Teacher: Shri. Soham Pathak & Shri. Roochir Purani
TEXTBOOK INFORMATION: This year, we will be using two textbooks from the Purna Vidya Curriculum, Human Development and Spiritual Growth and Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita. You may order these books online or call the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam bookstore and arrange for a pickup. To order them online, use these buttons.
Students of Religion 5
In preparation for the coming crescendo of your Bal-Vihar education, I would like to welcome you to another exciting year of learning and dialog. I personally enjoyed teaching Religion 4 last year and we are going to have a very fulfilling final year. I would ask that you bring the same enthusiasm for learning and dialog as you did last year. This year is very different from last year in the sense that you will be graduating from Bal-Vihar. The next phase after Bal is Tarun (young adult). This year you will be assessing which tools and concepts you are going to intertwine into your DNA. This year you will be taking key cornerstones of the Hindu Dharma and be prepared to explore them on your own and with those more learned than you. I am here to provide a nudge in this direction.
The 2 general areas of focus will be:
Purna Vidya: Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita
Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita Text Book is the twelfth of twelve parts in the Purna Vidya series of books. This volume introduces to the older teenager the most widely known scripture of Vedic Tradition namely Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita is considered to encapsulate the essential teachings that are contained in Vedas, the original scripture of Vedic or Hindu religious tradition. The teaching is in the form of a dialogue between Arjuna, the prince and Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the Lord. The text book provides a background explanation of the context of the Gita and explains the verses of the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita. The second chapter of Bhagavad Gita is looked upon as the gateway to Bhagavad Gita since it encapsulates the essence of the teaching that is contained in all the eighteen chapters of the Gita. Hence it is an ideal chapter for youngsters in order to develop within themselves a desire to study the Gita in detail at a later date. The text book also contains exercises in the form of topics and questions that stimulate independent thinking and group discussion.
Purna Vidya: Human Development and Spiritual Growth Human Development and Spiritual Growth Text Book is the tenth of twelve parts in the Purna Vidya series of books. This volume contains as its subject matter several essential topics that are of relevance to teenagers. These topics are explored from the standpoint of normal psychological development. It covers essential milestones from birth to adulthood. Issues that adolescents struggle with such as self identity, cultural and sexual identity, peer pressure, self image and so on are not only addressed but also discussed in an open teaching format that encourages group participation. Spiritual Growth in an individual on the basis of Vedic tradition, philosophy and practice forms the second half of topics covered in this part. The text book is accompanied by a separate book, ‘Guidelines for Teaching Human Development and Spiritual Growth’ meant for adults to teach this text with a well defined syllabus plan which can be utilized in classroom, group or individual basis.
In preparation for the coming crescendo of your Bal-Vihar education, I would like to welcome you to another exciting year of learning and dialog. I personally enjoyed teaching Religion 4 last year and we are going to have a very fulfilling final year. I would ask that you bring the same enthusiasm for learning and dialog as you did last year. This year is very different from last year in the sense that you will be graduating from Bal-Vihar. The next phase after Bal is Tarun (young adult). This year you will be assessing which tools and concepts you are going to intertwine into your DNA. This year you will be taking key cornerstones of the Hindu Dharma and be prepared to explore them on your own and with those more learned than you. I am here to provide a nudge in this direction.
The 2 general areas of focus will be:
Purna Vidya: Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita
Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita Text Book is the twelfth of twelve parts in the Purna Vidya series of books. This volume introduces to the older teenager the most widely known scripture of Vedic Tradition namely Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita is considered to encapsulate the essential teachings that are contained in Vedas, the original scripture of Vedic or Hindu religious tradition. The teaching is in the form of a dialogue between Arjuna, the prince and Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the Lord. The text book provides a background explanation of the context of the Gita and explains the verses of the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita. The second chapter of Bhagavad Gita is looked upon as the gateway to Bhagavad Gita since it encapsulates the essence of the teaching that is contained in all the eighteen chapters of the Gita. Hence it is an ideal chapter for youngsters in order to develop within themselves a desire to study the Gita in detail at a later date. The text book also contains exercises in the form of topics and questions that stimulate independent thinking and group discussion.
Purna Vidya: Human Development and Spiritual Growth Human Development and Spiritual Growth Text Book is the tenth of twelve parts in the Purna Vidya series of books. This volume contains as its subject matter several essential topics that are of relevance to teenagers. These topics are explored from the standpoint of normal psychological development. It covers essential milestones from birth to adulthood. Issues that adolescents struggle with such as self identity, cultural and sexual identity, peer pressure, self image and so on are not only addressed but also discussed in an open teaching format that encourages group participation. Spiritual Growth in an individual on the basis of Vedic tradition, philosophy and practice forms the second half of topics covered in this part. The text book is accompanied by a separate book, ‘Guidelines for Teaching Human Development and Spiritual Growth’ meant for adults to teach this text with a well defined syllabus plan which can be utilized in classroom, group or individual basis.