Gratitude - Collection_English

CELEBRATE EVERYTHING

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V O L U M E 2

THE SPH NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

A portrait of a person wearing traditional adornments and seated on an ornate throne

CELEBRATING EVERYTHING

GOALS

Make the children aware of
the fact that everything and
every moment is auspicious
when we have gratitude

Welcome the children to
the topic of 'Celebrating
Everything', considering
every moment to be
auspicious

INTRODUCTION

The whole of existence is an
auspicious happening. Nothing that
happens in existence is inauspicious.
Everything is only a blessing. You are
a part of existence, so everything
happening around you is also
auspicious. When we understand this
we will not complain about life.
When we realize this everything
appears extra ordinary to us.

Everything appears as a miracle. Miracles are continuously happening in front of our eyes, but we continuously miss them because of this our lives becomes dull. You will never be able to realize or understand yourself until you accept yourself and celebrate what you are.

We carry two identities within ourselves. One is outer world identity, what we present to the world. The other is the inner world identity, what we believe we really are. The outer world identity will always be much more than who we really are.

The inner world identity will usually be much lesser that what we actually are. Our whole life is nothing but the struggle between these two identities If you celebrate whatever you are you can stop this struggle. If you continuously use your to logic to analyze and judge and try to bring things under control; you will miss the whole thing. Just accept and celebrate existence with all its different dimensions and paradoxes.

Don't judge anything. Every
incident raises our intelligence,
raises our frequency of
consciousness. All we need to do
is look at the world as a story, as
an intelligent mystery. If we
approach the suffering with
acceptance and intelligence,
suddenly you will see that the very
suffering gives you enlightenment.
It adds joy and experience to your
life.

ASSESSMENTS

What do you mean by auspiciousness?

What would happen when you relent to suffering without acceptance?

Is there anything that is considered inauspicious?

How can we make every moment auspicious?

When do miracles happen?

When did we not complain about others?

When do our lives become dull?

What is outer world identity?

What is inner world identity?

ART OF

THE DAY

ART OF THE DAY:

SAVE THE UNIVERSE

MATERIALS NEEDED

Paper

Sketch pen or Pencil

PROCEDURE Give each child the materials needed. Ask each child to draw the universe including the solar system and other neighboring galaxies

INFERENCE

Connect to the fact that we are a part of the universe. We must have gratitude towards the universe for providing an opportunity to be a part of it. We must save our universe. We must not waste nature's products. When we take the universe for granted and abuse the natural resources, it will lead to natural calamities like floods, tsunamis, and earth quakes.

EVALUATION

Evaluate their knowledge on
the topic by asking multiple
questions. Ask them to share
their experiences.

CONCLUSION

Conclude the topic by
summarizing the
important details. Follow
up with reinforcing that
Success is nothing but you
having confidence in
yourself and others
having confidence in
you.

INTRODUCTION

The main reason why we miss experiencing gratitude is that we take everything for granted. Others do things for us out of love, as a kind gesture; but we take these things for granted.

Each individual plays an equal part in our life; no one should be taken for granted. We take our parents, our friends as granted and we think whatever we receive from them is our birth right. This thought prevents us from expressing gratitude towards them. There are people who are born with deficiencies or are differently able, but we have everything. Yet we take it all for granted.

When we see things with gratitude we become one with the galaxy and our inner space expands like a galaxy. When we take things for granted, appreciation will never come spontaneously to us.

We always take relationships for granted. Learn to treat every individual as a part of the whole and feel gratitude towards him or her. Your response to recognize the abundance of existence is being thankful. It happens as causeless flowering within us.

A person with arms raised surrounded by hearts

Gratitude is the best service rendered to oneself. Our focus merges me to the oneness. When focus merges me to the oneness. When you are able to look at things with a wonder filled attitude and awe you will be simply resonating with your heart.

GOALS

To make the children become
aware of the fact that we lose
gratitude towards everything
when we take things for
granted.

ASSESSMENTS

Illustration of a person thinking with a cluttered mind

What would you mean by taking things for granted?

What would happen when we take things for granted?

What are the things that we usually take for granted?

What would happen to our inner space if we take things for granted?

CONCLUSION

When we are in now and in
the present, we are able to
notice and observe things
all around us. Every
moment is wisdom. The
way we see things is called
perspective, and if we see
things as is, life will be
enjoyable.

ART OF THE DAY

ART OF THE DAY:

MAKING A SCENERY MATERIALS.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Chart

Poster colors

Safety Scissors

Plain Sheet

Glue.

PROCEDURE

Give each child the materials needed and encourage each child to cut different structures using safety scissors towards building scenery. Children can stick the cut out in a plain sheet and using their creativity, color it beautifully.

ACTIVITY OF THE DAY

A picture of Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam

ACTIVITY OF THE DAY

GLASS AND WATER

EXPLANATION This is a very simple activity to illustrate the difference in perspective and how we see things.

MATERIAL REQUIRED: Glass and water

PRESENTATION:

Discuss with the class the different ways people see things. When we are happy or positive, everything looks bright and happy. When we are upset, or angry, everything seems to go wrong.

Now take a glass and fill it with water to the half way mark

Ask each child in turns: Is it half full? Or half empty? It is just a point of view about how we see things differently. When we see a rose with thorns, do we admire the beauty and fragrance? Or do we complain about the thorns? Explain how our positive outlook and gratitude is very important.

WORKSHOP OF THE DAY

WORKSHOP

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND EACH EMOTION

TOPIC OF DISCUSSION How do we understand each emotion in each person

EXPLANATION Allow them to explain what they understand from each emotion in each person

For Example: Ask each child how they can express the gratitude emotion One Person will say thanks just for the sake of being polite. One Person will present a gift or write a letter. One Person will personally express thanks to the person. One Person expecting something in return. One Person present an appropriate gift. One Person will be in awareness while doing the presentation.

KAILASA'S NITHYANANDA RAJAVIDYA GURUKUL Presents

WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT GRATITUDE

V O L U M E 3

THE SPH NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

Portrait of Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam

HAVING
EXPECTATIONS
IS THE SHOW
STOPPER

GOALS

Make the children
understand about the
common perception of
death

If we are asked to write a list of all the things that we have and a list of all the things that we don't have and If we write very sincerely without leaving out anything, we will not be able to complete the first list. That is the truth. When we think we are unable to finish the first list, it means gratitude has started happening in us. The problem is that there is continuous expectation in us all the time.

That is why gratitude does not happen easily. We continuously receive input from our eyes, nose, ears, tongue and touch. Based on this we continuously expect something or other to happen in a certain way example: When we see someone who has a better house or a better car, it registers in us. When we hear of some great achievement by someone, it registers in us. Our energy moves only outward, never inwards towards our self.

Gratitude is when this process reverses and you suddenly awaken to the abundance in you. With gratitude there is no expectation or greed. We will never feel fulfilled if our actions are rooted in expectation, we will on only tire our senses. With expectation there is a desire to possess things, you become the owner.

With gratitude, you become the enjoyer. When you are the owner you enjoy only the few things that you own. When you are enjoyer, you enjoy everything in existence.

When you look to own, nothing will seem enough. When you enjoy, everything seems to be overflowing that is the wonderful difference. When we believe that existence always gives us what we need, we will find everything within us all the time.

GOALS

Make the children aware of the fact that having expectations prevents us from expressing gratitude.

ASSESSMENTS

Why does gratitude not happen in us?

Why do we never feel fulfilled?

When can we become the enjoyer?

Do you want to be the owner or the enjoyer?

Can you let us know some of your desires?

What are your expectations?

Can you list what are the things you have?

Can you list what are the things you do not have?

When do we possess things?

ART OF THE DAY

A paint set with five paint pans and a brush

ART OF THE DAY:

THREE DIMENSIONAL DRAWING

MATERIALS NEEDED

Paper

Sketch pen or Pencil

Three dimensional objects.

PROCEDURE Encourage each child to touch and feel a three dimensional object and draw the picture of that three dimensional object on a paper using a pencil or sketch pen.

INFERENCE Gratitude is the third dimension that we usually fail to appreciate, we take all things for granted, since everything is available to us easily we are unaware of the fact there are so many people who are deprived of many things that was given to us easily. We must have gratitude towards everything and understand that everything is auspicious.

[Figure: Blank paper sheet]

ACTIVITY OF THE DAY

CHANGE PAINTING

GOALS: To make the children understand about gratitude towards cosmos.

PREPARATION: Ask the children to sit in a group.

PRESENTATION: Ask each child in the group to stand up and talk about different things in the cosmos that are very helpful to us. Explain to the children how we take the cosmos for granted. We think every thing is available only to serve us, since we get everything easily we do not realize the value of these things. Ask each child different methods of expressing gratitude towards the cosmos. Explain to them, how beautifully the cosmos takes care of us.

INTERPRETATION: By doing this activity the child understands the value of showing gratitude towards different things and people in the cosmos.

A person in orange robes with rudraksha beads, holding a staff, with a circular icon of the same person in the top left

A circular group of stylized cartoon children surrounding a smiling yellow sun

WORKSHOP OF THE DAY

WORKSHOP WEAKNESS & STRENGTH

EXPLANATION

Morality and Honesty is used to make sure you look good in society but integrity takes it one step further. You have to be in zero resistance for integrity to posses you. It makes the difference between the immediate solution versus the best possible solution. So think through your studying pattern/habits and find out if you are studying for results or to learn. Write down your recent homework and examine what your purpose was

INFERENCE:

Connect them to the fact. Honesty is not integrity. Integrity is also. honesty Integrity is absolute. Integrity does not change from time to time, era to era. Integrity is not morality it is a spiritual value.

A depiction of a deity holding a vel and staff