Hari OM everyone!
This month we started with more yaksha praShNa-s and ended with discussions about the meaning of dharma in our lives and the lives of those around us.
We discussed these yakSha praShna-s:
Before revealing the answers, we did a brainstorming session for each question. We got a wide range of answers, all of which bordered the correct answer. Upon revealing the answer given by yudhiShThira, we discussed situations that pertained to each. By differentiating dealing with these situations the right versus the wrong way, we were able to get a more thorough understanding of the implications of these answers.
The last class of the month tackled the topic of dharma. Our topic for the year is, "Where There is Dharma There is Victory", so understanding this topic is crucial in order to move forward with the material. This discussion was a very humorous one! Even while explaining the concept to the students, they were eagerly asking about whether an ant had dharma, water had dharma, whether you can be reincarnated into a body of water or a molecule of water, etc.
We started off the introduction to the topic by comparing our 'religion' to the West's main religion of Christianity. The students listed aspects of Christianity, such as that it was monotheistic, a list of Commandments had to be followed, and they had specific holidays that they follow. We then inspected Hinduism and understood that our 'religion' is our dharma. We started off by explaining that the word 'dharma' has a deeper and wider meaning than the word 'religion' as is used and understood by the Westerner. We explained that 'dharma' comes from the root dhr, which means "to hold" or "to support". In conclusion, 'dharma' stands for that which holds up (or supports) the existence of a thing. In plain English, one's dharma is the very essence of the being. Dharma is the law of being. For example, a bag's dharma is to carry things in it. A car's dharma is to provide transportation. Logically, the question of "what is a human being's dharma" was asked. This segwayed into the discussion of how humans are the only beings to be able to better themselves. Hindus strongly uphold that it is the power of "becoming" divine that distinguishes man from all other beings. This means that we have the strongest power to get closer to achieving moksha. By having the ability to change our nature and improve our actions and thoughts, we are at a favorable position over all other living beings.
After this discussion, we explained the meaning of dharma through a different lens. The students were asked what made fire, fire! We got various answers including its red/orange color, its size, its color, its heat, etc. This was perfect because the students had already told us fire's essential and nonessential properties! They understood that appearance was a nonessential quality and the true reason for fire being fire was its heat. Its inherent nature is what makes fire what it is. This is its essential quality. This is the dharma of fire. Again, we asked, "what is the dharma of man". Is it the color of our skin, our hair texture, the way our facial structures are? Better yet, is it our thoughts?? No. We understood that the conditions and capacities of the body, mind, and intellect are all non essential factors of the human personality when compared with our aatma (Divine Consciousness).
We also made it clear that we have a 'main' dharma (achieving divinity) and individual dharma -s as well.
HW: think about what your individual dharmas are. Be prepared to share next class!
We ended the class there, with the intent of discussing our understanding of the term dharma with the ethical and moral rules of conduct to ourselves and to others.
Looking forward to more learning in the next month!!
Regards,
Nikhita and Vasudha
