IN THE SPH's OWN WORDS:
"By that logic, I would have been denounced had I been born in any country other than Bharat. For nearly ten years I was homeless! For nine years I traveled the length and breadth of Bharat without carrying money. I never bought train tickets and never paid for meals or lodging. People welcomed me and offered me transport, shelter and food. In the West I would have been locked up in a jail or a shelter!"
When you see a homeless person approaching your car in the USA, you instinctively raise your windows and lock your doors. You are so afraid. In Bharat, is anyone afraid of a beggar coming and standing in front of them? Why? There is acceptance. People in the West say that acceptance is weakness, not violence. How strange societal values have become! You respect a person only when you are afraid of him..
We cannot evolve unless there is a fundamental change in our thinking. We have come to a stage where negative qualities are the hallmark of respectability. Violence and aggression never win. Acceptance and compassion do.
Encouraging children to preserve traditional knowledge. Helping the students realize the importance of a fundamental change in our thinking so that we can evolve as a Humanity.
- ❖ Who are Brāhmaṇas? Why did dīkśitars not travel out of their town's limits?
- ❖ What is the problem with society and the societal structure?
- ❖ What is the intention of people denouncing the system?
- ❖ Describe the difference in mentality between the West and Bharat.
- ❖ Why is Swamiji telling that He would have been denounced had He been born in any country other than Bharat?
- Big blank poster (it can be any color) 2. Pictures from Internet representing the Vedic culture 3. Scissors 4. Glue 5. Markers
❖ Tell the children that they are the keepers of ancient Vedic knowledge and treasures
❖ Tell them to select pictures they feel represent their culture best ❖ Cut out the pictures and arrange them on the poster. Stick them on. ❖ Encourage them to add words that name and describe what they chose.
❖ Once they are done, ask them to share about the symbolism of each item they have chosen to preserve and protect.
❖ Ask them to share how they feel they can protect traditional knowledge-the treasures of the Vedic tradition
Without the brāhmaṇa being the keepers of knowledge, our Vedic treasures would have disappeared thousands of years ago. Do you know that there is a group of scholars in Chidambaram, the dīkśitars even today, and similarly in other places, who take their traditional job of preserving Vedic wisdom so seriously that they will not travel out of their town limits? They have made this sacrifice for generations and for thousands of years so that this knowledge could be preserved for posterity.
❖ A big poster, Coloured paper, Glue or other adhesive Markers
Ask the kids to draw a big brain on your poster and cut it out Ask students to cut 11 bubbles out of the coloured papers Read out powerless negative statements and ask children to change the mindset by writing powerful cognitions that embody acceptance and compassion