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:

EMAIL teachers: bhaktibm@gmail.com, jayant@jayantanand.com


Teenage Volunteers:

Class & Homework - 

May

May 5

-Cultural practices 


Homework


April

April 28

Namaste parents,

This week in class, we finished our Jeopardy presentation. Thank you to all those who participated.

There is no homework this week.


Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers


April 14

This class the students said as many questions they could think of for their topics, we came up with many different questions. Then we went over Shlok 62, and we also talked about the meaning.  


Homework:

 - Think of more questions so we have a good variety to choose from.

April 7

Dharma 7 update



April 14th:  finalize questions in class



-What are internal enemies?


-How do you overcome internal enemies?


-What are our sources to develop intellect?


-Internal Enemies



-2.62



Homework

March

March 24

Namaste Parents,


This week we went over on why we say “Shanti” 3 times at the end of prayer and what each means. We also discussed what “om” means. We talked about how our soul is our energy. 


Homework:

-Work on making your Jeopardy questions with your group


Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

March 17

Namaste Parents,


This week we introduced Astang Yoga, and their different types of Yoga. Today we talked specifically about Raj yog. Externally and Internally. How each of the steps help you along the way. 


Homework:

-What is “Om”/ meaning 

-What is “Shanti” and why do we say it 3 times at the end of every prayer

-Write down which of Astang yoga’s 8 steps are the easiest for you.


Thank you, 

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers


March 10

-Internal Enemies 


-Values (Corresponding Internal Enemy/ to deal with it)


-Intellect 


-Importance of doing the right thing at the right time


-EQ & IQ (Intellect & Intelligence) 



Homework

February

February 25

Today we discussed how our habits are going

 

For end of year presentation, we plan on doing a jeopardy in class with parents. We will decide date soon through WhatsApp group. The students will prepare questions in these decided categories:

 

1.      Internal Enemies

·         Sreeram Charan Ramisetty

·         Lakshya Gupta

2.      Values & Shaastras

·         Rachana Kamalapuram

·         Taashi Khadanga

·         Yash Shukla

3.      Important Living Beings

·         Anahi Mathad

·         Vedh Umeshkrishnan

·         Dhyuti Avutala

4.      Hindu Culture & History

·         Shreyaan Patil

·         Anshul Sinha

·         Aarav Devda

5.      Deities & Festivals

·         Anchit Kumar

·         Shashank Sripada

·         Jeyanth Viswanathan

 

Per Category:

·         FIVE questions

·         Ranging from easy to hard (100-500 points)

·         “Jeopardy format”

o   The answer is the question

o   QUESTION: 21

o   ANSWER: How many days does it take to create a habit?

 

Homework:

·         Watch a jeopardy episode

·         Start coming up with questions-answers for quiz category – we will review and finalize in breakout sessions in class going forward

·         Finish writing “contentment vs happiness” paragraphs – will be collected on 3/10

·         Read Chapter 10: Balanced Sleeping and Recreation Habits

February 18

-Contentment



-Past

-Furture


-Happiness vs. Contentment



Homework

February 11

Namaste Parents,


This week in class, we talked about fault finding and complaining. We came to the conclusion that it can be driven by any of the internal enemies that we had discussed earlier this year. We also discussed what made complaining valid. For this, we came to the conclusion that it was only valid if it concerned values, and how we can only complain if we are willing to work towards a change.


Homework:

Read chapter 44: Contentment, and finding a SMART goal to accomplish in our upcoming habits project.


Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers


February 4

Namaste Parents,


This week in class, we listened to Sanjay Metha Uncl talk about our emotional intelligence and connecting it back to both real world situations and in the Bhagavad Gita. He also spoke of the essence of all Hindu Teachings, which are Gyanyog, awareness and self discipline, and Karmayog, showing empathy and building relationships.


Homework: 

The students get an extra week to work on last week's homework if not done already.


Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

January

January 28

-Perseverance (regardless of how difficult)

-Adjustable goal

-Reason Intent


-Learn from others

-Accountability



-S.M.A.R.T goals


-Habits


Homework 

January 21

—Parent teacher conference


-We discussed about how we have structured the class


-What order we are taking when teaching


-We started off with the 6- internal enemies then we are teaching the values and the ideals of life


-We discussed that we will go over Ashtanga Yoga


-We also mentioned that we encourage talking about Hinduism at home, to keep kids more connected to their roots/ culture.


—Class


-Resolution


-Examples


-Skills/behaviors needed to achieve said resolution 

(All are connected to one another)


-Resolution have to be realistic




-Homework 



January 7

This week was a Meditation class, we went through the importance of Meditation and what affects it has on our soul and our connection with god. What distracts take place when we try to Meditate. How we must stay still and focus.


Homework

- Practice Meditation everyday for 21 days for at least 10 minutes. 

December

December 17

Namaste Parents,


This week in class, we reviewed the 6 internal enemies, and we discussed how they were related to one another. We also talked about fault finding, and how there can be a "positive" and a negative side, where the negative can put you down, but the positive can help make you a better person. Then, we talked about intentions, and how we should always keep them in mind when helping others out.


Homework:

Think about one thing you complain about, and write a solution to try and fix the problem. Also, write down the word for word meaning for "sahana vavatu" and think about why we say it at the start of class.


Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

December 10

Today we talked about Ego and what it connects to emotionally. How insecurity plays a role, and how that affects our way of reacting to situations around us. We also talked about how Jealousy is connected to Ego as well. We brought up many examples and discussed through all of them. 


Homework 

—Which 2 internal enemies you thing are connected to eachother

—Read Chapter 23


Thank you, 

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

December 3

-Pride/Ego— Mada

-Modesty

Homework

November

November 19

Namaste Parents,

This week in class, we had a meditation class. We talked about what meditation is, and narrowed it down to how it is essentially all about calming the mind, the body, and your senses, and also about silence within ourselves. We then practiced stilling ourselves, and at the very end, put all the aspects of meditation together, and meditated.

Homework:

A 21 day challenge in which each day, try to meditate for at least 5 minutes.

November 12

Namaste Parents,

This week in class, we played a couple of fun rounds of Diwali themed bingo. At the end, we handed out candy. Then we all went to watch the Pooja.

Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers are Volunteers

P.S

Everyone, have a great Diwali!

November 5

Dharma 7 update 

-6 internal enemies (review)

-Delusion 



-Homework


October

October 29

-Using the Appropriate voice when angry 

-Lobha(Greed)

-Comparison and Intention

-Capitalistic, consumerism 

-Capitalistic, Consumerism 



-Homework 


October 22

Namaste Parents,


This week in class, we revised the homework from two weeks ago. We talked about some things that made our parents mad, and how they deal with it. Next we began to discuss what Frustration, Irritation, Annoyance, Madness, and Rage were, and came to the conclusion that Frustration is your inability to reach a goal, Irritation is based on external factors, Annoyance is directed at someone else or something else, and is caused when your ego is hurt, Madness is a negative reaction or limited self control, and finally Rage is a strong reaction and a loss of self control. We then talked about the ways in which we can calm ourselves down afterwards, which includes walking away, breathing, and talking about it with someone else.


Homework:

Please read the chapter about the internal enemy greed from the textbook, and write down two ways in which you handle anger positivity.


Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

October 8

Desire-Kaama (starts the process)

-Organs (5)

-Mind(2)

-Body(1)

Why is it a problem 


Anger-Korda

-Often mistaken to be similar to 


Homework


October 1

Namaste Parents,


This week in class, we went into detail about how we should control our minds in the face of distractions. We talked about what happened before and after birth, and about moksha. We talked about how moksha was a way to end our "endless" cycle of birth and death. We also talked about the six internal enemies, which we learned were anger, greed, delusion, lust, jealousy, and pride. We talked about how all of these prevented us from obtaining moksha.

Chariot

Symbolism 

Purpose of life

Moksha=liberated=Nirvana

Salvation=saved 


Salvation and Moksha are not the same thing


Journey

6 internal enemies 


Homework: 

Please read Chapter 13 and Chapter 14. There are no questions to answer this week. We also have received the textbooks, which were handed out in class today.


Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

September

September 24

Namaste Parents,

This week in class, we further explored the ideas of ideals and values and came to the conclusion that ideals are goals, standards, external, and are ever-changing, and values are internal, and are timeless. We also went into detail about the question "what is the right thing to do", and came to the conclusion that the right thing to do is based on the situation. We also talked about what makes humans human. We said that humans have the ability to think of complex thought. 

Homework:

Please read Chapter 2 and Chapter 12. Then, come up with personal examples of control using your mind. You can find the link to the textbook at the end of this message. 

Textbook link:

https://sites.google.com/site/hatshsmn/classes-dharma/dharma-7

P.S: 

We will be receiving the textbooks either next week, or the week after.


Thank you,

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers


September 17

Namaste Parents,

Welcome to Dharma 7. This week in class, we began exploring the differences between "ideals" and values". We decided by the end of class that ideals are the way that things are to be done, and can change, and values are how we choose to act out our ideals, and don't change.


Homework: The kids should read Chapter 1 of the textbook, which has been emailed out to the parents, and write down one example of an ideal and three examples of values. 


Thank you, 

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers