HONEY-THIEF CURRICULUM FOR SCHOOLS AN AID TO DEVELOPING A HEALTHY BODY, FOCUSED MIND & MORAL VALUES FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE INTRODUCTION Nature Teachers is based on lessons learned by Datta from observing all of nature. King Yadu was impressed by the sight of the youth named Datta. Datta was a vision of bliss and tranquillity. Lord Datta shared the lessons he learned with King Yadu, which resulted in Datta’s peaceful countenance. Lessons learned from the teachers of nature are meant to instill good values in students. The lessons will help students develop understanding and compassion for others and give them tools for facing challenges in life with a positive attitude. His Holiness Dr. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji says, “The End of Knowledge is Education and The End of Education is Character”. It is hoped that the twenty-four (24) Teachers of Datta will help students build good character and lead them to live pure and peaceful lives. The moral and social values are taken from “Sri Datta Darshanam (Vision of Datta) by Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidanada Swamiji”. Lessons such as patience, forgiveness, serving others, treating everyone equally are lessons that Datta learned from Gurus such as the Earth and Water and are included as part of the lessons to help student develop good habits. The episodes from Swamiji’s life have been taken from the biography “Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda”. Other famous short stories are written in a conversational language for easy narration in class. Physical exercises related to nature teachers is included as part of a class to reinforce the lesson of each particular teacher in nature. The physical exercises will also instill discipline and help students to develop physical well-being, focus and concentration of mind. These benefits are achieved by introducing student to the following; 1. Coordination of the breath with the postures, such as slow movements with slow, deep breathing should be practiced with the physical postures, 2. Holding of a posture for ten to twelve seconds for beginners and extending the holding time from thirty seconds to one minute as students become more skillful with the practice. The physical exercises combined with the breathing exercise help balance the subtle energies within the body. ii Physical and breathing exercises are extracted from the following texts “Nadisuddhi Vyayamas Practicing Methods” and “Yoga Abhyasa” by His Holiness Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. Kriya yoga practices as per the Datta Kriya Yoga tradition and modified for children are included in the yoga exercises. Simple and easy mantras and prayers are included for daily practice. The mantras contain seed sounds which will help effect a positive change in the consciousness of the children. If the school encourages all children to chant the mantra it will create a positive environment for growth and studies at the school and within the community where it is practiced. The Grace of a Spiritual Master (Sadguru) ensures that students will in time blossom into brilliant lights in this world with regular practice of the teachings imparted by ancient masters. It is His Holiness Dr. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda’s wish that all persons should benefit from the teachings of Dattatreya through Nature Teachers, positive musical message videos, seed sounds and most important the practice of the moral and spiritual teachings and yoga exercises. There is no better time to start learning and practicing than as a child and the best place to start is in a school environment that is best suited to growth and accomplishments. I would like to thank my friends and family for help with the all aspects of development of the curriculum for each of natures’ twenty-four (24) teachers. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji (Appaji) for giving me the opportunity to present such a wonderful practice for schools. This book is a small offering at his lotus feet. May His blessings flow to all the teachers and student for success in life. JAYA GURU DATTA iii DEDICATED TO THE LOTUS FEET OF HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI SRI GANAPATHY SACHCHIDANANDA SWAMIJI A MASTER PERFECTED IN THE ART OF YOGA KRIYA YOGA (YOGA OF ACTION FOR SELF REALIZATION) GYANA YOGA (YOGA OF KNOWLEDGE) NADA YOGA (YOGA OF MUSIC) BHAKTI YOGA (YOGA OF DEVOTION) KARMA YOGA (YOGA OF ACTION IN SERVICE TO MANKIND) iv NOTE TO TEACHERS The teaching for a day includes the lesson learnt by Datta from one of Nature’s Teacher. The following guidelines for instructing a class is recommended; (i) Begin with an opening prayer as explained later in the curriculum. (ii) Discuss the lesson learned from the nature teacher for the day e.g. Datta learnt from the honey-thief, that a person should not become a hoarder. One will become depressed if he or she is a hoarder as their peace of mind is easily affected by things they lose. (iii) A story is then told which reinforces the lesson that Datta learned. This is followed up with a class discussion on the lessons learnt through a question and answer session. (iv) Physical exercises related to the Nature teacher is then taught to the class. Lessons learned from the Honey-thief has an associated document with physical exercises such as; the bear and bee poses, bumble bee breath, etc. (v) To relax the children some simple breathing exercises are practiced after the physical exercises. Note: The details of the physical exercises are included in a separate document on the web page related to the Nature Teachers for that particular class. (i) The musical message video sayings are then shown to the class. The videos can be paused on the sayings and the class asked to repeat the sayings a few times. At the end of the videos the teacher can ask who remembers the musical message sayings and ask them to come to front of class and say it. (ii) Children can create a journal to demonstrate how they have applied the lessons learned from each of Teachers of Nature in their daily life. This will further reinforce lessons learned from the classroom session. v The short stories are written in a manner to be used in the classroom for drama and short skits. Students enjoy acting the story and it helps to develop oration and presentation skills in students. The physical exercises are developed for a practice over a few weeks. This will help students develop a routine for practicing the exercises. Additional exercises are added, sometimes every week. The short stories, physical exercises and musical message saying (MMS) video weblinks are included to enhance and help reinforce positive behaviour and attitudes of students. The physical exercises consist of fun exercises which keep the body healthy, flexible and strong! The coordination of breath with movement will help bring balance and calm to students’ mind, the holding of poses for longer periods as students become comfortable with each pose, will allow for developing focus and concentration of mind. Teachers can use one exercise during the school day as a presence of mind exercise to bring quiet to a restless class. A recommended format for conducting classes as follows: Teachers can ask students what they think Lord Datta learnt from the Honey-thief. By prompting the students, they may come up with the correct answers. Then you list all the lessons that was learned from the Honey-thief; for example, one loses their peace of mind if they hoard things as they always need to protect their possessions and will become depressed if they lose their possessions. The short story can be told which will demonstrate one of the lessons learned. This can be followed by discussions with the students on lessons learned from the story. The students can then practice the physical exercises related to that teacher in nature. The musical message videos are shown to reinforce the lessons learned. Prayers and songs can be taught during class or any religious instruction classes. A journal can be kept recording actions performed by the student that demonstrates how the lessons learned are applied in daily life. The journal will encourage students to put into practice lessons learned each week. The journal is a daily recording of practices or reflections that students have learnt from nature. Half an hour can be taken at the start or end of the school day to complete the journal entries for the day. vi HONEY-THIEF CURRIUCLUM FOR SCHOOLS WEEK ONE LESSON ON THE DANGERS OF HOARDING HONEY-THIEF CURRIUCLUM FOR SCHOOLS CHANT THE PRAYER TO THE GURU AT THE START AND END OF A CLASS Let children look at their hands and ask if they see lines. Tell them that their feet also have special lines. Let them examine the sole of their feet. Explain to the children about the (i) special lines in the sole of the Guru’s Feet and (ii) the meaning of the lines through the Guru Paduka Shlokam and (iii) the Guru’s thoughts are always with God only his feet remain on the Earth so blessings from God flow through the feet of the Guru. This is reason why the feet of saints are considered as Holy. We seek the blessings through prayer to the feet of the Guru to help us during our class and yoga practice. GURU PADUKA SHLOKAM OM Shree Bhoo-yu-ta Shree Hari Chih-ni-taa-bhyaam A-gast-ya Ray-khaa-di-bhih Run-chi-taa-bhyaam Ni-goo-da Beej-aak-sha-ra Mu-dri-taa-bhyaam Na-mo Na-ma-s Sad-gu-ru Paa-du-kaa-bhyaam MEANING OF GURU PADUKA SHLOKAM I bow to those sacred Sadguru padukas (feet of the Guru) on which are seen the lines symbolizing: Hari the one who sustains the world, Shree Devi, the one who bestows prosperity in the form of wealth and knowledge Goddess of the Earth (Bhoo Devi) who is the support of living beings Agastya (expert in medicinal herbs) and several other sacred and secret lines.