Time: At least two periods or till the teacher is satisfied.
Learning objective: To inspire the students to be aware of things feeding their ego.
Start the class with mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
Direction of discussion (For Teachers): If a person considers only himself as superior to others, this delusion is called ego. As knowledge increases, one becomes more humble. As ego increases, one becomes more angry. If with time, more people are connecting with us, it validates that our knowledge and understanding is increasing. If this number is going down, it shows that our ego is increasing.
Story
A cunning man once took a turban worth Rs 5 and coloured it in shining colours, and took it to sell in an emperor’s court. The emperor looked at the turban and asked, “What is the price of this turban?” The man replied, “It is for 1,000 gold coins.” The emperor laughed and asked, “How come it is worth 1,000 gold coins?” The minister of the emperor had already warned the emperor to be wary of this cunning man.
In respond to the emperor's question, the man said, “I will take your leave now.” The emperor asked, “Why did you come and why are you going now?” The cunning man said, “I had asked the same question to the person from whom I bought this turban," how is it for 1,000 gold coins"? He told me there is an emperor in this world who can pay 5,000 gold coins for this. Now, I feel that the emperor I’m looking for is not in this court. I should go to some other kingdom.” After hearing this, the emperor immediately ordered his men, “Give him 10,000 gold coins and buy the turban.” When the cunning man was leaving the court, the minister asked him the secret of selling a turban worth Rs 5 for 10,000 gold coins. The man whispered in the minister’s ears, “Friend, the reason is the weakness of a person.” The minister asked him, “What is a person’s weakness?” The man replied, “A person’s weakness is his ego. He believes that he is supreme. "You are the most supreme", by putting this idea in the emperor’s head, I fed his ego and sold a turban, worth Rs 5, for 10,000 gold coins.”
Day 1
Proposed questions for discussion
1. 1. Have you bought anything expensive for show off? What and why?
2. 2. What are the qualities/attributes that you lack, but you show off about these, as if you have them?
At home – Observe, Enquire, Understand (for students)
Start the class with mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
1. For what reasons do we buy expensive things?
2. When we buy expensive things for recognition and respect, is the above purpose fulfilled? If not, why do we do it?
Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
Learning objective: To inspire the students to be aware of things feeding their ego.
Start the class with mindfulness – ask the students to focus on their breath for 2-3 minutes.
Direction of discussion (For Teachers): If a person considers only himself as superior to others, this delusion is called ego. As knowledge increases, one becomes more humble. As ego increases, one becomes more angry. If with time, more people are connecting with us, it validates that our knowledge and understanding is increasing. If this number is going down, it shows that our ego is increasing.
Story
A cunning man once took a turban worth Rs 5 and coloured it in shining colours, and took it to sell in an emperor’s court. The emperor looked at the turban and asked, “What is the price of this turban?” The man replied, “It is for 1,000 gold coins.” The emperor laughed and asked, “How come it is worth 1,000 gold coins?” The minister of the emperor had already warned the emperor to be wary of this cunning man.
In respond to the emperor's question, the man said, “I will take your leave now.” The emperor asked, “Why did you come and why are you going now?” The cunning man said, “I had asked the same question to the person from whom I bought this turban," how is it for 1,000 gold coins"? He told me there is an emperor in this world who can pay 5,000 gold coins for this. Now, I feel that the emperor I’m looking for is not in this court. I should go to some other kingdom.” After hearing this, the emperor immediately ordered his men, “Give him 10,000 gold coins and buy the turban.” When the cunning man was leaving the court, the minister asked him the secret of selling a turban worth Rs 5 for 10,000 gold coins. The man whispered in the minister’s ears, “Friend, the reason is the weakness of a person.” The minister asked him, “What is a person’s weakness?” The man replied, “A person’s weakness is his ego. He believes that he is supreme. "You are the most supreme", by putting this idea in the emperor’s head, I fed his ego and sold a turban, worth Rs 5, for 10,000 gold coins.”
Day 1
Proposed questions for discussion
1. 1. Have you bought anything expensive for show off? What and why?
2. 2. What are the qualities/attributes that you lack, but you show off about these, as if you have them?
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 observe how people are absorbed in feeding their ego.
- Ask the students to sit quietly for 1-2 minutes and reflect on the essence drawn from the day’s discussion.
Start the class with 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. Some may be given the chance to share with the whole class.
- The first day’s discussion questions can be used again for the remaining students.
1. For what reasons do we buy expensive things?
2. When we buy expensive things for recognition and respect, is the above purpose fulfilled? If not, why do we do it?
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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