Time: At least two periods or till the teacher is satisfied
Learning objective: To make the students realise that deeper (long-lasting) happiness can be understood and experienced within ourselves and is not just based on events outside or on material things.
Start the class with mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
Story
The people of a village were always busy criticising each other. This was a huge reason for their sorrow. In this village, lived a saintly lady called Rabia. She would always adopt new ways of helping the villagers to see sense.
One evening, she was looking for something in front of her house. Passers-by saw her searching for something and asked, “What have you lost?” Rabia answered, “My needle has fallen.” These people thought that the old lady had poor eyesight and so they should help her. They too began to look for the needle. Then, one of them thought that the needle is a tiny object and till it is not known exactly where it had fallen, it would be difficult to look for it on such a wide road? The person asked Rabia, “Maaji, please tell us where exactly your needle had fallen.” Rabia said, “The needle had fallen inside the house.”
Upon listening to her answer, the villagers were taken aback and began to wonder if the old lady had become senile. If the needle had fallen inside the house then why was she looking for it outside? When Rabia was asked about this, she said, “Even I know this, but it is dark inside, and there is light only outside. How do I look for the needle in darkness? It can only be found in the light.”
The villagers started laughing. They started telling Rabia, “Looks like age has impacted your understanding. Even if there is no light outside the house, the needle will have to be searched for outside only.”
Now, it was Rabia’s turn to laugh. She said, “Beta, you are talking about being sensible, but I’m following the method I see all of you adopting.” The villagers were taken aback and asked, “What do you mean?” Rabia continued, “Every day I see you criticising each other. In reality, you are all looking for happiness in each other and when you don’t get it, you criticise the other person. While long lasting happiness is actually within you. You look for it in others’ behaviour, in their gifts, in the favours you receive from them, in the compliments you get and in the work others do for you, while your happiness is actually lost somewhere in your mind. Look for happiness where it can be found.”
The villagers understood that Rabia was pretending to look for the needle to make them understand,' the true meaning of happiness'.
Day 1
Proposed questions for discussion:
1. Do you also look for happiness outside (in physical things, in criticising others) like the villagers? How?
2. Take an example from your life – have you criticised your friends or relatives in front of someone? If yes, what was the reason behind that criticism?
3. Why does it happen often that people seem to be happy when they criticise others? (as they are able to prove the other one wrong at that point of time)
4. Are those who criticise others looking for happiness in the other person (that is, by putting down the other person) or in themselves?
5. Is it possible that those who criticise others may get the ability to look for happiness within themselves?
Note for teacher: The purpose of the above questions is to get the students to reflect and examine their thoughts and to be able to share their thoughts openly. If the students are able to understand that deeper (long lasting) happiness comes from living in harmonious relationships and clarity of thought (on how to get there) leads to continuous happiness, then their confidence will peak, and instead of feeling jealous of others’ success, they will focus on their own growth. While discussing these questions, try that each student is able to reflect and introspect and put his/her point forward. It takes courage to give an example from one’s own life, so take good care that while a student’s sharing – someone else should not make fun of what they’re saying, else the student will feel disheartened. Ensure that the entire class pays full attention to what the child is sharing and when required, the class should encourage the child instead of making fun. If required, to help the children get over any inhibition, the teacher may give an example from his/her own life.
Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
Day 2:
Start the class by mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
1. How can you find or identify deeper (long lasting) happiness within you? (Clue: With the right feelings in relationships, with positive thinking, with clarity in thoughts)
2. What is the difference between ‘being happy’ and ‘looking happy’? In our everyday life, where does our attention go? What do we find more important? Discuss.
3. If you do something well but there is no one to see it, how would you feel? Does this impact your capability? Discuss.
Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
Learning objective: To make the students realise that deeper (long-lasting) happiness can be understood and experienced within ourselves and is not just based on events outside or on material things.
Start the class with mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
Story
The people of a village were always busy criticising each other. This was a huge reason for their sorrow. In this village, lived a saintly lady called Rabia. She would always adopt new ways of helping the villagers to see sense.
One evening, she was looking for something in front of her house. Passers-by saw her searching for something and asked, “What have you lost?” Rabia answered, “My needle has fallen.” These people thought that the old lady had poor eyesight and so they should help her. They too began to look for the needle. Then, one of them thought that the needle is a tiny object and till it is not known exactly where it had fallen, it would be difficult to look for it on such a wide road? The person asked Rabia, “Maaji, please tell us where exactly your needle had fallen.” Rabia said, “The needle had fallen inside the house.”
Upon listening to her answer, the villagers were taken aback and began to wonder if the old lady had become senile. If the needle had fallen inside the house then why was she looking for it outside? When Rabia was asked about this, she said, “Even I know this, but it is dark inside, and there is light only outside. How do I look for the needle in darkness? It can only be found in the light.”
The villagers started laughing. They started telling Rabia, “Looks like age has impacted your understanding. Even if there is no light outside the house, the needle will have to be searched for outside only.”
Now, it was Rabia’s turn to laugh. She said, “Beta, you are talking about being sensible, but I’m following the method I see all of you adopting.” The villagers were taken aback and asked, “What do you mean?” Rabia continued, “Every day I see you criticising each other. In reality, you are all looking for happiness in each other and when you don’t get it, you criticise the other person. While long lasting happiness is actually within you. You look for it in others’ behaviour, in their gifts, in the favours you receive from them, in the compliments you get and in the work others do for you, while your happiness is actually lost somewhere in your mind. Look for happiness where it can be found.”
The villagers understood that Rabia was pretending to look for the needle to make them understand,' the true meaning of happiness'.
Day 1
Proposed questions for discussion:
1. Do you also look for happiness outside (in physical things, in criticising others) like the villagers? How?
2. Take an example from your life – have you criticised your friends or relatives in front of someone? If yes, what was the reason behind that criticism?
3. Why does it happen often that people seem to be happy when they criticise others? (as they are able to prove the other one wrong at that point of time)
4. Are those who criticise others looking for happiness in the other person (that is, by putting down the other person) or in themselves?
5. Is it possible that those who criticise others may get the ability to look for happiness within themselves?
Note for teacher: The purpose of the above questions is to get the students to reflect and examine their thoughts and to be able to share their thoughts openly. If the students are able to understand that deeper (long lasting) happiness comes from living in harmonious relationships and clarity of thought (on how to get there) leads to continuous happiness, then their confidence will peak, and instead of feeling jealous of others’ success, they will focus on their own growth. While discussing these questions, try that each student is able to reflect and introspect and put his/her point forward. It takes courage to give an example from one’s own life, so take good care that while a student’s sharing – someone else should not make fun of what they’re saying, else the student will feel disheartened. Ensure that the entire class pays full attention to what the child is sharing and when required, the class should encourage the child instead of making fun. If required, to help the children get over any inhibition, the teacher may give an example from his/her own life.
Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
Day 2:
Start the class by mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
- Have some students repeat the story.
- The first day’s discussion questions can be used for rethinking.
- The students can share their storytelling experiences at home in small groups. Some thoughts can be shared with the whole class.
1. How can you find or identify deeper (long lasting) happiness within you? (Clue: With the right feelings in relationships, with positive thinking, with clarity in thoughts)
2. What is the difference between ‘being happy’ and ‘looking happy’? In our everyday life, where does our attention go? What do we find more important? Discuss.
3. If you do something well but there is no one to see it, how would you feel? Does this impact your capability? Discuss.
Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
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- Alexander and Diogenes
- The Mind Palace
- Rabia’s Needle
- What is real and what is fake?
- How much land?
- Ego’s room
- Turban
- My Identity
- Arunima Sinha
- Socrates’ three questions
- Three labourers, three perspectives
- Serene water
- Who is speaking?
- The kite string
- A big man
- Brother, not a burden
- All together
- Sugar in milk
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