Time: At least two periods or till the teacher is satisfied.
Learning objective: To take the student’s attention towards their needs and to help them understand that the material needs are limited. Also, to make them aware of the consequences of hoarding more than what one needs.
Start the class by mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
Direction of Discussion (For Teachers): Many people are not able to correctly assess their needs because of which they appear to be collecting a lot of material things. They believe that there is no end to their needs and the resources to achieve these are limited and so there is no option other than material things. Hence, throughout life they work hard for collection of material things. Because of living in this myth, our health and our relationships are ignored. And the need of our mind that we sought out to meet (like respect, trust) remains unfulfilled.
The objective of this story is to make the students aware of their needs so that they can evaluate physical facilities correctly and also clearly recognise their needs of the Self(feelings).
Story
Once, a traveller was visiting a man’s house. At night, amid conversation, the traveller said, “A little far from here there is a village where the land is so reasonable that it is almost available for free. Thousands of acres can be bought for almost no price.” The man hosting him got tempted and the second day itself, he started travelling to that village. When he reached there, he said to the villagers, “I want to buy land here.” The villagers said, “Give us whatever money you have got. The process of buying land here is that you start walking before sunrise tomorrow morning and the length of land you can walk before sunset would be yours.”
The man couldn’t sleep all night. He kept planning on how much land he would acquire. As soon as it was sunrise, he started running. He also packed food and water thinking he will eat or drink when he would feel hungry or thirsty but he wouldn’t stop running.
He thought he would begin to return by 12 so that he would reach back before sunset. He covered miles and miles by afternoon. He knew when it was afternoon and thought about returning but then he saw even more productive land in front of him and so he thought, “Let me cover some more land.” The man knew he would have to run faster on the way back. He didn’t eat, nor did he drink water, because that would have required him to stop. He threw away the food and water on the way because he was finding it difficult to carry their weight. He took off his coat and hat as well.
Afternoon passed by, but he didn’t feel like returning. Now even the afternoon was gradually giving way to evening. The man began to return but started feeling uneasy. He had spent all his energy and was now feeling tired. The sun began to set. He was getting closer to the village and was able to spot the villagers. They were calling out to him, “Come on, come on.” He put his last bit of energy in running. As the sun was setting, he was running towards the village. And then the man fell off. Now, the last ray of the sun was visible on the horizon. He was somehow trying to drag himself towards the village but the sun had set and he fainted and fell over there. The people of the village began to laugh and talk among themselves saying, “Till now, not even a single person has arrived who could own land here.”
Day 1
Proposed questions for Discussion
1. Have you ever suffered a loss when you have wished to acquire more than you need? How?
2. What are the things that people acquire more than they need? Make a list.
3. What are the things that you acquire more than you need? Share in class.
At home – Observe, Enquire, Understand (for students)
Day 2
Start the class by mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
1. Why do we collect some things more than our need? Do they solve the purpose for which we do this? Discuss.
2. How can we decide upon our needs based on how much of what do we require? Discuss in class.
Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
Learning objective: To take the student’s attention towards their needs and to help them understand that the material needs are limited. Also, to make them aware of the consequences of hoarding more than what one needs.
Start the class by mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
Direction of Discussion (For Teachers): Many people are not able to correctly assess their needs because of which they appear to be collecting a lot of material things. They believe that there is no end to their needs and the resources to achieve these are limited and so there is no option other than material things. Hence, throughout life they work hard for collection of material things. Because of living in this myth, our health and our relationships are ignored. And the need of our mind that we sought out to meet (like respect, trust) remains unfulfilled.
The objective of this story is to make the students aware of their needs so that they can evaluate physical facilities correctly and also clearly recognise their needs of the Self(feelings).
Story
Once, a traveller was visiting a man’s house. At night, amid conversation, the traveller said, “A little far from here there is a village where the land is so reasonable that it is almost available for free. Thousands of acres can be bought for almost no price.” The man hosting him got tempted and the second day itself, he started travelling to that village. When he reached there, he said to the villagers, “I want to buy land here.” The villagers said, “Give us whatever money you have got. The process of buying land here is that you start walking before sunrise tomorrow morning and the length of land you can walk before sunset would be yours.”
The man couldn’t sleep all night. He kept planning on how much land he would acquire. As soon as it was sunrise, he started running. He also packed food and water thinking he will eat or drink when he would feel hungry or thirsty but he wouldn’t stop running.
He thought he would begin to return by 12 so that he would reach back before sunset. He covered miles and miles by afternoon. He knew when it was afternoon and thought about returning but then he saw even more productive land in front of him and so he thought, “Let me cover some more land.” The man knew he would have to run faster on the way back. He didn’t eat, nor did he drink water, because that would have required him to stop. He threw away the food and water on the way because he was finding it difficult to carry their weight. He took off his coat and hat as well.
Afternoon passed by, but he didn’t feel like returning. Now even the afternoon was gradually giving way to evening. The man began to return but started feeling uneasy. He had spent all his energy and was now feeling tired. The sun began to set. He was getting closer to the village and was able to spot the villagers. They were calling out to him, “Come on, come on.” He put his last bit of energy in running. As the sun was setting, he was running towards the village. And then the man fell off. Now, the last ray of the sun was visible on the horizon. He was somehow trying to drag himself towards the village but the sun had set and he fainted and fell over there. The people of the village began to laugh and talk among themselves saying, “Till now, not even a single person has arrived who could own land here.”
Day 1
Proposed questions for Discussion
1. Have you ever suffered a loss when you have wished to acquire more than you need? How?
2. What are the things that people acquire more than they need? Make a list.
3. What are the things that you acquire more than you need? Share in class.
At home – Observe, Enquire, Understand (for students)
- Students should discuss the story at home and understand the thoughts and views of their family members.
- Students should look around and explore how people are absorbed in acquiring more than their needs.
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.
- Some other students can share their storytelling experiences at home in smaller groups. Some may share with the whole class.
- The first day’s discussion questions can be used again for the remaining students.
1. Why do we collect some things more than our need? Do they solve the purpose for which we do this? Discuss.
2. How can we decide upon our needs based on how much of what do we require? Discuss in class.
Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
-------------------
- 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
No comments:
Post a Comment