Payback to Society

Pay back to society

  

Description

There is a profound saying “Rivers do not drink their own water nor do trees eat their own fruit”.  The society and nature provide us all the comforts. Is it not our responsibility to pay back to our society and nature?  Every successful person knows that one become successful because of how much value one gives to others. Giving without expectation is the key to make every relationship comfortable and successful.

Intent

To introspect whether we have been a taker or giver in the society

To understand society and nature provide us with all the comforts we enjoy

To be grateful to our society and nature by way of service

Questions

·         What all things we enjoy by the munificence of society and nature?

·         When we will have true fulfillment in our life?

·         What are the responsibilities of a citizen?

·         Why should we payback?

Have you ever cared for a stranger?

Pay back – Clues to facilitator to enable students to explore

Are you a taker or a giver? There are three steps involved in this.  For example, step I – parents provide everything to us – they are giver Step II – Children receive and enjoy – they are takers Step III – When children grow up they take good marks and look after their parents well, they pay back.

• Man plant a seed and watering - giver, seed takes becomes a tree – receiver, treed provides shade, oxygen, flower and fruits – pay back.
• Mother Nature - giver.  We all – takers. If we protect Mother Nature and free it from pollution – Pay back.

• When a student approaches a wealthy man for the support of his education and receives support - student is taker Wealthy man giver.  When students occupy position of power and serves poor and needy -  He Pays back

Forms of paying back

There are different forms of paying back to society and nature.  It need not only by the mode of money.  It can be best expressed by our care and concern for the betterment of society and nature.  The only criteria: Are we conscious of the things we use and enjoy and be comfortable with are all provided by the society and nature?  The moment we are aware of this fact, a feeling of gratitude flows from our heart in the form of service to others.

How we can express our care and concern towards our society and nature?

Story of Puppy

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups    and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."

"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

"I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called.  Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.  The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight.    As the dogs made their way to the fence,   the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little  ball   appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the   runt. 

The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy.  He will never be able to run and  play with you like these other dogs would."

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone    who understands."

With tears in his eyes, farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully handed it to the little boy.  

"How  much?"    asked the little boy.

"No charge,"    answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

Is our mind a Monkey?

IS OUR MIND A MONKEY?

DESCRIPTION:

Mind is generally compared with a monkey because of the wavering qualities of the mind. Monkey is a good simile for the mind.  Minding our mind will lead to awareness and controls the Monkey nature of mischief and constant wavering.

INTENT:

To be aware of the monkey nature of the mind

To negate negative stimulus of the mind

To keep the mind steady

QUESTIONS:

Can you describe the activities of a Monkey?

Do you have any experience with Monkey?

Can we learn any lessons from Monkey?

Why our mind compared with Monkey and not with other animals?

Activity:  Keep silence for a minute. Let your mind think whatever it wants. (Then the students are asked to share their thoughts)

STORY : How to catch a monkey?

Once a man wanted to catch a monkey, he thought of many different ways. At last he came up with an idea. He took a glass jar with a long neck. Then he put a few red cherries in a jar and left it under a tree. The jar has a bigger base but smaller handle bar. A monkey saw the jar with the fruits and wanted to get the fruit. It eagerly put its hand inside the jar to take the fruits. But when it tried to take its hand out with the fruits in its closed hands, the fist could not be taken out. If it drops the fruits it could easily take its hand out. But the monkey did not want to let go the fruits. It kept trying to take its hand out with the fruits for long time and was caught by the man.

Glass jar

Why Monkey was not willing to drop the fruits?

Have you faced like this situation in the story?

What is the fruit in jar in our life? How to save ourselves?

Watching some TV shows and playing computer games –Fruits in the jar

Getting good marks—taking out the hand with out the fruits.

    

Smoking and drinking so some people ---Fruits in the jar

Getting a good name— Taking out the hand

Eating samosa and pizza —fruits in the jar

Want to reduce weight and take to diet—taking out the hand

STORY:

A man had trained a monkey to do all the household activities like serving food water etc. but after each activity he used to hit the monkey on the head with a stick.

Once he invited a friend for lunch. As usual he hit the monkey after every activity. The friend was very upset and stopped the man from hitting the monkey. The monkey realized that it was not being hit anymore. Its natural instinct to throw things arose and and it spoiled the entire lunch to the consternation of the friend.

What do you feel about the story?

Why Monkey behaved that way when it was not beaten?

Does the instinct of the monkey has any relation to our mind?

Application idea:

Spend sometime every day to watch the movements of the mind without attempting to control it any way.

Mind and Monkey:

The more we say, “I don’t want something”, that [thing] becomes the basis of our mind and starts to rule it.  Let’s do an experiment right now. Don’t think about monkeys for the next 10 seconds. Try it. Only monkeys come to our mind, isn’t it?

This is the nature of our mind. We can’t do anything head-on with our mind. We need to understand the process of our mind and see what to do with it. If we compulsively give up something, it will take shape in some other way.

Good Servant Bad Boss

Good Servant Bad Boss

Description:

Habits is an acquired by doing a particular action instilled by repetition.

Our habits serve us like a good faithful servant and also our habits rule over us like a bad boss. Habits are the ones which make or break a Person. We become what we repeatedly do. First you make your habits, and then your habits make you!

Intent:

To learn to imbibe good habits right from childhood

To keenly watch our life style and the role of habits

To make consistent efforts to overcome the weakening habits

Question:

When our habits become our servant when it becomes our boss?

Do we lose our peace because we have a "Habit" of saying something or doing something?

What we should do to uproot a not so good habit at an early stage?

How to find out the role of habits in our life?

Demo Idea:

A wealthy man requested a father to wean his son away from his bad habits.

The father took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The father then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all.

"Now pull out that one," said the father pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out.

"Now take this one out," said the father, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge.

"I – It's impossible," said the boy, panting with the effort.

Interaction…

"So it is with bad habits," said the father. "When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted."

The session with the father changed the boy's outlook of life.

Application idea:

Five good habits you wish to cultivate.

Example: Folding the bed sheet, keeps the books in order etc. for next one month.

Experience:

Kumar, a student has shared his experience in forming habits. He suggests few tips to form characteristics to give a strong foundation for any healthy habit to grow and form.

Choose a simple, little habit: Example: Early raising, keep the house neat, regulating Face book time, exercise etc.

Take a little time to simply practice it: Regular practice and time allotment is necessary

Preparation to practice a habit:

Motivation: You need to have a strong motivation to change a habit of yours. If you are just trying to do it for fun, it is not going to last.

Goal: Why do you want to create the habit in the first place? In what ways does it make your life better? He said: ‘In my situation when becoming an early riser, I was able to work out, so that I could improve my sports results.’

Plan & Preparation: Do you feel that there is some preparation that makes it easier to form or follow your new habit? Do you need to prepare somehow?

Kumar said, ‘I knew why I had to wake-up early, because of my training program and I prepared myself for early wake-ups by packing my stuff the night before.’

Consistency: Which one of these scenarios makes the habit more probable to stick: doing it consistently on certain days at certain time or doing it whenever you feel to, randomly?

Kumar said: If the execution of my new habit would have been irregular, I wouldn't have it now. The consistency was the key here – waking up at 5 AM every day.

Persistency: When forming a new habit and a first setback comes, are you willing to hang on or quit? Kumar recounted: ‘Sometimes my new habit was tested. I didn't feel like waking up, but at the same time I knew that I wasn't able to succeed in my sports activities if I slept late. I was tested at times, like if I was serious about my new habit, but I passed the tests and the habit lasted.’

Accountability: Do you keep the information about the habit on yourself or do you let anyone else know about it? I was fortunate to have a strong motivation in place, which acted as my fuel for my habit. However, sometimes you may need to have an accountability partner, so that he/she will keep you in line with your habits.

In my case, I was accountable to myself, because I knew that if I didn't wake-up early (and exercise) I would feel bad about myself. I didn't want that to happen.

Picture for Discussion:  What do you think about this picture?

Attitude

Life Lesson: Attitude

Description

Attitude determines ones every thing. Attitudes become positive or negative based on how we respond to situation.  Each situation presents itself before us to check what attitude we are going to have. We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.                   

Intent

To be positive under all circumstances and its consequences

To understand what is negative attitudes and its consequences

To understand how to replace them with positive attitude

     Question

     Can you narrate the role of attitude in family?

     Can you narrate the role of attitude in academics and school?

     What are consequences of negative attitude? Whom it affects more?

      Is it possible to covert negative into positive attitude?

     Does perspective play a role in attitude?

   

     

Life Lesson:

1. When we face the problems boldly – Positive

Leave the scene – Negative

2. Accepting ones mistakes – Positive

Shirking the responsibility of our mistakes – Negative

3. Committing mistakes and realizing it – Positive

Justifying the mistakes and not ready to realize it – Negative

4. Visually challenged person works hard and gets a decent job – Positive

       Visually challenged person takes to begging – Negative

Discussion Quote:

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.

                                                                              - Martha Washington

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.                                 - William James

If you think you are beaten, you are;

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win, but think you can't

It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost,

For out in the world we find

Success being with a fellow's will;

It's all in the state of mind.

      Activity: Demo:

        

  

                      Half full half empty glass - Role of perspective

      Role play ideas:

         Scene 1: A person with negative attitude in academics or sports

         Scene 2: Happens to see a physically challenged person takes life with confidence –  

                          Realization happens

         Scene 3: Turning Negative into Positive attitude 

Dealing with Discouragment

Life Lesson: Dealing with Discouragement

 Description

·  Discouragement is a feeling  of bogged down or de-motivation

·   Discouragement happens when someone dissuades or finds fault.

·   Discouragement happens when the work does not get recognized or rewarded

 Intent

·     Understanding the aspects of discouragement

·     To gain strength in the face of discouraging situations

·     To get right perspective to overcome the discouragement

Questions

·       What happens to people when they feel discouraged?

·       When did you face discouraging situations in your life?

·       When some one discourages you what would be your reaction?

·       How to avoid discouragement?

·       Do you discourage yourself?

·       Can you give tips to handle discouragement?

Situations

•  Harini’s neighboring girl Manju got high marks.  Harini’s father got angry and rebukes her that she is worthless.
•  Geetha’s mother used to tell her that if she does not do household work and help her she would fail in the exam.
•  Kumar’s father used to tell him that he is fit only to maintain cows and goats.
•  Lakshman’s teacher used to tell before students that Lakshman has no brain in his head and has only mud inside his head.
• Arun worked hard to keep the house clean.  But his father often finds fault with him and belittle him with his cousin.

Discussion Quote:

 Overcoming Discouragement: Role play ideas

·         Scene 1: Getting discouraged due to failure or not recognized

·         Scene 2: Facing discouragement – Realization of the situation

·         Scene 3: Turning discouragement into motivation

Where is your Remote?

Life Lesson: Where is your Remote?

Description:

Remote is a control devise.  Every one knows the functions of a television remote.  When we operate from a remote television just obeys.  In the same way within every one of us a controlling power which determines our reactions to an event, our attitude to an event, our approach to an event..

Intent:

To prepare oneself to face any situation keeping the ones remote(control) with oneself

To analyze we give away our remote or keep the remote with us

To be aware that the our remote is with us and not with any body else

To explore possibilities of keeping our remote with us always

Life Lesson:

We have no choice whatever event takes place in outside, but certainly we have a choice of attitude towards the event.  We give away our remote not only to people but also to inert things like mobile, video games, television, face book etc., That which takes away our time and energy beyond our control, we should be aware and exercise sufficient alertness to deal with such instruments with firmness.  It does not mean we have to avoid entertainment but it does mean it should be according to our dictates.  But what we see around us many students give away their remote and act according to the dictates of the instrument. One has to take note instrument is life less and nothing to do with us.  We give life to it by giving away our remote.

Questions:

Do we all have our remote with us?

When do we give away our remote to others to operate us as they wish?

Can we give our remote to others? When?

What happens when we give away our remote?

Life Application ideas:

1. A brother was patient when his sister speaks harsh words or call by nick name – Remote with him

Reacting sharply with him and enter into quarrel – Remote given away

  

2. One boy is short in height in the class and for which every one makes fun of him.

If the short boy feels sad and remorseful of others comments – Remote given away

If he maintains cool head and not bothered much – Remote with him

3. Father has two kids. He brings one chocolate and given to younger one.

Elder one started crying and demands for a chocolate – Remote given away

It is good that my sister got the chocolate from my Dad – Remote with her.

4. In our hands we have TV remote.  But we give away our remote to TV programs.
5. In a class room everyone gets chances of speaking.    Those who do not make effort to think and hesitate to get up their remote is given away due to fear. Those who gets up their remote is with them.
6. When a handicap man begs – gives away his remote

When he works hard to earn his livelihood – Keeps his remote

7. Some one criticizes you are not beautiful – if we are sad and opt for cosmetics –

Remote given away.  If we are not perturbed over the remarks of other – our remote is with us.

8. When some one remarked, your English rubbish – if we are annoyed – we give away our remote.  If we accept criticism and then to improve our English vocabulary we become Master of the language. – Remote with us

Activity: Role play ideas:

Law of the Garbage Truck:

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital! 'This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck. 'He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Their remote is always with them.  Even if they slip their remote sometime they will get it back as quickly as possible.

Can you enact a role play based on the above situation in family or in school or with peer group or in society?

Are you a Master or Slave?

Life Lesson Topic: Are you a Master or Slave?

Description:

Human beings are naturally emotional.  We all pass through positive and negative emotions in our life.  We pass through so called negative emotions like blaming others, rude behaviour, getting upset over petty things, impatience, angry, anxiety, worry etc. and positive emotions like love, feeling good, happiness, patience, adjustment, strength etc. Each and every event in our life present us situations that come up with a test – Are you a Master or Slave to a particular situation?  Some times we become slaves to our emotions and other times we become master of the emotions.

Intent:

To motivate students for preparation to be a Master of his emotions

To motivate students to acquire positive emotions like love,

gratitude, happiness etc.

To help the student to be aware of the negative emotions

To enable him deal with others negative emotions 

Questions:

• Have you ever seen any one in your family or friends circle as Master of a situation in his life? When? Can you share?
• Many times in our lives when we face trying situations we stumble and succumb to a situation and thus become a slave to an emotion. How to handle such situations?
• When does one become a master and a slave?

Life Lesson:

In emotional intelligence, there is a life lesson. Giver of an emotion has got no choice whereas receiver has choice.  Here giver is one who speaks angry words or insults us in many ways.  Receiver is you.  It is your freedom to accept or not to accept what giver has given you through his scolding or insult.  Giver never decides and Receiver always decides.  Are you a giver or a receiver? Again are you a Slave or a Master?

Situations:

 (Following situations are given as clues for students to think and explore from their lives)

• A cricket match was going on.  A fielder missed an important catch.  When many fielders scolded him for the lapse, the captain approached the fielder with poise. The captain cheered him and patted him on the back and encouraged him, ‘Don’t bother you will be a great player’!  Afterwards that fielder played a remarkable game.  Who is the master?

• Priya was an IX std student.  She loved to watch Chutti TV (a children channel).  On a particular day, some guests were coming to Priya’s house.  As soon as Priya reached home from school, she started changing the TV channel and immersed in the program.  Priya’s mother called her again and again.  Priya did not respond.  Priya’s mother came from the kitchen and scolded Priya.  Priya got furious and threw the remote on the floor and closed the door.  Was Priya master or slave?

  

• Arun and Karthik were friends.  When they were playing tennis they got into quarrel on the issue of scores. Karthik claimed that he scored higher points. Arun got angry and slapped Karthik.  Who is the master?

• One day Asha went to her college late.  Usually she would sit in the front row but when she reached it was filled.  She did not like to sit alone in the last row so she called her friend Priya who was sitting in the front row. Priya was busy talking with her friends. She was waiting for a long time but she never turned up.  Professor arrived and class started.  Asha got angry and her mind started to fuming, ‘how many ways she had helped her, see how she behaves now!’  Hereafter I should not talk to her.  Now her mind asked her, ‘Do you want to be a Master or a Slave now?  If you want to be a Master, move on with Priya normally.  If you want to be a Slave you can get angry and stop talking with her’. Then she decided to be a Master of the situation.  When Priya came and asked sorry, she smiled and moved with her cordially.

• One day Kala’s elder sister Krithika got angry with Kala for not listening to her words.  When her friend Malathy came to their house, Krithika started blaming Kala.  Kala got upset and stopped talking with Krithika.  However, Kala tried she was not able to talk to Krithika and one week  passed.  Kala decided to be a Master of the situation.  She now started helping her sister Krithika.

 Activity: Role plays idea:

1. Kumar is senior computer programmer and very proficient. He is also friendly and helpful to his juniors. Ganesh, a junior colleague wanted to clear some doubt in programming and requested Kumar’s help.  Kumar asked him to come to his house on Sunday at 10 am.  Ganesh is living 10 km away from Kumar’s house.  Ganesh traveled by bus in rush and reached Kumar’s house only to find the door is locked.  Ganesh called Kumar’s mobile several times but received no answer.

2. If teacher scold you or your parent scold you or your friend scold you.       

What you do?  Will you also shout back? Or feel sad?

3. If your wants are not met you get upset and deny food

Students can devise role plays depicting a situation where one can raise oneself as Master of himself.

Inner Torch Light

Life Lesson: Inner Torch light

Description:

The Light signifies wisdom which would consistently remove darkness. We do right actions and some times we make mistakes and then repent for our failures. In this topic, we have taken torch light as a simile. Torch light signifies our Buddhi (discriminatory Intellect) which direct us to discriminate between right and wrong action. 

  

Intent:

• To identify and realize one’s own short comings, limitations and mistakes
• To be conscious and taking up responsibility for one’s own actions
• To be alert in our day to day actions and situations
• Introspecting the actions or mistakes done and converting the same into strengths
• To understand what is best for us and others 
• In short, be the change you want to see by keeping the torch light ‘ON

Life Lesson:

Though we all have our inner torch light with us, many times it goes ‘Off’.  When our torch light is ‘off’ we do either mistakes or not realizing it or refuse to rectify it or justify it or even blame others for our faults. When our torch light is ‘on’ we realize our position as it is and readily accept it, repent for it and willing to rectify it. It is a usual practice in our households when we make mistakes again and again, our elders used scold us – ‘buddhi kettu pochcha’(Is your intellect gone!) This topic enables us to explore and have right understanding of our mind. Quite often we hear, ‘I know I should not do it but I have done it.’ This is exactly because of our torch light is OFF.  If our torch light is ‘ON’ we will analyze and get the needed clarity over ‘why I should not do’ and ‘what happens if I do’ etc.

  

Questions:

·         Do we have the habit of looking back how better we could have performed a particular action or our reaction to a situation?

·         When our torch light is ‘OFF’ and when it is ‘ON’?

·         What is the benefit of keeping our torch light always ‘ON’?

·         We have the following options:

Immediately blaming others when something goes wrong or

hinking with an open mind how to set the situation right?

     Which option you want to choose?

Situations:

(Some of the clues are given by a Facilitator to students to think and explore themselves)

• One day I kept water in the gas and went to my room to work in the computer. The water started boiling very hot. My brother noticed the boiling water and turned the gas off.  At that time my torch light was OFF. Then, he told me that he would tie a hanky around his wrist whenever he keeps something on the stove for it would remind him to check every now and then. His suggestion was accepted - torch light ON.
• In TV, both useful and general programs are telecasted, if we spend much time in watching general programs which are not much useful, our torch light is OFF. If we watch only useful programs, our torch light is ON.

• One day I came late to school, the Teacher scolded me. I told the teacher that my mother took time to prepare lunch for me and so I came late. But actually I got up late in the morning.  My torch light was OFF. If I could have told the real reason, my torch light was ON.

• When some body scribbles in the currency note and say there is nothing wrong in it, his torch light is OFF and if say, I will not do it hereafter, then torch light is ON.

• When some body burns the rubber and plastic articles without realizing that it would pollute the environment. The torch light is OFF.

• When the class is going on.  I was talking with my friend.  Teacher asked why you are talking.  I told I am asking a doubt in the lesson.  My torch light was OFF.
• When I tell excuses for not doing my home work. My torch light was OFF.
• When I do not see the red signal on the road and cross it. My torch light was OFF.
• When I overtake the other person’s vehicle without caring the rules of the road. My torch light was OFF.

Put on your Inner Torchlight:

Keeping torch light always ‘ON’ (Some clues)

·         Be positive

·         Be aware and alert

·         Think before you speak

·         Accept the mistake and be determined not repeating it.

  

Activity: Role plays ideas

• When the class is going on.  Student was talking with his friend.  When teacher asked why you are talking? Student said,  ‘I am asking a doubt in the lesson’. 
• When a student tells excuses for not doing my home work.
• When a person does not see the red signal on the road and cross it.
• When a person overtakes the other person’s vehicle without caring the rules of the road.

Best Friend Worst Enemy

Life Lesson Topic: Our best friend and worst enemy

Description:

In day to day life, some of us have our best friends and enemies as well.  But the fact is, the real friend or enemy is not outside of us but inside. Our mind functions sometimes as our best friend or some other time as our worst enemy under the influence of circumstances.  If we run after the fancy of the mind and do whatever it demands, our mind becomes our worst enemy.  If we encourage the mind to think in the right direction and regulate it’s functioning, our mind becomes our best friend. 

Intent:

• To know the difference when our mind functions as a friend or enemy
• To encourage students to train their mind as a best friend
• To make conscious effort every day to achieve this purpose
• If mind acts according to my dictates then it is my friend
• If I act according to the dictates of my mind then it is my enemy

Example: Some persons involved in corrupt practices out of greed – their minds are their worst enemy.  People living a conscientious life at individual level, professional level, family level and social level – their minds are their best friend. 

Question:

When our mind turns into our worst enemy?

When our mind becomes our best friend?

What can we do to always befriend our mind?

What kind of practices is required in our daily life? 

Situation: 

Worst enemy:

(We have to provide some of the following clues to the students to enable them to think and express their views on the topic)

Þ    I want to study well to get good marks but I could not do so and my mind is wandering. 

Þ    At home my Dad and Mum scold me often and I argue with them.  I don’t want to argue.  But I could not do so.

Þ    I fought with my friend and I stopped talking with my friend.  After a few days my friend wanted to talk to me.  But I could not do so.

Þ    My friend calls me by nick name and mock at me.  I wanted to ignore his comments and don’t wish to take it serious.  But I could not do so.

Þ    I get amused when I tease my friends.  Some of them feel offended.  Some times I feel I should not hurt my friends’ feelings.  But I could not do so.

Þ    I am advised not to eat Ice cream and chocolates more. But I could not stop doing it when I get it.

Þ    Elders at home always give me useful advice.  I don’t give any heed to them though I want to follow some of them.

Þ    When we waste our time in gossiping and roaming during exam time.

Þ    When I expect flattery from others and do things to get others attention, my mind works as an enemy.

Best Friend: 

Þ    When my mind tempts me to go in wrong ways like smoking, drinking etc. and my mind says firm ‘No’, then it becomes my best friend.

Þ    When my friends tease me and make fun of me and my mind wants to  react sharply, I counsel my mind, after all they are my friends, don’t take them seriously. Then my mind is my friend.

Þ    Once upon a time my uncle gave lots of troubles to our family.  Many times I have seen my mother in tears.  One year back my uncle passed away with heart attack.  His family is now in dire circumstances.  My mother has started doing all kinds of help to my uncle’s family.  Now I can say my mother’s mind is her best friend.  I am also supporting my mother.

Þ    When every one of us leaves the class room, I will wait and switch off the light and fan.

Þ    When I am courageous my mind becomes best friend.

Þ    I talked with my friend casually who betrayed me to the teacher the other day.

Þ    When I am true to my friends my mind becomes best friend.

Life Lesson:

Direction and regulation is the key to make the mind our best friend.  In order to make the mind our best friend we need to adopt certain practices at specific times every day on a regular basis.  It may be breathing exercises or regular meditation or prayer according to our faith and family tradition.  Life teaches us hard lessons through hard way when we miss simple lessons it teaches through a soft way.  If we wish to lead a purposeful life, as a first step it is necessary to take conscious effort to save our life from the clutches of worst enemy, the undisciplined and unregulated mind. 

Roles play ideas:

Place: Class room

Scene 1 : Prem is busy drawing some sketches while science subject is going on. Next day when teacher asked him questions on the lesson, he could not answer.

Scene 2 : Prem is busy drawing some sketches with interest when science teacher enters he stops doing it and starts listening attentively.

A student collects funds for Orphanage and using it for selfish reason.

He hands over the collected money with enthusiasm.

If we skip the meals in anger because Amma is scolding – our mind is enemy

If we analyse the truth of Amma’s words – our mind is best friend

When students are fighting in favour of Cinema stars like Vijay, Surya, who is greater – mind is enemy. When we try to follow the great ones like Kalam, Vivekananda – Friend