1. Desire - Collection
Activity Materials 1
Picture of Muladhara Chakra, Paper, Pencil (or) Sketch
Activity Procedure 1
Talk to the children about the Muladhara Chakra and show the picture of the Muladhara Chakra to the children.
Conclusion 1
Instead of chasing objects and things that we 'want' trying to make ourselves happy. We need to focus on the things that matter, the true desires - our needs, and go beyond
Muladhara - Desire –
Fantasy/ Reality Muladhara means 'the root and basis of existence'. Mula means root and adhara means basis. This chakra is locked by fantasy and imagination and it flowers when you drop your fantasies and welcome reality. Drop your imagination and start living with reality. When this chakra is opened you become so sensitive and loving.
When the energy of this chakra is transformed, it will overflow from you as love, just drop your expectations and you will find a tremendous upsurge of energy.
Encourage the children to see the picture of Muladhara Chakra and draw the chakra.
This is a simple activity that takes the children to concentrate and pay attention to the task at hand
Activity 1
Using plastic needles and thread carefully put the thread through the eye of the needle.
Activity Materials 2
- Plastic needles
- Thread
Part 2: Desire - Collection_English_part_2.md
Presentation 1
Talk about concentration and attention. Discuss how we need to be in the present and come to NOW, and everything will happen beautifully. Give each person a needle and piece of thread and ask them to concentrate and focus on threading the needle. Show them how difficult it is to finish the job if we keep disturbing them.
Conclusion 2
We need to be in the present moment - NOW and we will be able to focus very well
When you have a headache, you are not comfortable with that state, because you know that it is not your true nature. Your true nature is having no headache. In the same way, when you have some desire, you immediately want to come out of it, because deep fulfillment is your very nature and desire causes an imbalance in that fulfillment
Two important truths you need to understand:
Your whole life is a long chain of events performed towards the one goal of fulfillment. Whatever you may do, whether it is eating or drinking or having relationships, wealth or joy, it is all to experience fulfillment. You seek fulfillment in different directions instead of seeking it directly.
Fulfillment is within you, it is your very nature. That is why you are trying to come out of nonfulfillment. The fact that you are searching for fulfillment means that fulfillment is known to you. Otherwise you would not search for it! In the instances in your life when you have felt some fulfillment, there is also a hope that you will experience it again. That is why you extend your life
What the outer world lures us into are not the right desires to run behind. How we can recognize our innate desires? If you understand which desire is innate and which is borrowed, happiness happens automatically.
The innate and genuine desires carry the energy for their fulfillment and are the true desires. These desires are always selfless desires. They benefit both individual and humanity. Only such desires carry the energy of the universe for fulfillment
Every desire which drives us is nothing but the desire to experience that ever living presence. We sometimes have so many desires, but there is a difference between out true desires, and our "borrowed" desires.
Borrowed" desires are called 'wants' and our true desires are our 'needs'. When our desires are our own true desires, when they reflect our real needs, when they depress themselves in our inner energy we don't feel any desperation about trying to achieve them.
Wants are not our true desire; we just want something especially because others have it and even after getting what we want we won't be happy. We will see somebody else and borrow another want from them. When our desires are our own true desires, they reflect our real needs and when they express themselves in our inner energy, we don't feel any desperation about trying to achieve them. The realization comes, that as an of natural course of events, these desires will be fulfilled. We are not driven and we are not troubled. There is deep peace within us.
How can we recognize our true desires?
- Do we feel like we need energy for fulfillment of our true desires?
- Are the true desires coming from the outer world?
What are some true desires? Give examples.
To understand what are true desires - Needs.
MATERIALS NEEDED Play dough
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Activity Procedure 2
Explain to the children to make models of the wants and needs with the play dough. Give each child enough play dough materials. Encourage each child to make models of their different needs and wants.
Conclusion 3
Instead of chasing outer objects and things that we 'want' trying to make ourselves happy. We need to focus on the things that matter, the true desires which can fulfill us.
This is a wonderful illustration that represents that every moment is wisdom, that we can learn something new every day and in different ways through opening the mind.
Activity Materials 3
Rocks or stones, Sand transparent container, Water
Variation 1
You can have the kids draw an illustration of the concept on paper and make a collage.
Or if those materials are not available or if you want to illustrate the concept quickly or reiterate it, you can draw the materials and do the activity with pictures drawn illustrating the activity and labeling what they represent on a whiteboard or on paper.
Presentation 2
Gather the class together and discuss the activity and topic. Explain how every second we can learn things and observe if we are in the present and now. Explain that humans only use 8 to 13% of our brains and this is an illustration that will help us understand
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- Take the transparent container and ask the class if it full? Or empty?".
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- Take the rocks and stones and fill it to the top and ask again. "Is it full?"
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- Next take the sand and pour it in letting it filter through the stones and all the way into the container ask again" Is it full?".
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- Next take the water and shake the container letting it all filter down and the water filling up all the empty spaces Ask again "Is it full?".
The desire that is pure and not directed towards any particular object or person is simply an overflowing energy that is called iccha shakti or the 'desire energy'. From the navel, energy comes as pure energy.
In the heart region, this energy gets converted to the power of desire. This further gets converted into words in the throat region. When this energy gets converted into words, it is called vak or the 'speech energy'.
To give an analogy, the energy that comes from the navel is like loose cotton. The cotton becomes thread in the throat region.
Or you can imagine it this way: the energy that comes from the navel is like molten iron. The throat is like a forge where the product is formed! The speech energy moves further to the brain. There it stays as knowledge or gets converted into a command. In the brain, the energy could stay as the power of knowledge or gnana shakti.
For example, the desire energy related to the body can become knowledge of the body. The other option is, the words get converted to a command and get executed as well. The command goes to the entire body and moves you. This is called the power of action or kriya shakti. For example, the desire energy related to your body can express as the power of action like moving your body
Pure iccha shakti or desire energy which comes from your being gets converted to gnana shakti or the power of knowledge and kriya shakti or the power of action.
If the energy is not processed and channeled properly, the knowledge and action become disconnected from the power of the pure desire energy. The knowledge and action should be in tune with the desire energy.
- What is Ichha Shakti, Jnana Shakti, Kriya Shakti?
- What are innate desires vs borrowed desires?
- How can we experience life?
- How can we be in tune with our 'ever living presence'?
- Will we be satisfied if we receive things we do not need?
- If we had all the toys in the world, would that make us happy?
- What are important things in life?
- What are things that matter?
The learner grasps the concept of the three spiritual energies available to him/her and gets attuned to using it in daily life to cause his/her reality
Activity Materials 4
- Paper
- Pencil
- Sketch
Activity Procedure 3
Encourage each child to draw a picture about their home, their house and some representational picture of their home. Encourage each child to draw in the picture what all needs and wants they want in their house.
Make a list of desires, their needs and wants. Then they meditate on these desires or discuss them in groups.
At the end of the meditation or discussion they have to recollect from memory their list of desires. What they can recollect is usually a fraction of what they have written
There are seven layers in the pyramid leading up to bliss. We are going to explore the different levels and decide where we are and discuss how to go into bliss. These energy centre or layers in the pyramid correspond with the seven centers of energy in the Vedic system. Each Centre represents an emotional state as well as a state of the desire. As we fulfill the needs of each Centre, we move up in energy till we reach a state of fulfillment. This is also known as self-actualization
Instead of starting at the bottom of the pyramid and trying gradually go up and up in life, we can turn our focus inward and experience our true state, which is bliss. When we are in bliss, top of the pyramid, all our true desires will be fulfilled, everything in the pyramid automatically comes to us. Bliss is experiencing, being happy, being satisfied.
We always go from down to top because we listen to ego. When we are with our self, not trying to prove, when we listen to our heart, we can come from top to bottom. When you have oneness and compassion we can achieve bliss. Changing the object is never a solution. Changing the attitude is the solution. By understanding ourselves, we will understand the world
❖ To understand and realize that some things we need, and some things we only desire. Looking within will help us to find bliss.
❖ To go through the seven layers and understand what they mean and why we need or want them.
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What are food and medicine?
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Are they need/ want? Do we need clothing and shelter?
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Is education a need?
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Why do we need to study? In what ways does education help us in our lives?
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What is the difference between needing and wanting money?
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Do we need millions of rupees? Or only want? Does money make us happy?
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Can we buy love or friends with money?
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What good things can we do with money?
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What is name and fame?
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Doesn't everyone want to be special and important?
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Will it make us happy if we are famous?
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What is intellect?
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Does being very intellectual make us happy?
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If we knew everything and had all the answers and were so smart, would that lead us into bliss?
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What is bliss?
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What does that word bliss mean to you?
Activity Materials 5
- Paper
- Sketch (or) Pencil
- Mirror picture or object.
Activity Procedure 4
Keep a picture or object in front of the mirror and ask each child to see the image in the mirror and draw the picture on the paper with pencil or sketch. Explain to the children we see our friends, relatives and mirror their desires as our desires
Activity Materials 6
- Paper
- Pencil (or) Sketch (or) Pencil
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- Chart paper
Activity Procedure 5
Explain to the child about the pyramid of desire. Encourage each child to cut a triangular shape in the chart with safety scissors and ask them to divide the triangle and write the components of the pyramid of desire.
When you are honest and integrated with the desire, there is no conflict. When we have a true desire, we must channel it properly, put it into action and use it for the good of all.
The knowledge and action should also be in tune with the desire energy. Then it forms a circle of desire leading to better knowledge and action, which in turn leads to clearer desires!
Part 3: Desire - Collection_English_part_3.md
We need to think about our desires, and find out if what we desire is in tune with what is good for us, what is the right thing and important thing for our lives? The desire that is pure and not directed towards any particular object or person is simply an overflowing energy that is called the "desire energy".
From the navel center comes the pure energy. In the heart region, this energy gets converted to the power of desire. This further gets converted into words in the throat region. When this energy gets converted into words, it is called the speech energy.
The speech energy moves further to the brain, there it stays as the power of knowledge and the option is for the energy to get converted into a command and get executed. This is the power of action. If the energy is not processed and changed properly, the knowledge and action become disconnected.
The difference between need and desire is complicated with greed. We may need clothing and shelter, but to have greed is to always want more and more of each item, or greed to live in a big mansion which is not necessary.
If the desire energy gets converted as too much knowledge and less action, then we will end up only thinking more and more, building castles in the air. On the other hand if the desire energy gets converted as too much action and less knowledge then we will end up working blindly. When you are honest and integrated with the desire, there is no conflict and the conversion happens properly.
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❖ Causing the child to choose Right over Pleasant
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Can you give examples of some desires?
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What are true desires?
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How can we tell the difference between true desires and wants?
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How can we make desires become reality? What is knowledge?
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What is responsibility?
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Can you get some examples of responsibility?
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What are some things you are responsible for your actions?
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Do we desire things that are good for us?
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If we do not accomplish the things we are to do, how will things be completed?
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If our parents play with toys instead of going to the office, how will we get money?
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Are all desires good?
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How can we be sure we have true desires?
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Where does the desire energy come from?
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Where does the pure energy begin from?
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The energy from our throat becomes what energy
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What is the difference between greed and need?
Activity Materials 7
- o Paper
- o Poster colors
- o Cotton buds.
Activity Procedure 6
Encourage the children to talk about their desires. Give each child the required materials. Explain to the children that we keep on adding our wants list by seeing at others. Explain to the children and ask them to do bud painting on the plain sheet or on the sheet related to the desires.
Connect to the child the fact that like how in bud painting it starts with individual dot and then progresses to many similarly we also keep on adding to our wants lists new desires.
Activity Materials 8
- o Paper
- o Pencil (or) Sketch (or) Pencil
Activity Procedure 7
Give each child the materials needed. Encourage the children to draw pictures related to desire emotion. Each child gets the turn to talk about what they have drawn.
There is no other way. Anything else leads to more and more complication. When you decide to be content, the carpet will seem good, but then you will think that one corner if I pull it this way, it can be made better.
Don't think because there is an army of enemies in your inner space. Your inner space is more intelligent. It will show only one enemy. The moment you accept one enemy you are done. By the time you fight that enemy your great friendly mind is ready with another, by the time you fight that, your great friendly mind will make you finish all thoughts about contentment.
Decide, now you are going to practice, no question of allowing one enemy. I am content from now. Out of that content feeling, I will work.
Contentment is like a huge snow capped mountain, glide in it, ski in it, the moment you hit a rock go back to the space of contentment.
Use your bio memory to get back to contentment. Your bio memory is very responsible, when you withdraw from your day to day activities, the bio memory feels threatened. It will say, I can't be like this and get back to contentment
Say I am going to move my body only if I am content, your mind will find some reason, so many people are in worse situations etc. When you put your bio memory in a survival threat, it will support you.
Do the self strike. Non co-operation movement with your life, let your bio memory bring you contentment, then it will become a system in you to create chaos in you, that is the only way to find a solution.
- To make the children understand about contentment
- What is contentment?
- What happens when you pose problems?
- What brings contentment for our self?
- What is best way to achieve contentment?
- What happens when we have contentment?
We should only do what we need to do, and fulfill our needs. Greed is not good and will cause problems. Needs bring us satisfaction when those are fulfilled, greed makes us always want more.
Activity Materials 9
- o Paper
- o Pencil (or) Sketch
Activity Procedure 8
Ask them to draw design patterns by seeing a model or they can draw their own designs or patterns.
Connect to the concept that none of the desires are our own desires.
We collect all the desires and make it as own desires.
This Is From True Life, An Example Of Greed
In Africa they use this trick to catch monkeys. They will hold up sweets, nuts, fruit and berries that the monkeys love and put it in a small enclosure in plain sight of the monkey and walk away.
The monkey sees/ smells the food and goes for the treasure. He puts his hand in the small enclosure and greedily grabs at what is inside, but now his fist is too big to come out! He shrieks and pulls, but his fist cannot come through and he does not want to let go of the food. So the monkey is stuck. The hunter simply puts a bag over it and is able to catch the greedy monkey
Activity 2
Grabbing the small objects from a small jar or container.
Activity Materials 10
small objects e.g. blocks or coins, jar with an opening large enough to put hand in, but not while holding an object.
Presentation 3
Gather the class and explain the activity. Talk about greed and what it does to us. Tell the true story above. Now have each child reach in and grab a handful of the small objects in the jar. Explain how easy it is to simply drop the objects and pull out your hand. Discuss the difference between needs and wants, and how either one can get us in trouble when greed comes in
THE WORLD is based on Binary, Arithmetic, Logical, Scientific logic. On the other hand MY WORLD is based on trust, belief, faith, emotions, experiences of individual perceptions, realizations of individual identities, cognition about God, world and Individual Identity.
As of now your My world is totally different from 'The World'. When you cause My world to be completely in tune with The world', you will not have any problem, you will be at peace
The world is societal. People who are always going after the world, are caught in agitation, anger, stress and people who are completely caught in my world can sometimes miss 'the world'.
Mostly ordinarily people are caught between "my world" and "the world" and start choosing between the two. When you start preferring 'the world' your whole life ends in depression, you are drained in 'the world'.
When you start preferring 'my world' sometimes you can loose your balance and get into some fantasies. The ideal balance is when you ('My world') expands and grow and should completely be in tune with 'The World'.
For example, sometime we think 'The world' is only the right world. When we are travelling in vehicles, the plants and trees appears to be moving but they are not really moving. The "desire" is like the trees which pretends to be moving but actually never belongs to us, creating a fantasy in "my world". The best way of enlightened living is 'my world' must be in tune with 'the world'.
To make the children understand about the difference and meaning of MY WORLD AND THE WORLD
What does 'my world' refer to?
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What does "the world' refer to?
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What happens when we start preferring 'the world'?
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What happens when we start preferring 'my world'?
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Why do trees outside the moving car looks like they are moving?
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What do the trees signify?
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Which is the way for happy living?
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To make the children understand about contentment
Activity Materials 11
- o Paper
- o Pencil (or) Sketch
Activity Procedure 9
Place the children around the object in different position. Place an object between them and ask them to draw the same object from different angles
Activity Materials 12
Paper Pen (or) Pencil
Explanation
Give each child a paper and ask each child to write the lists of my world' and 'the world'. 'My world' is the world which comprises of your basic needs and 'the world' is which comprises of society, societal norms. Interpretation: Make the child understand about their basic needs and understand about 'my world' and 'the world'
First thing we have to understand is that there is no 'you' in 'you'. Whatever you understand or experience or feel as you in you is just some body's reflection in you. If it stays there for a long time you believe it is you and you are possessed by that identity.
We pick some identity from mom, some desires from being mom, some desires from being dad and some from friends and society. None of these desires are desires of our own. Whatever we have more, we create our identity out of it.
We create a broom of our identity by collecting broom sticks of desires and identity from others. We become imaginary images of others. We tie our broom with a silk thread. Silk thread is our decision making capacity. We make choices based on our desire which leads to suffering. Any choice will only lead to suffering. When we accept the happening the desire, choice and suffering all disappears
To make the children understand that we are the mixture of desires and identities of others.
- What do we have to understand by you?
- Do we have some body's reflection on us?
- What are the identities / desire you picked from your mom?
- What are the identities / desire you picked from your dad?
- What are the identities / desire you picked from your friends?
- What are the identities/ desire you picked from your relatives?
- How do we lose the identity? Why choosing is suffering?
Activity Materials 13
- o Paper
- o Pencil (or) Sketch
Activity Procedure 10
Explain to the children about wants and needs. Encourage each child to draw pictures about their wants and needs. Each child gets the turn to talk about what are their needs and wants.
Part 4: Desire - Collection_English_part_4.md
Activity Materials 14
- o Color sketch pens
- o Ice cream sticks
Explanation
Ask each child to sit at the table and give few ice cream sticks for each child. Ask each child to use sketch pen and write on the ice cream stick about their desires and from whom they picked it from.'
For Example
I like green because my father's favorite color is green.
I hate apple because my mom did not like it.
I like Volley ball because my brother is a volley ball champion.
Ask each child to write their desires on separate ice cream sticks. Then tie each child's ice cream sticks together with the "ribbon of choice".
Interpretation: Explain to the children that none of their desires are their own desires. We collect desires from others and then make our broom of desires.