Character Sketch
- Śakuni, the maternal uncle of Duryodhana embodies the pattern of self-hatred, which is cunningness personified.
- Droṇa represents all the best knowledge one imbibes and the teachers one encounters, who guide us but are unable to take us through to the ultimate flowering of enlightenment. It is difficult to give them up since one feels grateful to them. This is where the Enlightened Master, the incarnation steps in and guides us.
- Duryodhana, represents one's ego or root-pattern, the most difficult to conquer as it leads one to self destruction. One needs the full help of the Master here. It is subtle work and even the Master's help may not be obvious, since at this point, sometimes the ego makes us deny and disconnect from the Master as well.
- Karṇa is the repository of all good deeds and it is his good deeds that stand in the way of his own Enlightenment. Śrī Kṛṣṇa has to take the load of Karṇa's puṇya, his meritorious deeds, before he could be liberated. The Enlightened Master guides one to drop one's attachment to good deeds arising out of what are perceived to be charitable and compassionate intentions. He also shows us that the quest for and the experience of enlightenment is the ultimate act of compassion that one can offer to the world.
Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa, the 8th most powerful purnāvatar of Ṃaha Viśnu, is the embodiment of pure celebration, boundless love, compassion, and completion.
Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa is the only incarnation demonstrating and expressing Ṣarva Ṃangalatva all the auspicious qualities and all dimensions of an avatar during His physical happening. The līla Bhagavan Ṣri Krsna is one of sheer innocence and simplicity, in a peace-loving, diplomatic, conflict-free way.
Karṇa is the repository of all good deeds and it is his good deeds that stand in the way of his own Enlightenment. Śrī Kṛṣṇa has to take the load of Karṇa's puṇya, his meritorious deeds, before he could be liberated. The Enlightened Master guides one to drop one's attachment to good deeds arising out of what are perceived to be charitable and compassionate intentions. He also shows us that the quest for and the experience of enlightenment is the ultimate Till now everyone blames Bhagavan Sri Krishna for this Kurukshetra war but that's the greatest sacrifice Bhagavan Sri Krishna did to save the planet Earth. If Kurukshetra was not conducted at that time under the controlled conditions and direct supervision of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, planet Earth would not have survived more than three years.
Character Sketch act of compassion that one can offer to the world. Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa, the 8th most powerful purnāvatar of Ṃaha Viśnu, is the embodiment of pure celebration, boundless love, compassion, and completion. Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa is the only incarnation demonstrating and expressing Ṣarva Ṃangalatva all the auspicious qualities a nd all dimensions of an avatar during His physical happening. The līla Bhagavan Ṣri Krsna is one of sheer innocence and The wide spread availability of the Astra shastras without Shastra, without the knowledge and vision, was posing a huge threat to the whole of humanity and planet Earth, and for life itself. The greatest achievement of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is destroying all the weapons in one controlled condition and saving planet earth, eliminating the nuclear weapons and the knowledge of these nuclear weapons to save humanity from total annihilation.
conflict-free way.
simplicity, in a peace-loving, diplomatic,
Bhagavad Gītā appears in the heart of Mahābhārat in Bhīṣma Parva, the sixth chapter of its eighteen chapters. Veda Vyāsa, the narrator, in glorifying the Gītā sings, 'the one who drinks the water of Ganges (the sacred river for Hindus) attains liberation, what to speak of the one who drinks the nectar of Gītā?
Gītā is the essential nectar of the Mahābhārat, bhāratamṛta sarvasvam as it is directly spoken by Nārāyaṇa, Bhagavān kṛṣṇa Himself.'
The armies assembled in the vast field of Kurukṣetra, now in the state of Haryana in modern day Bharat. All the kings and princes were related to one another, and were often on opposite sides. Facing the Kaurava army and his friends, relatives and teachers, Arjuna was overcome by remorse and guilt, and wanted to walk away from the battle out of total powerlessness unbecoming an invincible warrior among warriors.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa's dialogue with Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra out of His utmost concern and love for him and humanity is the content of Bhagavad Gītā. Of its seven hundred and forty-five (745) verses, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa sings the Gītā in six hundred and twenty (620) verses responding to Arjuna's fifty-seven (57) enquiries.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa persuades Arjuna to give-up his powerlessness unfitting an Ārya—the spiritually evolved one who understands human life and urges him to raise himself again as Parantapa—the conqueror of enemy, and take up arms and vanquish his enemies. They are already dead,' says Śrī Kṛṣṇa, 'All those who are facing you have been already killed by Me. Go ahead and do what you have to do. That is your responsibility. Do not worry about the outcome. Leave that to Me.'
eṣā tebhihitā sānkhye buddhiryoge tvimāṁ śṛṇu buddhyā yukto yayā pārtha karmabandhaṁ prahāsyasi
Thus far, what has been taught to you concerns the wisdom of Sāṅkhya Now, listen to the wisdom of yoga [buddhiyoga]. Having known this, O Pārtha, you shall cast off the bonds of action
Kṛṣṇa's authority as He speaks these words is compelling.
nehābhikrama-nāśo 'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt
There is no wasted effort or dangerous effect in this path of yoga. Even a little knowledge of this, even a little practice of this dharma, protects and releases one from very great fear
Seek the firm truth of the Infinite, the Union, that is Yoga.
vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kurunandana bahuśākhā hyanantāś ca buddhayovyavasāyinām
Joy of the Kurus, on this path (of yoga). the intelligence is resolute with a single-pointed determination. Thoughts of the irresolute are many, branched and endless.
Go beyond duality. Seek the firm truth of the Infinite, the Union, that is Yoga.
'Kṛṣṇa begins His teachings of karma yoga to Arjuna in these verses. These verses should be read carefully by those who believe solely in scriptural authority, based on their superficial understanding of what has been said. Kṛṣṇa unequivocally says here, 'Forget the Vedas.'
He says, 'All the knowledge contained in the Vedas is of as much use as water in a flood to one who has realized himself. The Vedas are limiting; they concern the three attributes, satva, rajas and tamas, the attributes of calmness, aggressive action and lazy inaction. The time has come now to move beyond these attributes; at least move from rajas into the state of satva, calmness.'
Do not quote to Me what the scriptures say,' Kṛṣṇa says. He continues, 'Do not tell me about what you should do and should not do through rituals and practices that will please the deities and ancestors so that you will benefit materially in this life, and spiritually in some after-life. All this is for people with limited understanding of their own Self, who have not experienced the Truth, who still hanker for sensual pleasures and name and fame.'
'Move beyond them to the single-pointed determination of yoga that I shall teach you,' Kṛṣṇa says, 'and be established in a state where you are no longer concerned about creation, preservation and destruction. You will be beyond these and reach the state of Parabrahman.'
Only the Master of the Universe, can say such things and get away with it! Kṛṣṇa' s authority as He speaks these words is compelling.
He is casting away the divinely transmitted scriptures, the Vedas, to instill truth in the inner space of Arjuna. It is the truth as spoken by the Divine who Himself has all the knowledge contained in the Vedas.
Make the children aware of the idea of facing fear, having courage and being fearless.
- What is Kṛṣṇa beginning to teach Arjuna in these verses?
- Who should carefully read these verses?
- What are the three attributes the Vedas are concerned about? Why is Kṛṣṇa casting away the Vedas?
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- 1. Color crayons
- 2. Scary picture
PROCEDURE
Give each child a scary picture and ask them to color the picture with different color crayons. Let them visualize the scary thing and ask them how they feel, what is going on in them. Where do they feel the fear in their body?
INFERENCE
Bringing awareness to the fear relieves from fear.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- 1. Colored chalk
- 2. White paper or floor surface
PROCEDURE:
Use the chalk to scribble furiously on the floor. If they take their hand off from the floor, remove the chalk. The idea is to scribble in one go with all their fear and energy until the whole piece of chalk is gone into dust. After the children finish, ask them how they feel. It is like a stress reliever, it leaves them feeling empty and free of fear.
INFERENCE:
Experience removes fear from our lives and hearts. Even just a little practice relieves from great fear.
MATERIALS NEEDED: Pen or pencil paper
EXPLANATION:
Ask each child/teenager to just sit for one hour today. Discuss as a team any incident where they have received knowledge but have bot experimented with it. Then Write at least ten incidents, surely each one can write ten incidents. No need to write from the whole life. Right from morning till today each one can write ten incidents. Ten incidents where they have received knowledge but have not experimented with it. Then, ask the children/teenagers to discuss why knowledge is incomplete without experience of it.
CONCLUSION:
Conclude by reiterating the importance to experience the Truths.