LESSON: 5
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Introduction: Welcome the children, introduce the topic 'expectations' and expand on how expectation prevents us from expressing gratitude.
Goals: Make the children aware of the fact that having expectations prevents us from expressing gratitude.
Click: Expectation is the culprit
About the topic: 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. For 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.
[Figure: Gratitude icon]
Assessment: • 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: three dimensional drawing
materials needed: Paper, Sketch pen or Pencil, Three dimensional objects.
procedures: 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
Activity of the day–gratitude towards the cosmos
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.