassion, Pity
Religions
Ashtanga yoga
Chariot Analogy
Intellect
Homework
Read chapter 41: Commitment
March 5
Buddhi-Naasho
Pranashyati (Bhakti yog)
The right reason
Ideals
Supreme energy
Gaining knowledge for the right reason,“wisdom”, “intellect” (Gyan yog)
Do the right thing “practicing”, avoiding inaction/wrong thing (Karma yog)
Yog
Karma yog- Action
Gyan yog- Knowledge
Bhakti yog- Devolution
Homework
Find meaning of Bhagwan/Ishwar
Find the meaning of Geeta Ch 2 (62-63) word by word
February
February 26
Materials covered in class:
We talked about different religions and compared
Primarily compared Abrahamic Religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) to Hinduism
Christianity: People: Jesus, Religious Text: Bible, Place of Worship: Church
Judaism: People: Moses, Religious Text: Torah, Place of Worship: Synagogue
Islam: People: Muhammad, Religious Text: Quran, Place of Worship: Mosque
Hindu: People: None; Religious Texts: Gita, Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharta, Upanishad; Place of Worship: Mandir; doesn't have defined prayer rules
Similarities: Believe in supreme power, value system
Homework:
Find the meaning of "Bhagwan"
Gita Ch 2 Shl 62-63 meaning
February 19
Materials covered in class:
Reviewed methods of worship (japa, pooja, yoga, yajna)
Discussed yajna, yajna is energy, and compared Supreme Energy to avatars of God
Avatars are representations of the values of Supreme Energy; avatars are role models for us to follow the correct ideals and values
Saraswati - knowledge, Ram - duty, Durga - strength, Hanuman - bravery, Krishna - ideal
Discussed how religions differ in culture but preach the same values
Homework:
Read Chapter 52
Find similarities between Hinduism and two other religions
February 5
Materials covered in class:
Respect towards others vs self respect
Talked about how both are necessary
Different ways to worship god:
Japa:
Saying Gods name many times (108 times)
Pooja
Yagna
Yoga
Homework:
Choose your favorite mantra and find its meaning
What is yoga?
January
January 29
What is our social identity:
We are American, but we are not “typical” - because we look different
Coming to HATS helps us build our identity
We get treated differently because of our heritage background
Humility:
“Humble”
Not being too proud or vain
If you are in position of power, not too proud
Modest about your skills
Downplaying yourself
Caring for, considering, thinking about what others may need
Opposite of internal enemy: Greed, Pride/Ego
Being able to accept the positive
Not over exaggerating
Self:
Accept compliments
Acknowledge accomplishments
Avoid bragging
Not comparing
Be proud, but not egoistic
WHY are you doing what you’re doing
Be AUTHENTIC & genuine
Humility is hard to practice - you cannot say you’re humble
Gandhi Ji - When you practice your other values - you will automatically get humility
Kindness, understanding, respect, nonviolence, patience, compassion, intelligence
Humility is a feeling - it’s not an action
Humility is how OTHER people see you
If you talk to someone about humility - “I try”
Respect:
Listening to people, pay attention
Properly responsive
Following other people’s choices or rules
Integrity and authenticity
Showing honor
Admiration for others
Treating others with values
Manners
How do your actions affect others
Focus on doing the right thing - OK to speak up
Blind respect
Respect without thinking or knowing if you need to
Faking respect because you think you have to
E.g. age, status, money, accomplishments, gender, “hierarchy”
Assigning importance because of “accomplishments” and “things”
Real respect should be earned
You can act respectful to everyone
Focus on values, personality, right/wrong
E.g. you can act with kindness - but don’t have to follow blindly
SELF RESPECT
HW:
Example of self respect - when did you stand up for yourself
Ask parents same thing - especially opposite someone “in power”
Chapter: 51 - Performance of worship
January 22
Meditation
Don't get distracted by anything
While meditation don't think so much
If a person truly wants to experience god or the light; they have to be focused.
The reason why we focus
If we love something very much
“God is a very powerful entity that created the whole universe”
-When one dies their soul leaves the body
The soul never dies
-Knowledge is wisdom
-Swan represents the ability to discriminate something from the truth
-Every feeling we have always comes from our soul
-“‘We are all one’ comes from our soul”
- Our minds are constantly analyzing everything
Our mind is constantly busy
It's like a computer that never shuts down ever
Steps for meditation
Get in a comfortable position(sit in stillness)
Don't talk
Tell your mind to sit still
Close your eyes
Take a deep breath (slowly gently)
Homework
Meditate for at least 21 days for 15 minutes a day.
Learn Sahana Vavatu
Ask yourself why you come every Sunday for HATS, then ask your parents why.
January 15
Unintentional violence
Joking
Sarcasm
Teasing
Meanness
Anger
Accidental hurt
Sports
Empathy
Kind
Not pity->not feeling bad->Ego!
Showing you care
Compaction
Perspective of others
Sharing emotions
Understanding others
Respecting choices
Homework
Write examples of empathy vs unintentional violence
Read chapter 32- humility and respect
January 8
Ahimsa (Non-violence)
Not hurting
Verbally
Physically
Emotionally
Self
Others
Beings (plants and animals)
Resisting hurtful reaction
Clear communicating
Good thoughts
There are 2 types of Ahimsa
Physical
Non-physical
Bullying
Offending
Evil thoughts
Lying
Discrimination/judging
Gossip
Physical reaction
Hit back
Leave
Cry
Tell someone
Non-physical reaction
Speak back
Leave
Cry
Tell someone
Both these actions lead too or start to from
Anger
Revenge
Attention
Trauma
“What they know”
Internal enemies
Homework
Read chapter 31-empathy
“unintentional violence” ( 2 of each type)
December
December 11
Materials covered in class:
Talked about empathy and compared it to compassion and pity
Empathy:
Perspective of others
Connecting/relating to others
Respecting choices
Intention is important
Compassion:
Generous
Helping/sharing others
Action
Pity
Feeling sorry for others
Thought about in terms Mahabharata and Ramayana
HW:
Read Ch 19 - Hypocrisy and Ch 29 - Compassion
December 4
Ignorance
Selfish
Stupidity
Not caring
Not listening
Hypocrisy
Not wanting to learn
All internal empires combined
Can end up looking like
Ignoring
Not acting
“Not my problem”
Judgmental
Result
Bullying
Violence
Discrimination
Gossipping
Unintentional
Stereotype
Asians are smart= racial
Religion
Gender
Homework
Read chapter 13 = empathy
Write 2 examples on unintentional ignorance
Read about intellect
November
November 20
Pride/Ego
Value yourself over others “me”
Stubbornness
“Higher”
“Golden Rule”
What's a problem with the golden rule (perceptive matters)
“I am nice to everyone, why aren't people nice to me”
Jealousy
“Reaction” to all internal
Hard work
Doesn’t guarantee “result”
In the vicious cycle, every internal enemy connects to each other in some way, or causes another one to occur.
“Values” in Sanskrit: Sanskrit
Homework:
Read chapter about Ignorance
A value from Stephen Covey
Write a few sentences on which internal enemy is the most harmful to yourself/you parents.
November 13
Delusion
Losing touch with reality
Drastic measures
Not thinking clearly (not based on facts).
“You don’t have to be ‘the best’, you have to do your best.”
Examples of Delusion
Always right
Trauma
“It's not fair”
Arguments
Hypocrisy
Examples from the Mahabharata
Dhritarashtra
Gandhari
Yudhishthira
Bheeshma
What is being fair
Everyone gets what they need
Equity
Justice
Equality
Equity
Pride/Ego
“ME”
Value yourself
Better than others
Self-stubbornness
“Selfish”
When does Pride/Ego start
Age
Social status
Money
Job
Relationships
Physical
Strength
Speed
Looks
Things
Clothes
Electronics
Toys
Grades
Competition
“Locations”
Intelligence
(All lead to some sort of discrimination)
Homework
Write down what you think is fairness
How has a moment of ego or pride affected your relationship
Read chapter about Jealousy
November 6
Greed/ Lobha
Wanting/ when some else:
Has something
“Big desire” (bad)
Luxury
Don’t need
More and more and more
Hard to limit
Uncontrollable
Results in:
Bad actions (lead to)
Harm
Emotional hurt
Steal
Hurt relationships
Homework:
Read about Delusion and Pride from the book
October
October 30
Materials covered in class:
Talked more about the Internal Enemies
Went into depth about Kama/Desire and Krodha/Anger;
Kama/Desire:
Positive & Negative Consequences: (over)spending, conflict, hard work, helping others
The intent determines if it is good or bad: it can lead to good using values but can lead to bad if dealt with greed
Krodha/Anger:
Defined as strong negative emotion, being upset, acting bad
Causes: Religion/culture/beliefs, conflict with people (friends, family)
Forms: anger & mad (extreme); frustration, annoyance, irritation (mild)
Negative reactions: violence & bad language, obstructing rules, negative thoughts, ranting
Positive reactions: deep breaths (calms, focus), ignore/step away (physical/mental), conversation/explain perspective, get help
Homework:
Read chapters 15 & 16
Two personal examples of negative reactions to anger and the possible positive reactions
October 23
We did Diwali crafts in class this week. Please review homework from previous classes.
October 16
Dharma 7 had meditation this week.
Next week we will do Diwali activities and continue conversation from previous homeworks.
October 2
Materials covered in class:
Talked about difference between ideals and values; ideals are external vs values are internal
6 Internal Enemies and their Sanskrit names:
Desire (Kama)
Anger (Krodha)
Greed (Lobha)
Delusion (Moha)
Pride (Mad)
Jealousy (Matsarya)
Homework:
Connections between the six internal enemies
Read Ch 13 & 14
Optional: Raavan at Home (Email for submitting your Raavan: hatsadministrator@hsmn.org)
September
September 25
Materials covered in class:
Talked about the big differences between humans and other animals:
Thinking beyond surviving
More complex thinking
Understand karma
Develop ideals and values
Ideals vs Values
Ideals:
Standard set
Aims & morals
Goals
Rules to follow
Values:
Important to you
Behaviors & traits
Something you believe in
Covered Chariot Analogy:
Horses - senses
Chariot - body
Rider - Atma
Charioteer- intellect
Reigns - mind
All parts are important but Charioteer is the most important because it is what drives the actual chariot. Krishna was the Charioteer in Mahabharata.
Homework:
Three examples of value and ideals each
Use examples to find differences between values and ideals
Example of the use of intellect in any situation
Read Chapter 12 - Internal Enemies
Optional: Raavan at Home (Email for submitting your Raavan: hatsadministrator@hsmn.org)
September 18
This class will cover topics such as ideals and values.
What are ideals and values?
Things that are important to us
Parts of our personality
Good things we want to be
Qualities we should have
Who are some examples in Hindu history that are examples of good people? What's the quality they represent?
Yudhisthira (dharma), Ram (kindness), Arjun (brave), Krishna (smart, wise), Sage Durvasa (strict), Hanuman (loving, caring, courageous)
Sita (innocent), Shabari (respectful), Kaikei (brave), Saraswati (knowledgeable), Kunti (brave), Rani Lakshmibai (courageous)
All these people are examples of great people, but does that mean they're perfect?
No one is perfect
They put others first
Good over evil
They tried hard
They recognized mistakes
Question: Is God perfect? - All the forms of God have done things that could be imperfect, we learn from the good qualities
How do we understand "God" - we often get asked "does Hinduism have hundreds of Gods?" - what's the right answer
ॐ - AUM - made up of 3 sounds, throat-mouth-lips, the vibrations represent energy
In Hindu Dharma we believe that "OM" represents the supreme energy/power
This energy makes up everything in the world and is part of everyone
This is also why we say "Namaste" - it means 'I acknowledge the "divinity" in you'
Some people work on their positive qualities more and use positive energy, that's how we grow
All the "forms of Bhagwan" are known as avatars
All avatars of Bhagwan are just different forms of AUM - supreme energy
We believe in one supreme energy, with countless forms
All the Bhagwans we mention help us learn different qualities, they're like role models for different things (e.g., Hanuman Ji helps us with courage, Saraswati with knowledge) - but they all represent positivity and growth
HOMEWORK:
Find definitions of the words "IDEALS" and "VALUES" - how are they different? how are they the same?
Read from book: Chapters 1 (Human Being – Pinnacle of Bhagavān’s Creation) & Chapter 2 (The Science of Mind and Sense Organs)