Jain Center of Greater Boston Pathshala is one of the oldest Pathshala in North America. This Level assumes students with previous exposure to Jainism. Other Pathshala teachers, students, and home self study families are welcome to follow this and post questions.
If you have any questions for comments please contact Level 5B teacher, Yogendra Jain (yokjain@yahoo.com) at 781-856-0769.
Class: JCGB Level 5B Pathshala Teacher - Yogendra Jain Material Used - Jain Way of Life Book
I asked the Level 5B kids - what they want to do this year: - less theory - more applications - how religion has started - phenomenon about - why we have to do puja and rituals - how to talk about Jainism
My Feedback: - Good feedback - We need to review fundamentals also
What we did in Class: - Meditation for few minutes with all Pathshala students - What is our goal - to be happy, healthy, content and others around us also be happy, healthy, and content - What prevents us - Our Kshayas (passions) - Krodh (anger), Maan (Ego), Maya (Deceit), Lobh (Greed) - we must manage our passions - to do this - we must have awareness - must have knowledge - must change our behavior / conduct - Non-Violence - self, family, friends, enemies - Non- Absolutism
We had a guest lecturer - Dr. Manoj Jain from Memphis - he explained the deeper meaning of NV - Non Violence, NA - Non Absolutism, NP - Non-Possessiveness; - he gave an example of a patient who was coming out of illness and Manoj asked her - what is the date today, what year, who is the president - and her response to the last question was quite reveling. What was the NA view of the patient (Absolutist) , what was the NA view of nurse (Acceptance).
- Non-Possessiveness - Needs and Want.. - Reviewed the homework - Reviewed the elevator pitch and discussed how to give simple elevator pitch
Homework for November 2010: - Write a simple elevator pitch - Read chapter in JWOL - Treasures in Jainism - page 9 (we calculated that by the time one graduates from high school - a typical JCGB pathshala student has had 10,000 hour of learning in math and sciences and only 200 hours in Jainism; Does this strengthen your faith in Jainism? - Read Chapter in JWOL on 24 Reasons to Believe in and Live a Jain Way of Life - and be ready to give a 2 min. talk on what three reasons appeal to you the most
Class Name: JCGB Level 5b Access on-Line: Go to JAINA.org and go to Education and click on JCGB Pathshala Teacher: Yogendra Jain (yokjain@yahoo.com, 781-856-0769 - please feel free to call me anytime if you have questions, ideas, etc.)
Students present: - Nirali Vagadia - Sajani Shah - Aastha Kodia - Nisha Shah - Priyam Turkhia - Sagar Shah, - Dhruv Jain
Our Class Goal/Vision: (Discussed What we want to accomplish over the next two years) - Learn and do meditation and relaxation - Learn and be able to teach to your parents Jain Elevator Pitch - Do a project for YJA/JAINA (summer of 2010 or 2011) - Learn to think and make decision in context of Jain Core Values - Design and Develop a Jain Museum at our new temple (in classes) - Do self analysis
What we did / discussed in the class: - Learned meditation and relaxation technique - Did 15 minutes of meditation - Discussed goals for the next two years - Discussed religion versus science - Calculated the number of hours spent on religion versus studying science (500 hours per year in science versus 1000's of hours in entertainment, and at the most 30 hour in religion) - Brainstorming on why we have faith in Jainism - Read/ Discussed Treasures in Jainism (JWOL Book Chapter reading) - Homework given
Homework (for Sunday January 10th, 2010 Pathshala) : (less than 1 hour) - When doing school homework - take a deep breath after turning each page or doing a new problem - Read chapter on Non-Violence in Jain Way of Life book - Read JWOL Book - chapter on A Day in a Life of a Jain - Read Marriage and Commitment - Ask your parent "What is Jainism" and bring back to the class their response.
Dear Level 5B Students, Welcome to Pathshala this year. As you may have heard from Pathshala students that have graduated - level 5B class is lot's of fun and lot's of learning. I understand that some of you are very busy applying to colleges and some getting ready to take SAT's. It is for this reason we try to minimize Pathshala home work. I would like to encourage you to review the attached summary sheet. We will have a short quiz on this to assess how much you have forgotten over the summer :) and what areas you need to review further.
.
The following is the plan
Sunday September 13th - Level 5B - Start the class with meditation / relaxation (See JWOL book chapter on Meditation/Relaxation - and Rakhee - you've been through this) - Take a short informal Quiz (based on the first few pages of the summary sheet) - Review the Quiz questions/ responses and review basics of Jainism - Memorize the Elevator pitch (each of you will get JWOL cards) http://www.jainlink.org/?Elevatorpitch d - Homework: - Read Pages 9-18 - Treasures in Jainism and NV, NA, and NP in JWOL); - Be able to say the Elevator Pitch
If you have any question or suggestions, please email or call me anytime!
Yogendra Jain Level 5B Pathshala Teacher Jain Center of Greater Boston email: yokjain@yahoo.com 781-856-0769
******** Essence of Jainism (an Elevator Speech)
When someone asks you “What is Jainism”
Jain Way of Life
Jainism is a religion and a way of life. For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing vegetarianism, yoga, meditation, and environmentalism. Jains have three core practices: Non-Violence, Non-Absolutism, and Non-Possessiveness (Ahimsa, Anekantvad, and Aparigraha – AAA).
Non-Violence is compassion and forgiveness in thoughts, words, and deeds towards all living beings. For this reason, Jains are vegetarians. Non- Absolutism is respecting views of others. Jains encourage dialog and harmony with other faiths. Non-Possessiveness is the balancing of needs and desires, while staying detached from our possessions.
Jains believe in the existence of a Soul – in each living being – which is eternal and divine. JAIN WAY OF LIFE (JWOL) respects and honors all living beings through the practice of Non-Violence, Non-Absolutism, and Non-Possessiveness. We are all interdependent and, by living a JAIN WAY OF LIFE (JWOL), we can bring peace and spirituality to our lives and to those around us.
Posted By Yogendra K. Jain,
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Updated: Sunday, May 3, 2009
Both Grade 11 and 12 will be required to take this exam. All test material is on the above blog. Grade 12 will have to pass the exam to graduate. Please be prepared. The exam will be 1 hour written exam.
Good luck.
Yogendra
Graduating class (kids in 12th grade) in level 5B will be required to take a final exam. Attached is a summary sheet. To pass the exam- the student must know the following: 1. Be able to demonstrate simple concepts of relaxation and meditation 2. Know the major Jain concepts 3. Be able to give the Elevator pitch http://www.jainlink.org/?Elevatorpitch 4. Write an essay on one of the concepts
Homework for January 09:Continue reading JWOL Pages 146, 7, 8 (Jain Philosophy - Mini Overview)
December 08 Class: What we did:
-Meditation - Besides body relaxation medication
and concentration
-Read first few pages of Page 145
-Worked on the GEDA Theory (this is a new concept
that we worked on)
-Discussed mixed marriage issues
-Naman Shah visited the classroom to talk about
NorthEast ski trip in Feb. (together with NY Jain Center) – Naman will take the
lead.
GEDA Theory: Passion (GEDA – Greed, Ego, Deceit, Anger) is an integral
part of human nature.The purpose of
this life is to manage GEDA and if we can manage this well, our happiness and
the happiness of people around us significantly increases.Such infectious happiness multiplier increases
our planetary happiness.The question
is what can help us manage our GEDA.Our
knowledge, experience, and our ability to keep our mind open (Anekantvad)
allows us to better manage GEDA.Jainism
is managing GEDA.
Homework: for December Read chapter 145 (Jain Philosophy - Mini Overview)
What we did in Class:
Meditation - Besides body relaxation medication and concentration - tried
a 2 min. focus on your favorite food (aroma, taste, ... moment by moment... )
Mahavira's timeline
If you were reenergizing a religion in today's what would your focus be:
- student 1: Understanding - Have understanding for others..
- student 2: Tolerance
- student 3: Nonviolence, non-greed, non-ego, tolerance
- student 4: Be respectful, spread the wealth, be respectful, be satisfied,
non-violence
Discussed Mahavira’s timeline
Reviews page 146 – Universal substances
Reviewed Nine Tattvas:
-Talked about what made you angry ..
oWhat
could you have done to be less angry
§Walked
away
§Step
away from the situation
§Take
a deep breath, relax and meditate
§Don’t
let a situation get to you (example: Tiger Woods only gets upset at a bad shot
for 10 steps and then forgets about it and focuses on the next shot)
Review Nine Tattvas
Review Door of Inflow - we drew the 14 doors of Nirjara
Some brainstorming on what the name should be for the LA Convention:
2.Homework: Go up to the board and draw the Karma
theory sketch?
3.JWOL book: Discuss Non-Violence and the various
nuances
- Issue: If you had a chance to assassinate Hitler before he signs off on the
orders to kill 6 million Jews, would you do that?
4.Discuss Anekantvad (used block diagram of life, truth, experience, etc.)
5.Discuss Non-Possessions – give examples
-Homework:
- Read JWOL book (page 27) – memorize five facts on vegetarian
- Read JWOL – Mini-Jain Philosophy (page 145)– Read the chapter; know the Tattvas and
Universal Substances
If you need help, please contact me at yokjain@yahoo.com
Posted By Yogendra K. Jain,
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Home work for Nov. Class: - Reacd pages 12-20 in JWOL (Three core principles) - Be prepared to give a talk on these in front of the class
Sept. 08 - What we did:
Students who attended: Nupur Jain, .Nisha Shah,Naman Shah,Umang Jain,Rahul Jain,Malhar Teli
- Meditation for 5 min. - Pop Quiz (see below - most of them did not do well - its seems that they have forgotten most of what they have learned in the past) - Taught : 1. Meaning of Namokar Mantra - did a role play; kids were asked to take up of the type of parmestis and each had to come up in front of the class and tell about themselves. 2. Read the page in JWOL on Jain Treasures and reviewed them 3. Major topic discussion: Theory of Soul - drew Soul/Karma on the board and how more + and - happen; how fruitions takes place; how to get rid of these Karmas;
Pop Quiz on day
1.Meaning
of Namo Siddhanam
2.What
are the 4 of 15 treasures in Jain scriptures which are validated by modern day
science
3.What
are three core principles in Jainism
4.Appx.How many cows are slaughtered each day in
US
5.Name
3 of the 5 universal substances
6.How
many Gunsthans arethere
7.Name
2 Jain scriptures
8.What
is the difference between Ghati and Aghati Karma
9.What
are the two major difference between Jainism and Christianity
JCGB Pathshala - Level 5B - Curriculum for Year 2007-2008
Note: JWOL refers to the book Jain Way of Life - A Guide to Compassionate, Healthy, and Happy Living. PDF version of most of the sections below can also be found on can also be found on JWOL link on JainLink home page or you can order the book at www.jwol.org.
Objectives / Measurable
Goals for the year – Requirement for graduation:
-Know the elevator speech (on back of JWOL) or go to YouTube and search for jain way of life or the back cover of JWOL book
-Write a minimum 15 line Jain prayer in English
-Do 1 puja alone or with others and listen to their meaning (page 149 JWOL)
-Take a vow for limiting one or two possessions
-Teach 1 hour another Pathshala
-Do meditation/relaxation 4 times (page 90 JWOL)
-Have fun, make friends, and prepare the foundation to enjoy practice of
Jainism life long
-Register on JainLink and ask a question to a scholar
-Donate $2 per month (page 82 JWOL)
-Be able to give a 3 min. talk on Jainism
-Take My JWOL self evaluation (Page 35 JWOL)
-Know - Memorize the following and
be able to give a verbal and oral test on this:
oMeaning of Namokar Mantra (page 6 JWOL)
oKnow 7 of the 15 treasures in Jainism (page 9 JWOL)
oThree core Jain Principles (page 12-18 JWOL)
oKnow how many cattle, calves or
chickens are slaughtered every day(page 30 JWOL)
oKnow 4 of the 12 Bhavnas (Reflections) (page 94 JWOL)
oKnow the 5 things you will agree on with your future spouse before
marrying(page 70 JWOL)
oKnow why you should not take alcohol in college and beyond page 101
JWOL)
oKnowthe Jain art of dying (page
122 JWOL)
oKnow three major Jain festivals and their meaning ( page 127 JWOL)
oKnow six Universal substances (page 145 JWOL)
oKnow Nine Tattvas (page 144JWOL
)
oKnow how many Gunsthans are there and their relevance (page 145 JWOL)
oKnow how to get rid of Karmas (page 144 JWOL)
oKnow Jain Universe symbol and Swastika and their meaning (page 145
JWOL)
oKnow 4 of the 10 Dharmas of the Soul (page 133 JWOL)
oKnownames of 3 Jain scriptures
and name of two authors (page 158 JWOL)
oKnow the two major differences between Jainism and Christianity, Islam,
and Hindusim, and Buddhism (page 162 JWOL)
Other
Goals and Objectives:
-Strengthen faith in Jainism by looking at it from historical,
religious, practical, and scientific perspective
-Learn and be able to do relaxation and meditation
-Know the scripture / philosophy plates on the JCGB temple walls
-Learn the benefit of limiting possessions and take 5 limited vow for
limited time
-Develop critical thinking and interest in spiritual subjects
-Write one case study – ½ page -each (on a topic which will be discussed in class and then documented –
response in 2 pages)
Please bring a notebook and pen and this
handout with each class as well as printout of homework.
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