My Good School, Sunday the 4th May 2025

                                                               Sunday School # 187

Reflection questions based on Chapter 3, "The Red and the Black," from The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn:

1. Character Perception and Transformation

In this chapter, Carl assigns literary nicknames to his customers, such as "Mr. Darcy" and "Dr. Faustus." How do these names reflect Carl's perception of each individual, and what does this reveal about his character?

2. The Role of Books in Personal Identity

Carl believes that "books and people were made of the same substance." How does this metaphor deepen our understanding of the connection between literature and personal identity? 

3. The Impact of Routine on Life

Carl's daily routine of delivering books is disrupted by unforeseen events. Reflect on how routines shape our lives and the challenges that arise when altered.

4. The Influence of External Perspectives

Schascha's presence introduces a fresh perspective into Carl's world. How does her viewpoint challenge Carl's established ways, and what does this suggest about the value of external influences in personal growth?

5. Community and Human Connection

The chapter emphasizes the importance of human connection through shared stories. Reflect on how literature fosters a sense of community and belonging among individuals.

🌠 "सपने देखो – क्योंकि हर उड़ान एक ख्वाब से शुरू होती है"

✨ संक्षिप्त लेख (Write-up):

हर इंसान के दिल में कोई न कोई सपना होता है — कोई आसमान को छूना चाहता है, कोई ज़मीन पर बदलाव लाना चाहता है। सपने हमारी सोच को दिशा देते हैं, हमें मेहनत करने की प्रेरणा देते हैं, और हमें यह विश्वास दिलाते हैं कि हम कुछ भी कर सकते हैं।

सपने देखना सिर्फ कल्पना नहीं है, यह पहला कदम है किसी भी मंज़िल की ओर। जब हम अपने दिल से कोई सपना देखते हैं, तो पूरी कायनात उसे सच करने में लग जाती है — लेकिन उसके लिए ज़रूरी है मेहनत, धैर्य और विश्वास।

🪞 Reflective Questions (प्रतिबिंबात्मक प्रश्न):

1. आपने अभी तक कौन सा सपना देखा है जो आपको सबसे ज़्यादा प्रेरित करता है? क्यों?
   (What dream have you seen so far that inspires you the most? Why?)

2. अगर आपके पास कोई डर नहीं होता, तो आप कौन सा सपना पूरा करना चाहते?
   (If you had no fear, what dream would you chase?)

3. आपके सपनों को पूरा करने में सबसे बड़ी चुनौती क्या है? और आप उससे कैसे निपट सकते हैं?
   (What is the biggest challenge in fulfilling your dreams? How can you overcome it?)

4. क्या आपने कभी किसी और के सपने को सच करने में मदद की है? वह अनुभव कैसा था?
   (Have you ever helped someone else fulfil their dream? What was that experience like?)

5. आप अपने सपने को पूरा करने के लिए आज से क्या छोटा कदम उठा सकते हैं?
   (What small step can you take today to achieve your dream?)

"My Good School" Session: Cultivating Personal Growth through Dreams, Reflections, and Values

Key Insights:

• Inner Strength and Stability:
  Just as a tree draws strength from its roots, personal stability and resilience stem from one's purpose, passions, and self-belief. These foundational elements guide us through life's challenges.

• Dreams as Catalysts for Growth:
  Like the inspiring stories of Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., dreams, when aligned with purpose, spark meaningful change and require perseverance and dedication to make a lasting impact.

• Authentic Expression Over Judgment:
  The meeting emphasised the power of expressing one's true self despite external judgment, highlighting the importance of finding strength in one's individuality and unique talents.

Key Topics Discussed:

The Tree Metaphor: Building Personal Strength

• Jugjiv Singh used the metaphor of a fallen tree with weak roots to illustrate the importance of purpose and inner confidence in human development.

• The discussion explored how "roots"—purpose, passion, and self-confidence—are a foundation during challenging times, helping individuals remain strong despite life's "storms."

Expressing Emotions and Talents: Antra's Journey

• The group watched a video about Antra, a girl who overcame social isolation by embracing her talent for singing.

• Lessons focused on the importance of authentically expressing oneself and having supportive mentors in fostering self-confidence.

• Discussion centred on judging people by appearances versus recognising their inner strengths.

Book Discussion: "The Door-To-Door Bookstore" Continues

• The discussion of Schascha and Carl's relationship revealed how books serve as a tool for personal growth, teaching empathy and the importance of understanding others.

• Carl's advice to Schascha, that no single book pleases everyone, highlighted the importance of diverse perspectives for growth.

Dreams and Purpose: Hindi Session with Manisha

• Manisha led an insightful session on dreams and their role in defining one's purpose, inspiring students with the examples of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.

• The DREAM acronym (Dedication, Respect, Education, Attitude, and Motivation) was introduced, offering a framework for approaching dreams with purpose and intent.

• A distinction was made between intrinsic motivation (inner drive) and extrinsic motivation (external rewards).

Ikigai Reflections and Student Projects:

• Students shared their "Ikigai" trees, exploring their passions, talents, and aspirations.

• Sahiba presented her Ikigai diagram, reflecting her dream of becoming a pilot.

• The session also featured creative student projects that illustrated how they are beginning to apply the concepts of purpose and self-discovery in their lives.

Next Steps and Action Points:

• Ongoing Reflection: Students are encouraged to continue reflecting on their growth through their Joy of Learning Diaries.

• Youth Engagement: The GSA Council will lead initiatives to promote reading and peer leadership among students.

• Upcoming Book Reading: Khushi will read from My Good School at a Friday evening (5:30 PM) session.

• Dream and Ikigai Reflections: Students will create reflections and diagrams to share, with Chetan offering feedback.

• New Initiative: Sandeep announced the development of Dreamtime's My Good School, in collaboration with a partner organisation.

I'd love to hear your reflections on today's session. 🌟 Kindly take a moment to share your thoughts and insights by writing an email to mk@learningforward.org.in, or feel free to leave a comment below our post. ✍️ Your ideas and feedback are truly valuable, and I can't wait to read them! 💬😊

My Good School, Sunday the 6th April 2025

Sunday School # 183

Episode 16 – "Gyan Bohit: Boat of Wisdom" from the Allegory: A Tapestry of Guru Nanak's Travels series:

"Inner Awakening Through the Wisdom of the Guru"

This episode explores the metaphor of the Gyan Bohit—a wisdom boat that carries seekers across the ocean of illusion and ignorance toward truth, understanding, and liberation. The boat represents Guru Nanak's teachings, which guide individuals through the storms of life with clarity, courage, and compassion.

In Episode 16, Gyan Bohit: Boat of Wisdom, Guru Nanak's journey is shown as a physical exploration and a deep spiritual voyage. He meets people caught in rituals and superficial religious practices, and through dialogue and song, he gently steers them toward inner reflection and truth. The Gyan Bohit (wisdom boat) symbolises his teachings as a vessel to cross the worldly ocean (bhavsagar), freeing individuals from ignorance and leading them to a deeper purpose. The episode emphasises introspection, ethical living, and the transformative power of wisdom.

Reflection Questions:

1. What does the 'Boat of Wisdom' symbolise in your own life? What helps guide you through difficult times?

2. How do Guru Nanak's teachings encourage us to question blind rituals and seek truth through self-awareness?

3. Can you think of a moment when knowledge or insight helped you overcome a personal struggle?

4. Why is wisdom considered more potent than mere information or tradition in life?

5. How can we become 'boats of wisdom' for others around us—family, friends, or community?

Summary of Today's Session:

Amardeep led the session, focusing on Episode 16 of the 45-episode documentary series on Guru Nanak's travels. The key highlights included:

• The teachings of Guru Nanak emphasise respect for nature and understanding the symbolic meanings of natural elements (like rivers, trees, and mountains).

• A strong message on the importance of inner purification and genuine spirituality over mere external rituals.

• Coverage of Guru Nanak's journey from Bharuch, where he engaged in meaningful dialogues with saints and visited spiritually significant sites, promoting interfaith understanding and universal values.

The session encouraged reflection on spirituality, simplicity, and reverence for all forms of life—core themes in Guru Nanak's philosophy.

I am looking forward to our continued discussions. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need clarification. 

You can email your reflections to mk@learningforward.org.in or post them as comments below!

 

Two men looked out the prison bars; one saw mud, one saw stars - Nishan Karki

The image is for representation only.

The man who saw the mud was sad and angry. He never remained happy and was very aggressive. He never practised happiness; in fact, he did not know it. He could not control his emotions and actions. He often fought with the other prisoners. This made the other prisoners hate him. They never wanted to be with him except for the prisoners who resembled him in nature.

What about the man who saw stars?   Well, he was a man with a joyful and happy nature. He laughed a lot and made other prisoners laugh, too. The other prisoners always enjoyed his company. They preferred him rather than the first prisoner. Although he was a prisoner, he was soft-hearted.

Everyone has different perspectives, perceptions, ideas, views, opinions and experiences. They usually differ from each other. People's behaviour and actions define who they are. 

To be like the second prisoner, one must have a healthy (pure and soft) heart. He must know how to control his emotions and actions. He must know how to behave with others and enjoy their company. He must be happy. Remember, "the one who gets angry for a minute loses 60 seconds of happiness."

A positive attitude and mindset can also make a person happy and joyful, like the second man. To get happiness, one must have a burning desire for it, which must be mixed with faith to gain it.

"To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions." – Stephen R. Covey. 

Nishan Karki

Class 10, Pestalozzi Children's Village India

Image Courtesy- iStock

My Wisdom Pot - Yashraj Sharma

 

Here's my wisdom pot!

Yashraj Sharma 

Grade VIII 

Gyanshree school