Hari Om,
Class started with opening prayer and meditation.
Today’s class revisited key characters from the Mahabharata. When I asked what everyone remembered from the previous class, there was complete silence—no surprise, as it had been quite a while. So we refreshed our memories using engaging “What if?” scenarios:
What if Bhishma had not taken his vow?
What if Bhishma had not brought the three princesses for Vichitraveerya?
What if Gandhari had not married Dhritarashtra?
These questions helped us re-examine the characters and the lives they chose to live.
We reflected on their nature and actions:
Krishna lived with joy and unwavering commitment to dharma.
Duryodhana was driven by jealousy, anger, and a desire for revenge.
Yudhishthira followed dharma rigorously—perhaps at times too rigidly—and we discussed where he might have acted differently.
Bhima was impulsive.
Arjuna often struggled with emotions and inner conflict.
We then connected these lessons to our own lives. We spoke about the importance of not acting impulsively, thinking before we act, and remembering that even seemingly small actions have consequences. Life will present challenges, and our values will be tested.
The key question we reflected on was: When faced with such moments, how will we stand up for what is right?
- Jody Nair
(for Rashmi Kashi and Jacqueline Gaines)
