Reflections Sunday The 13th October 2024

Sunday School No. 158

-Guru Nanak Docuseries-

1. What was your takeaway from the session today? 

2. What were the key points in the episode? 

3. Wisdom, Right Knowledge, and Intellect- How can you connect with these?

4. What could be the true meaning of worship and religion? 

5. Importance of reflection and clear thought 

6. According to you what is the real meaning of the "essence"? 

7. What is the real purpose of a "pilgrim"? 

8. Would you learn the Gurumukhi script to better understand Guru Nanak's teachings? 

9. What importance does Guru Nanak's "message of oneness" hold? 

10. Have the boundaries divided us or made us even stronger? 

11. How did Dakha get its name?

Rishona added: What's evident in the series is, first, the feeling of oneness and the true belief in oneness. Today, it isn't the physical boundaries that divide us but the emotional boundaries we make and the beliefs that we make that may divide us. This sense of oneness is essential in today’s world. Second, the fact that Guru Nanak goes beyond religion. The true meaning and accurate understanding of it. That belief that religion is beyond prayers and names is lovely. Reflect on this.

- From The Hidden Life Of Trees –

1. Why is the forest known as the epitome of healthy air? 

2. What is your takeaway from today’s session? 

3. What happens when a thicker coat is formed on leaves? 

4. How does a tree breathe? 

5. How do trees survive? 

6. What would happen if tree roots don't breathe? 

7. Role of algae activity in the ocean 8. Do trees sleep and how?

Thanks to Rishona Chopra for the valuable inupts.

These are some suggestions you can choose from. Looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections! You can email your reflections to - mk@learningforward.org.in

My Good School Sunday 13-10-2024

Key Takeaways

• Explored Episode 10 of Guru Nanak documentary, covering his travels from Bihar to Bangladesh and Assam
• Discussed key themes: oneness, women's empowerment, breaking religious boundaries, self-reflection
• Read chapter on "Healthy Forest Air" from "The Hidden Life of Trees", examining trees' role in air purification and oxygen production
• Promoted upcoming retreat at My Good School from Nov 13-16, featuring forest immersion and book discussions

Topics

Guru Nanak Documentary Discussion

• Amardeep Singh provided context on Episode 10, covering Guru Nanak's journey from Bihar to Bangladesh and Assam
• Highlighted Guru Nanak's teachings on:
• Oneness and universal brotherhood, transcending religious boundaries
• Women's empowerment, advocating for gender equality 500 years ago
• Self-reflection and wisdom as tools for spiritual growth
• Discussed lasting impact of Guru Nanak's philosophy, with followers still present in Bangladesh today
• Explored metaphorical interpretations of stories, e.g. Bhai Mardana's "transformation" representing loss of rational thinking

The Hidden Life of Trees - Forest Air Chapter

• Trees act as natural air filters, trapping 20,000 tons of particles per square mile annually
• Forests produce 29 tons of oxygen per square mile daily during summer
• Trees need rest and are negatively impacted by constant artificial light
• Discussed importance of allowing indoor plants to rest at night and have access to natural light
• Explored how trees "breathe" through leaf stomata and roots

My Good School Retreat

• Upcoming retreat from Nov 13-16 at Khan Farm, Dehradun
• Features forest immersion, book discussions on "The Inner Life of Animals" and "The Hidden Life of Trees"
• Cost: 15,000 rupees per person, all-inclusive for 4 days/3 nights
• Fireside chat with Krista from Canada on Children's Day (Nov 14)
• Limited to 50 delegates; open to principals, teachers, and students

Next Steps

• Participants to reflect on self-reflection techniques and importance of oneness
• Research phytoncides and their effects on human health
• Consider registering for the My Wood School retreat (Nov 13-16)
• Read posts on Joy of Learning Diaries, including Rishona's reflection on oneness
• Manisha to compile reflections from participants for blog post

Action Items

• Write & submit reflection on women's empowerment message from Guru Nanak documentary to Manisha for blog post
• Write reflection on self-reflection concept from Guru Nanak documentary for Joy of Learning blog
• Research & add info to reflection post on how Dhaka got its name (beyond what was mentioned in documentary).
• Compile reflection post for Joy of Learning blog - include Rishona's quote on oneness, add prompts from Sandeep Dutt's telegram msg.

A Letter from a Little Girl with Big Problems!!! - Aria Gupta

Opanari Society,

Sec 198, Panlangarh

12 july, 2023

Dear Aanya

How’re you doing, sis?

Everything has been challenging since Mom and Dad died in the car accident. We all hope that you’re not going through the same. We’ve shifted to a small, rented apartment in the Opanari Society. Grandma has been trying really hard to make a living for us. Happy 10th birthday to me, but no one other than her and you actually care, and both of you are busy. I could really use a friend here, but everyone calls me rude and selfish. No one could really understand me. I couldn’t do anything for anyone because of our situation, which made it hard to make new friends. So I’ve decided to focus more on my grades. I want to make a better future for us. I want to ensure that our current situation is hidden forever and is never found by anyone.

I honestly feel this brutal feeling of jealousy that makes me feel sad and angry about our situation all the time. It makes me act rude to other people. But if I tell this to anyone other than you and Grandma, I’ll be called a psychopath. They won’t understand this feeling unless they’re in my shoes. It’s somewhat a reason I don’t have any friends. When I try to make some, it’s always in vain.

I’m a bit ashamed of this situation, as I’m surrounded by children who live entirely normal lives. I want to make it better. It’s why I’m focusing on my grades so much. I want to make a better home for Grandma in the future. I want to ensure my and your future too. We’ll be living a better life in the coming years.

How’re you doing? I hope college is going well. I hope you are not like me and are doing ok.

Thank you for being my only escape from this brutal reality.

Sneha Rawalya
Your little sister

Written by: Aria Gupta Grade VI Gyanshree School

Disclaimer: Everything mentioned in the below text is imaginary, including the places.

Reflection on the experience of changing schools - Aayushma Gaha

We know that we go to school not only to learn subjects but we learn new skills as well as social skills. Sometimes we change our school because, for some reason, it might be because of money issues or the school being far or needing more attention for studies. It can be many reasons.

My experience of changing a school. Earlier I was in Carman School currently I am studying in Cambrian Hall. The reason behind changing schools was because of not getting much attention in school and in Carman School there was not much opportunity for any skills or for sports. When I changed schools I was both, happy and sad. I was sad because I had made many friends and was quite popular in school because of my academics as well as Athletics. When I said popular it is kind of praising ourselves but it was true. However, there was not that much athletics.

The reason I was happy was because I was going to meet many more people. As we say that we people think, of new possibilities and in Cambrian Hall, there are sports and also academics. Now it has been one month already and has communicated with teachers and made many friends.

My experience of changing schools was really good and sometimes I think that every year we should change our school and we would learn many new things!

Aayushama Gaha

Pestalozzi Children’s India Village

When I fought with my friend - Ankita Khadka

Ankita Khadka Pestalozzi World India

 

Gratitude - Arfa Khan

We all are familiar with the feeling that life is not as we want; our relationships are not deep enough, we are not successful enough, and we don't have the things we crave. This is the feeling of dissatisfaction, a feeling that makes you at others with envy and at yourself with shame. Social media makes it worse by showing us the picture-perfect life others have, unlike us. We have seen many people laughing and enjoying their lives...but their lives aren't perfect too. Then why are some people happier than others? Can we also apply their methods to be more comfortable and more satisfied? It all sums up to one thing - Gratitude. 

Gratitude is a feeling that connects us with the positive side of the world. There are many ways to practice it, like gratitude journaling, where we write about the things we are grateful for. There are many everyday things in life for which we should be grateful, and we might be taking them for granted, like:

1. Recovery/ Post-Crisis -

Life can feel fabulous after recovery like an enormous burden has been lifted off our shoulders. We can do many things that we couldn't do earlier. Objectively, our life would be the same or maybe slightly worse than before, but we compare the present to when life was terrible and react with gratitude.

2. Our Relationships-

We might feel lonely or want more friends, but there might be one or multiple people wanting to spend time with us. We might feel this is not enough and feel bad. If we're grateful for our relationships, we might accept the offers or take the initiative. Many people don't have anyone and suffer from mental illnesses, but we have many people who care for us.

3. Anyone who means a lot to you-

There might be someone significant in our lives, and we can't imagine life without them. By comparing our life with and without them, we feel grateful that they are with us.

4. Fate-

We have many things in our everyday life many don't have, like clean water and food, money, access to the internet, limbs, eyes, ears etc. We should be grateful for these things.  

Scientists have found many benefits of gratitude journaling. Many participants showed more happiness and life satisfaction after practising for a few weeks and even a change in brain activity after a few months. It's pretty mind-blowing that something as simple as writing about a few things you are grateful for can help fight dissatisfaction. We know our life is hard, but it might not be as bad as it seems if we look from a different perspective.

•  Arfa Khan 

  Ahlcon Public School

Sources:

https://leadchangegroup.com/daily-gratitude/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPPPFqsECz0&t=15s

 

I am unique - Rishona Chopra

Before you read, this is not written by me, but by a girl (unknown) who wants to tell me about her life.

Dear Diary,

Yes. Today was tough, not the best, I was made fun of at school, but I got all A's on my English Test, so that's a good thing. I got the highest score in SSC but not a total score; I got two questions wrong. I don't know why but usually, the things that troubled me to seem to stay in my head and affect me a lot. I might be short; I don't know why. I like to cuddle with my mother, I don't know why. I want to spend my time with books, I don't know why. I am different, but I am unique. What matters is that my heart is beautiful. If I study too much,  people call me a nerd. If I don't, they call me a fool. I can never stand up to one's expectations, but I can always stand up to my dreams and expectations. I am not perfect. I am satisfied with who I am.

You might be thinking, why am I talking about such sentimental things, but these thoughts perhaps refresh your mind. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but I am just sharing some of myself with you. Yes, you find it useless now. You may shut the book and keep it aside.

It's easy to say all these words, but these simple words have a deeper and more difficult meaning to them. They don't always make you happy. We all feel the urge to stand up to our teachers, parents and friends' expectations but are we living our life for them? If someone calls me nerdy, will I stop studying and enjoying my life? Of course, I feel like changing to become friends with them but why when I am unhappy?

I just don't know how to express this happiness of mine. Happiness? How on Earth can I be happy? Well, I am so glad because I am different. I am unique just the way I am!

We all seek answers to these questions we can never know about, like" Why am I different? Why has God made me like this?" All this is just fate, and fate is always good. Being a little alone is always good because it helps you know more about yourself. No matter if anyone is there for you, you are always there for yourself. Ask yourself a few questions about yourself:
What is your favourite hobby?
Where do you love to spend your time?
Who is your best friend?
Who does you like spending time with?
If you took time to think about these questions, perhaps you don't know a part of yourself. We spend so much time thinking about others that we forget that there is much more to explore in ourselves. There is a part of us we don't know; how many of us know our ambition in life? Yes, maybe a doctor, an author, or even a good human, but can you answer this in a second? You don't have to be a narcissist but perhaps a bit more self-confident about yourself.
The best time you can ever spend with someone is with yourself. This made me feel better... Good Night! (somebody)

You’re the one for me - Gaurangi Rastogi

Whenever I feel to fly 
There is a feeling of butterflies
Whenever I take a glance at you, 
I feel that's the one 
Whenever you come to me 
I hesitate 
Whenever I said a boring joke 
You laughed for me 
Whenever I win a prize 
I see a different shine in your eyes, 
That's a real prize!
You enter my dreams 
And make me fly 
I cherish the dreams 
But the question comes to my mind 
Do you really see the thing in me
As I see in you?
I seek the answers in my sleep 
But you made me a pretty creep 
Yes, I stalked you 
Yes, I changed myself for you 
Yes, I lost weight for you 
I will never rest 
Until I find that you're the one for me 
You're the one for me 
You're the one for me 
You're the one for me 

Poetry By Gaurangi Rastogi, The Doon Girls' School Note- The poetry is written from the perspective of a teenage girl 

On Hope - Afifa Fatima

Please listen to my first podcast, and share your comments below.

"I love my school; we learn from friends, teachers and family".

Afifa Fatima
Grade VI
The Doon Girls & Boys School
Dehradun

Empathy - Ushita Saxena

Empathy is when you connect with someone. When you understand someone's feelings and know what to tell them. When you observe someone suffering, you may be able to imagine yourself in their shoes and sympathise with them. 

Have you ever heard of the term "sympathy"? Sympathy and Empathy may sound like synonyms, but actually, they aren't! Sympathy is when you feel sorry for someone from your own perspective. Empathy is when you put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand why they feel that way. This is a significant difference to understand. Let's take an example. Your friend's sibling died, and they are feeling super sad. What would you do? If you were to sympathise, you would say things like 'I'm sorry you're feeling that way or 'It's okay. Don't worry about something like that. But if you were to empathise, you would say things like, 'I have been there and be sad too.  

Empathy is essential as it helps build connections with people and bond with them. Social relationships are necessary for your body and your mental state. Empathising with people makes them empathise with you and spreads it.  

To practice Empathy and influence it, you can do a ton of stuff, such as: i. Work on listening to people without interrupting 

ii. Pay attention to body language and other types of nonverbal  communication 

iii. Try to understand people, even when you disagree with them iv. Ask people questions to learn more about them and their lives 

To conclude, Empathy is when you understand that person and know what they are feeling, which can prepare you for telling them about it. It helps in socialising and creating bonds. Sympathy and Empathy are very different; sympathy is when you feel sorry for them passively, and Empathy Is when you are sorry for them in a more active way and feel what they are feeling. 

"If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours."  

Ushita 

Grade: 6A

Gyanshree School

Happiness @ My Good School

My Good School Season 2, Episode 2

Happiness is perhaps the most multi-faceted feeling. The most fundamental aspiration in the hearts of all human beings is to be happy. We all want to be satisfied, but we are not! But what is happiness? Happiness is an emotion, a feeling of contentment. The most trivial things can brighten our day, bring us joy and make us happy! May it be good weather, a good grade in an assessment, being able to befriend a stranger, calling a friend or a relative, looking at the stars, playing a sport with someone, listening to music, and the list goes on.

Happiness is not something that we can achieve with various materialistic items. True happiness comes from within. If we are not happy where we are, we won't be satisfied anywhere. Happiness is the first step of the ladder as we climb up to peace, sanguinity, sagacity, and finally, equanimity. In the words of Albus Dumbledore, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, only if one remembers to turn on the light!" So join us in unfolding the mystery behind the happiness of human life with Aarav and Rishona. Few of our friends will also join and share their experiences.

Tune in to the podcast to listen to Saima, Arindita, Anishka, Sakshi, Kritika and Sunita ma'am talk about the proper form of happiness. Let us revisit the cheerful and lively moments filled with joy and laughter!

Comment below and let us know if you liked our podcast. If you want to be a part of similar podcasts, join us. We hope to meet you soon again when we are back with a podcast on the 2nd of May 2022!

Our team:

Hosts- Rishona and Arav

Editors and creators- Moksh, Simar, Anvesha, Anusha

www.GoodSchools.in

Freedom - Asmi Patankar

Freedom is a unique feeling. It is felt differently by everyone. I experience freedom when I play with my friends. I enjoy running around without adults supervising me all the time. When I play with my friends, I get exercise also happiness. Honestly, the experiences are too good for words. 

Ultimately, playing in the ground with my great friends is my freedom. 

Name: Asmi Patankar

Grade: 5A

Billabong High International School, Thane

Happiness - Vedvee Solanki

Happiness seems to be the thing that everyone searches for and desires.

These days there are so many different things that can make a person happy. Happiness to me is a sort of inner contentment that deep down. I desire just as much as any other person. The word happiness is a complex one and comes in many definitions for every different person. Happiness is not just a word. Instead, it is related to one's whole life or feeling. It is difficult to describe happiness in words; it can only be felt.

          

Vedvee Solanki 

Class - VI

The Fabindia School