April

April 20

End of year presentation/game day: 

May 11th - in class time

PARENTS are asked to join - will be doing games, students vs parents

We will meet in auditorium for class that day, around 10:30

PREP for work by students: 

Students have been assigned groups and topics

Each group will be responsible submitting a set of questions (see guidelines below)

Final list of questions per group is due by end of class on April 27th

Some groups have started google docs, if that’s the case, please also share with bhaktibm@gmail.com - I will make sure that all the group members are added to the account

We will finalize in class on 27th - for class on 27th, OK for one student per group to bring a device to work on the questions, OR transfer them to paper/notebook 

Questions Guidelines: 

Each group should come up with: 

At least 1-2 questions/answers per topic assigned

Minimum 5 questions/answers total

The “ANSWER” is the actual topic

The “QUESTION” should be creative and ‘tricky’ - it's the explanation

Example: 

NO: Q- What is “Education”? 

YES: Q- What is a system and tool that helps us overcome ignorance? A- “Education”

Student names per group have been sent in WhatsApp communication group

Groups: 

Group 1: Internal enemies: Desire, Anger, Greed

Group 2: Internal enemies: Delusion, Pride/Ego, Jealousy

Group 3: Values: honesty, respect, kindness, hard-work, integrity, perseverance, accountability

Group 4: Values: responsibility, trust, self-respect, gratitude, empathy, patience, leadership 

Group 5: Other: ideals-values-morals, culture-religion-heritage-spirituality, equality-equity

Group 6: Other: intellect-ignorance, instant gratification, meaning of prayers, habits

Group 7: Ashtanga yoga: morals, discipline, postures, breath control, senses, concentration, meditation, contemplation

April 13

This week in class, we started off by discussing last week's homework, and talking about our top ten values and why. We talked about aspirational values, which are values that we try to follow. We also talked about actioned values, which are values that are driving out actions. We then talked about how the behavior in class has changed by discussing the values that drove our actions then, and the values that drive our actions now. Finally, we talked about what dharma is, where it is important to think about all of the perspectives before taking a rightous choice.

Homework:

Come up with 2 difficult questions about the topics that we learned throughout this class.

April 6

This week, we started off class by talking about volunteering. We talked about what it is, and also talked about individualism, in which your focus becomes yourself. Then, we talked about the values that fall under self and group, including inclusiveness, gratitude, respect, cooperation, and honesty, and talked about what we should avoid by too much of the value , especially ego and greed. Finally, we talked about how these values influence our actions in different settings.

Homework:

Memorize the meaning of sahana vavatu, and come up with a list of the top ten values and a couple lines written down explaining why. Remember to bring the paper to class next week, we will be discussing.

March

March 23

This week in class we reviewed the meaning of sahana vavatu to understand what it actually means. We looked at the repeating words Saha, nau, vahai, and karma, and we tried to connect the gaps. We came to the conclusion that the full meaning is together we are protected, together we are nourished, together may we be powerful, and do the right actions. May we have brilliance and learn together, and let us be understanding of each other. In this shloka, we are taking accountability for our own actions. However, the last important thing to remember is together, everyone has to do their part. Our actions have an impact on everyone else, and it is important to consider that before taking actions.

Homework:

Work on your habits tracker.

March 16

This week in class, we started off with talking about the word by word meaning of sahana vavatu: om is the energy, saha is together, nau is both or we, avatu is protect, bhunakthu is nourishment or health, veeryam is power and strength, karavavahai is action. We say this prayer at the beginning of class so we can come together and focus and learn from dharma class. Then: tejas is brilliance or bright for knowledge, adhitha is to learn or to study, astu is to be,  ma is not, vidhvisha vahai is hostility, Shanti is peace. This means, let us have the light and brilliance so we can come together and learn without differences and hostility. 

Homework:

Find out why we say Shanti 3 times at the end of a prayer, and write it down. Make sure the kids have this done before next week as we will be talking about it next week. Also, make sure that the chapters 45 and 47 are read.

March 2

This week in class, we started off by talking about SMART, and it's meaning, which is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time based. After that, we went through and asked the class what their habit was, and why it met the criteria for the SMART goals. 

Homework:

Look at the word by word meaning of sahana vavatu, and read chapter 37 on straightforwardness and simplicity.

February

February 16

This week in class, we started off by talking about last week's homework chapter, commitment, and we talked about what it means to be committed. We talked about how it is powered by motivation. It could be goal oriented. When we talk about commitment to people, we should bring our values to the table, and we should commit to our values.

Homework:

Read chapter 44 and research the difference between contentment and addiction.

February 9

This week in class, we started off with the word by word meaning of different prayers that the kids had learned throughout the weeks before. We also talked about ignorance, and how it is the ignoring of knowledge. Then we talked about the homework from last week. We came to the conclusion that race is socially constructed, and some features might be based on physical appearance and ethnicity is about cultural identity, which can be different, but also intersectional. We also talked about how cultures are not exclusive, and you can be a part of multiple cultures. Then, we talked about how it is important to understand your identity so that you can stand up for it.

Homework:

Continue memorizing the meanings for the prayers, and read the chapter about commitment.

February 2

This week in class, we started off with talking about pronunciations of names. We talked about how our names are our identity, and the basic things that we can do is get the pronunciations right. We also talked about the concept of identity, which is who you are, what someone sees, representation. We talked about how many of us focus on what someone else sees rather than who we are. 

Homework:

Research the difference between race and ethnicity, try and find and read the year of the bore and Jackie Robinson, pick three categories of identity/ representation(self, culture, gender, background, family, community, religion) and write about how it shapes your identity and how has it affected you. Also, look up the word heritage and the meaning of your name or story.

January

January 26

This week in class, we practiced the prayers for the assembly with a focus on proper pronunciation based on the letter sounds.

Homework:

Practice the pronunciations of the prayers, and of these prayers, pick one and learn the meaning of the prayer.

Reminder: 

Our time for assembly is next week, so please practice the prayers and be prepared. Bhakti Didi will send out more details in a little bit.

Have a great week!

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

January 19

This week in class, we started with the parent teacher conference. If you all have any other questions, feel free to send an email or a text. After the conference, we dove into the homework from last week. We talked about how in our languages, there are formal and informal ways of addressing people. We also talked about how there are different ways of showing respect when it comes to India vs. here, and why there is a difference. We also talked about taking action when something is wrong, and when it is right to talk back, whether for your ego or for actual good.

Homework:

Next week, we will continue our discussion from today, and we will focus on the self respect chapter. The prayers for the assembly should be coming out as an email from Bhakti Didi sometime this week, so be on the look out for those, and remember to start practicing.

December

December 15

This week in class, we talked about fault finding and criticism. We talked about how criticism was giving advice and pointing out something bad. However, there is a good and bad side. It can be good when you are trying to help someone get better, and giving examples for them to reflect and improve. It is bad when you don't give those examples, and you are nitpicking. We also talked about why we criticize, and came to the conclusion that it was because of ego and pride. We also talked about if we had the right to criticize others, and also talked about cultural and social norms, and how one person's view of acceptable behavior might not be someone else's.

Homework:

Read the "Respect" chapter, and also write down one less criticism you are going to do in your life.

November

November 24

Namaste Parents,

This week in class, we started by going over last week's homework about greed. Then, we started looking into delusion. While we were talking about delusion, we discussed the topic of making excuses, specifically from nepotism. We discussed that although people might have advantages due to connections, they work hard to prove that they deserve those positions.

Homework:

Read both the "Pride" and "Jealousy" chapters of the book. Also, write a few sentences on a time when you have made a bad decision based on delusion.

Have a great week!

November 17

This week, we focused on greed. We talked about greed vs. desire, and we came up with the idea that desire is a want, but greed is having enough but wanting more. We also talked about the need for self control, and how we should learn to be our own referee, stopping ourselves from being greedy. We also talked about how all actions have consequences, and while having desire, we should remember to think about the consequences that they might yield, both for ourselves and for others.

Homework:

Read the "Greed(Lobh) and Delusional(Moh) chapters in the book, and think about your biggest greeds, write them down, and also write down some consequences of pursuing those greeds, both for yourself and for others.

November 10

Namaste Parents,

This week, we had a meditation class. We talked about the different elements of meditation, and came up with some key takeaways. We should always use our strength for good, focus makes us happier, and we should invest our time to make ourselves more focused and efficient.

Homework:

A 21 day meditation challenge for 10 minutes every day.

Have a great week!

Dharma 7 Teachers and Volunteers

November 3

Internal Enemies

• Desire: Kama

• Anger: Krodha

• Greed: Lobha

• Delusion: Moh

• Pride: Mada 

• Jealousy: Matsarya

Desire

• wanting

• Feeling strongly about something 

• longing

• uncontrollable

What causes desire?

• happiness

• influence

• jealously

• ego/glory

• acceptance

• winning

• attention 

Examples of people with strong desire

• ram

• ravana

• duryodhana

• bheem

• hanuman

• lakshman

• sita

• dritarashtra

• bheeshma

Good vs Bad

• experience 

• education 

• INTELLECT

• responsibility 

Homework

• class clown vs bully 

• 3 types of anger

• desire -> anger -> 3 examples

October

October 13

Main topics from class:

karma(desire)

kroadha(anger)

lobha(greed)

moha(delusion)

mada(pride)

matsarya(jealousy)

mamas(mind)

buddhi(intellect)

chitta(will/consciousness)

ahankar(self-awareness/absorption/over confidence)

Keywords:

Intention

Consequences 

Motivation 

Connecting with Dasara:

From the 10 heads of Ravana the main head is buddhi(intellect).

Ravana was a good king but he was not able to control these senses which led him to do horrible things.

The main difference between Ram and Ravana is intellect.

Homework:

Read the chapters- Desire and Anger 

October 6

Namaste Parents,

This week in class, we talked through last week's homework. We discussed the questions of what God is, and what Om means. We came to the conclusions of God as the creator, transformer, and the preserver, and is an energy. Om, has three parts, what is on the inside, our actions, and what we show to the outside. That is the supreme energy that is inside all of us. God is the visual aid to that supreme energy. We also talked about instinct vs intellect, and how our choices have consequences.

Homework:

Read the internal enemies and desire chapters in the textbook.

September

September 29

Research: who/what is god?, Hindu beliefs, avatar, and OM

September 22

Namaste Parents,

This week in class, we continued our discussion about ideals and values, but we connected it back to the Ramayan, and also our internal and external actions. Through this, we learned that all actions have consequences.

Homework:

Research about religion, dharma, culture and spirituality, and think about the similarities and differences between them.

Have a great week!

Dhama 7 Teachers and Volunteers

September 15

Homework: Read chapter 2 and write down one value and ideal that you stand by.