The Guru Nanak Documentaries Episode 8- Advika

Reflecting on the screening of Allegory: A Tapestry of Guru Nanak's Travels on Sunday the 18th of August 2024.

Today's episode of "The Guru Nanak Documentaries" taught us what our rituals were about. They were merely not for external use or washing in a holy river; they meant cleansing yourself of your sins, wrongdoings, and bad karma. 

This session was deep and spiritual and raised awareness of how our thoughts and ideologies have changed over the years. People bathe in the Ganges, thinking it will detox them. They shall attain salvation, but in reality, as Guru Nanak Ji said, our self-reflection, acting upon our sins, and rectifying what we did wrong and who we hurt is true detoxing and will lead you to salvation, not some mere external activities that are futile in the end. 

The reality is that people nowadays travel miles to go to Varanasi and other spiritual places to reach God, purify their souls, come back to their homes, and repeat the same toxic life. What is the point of even going to these places when we do nothing to act upon ourselves? 

True devotion never lies in just bathing in rivers. It lies within the soul. Purity, correcting what we do, and making ourselves better people, while helping others. Love God, love yourself, and make yourself into a better person.

This is true devotion. 

Advika Khanna 
Gyanshree School

The Unforgettable Journey 🚙 - Oshi Singh

Image courtesy https://blog.klm.com/, used by Oshi Singh for representation only. 

This poem is an inspiration from the poem, ' When I Set Out For Lyonnesse' by Thomas Hardy. There are two interpretations of his poem.

First, he was out to a new land for his work, and over there, he met a girl and fell in love. Later they got married, and then he wrote this poem as he believed his marriage changed him for the better. Although the second interpretation is that when he went to the new land, which he refers to as Lyonnesse, he went through a drastic spiritual change, and after he came back, everyone could see he returned a better man. So his poem was about his journey from ignorance to enlightenment. 

This poem that I have written captures the emotions felt by Thomas Hardy throughout his journey to the far-off land of Lyonesse. It captures how he was unsure before setting out on his journey and how he changed for the better. 

When I set out to Lyonnesse, 

A hundred miles away. 

I had doubt in my mind,

But I knew it was high time. 

So I set out to Lyonnesse, 

A hundred miles away. 

Little did I know, 

The miracle of life would drive me away. 

When I came back from Lyonnesse, 

A hundred miles away. 

I had magic in my eyes, a glow on my face, 

Which, unlike time, shall never fade away. 

When I set out to Lyonnesse, 

A hundred miles away. 

Little did I know, 

The miracle of life would drive me away. 

Now I return a better man, 

And no one shall take it away from me. 

When I set out to Lyonnesse, 

A hundred miles away. 

Oshi Singh
 VIII D
Gyanshree School 

Reference: https://blog.klm.com/klm-podcast-the-journey/ 

The Worm I want to be: Story Reflection - Anusha Jain

My reflection from the story Ignorance, Evolution and Avatar

After reading this beautiful story about enlightenment and awakening, I think most people would want to be like the last group of worms which grow wings and fly away from the canal, those yogis, saints and sages who raise beyond the belt of ignorance to the supreme freedom of spirit.

It is wiser to first be the initial group of worms who represent the first stage of ignorance, those who cross the physical and vital evolution phase and rise to the higher mental being and live content and satisfied. It is because we live in a world where we run an endless rat race and chase after money.

We are told to make a promising career and think about our aspirations. So, practically, if we can become like the first group of worms, we would be able to decide about our future in a better way whilst living up to society's expectations. By doing so, we would be able to help other people attain enlightenment and make a difference.

Anusha Jain, X-D
Ahlcon Public School
I am very fond of reading; Harry Potter is my favourite series.

The worm I want to be - Rishona Chopra

 I want to be a worm who grew wings and flew away from the canal.

They didn't think they were more extraordinary because of little light but tried to attain peace and freedom and did not let pride and ignorance touch them.

The first group of worms represents the first stage of evolution in ignorance. They are those human beings who have crossed the physical and most crucial phase of evolution and risen to the consciousness of the higher mental being. The second group of worms represents the next stage of evolution in which human consciousness or the mind opens itself to a higher light beyond the rational mind and receives intuitions and inspirations from it but still lives within the world of ignorance. 

The last group of worms which grow wings and fly away from the canal are those human souls who proceed further and rise beyond the belt of human mental ignorance to the supreme freedom of the spirit. 

I want to be like the last group. That person who would raise beyond the belt of human ignorance and go beyond the sky. In the wheel of life, I want to be free from suffering and desire like Buddha. All stages represent the worms, and in the end, the first two stages still desire more and live in human and mental ignorance.

I want to be like the last group who open their wings and fly in the spiritual world with a smile.

Rishona Chopra 
Grade VI 
Gyanshree School

International Yoga Day - Ritu Parihar

International Yoga Day

Today our school celebrated 7th International Yoga Day. Everyone participated with great zeal and enthusiasm. The session was conducted by Rahul Sir and Abhay Sir. It was started with our Principal Ma'am's message to practice yoga in our daily lives. Then, we performed several asanas virtually, and the benefits were explained. 

Yoga is the only process in which you can exercise without any equipment. The light that yoga sheds on life are something special. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines originating in ancient India. It is an art and science of healthy living.

There are lots of benefits to practising yoga. It increases your flexibility and helps you to build strength. It improves your posture and helps to keep your joints healthy. 

Yoga is a powerful mindfulness practice. It reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. In addition, yoga's incorporation of meditation and breathing can improve a person's mental well-being. Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness, increases body awareness, relieves stress, relaxes the mind, centres attention, and sharpens concentration. Therefore, yoga should be part of our daily routine to live a happy and healthy life.

Ritu Parihar

Class  IX A

The Fabindia School