May

Project Status and Needs

Dear Parents,

1. So far I received four drafts: Shivani, Vaidehi, Vaishnavi and Atharv. They have been provided with initial feedback this AM on an emai. Please check. They had done the interview. The feedback was: Add the stories or incidents or words that interviewee said related to their selection, and add student selection (leader/saint/.., values, stories/incidents that inspired you).

2. We still need drafts from Akshara, Dhyan, Shripad, Aishwarya and Dhruv

3. Dhyan and Shashank are getting together on phone to assist Dhyan and review.

Considering the time left:

Please finish the contents and send the final version by end of Monday.

You are welcome to send drafts and discuss tomorrow in the class.

Final presentation can only be on May 17, will be recorded and given to parents.

You are welcome to send any drafts for comments. Final version is due on Monday.

April

Project Information

Dear Parents,

Please see the attached slides (CLICK HERE) which need to be filled in by the student based on the leg work they have been already doing. Let them have this deck to work on asap, as we are running short of time. Please assist them as needed in any issues or questions. Reach out to the teachers for any questions/clarifications.

Please have them send back the draft of slides by Saturday May 2nd to:

• SankaranMala1@comcast.net

• admulti9@yahoo.com

• shashankbhattar@gmail.com

• npranav2002@gmail.com

We will review on May 3 class.

Then as they make changes, again the final versions to be mailed to us again by Friday, May 8th.

They will present in the class.

You will get the recording of the session.

Regards, -Dharma 8 Teachers -

April 26

Dear Parents,

Dharma 8 Highlights of March-April classes for info'/records:

Some of the youtube links below are good to watch. Children were given a taste of them as well. Not the entire clip. Also suggested that Gandhi film is something they can watch (link is below) as it is a gripping and powerful film that highlights the Hindu Dharma of Ahimsa and its unique and extra ordinary power. There is also link below for Sankara and Ramanuja Acharyas' philosophies explained to children.

Regards,

Dharma 8 Teachers

1. For Adi Shankara - Acharya:

• PDF file is attached for what we went over. CLICK HERE

• Major contribution we discussed is how Acharya Adi Sankara integrated the scattered divisions, debated many scholars, wrote explanations (Bhashya's) for Vedas, Upanishads, introduced methods of Puja consistent across the country.

• His major contribution being streamlining the fragmented and drifting Hindu religion by brave touring across the country, learning and debating scholars and made numerous temples, villages and cities adapt uniform and noble methods of Puja. His love for his mother Aryamba was discussed in detail. He was the "Integrator".

2. For Sri Ramanuja Acharya:

• PDF file is attached for what we went over. CLICK HERE

• Acharya Ramanuja's major contribution is to attract so many ordinary citizens across many castes, and channeling their energy in to Bhakti (devotion) marga. We discussed how the predecessors of Acharyas expected his birth and meticulously collected Dravida Vedas (Nalayira Divya Prabhandam composed by the twelve Azhvar saints) for him to take up spreading this message.

• His major contribution is to attract so many people of different backgrounds and upgraded the Bhakti movement.

• He reached out to a large number or followers.

3. We discussed the high lights of Advaita and Vasishta-Dvaita: two different philosophies of Acharyas Sankara and Ramanuja. What matters is not to debate "which one is better", but to understand different paths created by these Acharyas to help us reach a higher human state of Dharma and nobility

• Link below is for children to get the essence of these complex philosophies.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8gEdSQ9fZE&t=171s

4. We discussed Swami Vivekananda's speech in Chicago and his biography. Links are below. His contribution is to to create awareness and pride for Indian youth. Such awakening later led to the Sri Ramakrishna Mutt organization that has collected thousands f Hindu Dharma books. Leaders who grew up to initiate Freedom movement came from his foot steps and inspiration.

• His Chicago speech below is a "MUST" to listen and watch.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIOtnn6meWA&t=191s

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlVJuDqer6o

5. Mahatma Gandhi Biography. His unique method of following Ahimsa (Hindu Dharma foundation of non violence principle in daily life, conduct and character) while fighting the aggression of Britain. How Ahimsa that was viewed as weakness by the British was in deed brave and strong to overthrow the aggression. How and why his extra ordinary, powerful and peaceful methods were later adopted by Dr. King and Mr. Mandela in US Civil rights movement and fighting the Apartheid in South Africa.

• Some notable links were from Gandhi film which we watched.

• Full 3 hour film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_boPFpPbAgk

• Selected clips we watched:

• Thrown off the Train in South Africa:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y3tZpAdWTc

• Protest Speech

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hS1YWtalPY&list=PLXIPs2wzjQnvGZDofl3XtpKma4-d4JKi3&index=2

April 19

We had a good interactive session in terms of how the class project is coming along from each of the students and explanation of project instructions from the teachers. Following which we covered Chatrapati Sivjai story of inspiration.

Here is the link for the class recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iqE--iyBtH_nDya2dp2FZcCqMcXgpVuY/view?usp=sharing

Feel free to share this with students if they want to go over the instructions.

For a 20 some minuted duration we also covered Chatrapati Sivaji story of inspiration.

Please assist the students in the class project by providing answers to their questions and arranging in total 4 interviews they need to do.

You have the instructions PDF file from the last class mail. No changes since last time, but attaching again for convenience.

Regards, -Shankar, Dinesh, Shashank and Pranav

Shankar moble: 612-801-9909

For any questions, please contact teachers on Cc.

April 5

Today was the first virtual class where we had a very good interactive session. Children did great! Took us a while to be fully warmed up. That means, we can expand this much further to nurture their self-awareness and experience in the broadest and most important life value topic of Dharma handed down across so many generations.

Attached is the class project instructions. Children went over this today as well as some discussions in our last class. Some changes were made such as (1) number of leaders can be as many as needed as well as four interviews, (2) time-line of the project for the class and (3) text replaced by figures as the interviewees may need some background. Personal stories from interviewees and anecdotes that influenced them are important parts as well. They can help the children connect any abstraction related to Dharma by means of stories that can be recalled in order to memorialize and practice them.

Students wanted to see these slides. Please provide them.

Attached is a PDF copy of the same, and has instructions. You can always call or WApp any questions you and students may have. No need to wait till the next class.

LINK

March

March 8

Continued our discussion what we can learn fron the lives of great saints.

Chapter 11 _Nirguni saints completed with Kabir sahib (the father of modern Spirituality - the weaver saint),

Dadu Dayal ji, Sena (the barber saint), Ravidas ji (the cobler saint) ....

Chapter 12_Saints from Western India.

1. We covered Sant Tukaram ji, Narsi Bhagat ji.

Home work - Students to read the chapter 12. we plan to cover and discuss further this chapter next week.

Emphasis is given on the very purpose of this class -learning "How should one live this life and accomplish the very goal of Human birth, i.e to merge into the Supreme -the God". God first-the World after.

How saints come as elevated souls or already accomplished souls who have merged with God, but are here to help us. How these elevated souls are able to achieve so much in such a short time, such as Shri Adi Shankracharya who left the world at young age of 32; Sant Vivekanand who left at 39.....and more.

We learnt about the 7 Chakras and our positioning on them. Significance and benefits and what an elevated soul means. What is the concept of one God vs 33 crore gods and goddesses. Who is GOD? Can we see him?

A lot more so our future generation does not grow and live in darkness of this myth and make some informed decisions for their life.

Expectations: We feel the students need to pay attention and read their material with focus to help themselves.

February

February 2

Swami Vivekananda

• Kanyakumari

• Hinduism is a way of life, comes from Indus Valley Civilization

• Lecture by Vivekananda

• Religion is tolerant

• Vivekananda great orator and has read scriptures of many religions

• Vivekananda is a monk so has no money

• People collected money to send him to world conference to spread his ideas like tolerance

• Name was not on list for conference however people realized his intellectual power and let him speak

• Vivekananda thanks America for breaking religion barriers and to bring people together

• Revelation from Vedas which have no beginning or end as they are complex created Hinduism

• We are a spirit living in a body

• Body is temporary but soul is permanent

• God is compassionate to those who are suffering

• Explains Karla concept, what goes around comes around, good deeds lead to good things happening to you, bad deeds lead to bad things happening to you

• has no anger toward western culture

• helped get people to understand power of heritage

• Society should be guided by truth

• Whatever you think you will be, power of mind

• Importance of service to others, don’t live just for yourself

• Passes at a young age of 39

January

January 5

• Talked about leaders in Hinduism who have made a huge impact present and past.

  • Sankaracharya

  • Ramanujacharya

  • Vivekananda

• These acharyas had some things in common such as high knowledge, reach, defense of logic, and they do what they say.

• They created a relationship between god and man. They also made Bhakti and service very important.

• Sankaracharya

  • Focused more on unifying all the different sects of Hinduism and distributing knowledge.

  • He was a master integrator

  • He was a great debater

  • He was able to come across to different sects of Hinduism.

  • He was able to accomplish all of this in 32 years before his death.

• Ramanujacharya

  • Focused on reaching out to all the people on Hinduism while having an emphasis on Bhakti.

  • He came in a time when the common man was detached.

  • He lived for a 120 years and spend all those years reaching out to the greater hindu community and teaching them the importance of Bhakti.

• Vivekananda

  • He came in a time when confidence and thinking was at a low.

  • History of Indian and Hinduism was written wrongly by western people.

  • He had the hard task of uplifting people.

  • He brought religious tolerance

  • He used his great communication skills to bring up the status of Hinduism. He was able to communicate friendly with western countries.

November

November 10

Reviewed the Chariot Analogy

• • Emperors Sagar, Amshuman, Dilipa, and Bhagiratha

  • Discussed about Bhagiratha Prayatna - You should always put in 100% of your effort and always convert your negativity into positivity.

  • Success comes after the several failures.

  • Discussed about Harishchandra and how truthful he was.

November 3

• • Discussed the Chariot analogy and how important your intellect is.

• • The horses are your senses

• • The thread is your mind

• • The charioteer is the intellect

• • The rider is the atman

• • The chariot itself is your body

• • Talked about meditation and how important it can be for life. The students are all very fortunate to have exposure to meditation at a young age.

• • Discussed how people who may not be in the best situation when given the opportunity can rise to become great.

Homework: Pages 27-35

October

October 13

Rishi Narada

• Narada is an interesting character who constantly Carrie's gossip from one place to another.

Takeaways from the stories of Narada Muni

• You must diminish jealousy in order to become a better person. Learn from the people you are jealous of in order to improve yourself.

• You do not always have to pray to bhagavan in order to be a great devotee. You just need to pray when you can and devote your hardwork to him.

• When you pray to god you must with love and devotion with complete unselfishness.

• Rishi Dadhichi and his son Rishi Pippalada

  • Fallacy - Flawed Logic. Two wrongs make it right.

  • Logic is very critical. Dharma can be confusing and the only way to understand is by using simple logic.

  • We should forget old rivalries and enmities and should be willing to sacrifice ourselves when our society and loved ones are faced with great danger.

Maharshi Valmiki - The Author of Ramayana

• An evil person can become a Saint if he/she starts worshipping bhagavan with full devotion and faith and gives up bad deeds.

• We should always work really hard and ask bhagavan to assist us. In the course of time bhagavan will show mercy and help us become virtuous.

• The end justifies the means.

• You should never do bad in order for the good. You should always find a dharmic way to do the good.

Shabari, the student of Rishi Matanga

• We should give up all pride due to ones wealth, strength, good qualities, intelligence, or due to belonging to good families of caste.

• We should simply serve bhagavan through our bhakti. A person who lacks bhakti is like a huge cloud which never rains.

Homework: Read next 4 pages

October 6

• Revisited why pronouncing names correctly is important: It is being respectful.

• King Vasistha teaches King Vishwamithra about our Six Greatest Enemies

  • Greed - Lobh - King Vishvaratha becomes very greedy after Sage Vashishta feeds his whole army with the cow Kamadhenu

  • Anger - Krodh - King Vishvaratha becomes very angry that Sage Vashishta did not give his cow Kamadhenu.

  • Arrogance - Ahankar - Because Sage Vashishta did not give the cow Kamadhenu he King Vishvaratha became very arrogant and started a fight with Sage Vashishta.

    • Kamadhenu fought the war by producing many soldiers and defeating King Vishvarathas army.

    • Sage Vashishta forgave King Vishvaratha because he was a great man of compassion and kindness. But Vishvaratha still hated Vashishta at heard and killed all of his sons and because of that he attempted to commit suicide. The gods did not allow his to commit auicide because it is bad to commit suicide.

  • Kama - Lust/Desire - While Vishvaratha is meditating to defeat Vashishta Indra sends the most beautiful women from his courts to distract Vishvarata. Vishvaratha becomes distracted and marries Meenaka and has a child named Shakuntala. With his he loses all of his meditation power because of Kama.

    • He leaves his wife and child to once again attain his goal and mediate. As he is meditating. This time Indra sent another women names Rambha to once again distract him. This time when he saw Rambha he had Kama - Anger again and cured Rambha. With that curse he loses all of his powers from meditation again.

  • Delusion - Moha - Trishanku approaches Vishvaratha to take him to Heaven in human form. Vishvaratha in order to prove Vashishta wrong agrees and because of his delusion he believed that he could take him to heaven. He took him to heaven and while doing so the devathas stopped him and Vishvaratha seeing this creates a new heaven mid air in the stars.

  • Pride/Arrogance - Mada - Now Vishvartha once again meditates and finally Brahma was impressed and blessed him and have him the title of Maharshi. Vishvaratha with full of pride and arrogance says that he deserves Bhramarshi and the only way to get it was to obtain the blessing from Bhramarshi Vashishta. He decided he was down and wanted to kill Vashishta. When he came to kill him he overheard Vashista saying how qualified Vishvaratha was to become Bhramarshi and why he has not come to him to get it. Hearing this Vishvaratha realized what he has done wrong and approached Vashishta for forgiveness. With that Devi Gayathri and Vashishta blessed him to become Bhramarshi and Vishvaratha changed his name to Vishvamitra (meaning 'the friend of the entire world')

• • Homework

  • Reflect which of the greatest enemies you face and have a discussion with you parents about it and how you can overcome those enemies.

  • Pages 9 - 13

September

September 29

Agenda:

• • Recap of last class

• • Rishi Bharadhvaj

• • Rishi Agastya

• • Rishi Vashishta

• • Rishi Vishvamitra

Rishi Bharadwaja Takeaways:

• • Knowledge is endless

• • Study hard

• • Try our best and do not expect results

• • Never think you know everything

Rishi Agastya Takeaways

• • Spread the Vedas to South India

• • Brought the river Kaveri

• • Learnt the Tamil language and wrote a book on Tamil grammer

• • We must not destroy the culture of a new place but learn it and teach our culture to the people there.

• • Class Exercise on good things from American and Indian culture

• • Keep Learning and spread your knowledge

• • Teach others what you know and learn what others teach you

• • You should always follow dharma even when a family member is on the wrong side.

Rishi Bhrigu Takeaways:

• • There are many enemies that we have but the biggest enemy we have is anger and everytime we get angry what we do is not rational.

Homework:

• • Practice Sahanavavatu and Saraswati Namastubhyam

• • Pages 6-10

September 22

• During class we discussed Dharma and the different scriptures and their meanings. We also briefly discussed Matrudevo bhava and Pitrudevo bhava.

• HW: Page 1-25