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.

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.'

brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāṁ śūdrāṇāṁ ca parantapa karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāva-prabhavair-guṇaiḥ

Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras are divided in the work they do based on their nature, Parantapa (Arjuna).

It is better to do one's assigned work imperfectly rather than do another's work perfectly

śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṁ kṣāntirārjavameva ca jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahmakarma svabhāvajaṁ

The nature of Brāhmaṇa is characterized by their calmness, discipline, austerity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and belief in God.

No caste was considered inferior or superior to another.

śauryaṁ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ yuddhe cāpyapalāyanam dānamīśvarabhāvaś ca kṣātraṁ karma svabhāvajami

Kṣatriya are characterized by their qualities of heroism, vigor, firmness, dexterity, steadfastness in battle, leadership and generosity.

kṛṣi gaurakṣya vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāvajam paricaryātmakaṁ karma śūdrasyā api śvabhāvajam

Those who are good at cultivation, cattle rearing, and trade are known as Vaiśya. Those who are very good in service are classed as śūdra.

The selection and training was scientific and done impartially. It enriched society well since everyone was living and expressing themselves according to their aptitudes, their peak possibility and their unique path towards liberation.

So-called scholars have interpreted this verse in a very inappropriate way compared to the other verses of the Gītā. The uneducated have also used this verse in order to condemn the Vedic culture.

First of all, one must understand how the caste system originated, as well as realize how it became corrupted. In the Vedic culture, under the Gurukul tradition, young children were left in the care of the Master. This is how Arjuna grew up with Aśvattama, Drona's son. No caste was considered inferior or superior to another.

No caste was hereditary. The selection and training was scientific and done impartially. It enriched society well since everyone was living and expressing themselves according to their aptitudes, their peak possibility and their unique path towards liberation.

This is why Kṛṣṇa says it is better to do one's assigned work imperfectly rather than do another's work perfectly. It is possible that one can perform elements of another's work well. A brāhmaṇa, being a scholar, may excel as a vaiśya in commercial calculations;

He will have neither the heart nor the head to be a businessman. In this Gurukul system, along with the Master, the child also was allowed to select his vocation. The child could express its passion and decide.

Over time, this classification of selection and training became corrupted. Those who were brāhmaṇa wanted their children to be brāhmaṇa and so on. The varṇa or caste system that had originally been a selection and training system in education led to the stratification of society based upon birth.

Before we condemn the caste system, realize that every society has stratification. Wherever equality has been forced on society, it has been a failure. Each person is unique and when similar people form groups, there will be stratification and classification. In Vedic Bharat this classification was based upon talents and intelligence. In modern society it is based on money and power. Which is better?

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Helping students understand the way the Vedic classification system functioned

• ❖ In the Gurukul tradition, who was taking care of young children?
• ❖ How was selection and training done?
• ❖ What has happened to societies in which equality has been forced upon?
• ❖ What was the classification based on in Vedic Bharat?
• ❖ How did this classification enrich society?
• ❖ What is the classification based on in modern society?

:

1. Paper 2. Scissors 3. Glue Marker 4. Pencil 5. Eraser

Various pictures showing different activities (for example, cooking, cleaning, teaching, protecting, building relationships with people, reading, creating a business, handling money, etc.). Ensure that you have many images representing the same activities. Note: the pictures should be available for cutting up for the collage.

Ask each student to make a collage that represents their uniqueness, what they enjoy doing the most, their passion. At the end, share the art pieces and discuss what makes one unique.

Each person is unique and when similar people form groups, there will be stratification and classification. In Vedic Bharat this classification was based upon talents and intelligence.

❖ The collage each child made in "art of the day"

Tell the students that they must come together and create their own functional society based on each individual's talents and passions. They can look at everyone's collage to determine what role would best fit for each individual. Together, clearly define everyone's role and how it will benefit the whole. Ensure that everyone feels complete and enthusiastic about their contribution to society

No caste was considered inferior or superior to another. No caste was hereditary. The selection and training was scientific and done impartially. It enriched society well since everyone was living and expressing themselves according to their aptitudes, their peak possibility and their unique path towards liberation.

Part 2: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 - Lesson 13 of 19_English_part_2.md

Guide the students into a discussion about Kṛṣṇa's words: "It is better to do one's assigned work imperfectly rather than do another's work perfectly".

Encourage them to cover the three following points:

• 1. Which option would you choose and why?
• 2. Why would someone prefer doing another's work perfectly rather than one's assigned work imperfectly?
• 3. What is perfection based on your understanding?

In this Gurukul system, along with the Master, the child also was allowed to select their vocation. The child could express its passion and decide.