Hari om everyone,
After gitaa chanting (which is still a must in our class even after the competition), we started the topic for the day - exploring our dharma. We had discussed that all beings have their sva-dharma that they can not change. Humans alone have a free-will to make choices and decide right from wrong.
Somehow, we landed on the topic of American football and the reason for calling it 'Football' when they aren't even allowed to pass the ball with the foot! Did you know that it is called Football because the oval-shaped American football measures exactly one foot from tip to tip and is hence called 'Foot' ball?! Hahaa! It sure is mind-boggling.
After this fun titbit, we went on to figure out - what is the dharma of a human? That which is universal to all..., just like salt, whether from India, America, Australia or Somalia, all of them would always only taste salty and not spicy. What is it that is common among all human beings?!
Some kids said eating, some said greed, some said wealth. We thought of exploring if their answers were right. If the dharma of humans was hunger (eating), then shouldn't we always be eating? Just like salt is always salty? How come the 4th samosa makes you want to run away from samosas...? :) So, hunger can't be our dharma!
How about greed? The condition for dharma is - it has to be universal to all people, at all times, in all eras. If greed was our dharma, then (sorry Swamiji :) we said "our Swamiji must be greedy too! How about Gurudev? And then, let's not forget Lord Krishna! Maybe he is the greediest of all...?!" They screamed in unison, "No...?!" Then obviously, that can't be our dharma either!
Likewise, we negated the argument of wealth as not everyone has the same amount of wealth. Moreover, the definition of wealth is NOT how much one possesses but how little one needs! The most wealthiest person might be the most dissatisfied and eager to grab more. So, that can't be our dharma!
Then what is it? Finally, one student said 'don't we all just want to be happy and just leave it at that?' Bingo! Although said in a casual manner, he had hit the nail on the head! We all are universally striving for happiness and happiness alone. No matter what our actions are, we are only performing them to attain happiness(bliss). The only problem is, we have somehow learnt to project objects as storehouses of happiness. We discussed how the substratum of all beings is happiness. That brought us to the Coca-Cola ad that says 'Happiness in a bottle'! What they are trying to sell is the happiness that everyone is looking for, but falsely redirecting it to the can of Coke, so they can make money :).
We understood the example of a tree falling in an abandoned forest. Did it make a noise? Yes? How do you know? If you were there to hear it, it wasn't an abandoned forest. If not, you don't know if there was a noise or not!! We established with various examples that there was vibration (on the substratum of silence), but for it to be considered as noise there has to be a conscious observer. That consciousness is our dharma!
To have that consciousness, we have to first exist. That existence is our dharma.
We went on to discuss further how only humans can evolve to a higher stage by being true to their dharma. There was confusion in understanding this concept. The concept we are talking about is much different than the evolution theory we have come to learn about the animals. We ran out of time and cut short the discussion which we will continue in the next class.
There is no Bala Vihar next week. Enjoy the spring break. We will see you on the other side of the break.
Have a great time and take long walks. It is beautiful outside!
Regards,
Rashmi and Sitaram.
Rashmi and Sitaram.
