The Seer and the Seen - Rishona Chopra

Photo by https://stock.adobe.com

The question about who we really are often bugs me. Who are we? Are we the mind? The body? Or are we the soul? 

There is a simple philosophy to finding this out. "The Seer Is Not The Seen". If I am seeing a plant, that means I am not the plant. So I, the seer, am not the plant (the seen). Now, I can see my body, that also means that we are NOT our body. We know our feelings and thoughts so in a way we can see our thoughts. But if we can see our thoughts that means we are not our thoughts so if we are not the body and not the mind, who are we? 

We are the conscious; our soul. But is my soul different from yours? No, we are all the same conscious and have the same guiding lights within us. We are only so different in our thoughts and body but we are all the same. 

The "God" we look for in temples and photos is within us. Our conscious and guiding light is God. Going by the definition, God is the creator and the light within us, in fact, the creator is the very reason for our existence. God is not living on Jupiter and noting our deeds in his long register. It's a power within us and that's what makes humans so special. We have the power to choose and to create. 

Let us take the example of two pots kept in a room. In that room air flows. Both pots also enclose air in them. But can we see that the air in one pot is different from the other? No, not at all. The air in both of them is just the same. Can we also say that the air enclosed within the pot is the "pot's air" alone? The same air is enclosed in the room too. 

Similarly, consciousness is one, but we assume each has a different soul by looking at different thoughts and looks. But the soul in each is the same and one. 

Rishona Chopra

Grade VII 

Gyanshree School

Small Acts of Service - Divyanshu Agarwal

image courtesy -https://www.nusocia.com, used by Divyanshu Agarwal only

Small Acts of Service Help Change Lives

The small act of kindness reforms the lives of others who are not that capable of handling their daily needs. We are very much thankful to God that our parents are capable enough to provide us a happy life. Small acts of service can put a smile on the faces of underprivileged people. 

Acts of kindness make the earth a better place to live. We can donate money to charity. We can have scholarship schemes for children. We can donate our old books to the government schools Which don't have a good schooling facility. donate blood, so that those who don't have money can healthily live their lives. 

We should not discriminate or judge anyone based on their money or education status. Always try to bring a smile to the faces of others. Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness is a way to honour those needy individuals.

 

"There is no higher religion than human service to work for the common good is the greatest creed."      - Woodrow Wilson

 

Divyanshu Agarwal (XD)

Sunbeam Schools And Hostel Laharatra 

Pamela Atkinson - Mridul Maheshwari

image courtesy - https://www.deseret.com, used by Mridul Maheshwari for representation only

Pamela Atkinson

Today we saw a video about Pamela Atkinson related to her social work - serving others or helping the poor. Pamela believes that 'even small acts of service help change lives. Small things make a difference". 

Over the years, working with the poor, Pamela has learned that service doesn't always need to be huge, it can even be small.

Pamela said, "We should look for opportunities to make a difference in other people's lives-which in turn, make a difference in our own."

  -Mridul Maheshwari (IX)

                                                      Sunbeam School Lahartara

Two Girls One Mic Episode 9

Learning Forward Podcast

Season 12 and Episode 9 are here yet again! 

‘These will all be stories someday. And our pictures will become old photographs. We'll all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now, these moments are not stories. And in this moment, we are infinite.’

Isn’t it strange how quickly time flies? One moment, you are young and full of life, curious about everything and everyone. The littlest of things give you pleasure. Enter- the real world. We all tend to lose our quirkiness, love for life, and all the small things life offers. We work, and we run; we run as fast as we can to be the first, sometimes even losing ourselves on the way. Old age, however, gives us a second chance. It's a It's from nature. It allows us to revisit our childhood and experience human dependency at its best. 

Please listen to another mesmerising conversation shared by Simar and Oshi as they delve into the depths of childhood, old age, and life at their best. 

Feel free to leave comments as you join us in this hearty and engaging discussion. We would love to read them!

Hosts - Simar Kaur and Oshi Singh 

Listen to the most recent episode of our podcast: Two Girls One Mic Episode 9

Trees - Pranvi Chandra

 TREES

Trees are there every day,
And under them, you can play.
Their leaves can be green, 
And trees are never mean.  
Please let them stay,
So just don't fray. 
Keep them clean,
Don't let them lean. 
Let them thrive,
And they will keep you alive.

                                                                         Pranvi Chandra - IX/D

                                                                       Sunbeam Hostel Lahartara.

Spirituality is spark of unique life - Tenzin Chonzom

It can mean searching for personal growth, religion, belief after death or making sense of one's inner dimensions... (Purpose in life / Holiness)

 

* How do I get a touch of spirituality..?

• Get out in nature

• Gratitude

• Serving others

• See good qualities in others..etc

What connects us at last after all the session is spirituality

Through the short videos...

About adopted child Avnish, the 9-year-old child who sealed Everest base camp and got prepared mentally and physically for the trek to change the mindset of a unique, abled child.

The lady with humble circumstances, known as Pemila Atkinson, devoted herself to serving the poor and learned how crucial volunteering is to the program. Her quote motivates me: "We should look for opportunities to make a difference in other people's lives, which makes a difference in our own because we all are connected to these lives." She didn't show any signs of slowness even in her retirement year.

From these videos, we could see their purpose in life and also their self-esteem, which is positive for our mental health and growth.

Tenzin Chonzom

Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Image: https://www.knocksense.com/indore/indores-father-son-duo-successfully-conquers-mt-everest-trek-up-till-kalapather

Myths Of Retirement - Rishona Chopra

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Retirement; Young people often look forward to it and middle-aged ones dread it. To young ones, retirement seems to be about relaxation, peace, joy, television, vacation and all you ever wanted to do but couldn't. To middle-aged and working people, retirement seems to be synonymous with boredom, no work at all, loneliness, approaching death and the end of a career. 

Being a young minor, I would definitely say that retirement seems to be relaxation and enjoyment but this perspective is quite unlikely for the ones who are in dire need of it. 

Often people get rather upset, bored, and sad during retirement and invite problems for themselves and you can't blame them! They have been through a lot of changes in their life and change has never been easy to deal with. 

Most people need a change of perspective and that's why it's important to know a few myths of retirement that may change one's perspective about it. 

1st Myth: Retirement means the End of Work

Of course not! There is no age barrier to work! In fact, it's the perfect time to try out new things and explore your areas of interest! Create a new passion for yourself! And even if you don't find work to do instantly, it's always good to take a little rest. Relaxation may help you more and after years of work, you do deserve some!

2nd Myth: New Career Ambitions are for Young People

Nearly three out of five retirees launch into a new line of work after retirement! It's not because they need money but to stay mentally and physically active and more importantly do something they want to do. Age can never be a barrier and nothing else can if what you're doing is your true passion!
And something that happens after retirement is that you can just do things for yourself. Yes, we always feel the need to show others what we did but that's when we are free to do anything for our own happiness.
3rd Myth: Retirement Is A Time Of Decline

Well yes, you're growing old and ageing but you've still got a life to spend so live life happily and do things you never could. Yes indeed, you are approaching the end soon but this is the time to turn to spirituality if you already haven't. To actually regain yourself and know your true purpose. Not only will it help one embrace the "dreadful" time of death but also feel happy knowing that you have lived your life in crescendo. In a way, it's actually a sign that you need to do all the things in your life that you never did, relax and most importantly cherish these times! 

Retirement is a phase of life like any other and it's a beautiful phase. A unique one. 

" When you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else"

Rishona Chopra

Grade VII
Gyanshree School

Happiness and Life - Tenzin Jambey

Listen to the Podcast

As humans, we often contemplate the concepts of happiness and life. Our constant desire to improve our circumstances and seek inner peace is universal. In this week's "Reflection," Jambey, a bright student of My Good School, shares his thoughts on happiness, peace, and life. Through his personal experiences, he sheds light on how different perspectives can impact society. Join us as we explore the perspective of a young mind on life's journey, from finding the right path to losing our way. Enjoy the podcast, and if you wish to join us, please visit our website at www.SchoolEducation.com #MyGoodSchool #JoyOfLearning.

Classics or present-day creations? - Rishona Chopra

 

Graphic by Rishona Chopra

Are oldies better than the music and movies of today?

That is one of the biggest debates today. Both of them are unique in their own way but I believe that there is something special about classics and oldies. As intriguing and modern the latest creations are, oldies seem to bring family together. As a millennial of Gen Z, I usually watch/listen to the latest creations but watching classics is a refreshment for the mind. It reminds one of the time when things were simpler and life was less hectic. 

The past can be a great source of inspiration and old music is a wonderful way to access it. Moreover, old music has stood the test of time. It has been around for decades and even centuries and it popularity is a testament of how great it is. Yes, there are changes in the world but that doesn't mean we forget the past and the old. Old is NOT gold. It's vital to accept and look at latest creations too but immediate dislike for the classics isn't great either. 

Labeling classics as "boring" is completely one's choice but often we just neglect it directly without even taking a look at oldies. The most popular songs today are in fact remixes of earlier classics. Popular artists have taken inspiration from several classics such as "These are a few of my favourite things" , "Do re mi fa so la ti" and literature pieces like "The Great Gatsby". 

One of my favorite classics is definitely Mary Poppins. I honestly haven't watched that many classics but 1964 Mary Poppins tops for me. It is a fictional story but it indeed has a lot to teach. First of all, it teaches us to live life. Life is a gift and even despite the tough and rough times, it's always good to keep a positive attitude in life. It also teaches us to be kind and not judge people. Mary Poppins did receive a little opposition from the children's father but that didn't bring her down because she was confident and did what was right. One of my favourite parts about it is the unique use of words. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is that word that brings a smile to my face when I say it. For me, it carries a cheerful vibe all together.

As interesting and full of mystery and excitement the  new creations are, I don't believe that they carry some meaningful lessons with them but of course if we are young teenagers who are combating other evil people and plan on saving the world then sure they do have some advice. 

To conclude, I would say that its good to sometimes look back and see some interesting and appealing classics like "Mary Poppins" or "Sound Of Music". Their simple stories stirred with a drop of magic are heart warming. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

2023 and all it had to give - Rishona Chopra

2023 has been a fantastic year for me! There were lots of ups and downs and lots of learning to take away!

The start of the year was rather bumpy. It started with annual exams which weren't the best so that was a letdown for me.  But then the fact that I was going to another higher grade made me quite cheerful and excited. I must say, the new semester was a fresh start. It allowed me to improve from my past mistakes and learn from them. 

The first day of school was a new door. It was the day when I met a lot of new people. New students and teachers too. I did have some negative perceptions about a few people but now that I think about it those perceptions have changed drastically. I suppose you can't assume things without knowing someone first!

Then there were exams. I had mathematical formulas, equations and a ton of nervousness rushing through my mind but we did make it through the exams too. 

I can't go on about 2023 without mentioning my journey with My Good School. It was a fantastic year! From Meet and Greets with several authors and entrepreneurs, I not only expanded my collection of books but also expanded my learning by miles. Each Sunday session was valuable and priceless. There was something new to take away each time. 

Another highlight of the year was My Guide Inside. The sessions I did with Ms. Christa Campsall were invaluable and being able to conduct similar sessions with younger grades was the icing on the cake. MGI has been a huge part of 2023 and it's all thanks to the mentors who work hard to give us this meaningful bundle of learning and joy. 

My most trustworthy and silent companion was with me throughout this journey; That companion is a book. Books were a crucial part of 2023. I explored new genres and read some amazing books that are indeed no less than a treasure. I dived into the world of polar bears and dogs and some very touching stories of families. Books just take me to another world and make the year more memorable. 

I wouldn't have made it through the year without my family. They are the ones I do have disagreements with but also the ones most dear to me. I believe sometimes we take the gift of family for granted but it's important to realize that having parents to hold on to is a blessing. It's perhaps the greatest gift in the world and they are what made my year better than ever. 

There were a lot of highlights of 2023 and these are just a few of them. There were a lot of times in the year when my behaviour was rather negative and I will try to improve upon it. Of course, you can't permanently remove negative feelings from your life but it is vital to work towards positivity. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

Tenzin Chonzom pours out her heart for My Good School!

Good evening, sir; this is Tenzin Chonzom ✨

We did a lot for today's class, but what reflected in my mind was that happiness is the result and not a cause.

I want to write a short note on this because of a discussion we had in class. 

It depends on external things. Its result, which comes from within due to our kind works, gives happiness. 

* Life of Crescendo (reflection)

. Life is a mission, not a career

. It tells About what keeps people growing

. We learned about the six paths

       : happiness is the result, not the cause 

       : stress is not bad

       : Physical exercise is essential and good 

. If you enjoy

        : Cash doesn't last

        : Stay involved in work

        : Maintenance of a robust social network

. Anyone who keeps learning stays young 🌱

. Staying focused

. It's all recognition of the abundance of facts. 

*Creating Passion 

Passions are developed through emotions, mainly through activities that you find to be fun.

As mentioned by Amerdeep sir in a previous session, he remarked, "DON'T FOLLOW PASSION. CREATE YOUR OWN PASSION." he has motivated me through all aspects of problems with his meeting in the session.

    

* Leaving 2023 and moving to 2024 ( learning I did from My Good School in this passing year )

 . Breaking goals into smaller steps makes them more accessible for students to comprehend. As mentioned by Amerdeep, sir.

My Good School always taught me never to stop dreaming and to keep learning and improving my reading, writing, and listening skills.

A good school encourages the young minds of students and is filled with positive thoughts.

Thank you, sir.

Tenzin Chonzom
Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Life Lessons with Amardeep Singh - Tenzin Jambey

Tenzin Jambey of Pestalozzi Children’s Village India shares his reflections from the Sunday School on 24 December 2023, when we hosted a Meet and Greet with Amardeep Singh Rangar. Tenzin shares with us what being human is, how we yearn for peace, why money, perhaps the biggest sin for mankind, has made us lose our value system and much more. Please listen to his maiden podcast and share your love with him by posting your comments for the episode.

The antidote for the Retirement Disease - Rishona Chopra

When people retire, they initially struggle. Letting go of the tight work schedules, being used to doing much work, and suddenly no work at all is rather hard. It's somewhat like going back to school after a month of holidays. It's the least exciting day as all you want to do is just relax more. But here, in the case of retirement, all you want to do is just work more. Keep yourself busy with some work or the other. At this point, most start feeling rather anxious. And you can't blame them; Their whole routine has been changed!

Image by Freepik

Gone are the days when they worked day and night, now all they can do is do some chores here and relax. Being used to having meetings and calls all day, it is hard to cope with the fact that now your phone is no longer filled with a hundred unread messages and missed calls. That is in fact why I don't prefer to use the word "disease" for this. It's simply a phase of life like any other. The antidote for this retirement "disease" is "Purpose". Having a purpose means having a new goal to achieve and that means keeping busy and getting rid of the Retirement Disease. And something that happens after retirement is that you can just do things for yourself. Yes, we always feel the need to show to others what we did and do but that's when we are free to do anything for our own happiness. Everyone already has a purpose and we just need to find it. Anything of interest that appeals to you and seems to give you joy can be called your true calling or rather a purpose that keeps your mind energized. Rishona Chopra Grade VII Gyanshree School

Do it for yourself - Rishona Chopra

PC. VectorStock

Often, we find ourselves doing things to please someone else. To get appreciation. We all are like that, even I. It makes me feel happy when one appreciates me. But there is one more thing to the appreciation - the pressure. 

When one appreciates you, you feel burdened to always do well, be an achiever and keep striving but when you fall in that cycle, you lose the joy of doing the task in the very first place. You now don't do it for self-pleasure but to please someone else.

When we do that, the task eventually becomes a burden and all happiness is replaced by fear and nervousness. Whatever we do, we should be doing it just for ourselves. Not for seeking prestige and glory. 

Why are we here in this world? What is our purpose? To do our part in the world and be kind. That is our purpose. And the key to fulfilling that purpose is to be happy and content with ourselves. To do all our tasks for mere joy and happiness.

I write because it gives me joy. I read because it takes me to another world. I play the piano because it makes my heart soar with happiness. If I did all these things for someone else then it wouldn't give me the same joy that it gave me before.

There are two meanings that come out when we say “ Do it for yourself”. One is that we do something because it gives us happiness. Because we love that task. The second is to help out someone else yet enjoy the task and not lose the joy in doing it.

Helping out someone is fantastic but everything we must do must be done with passion and happiness. If no joy, the beauty of the work itself disappears.

When you eat the food at a restaurant and when you eat something homemade, there is a humongous difference! The food at home is made with love and you can feel that while eating the food.  The joy and passion in work are shown similarly no matter how it may look or be.

When we say "Joy of learning" the keyword isn't "Learning", it is "Joy". We learn for our own joy and happiness. 

As said, live your life for you, not for anyone else.

Rishona Chopra

Grade VII

Gyanshree School

Life is a splendid torch not a brief candle - Tenzin Jambey

Image courtesy Shmooz AI

Life is lovely and enjoyable; now it's in our hands whether we want to make it even more peaceful or let life burden us. It doesn't matter whether you are poor or rich; life will look perfectly fine if you are grateful for whatever you have. 

Our life is like an impressive torch that can bring light to the lives of others. We can shine brightly and chase the shadows away. We get to live our life for once, but let not our one life affect our beautiful journey. Let's not be sad thinking that we will die soon; everyone has to leave this world behind and die and become part of the soil of the earth beneath.

We know life is short; in today's world, half our age passes through pursuing education and skills, but we forget to liberate ourselves. Schooling teaches us the way to answer others and the way to work under someone and in this process, a child is never able to discover his own literature and interests. 

We come under pressure to think about our future, our career, family and so on. The term life is very wide and we can achieve what our hearts really desire except attraction and greed. 

That's so obvious that school studies will hunt you down and occupy your whole body if you don't connect your subject with your daily routine and your interests. When your subject is connected with your interest then every second of your life becomes memorable. 

It's in our hands whether you want to make your life like a dying candle or like a bright light that shines and radiates peace. 

Tenzin Jambey

Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Life - An Unexpected Journey! - Saikiran Sahu

                               

The journey of life doesn’t go as how one thinks

It goes what it's destined for

But what is it destined for?

Fame?

Money?

Or Power?

It is what fate really holds for you,

And your fate is to steer it in the direction you want it to go in

Travels just like a wave

Sometimes still as a statue and sometimes

as ferocious as a lion!

It is not what you think that’s coming in future 

But what you were least expecting to see

Let me clear it out to you

There isn't any fixed path or a map that tells you 

where to go or how to go

It is upon you,

It is you who grabs opportunities passing by and you who 

losses it because you didn't pay attention  

Nevertheless, in this unexpected journey 

there are always ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys

But we need to remember 

 with every dusk there is a dawn ready to rise again! 

-Saikiran Sahu, IX

Gyanshree School

Illustrated by istock

Celebrating the work and life of Brinda Ghosh

Please play the podcast

Learning for life

Season 12, Episode 7 A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge and wisdom in the pupils. The most immense joy a teacher experiences is witnessing the success of their students. They pave the path for us and bring us back on the right track if we ever begin to deviate. Teachers are the lamps that light up the most tedious journeys we may experience. However, what makes them unique is that they instil the joy of learning in us! 

Tune into 2 Girls 1 mic as Simar and Oshi delve into another beautiful and hearty conversation with the teacher, guide and mentor who never fails to inspire everyone around her. Joining them on ‘Away with the Chalkboard Blues’ is Ms. Brinda Ghosh. The love she brings forward for her students and her passion for teaching is like no other. Her method of teaching truly encapsulates the students in the subject. 

Feel free to leave comments as you join us in this hearty and engaging discussion. Please leave us comments in the comment section! We would love to read them. 

Life Is A Game Of Chess - The Game Of Life - Oshi Singh

Image courtesy https://www.pinterest.com, used by Oshi Singh for representation only.

In this universe, there is nothing more unpredictable than life itself. Yes, indeed, just a four-letter word: life. 

Life is very uncanny. Life is a gamble. Life is a game of chess, a game which shall prevail. We’ll never know what’s coming but are always yet to find out. Just when we feel ‘comfortable’, we’ll notice danger. We never know what’s the right move, yet we always try. Things keep changing. After all, nothing is permanent, but we always get a chance. A chance to try and give our best. 

It has been rightly and very beautifully said by the famous Cuban chess player José Raúl Capablanca, ‘You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You must lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player.’

People often say chess is a game of tactics and strategies but I differ. I don’t think that’s completely true. I believe chess and life are long-lost twins. No matter our plans or how well-planned they are, there is always a catch to it. It can be anything, anytime, but don’t ever stop trying because even though life may have some other plans, there are always new avenues and new chapters waiting to be unveiled. 

So, in this unreliable game of life, always be open to change and, most importantly, always ready for challenges. Life will keep throwing pawns upon us, but our aim should be clear until we checkmate all these obstacles. After all, actions speak louder than words, and our only word should be “Checkmate”. 

Oshi Singh

IX-C

Gyanshree School

IMAGE REFERENCE: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/807411039463898752/

The author of my story; the master of my fate - Rishona Chopra

I have always believed that we are the author of our tale. We are the ones that create our story and decide how it shall conclude. The pen is in our hands and it is our wish to decide how things shall go. 

We are the master of our fate and we can decide which path we choose and go on. Yes, there will be numerous challenges on our way. Yes, there shall be a few earthquakes and floods and things that bring us down. But, its the way one soars after being pulled down each time that matters. 

There are lot of people or rather characters that influence our story. They may influence our decisions or bring about a plot twist or setback in our story but again the pen is in our hands. We are the captain. The final decision is in our hands.  We have the power to control our thought. We have the power to control our attitude.

A thought that comes to my mind is that what about instances when something bad happens? Lets say one gets fired from their job. That may not be one's destiny. This is just another flood in our life; something influencing our story. Some people may go down and drown with the flood and some may swim through it an survive. It's all about the attitude and thought in life. Someone may come across a serious injury and accept it and happily pass away to heaven abode; nothing bad in it at all, they wrote their ending and it was what they wanted,that was one's happy ending. Some may try and try to survive this earthquake and yet fail but I'd say that's not failure; giving up because you think its too tough is failure because nothing is impossible. 

Another thing is death. People don't want to die but eventually they have to. Its just the way it works. You may live as long as 400 years but it has to end. One day it has to. That is the all eternal end but fate here is how you live your live. The future of all the small events in our life. 

There are a few lines from a song I would quote:

"He said,One day, you'll leave this world behind
So live a life you will remember"

What matters is how we live our lives. With happiness and glory or sadness and misery.

We all can surely make our fate better. Better and happier. We have the power to do that. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

Two men looked out prison bars; one saw mud, one saw stars - Rishona Chopra

 Image Courtesy - Twitter

Perspective changes something completely. We can be happy even in the worst times with a positive view of the situation. Every cloud has a silver lining; we just have to find that lining. 

Suppose two men look out prison bars; one only sees the bars, and the other looks beyond it and sees the immense beauty of nature. It is our choice to choose what we want to see. It is our choice to be happy, and it is our choice to look at the good sides of a situation. 

In every situation, there is a choice. Either look at the positive and optimistic sides or find faults and be sad. We just have to see that choice. When something happens that is not to our satisfaction, we get negative feelings about it, but we don't realise that there is always a choice to be happy about it. To rejoice in the smallest of things. 

Two men looked out prison bars; one saw mud, and one saw stars. 

It is our choice to look at the positive things in life. After all, peoples' perspectives and thoughts define who they are. There is so much sadness in the world, and it is easy to find faults, but the real challenge is finding happiness in everything. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII Gyanshree School