Preserve Your Traditions
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THE SPH NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM
18.45
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः ।
स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु
॥ १८-४५ ॥
sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ
labhate naraḥ svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ
yathā vindati tacchṛṇu
One can attain the highest perfection
by devotion to one's natural work.
Listen to Me how one attains
perfection while engaged in one's
natural work.
POWERFUL COGNITION
Be proud of your culture, your tradition.
18.46
यत: प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्।
स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानव:
॥ १८=४६ ॥
yataḥ pravṛttirbhūtānāṁ yena
sarvamidaṁ tatam svakarmaṇā
tamabhyarcya siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ
One attains perfection by worshipping the supreme Being from whom all beings originate and by whom all this universe is pervaded through performance of one's natural duty for Him.
POWERFUL COGNITION
Without brāhmaṇas, the vedic tradition would have died long ago.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥ १८-४७ ॥
śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam
It is better to engage in one's rightful conduct [svadharma], even though one may not perform it to perfection, rather than to accept another's conduct and perform it perfectly. Responsibility prescribed according to one's nature, are never affected by sinful reactions.
POWERFUL COGNITION
The dīkṣitars even today, and similarly in other places, take their traditional job of preserving Vedic wisdom so seriously that they will not travel out of their town limits. They have made this sacrifice for generations and for thousands of years so that this knowledge could be preserved for posterity.
18.48
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् ।
सर्वारम्भा हि दोेषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः
॥ १८-४८ ॥
sahajaṁ karma kaunteya sadoṣamapi na
tyajet sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa dhūmenā
gnirivā vṛtāḥ
Every work has some defect, just as fire is covered by smoke. One should not give up the work that is born of his own nature, even if such work is full of fault, O Kaunteya (Arjuna).
POWERFUL COGNITION
We cannot evolve unless there is a fundamental change in our thinking.
BRAHMANAS - THE KEEPERS OF KNOWLEDGE
Without the brāhmaṇa being the
keepers of knowledge, our Vedic
treasures would have disappeared
thousands of years ago. Do you
know that there is a group of
scholars in Chidambaram, the
dīkṣitars even today, and similarly in
other places, who take their
traditional job of preserving Vedic
wisdom so seriously that they will
not travel out of their town limits?
They have made this sacrifice for
generations and for thousands of
years so that this knowledge could
be preserved for posterity. We make
fun of them, revile them and
denounce the system.
The people who denounce the
system do it for power and money,
not for any selfless reasons. They
recommend no alternative means of
preserving traditional knowledge.
IN THE SPH's OWN WORDS:
“I am not a brāhmaṇa. Brāhmaṇas
have come to me and hinted at their
discomfort at being termed
brāhmaṇas. They are well-educated
people.
I tell them, ‘Be proud of your
culture, your tradition. Without
brāhmaṇas, the vedic tradition
would have died long ago.’ This
praise is for those brāhmaṇas who
have remained true to their
scholarship. Those who have
succumbed to the lure of wealth
have no right to be called
brāhmaṇas.
This is where the varṇa
system has failed. From a
scientific and efficient work
system, it has deteriorated
into a power broking
system. We need to fix
that. Those who are true to
their tradition are poor and
disrespected. Only those
who use their scholarly
skills to become kṣatriyas
and vaiśyas have gained
power, money and respect.
It is better they continue to
be where they are respected
and happy!
The problem with society
and the societal structure is
that they become exclusive;
good societies should be
inclusive. Today in the West
as well as in other places
including India, if we have
money or power, we are
respected. Does anyone
rebel against that? No! How
can we call a society
advanced or progressive
when its main criterion for
respect is money?"
IN THE SPH's OWN WORDS:
“By that logic, I would have
been denounced had I been
born in any country other than
India. For nearly ten years I was
homeless! For nine years I
traveled the length and breadth
of India without carrying
money. I never bought train
tickets and never paid for meals
or lodging. People welcomed
me and offered me transport,
shelter and food. In the West I
would have been locked up in
a jail or a shelter!”
When you see a homeless person approaching your car in the USA, you instinctively raise your windows and lock your doors. You are so afraid. In India, is anyone afraid of a beggar coming and standing in front of them? Why? There is acceptance. People in the West say that acceptance is weakness, not violence. How strange societal values have become! You respect a person only when you are afraid of him..
We cannot evolve unless
there is a fundamental
change in our thinking. We
have come to a stage where
negative qualities are the
hallmark of respectability.
Violence and aggression
never win. Acceptance and
compassion do.
GOALS:
Encouraging children to
preserve traditional
knowledge.
Helping the students
realize the importance of
a fundamental change in
our thinking so that we
can evolve as a Humanity.
ASSESSMENTS
- Who are Brāhmaṇas? Why did dīkṣitars not travel out of their town's limits?
- What is the problem with society and the societal structure?
- What is the intention of people denouncing the system?
- Describe the difference in mentality between the West and India.
- Why is Swamiji telling that He would have been denounced had He been born in any country other than India?
ART OF THE DAY
ART OF THE DAY:
PRESERVING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- Big blank poster (it can be any color)
- Pictures from Internet representing the Vedic culture
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
PROCEDURE
❖ Tell the children that they are the keepers of ancient Vedic knowledge and treasures ❖ Tell them to select pictures they feel represent their culture best ❖ Cut out the pictures and arrange them on the poster. Stick them on. ❖ Encourage them to add words that name and describe what they chose.
ART OF THE DAY:
PRESERVING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
PROCEDURE
❖ Once they are done, ask them to share about the symbolism of each item they have chosen to preserve and protect.
❖ Ask them to share how they feel they can protect traditional knowledge-the treasures of the Vedic tradition
INFERENCE
Without the brāhmaṇa being the keepers of knowledge, our Vedic treasures would have disappeared thousands of years ago. Do you know that there is a group of scholars in Chidambaram, the dīkśitars even today, and similarly in other places, who take their traditional job of preserving Vedic wisdom so seriously that they will not travel out of their town limits? They have made this sacrifice for generations and for thousands of years so that this knowledge could be preserved for posterity.
ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
ACTIVITY OF THE DAY:
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET
MATERIALS NEEDED
❖ A big poster, Coloured paper, Glue or other adhesive Markers
PROCEDURE:
Ask the kids to draw a big brain on your poster and cut it out Ask students to cut 11 bubbles out of the coloured papers Read out powerless negative statements and ask children to change the mindset by writing powerful cognitions that embody acceptance and compassion
ACTIVITY OF THE DAY:
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET
YOU CAN SAY STATEMENTS SUCH AS: My ideas are worthless I always make wrong decisions I know better but nobody ever listens I don't enjoy being part of this group I don't want to change the way I do things I am scared that if I share my thoughts out loud, others are going to laugh at me I don't want to deal with this person They don't know how to do this task properly I am wasting my time by trying to make her understand I wish I didn't have to complete this task I feel so angry, I feel like breaking something
ACTIVITY OF THE DAY:
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET
Ask the children to stick their positive
mindset bubbles in the brain poster
Discuss the importance of entertaining
accepting and compassionate thought
currents.
INTERFERENCE
We cannot evolve unless there is a fundamental change in our thinking. We have come to a stage where negative qualities are the hallmark of respectability. Violence and aggression never win. Acceptance and compassion do.
WORKSHOP OF THE DAY
WORKSHOP OF THE DAY:
VAAKYARTHA SADHAS
Discussion topic: #1: We cannot evolve unless there is a fundamental change in our thinking. We have come to a stage where negative qualities are the hallmark of respectability.
WORKSHOP OF THE DAY:
VAAKYARTHA SADHAS
❖ You can ask students questions such as: ❖ How can we bring a fundamental change in our thinking as an individual? ❖ How can we bring a fundamental change in our thinking as a society? ❖ Give examples of negative qualities that have become a hallmark of respectability. ❖ How did we get to this point where negative qualities are the hallmark of respectability?
WORKSHOP OF THE DAY:
VAAKYARTHA SADHAS
#2: How can we call a society
advanced or progressive when its
main criterion for respect is
money?
WORKSHOP OF THE DAY:
VAAKYARTHA SADHAS
You can ask students questions such as: Describe what you see as an advanced or progressive society. What happens when a society is centered around money? Why are people so interested in money? What happens when we focus on what is perishable? What are things that are imperishable? What do you respect most in your life?
WORKSHOP OF THE DAY:
VAAKYARTHA SADHAS
CONCLUSION
Violence and aggression never win.
Acceptance and compassion do.