Respect in day-to-day life – दैनिक जीवन में आदर व सत्कार (November, 2015)

As we spoke on the last Hawan, as part of this month assignment, kids will focus on and write about real life examples of the topic we covered last month: Respect. Based on what kids shared, it’s clear that they built a fine theoretical understanding of the topic. However, without internalizing the concept, they may not be able to benefit from it as much as possible. Therefore, it’s critical they start noticing and appreciating live applications of Respect in day to day scenarios in life (दैनिक जीवन में आदर व सत्कार).

To make sure kids are not just thinking of living objects only when asked to quote examples of respect, parents may have to help them see other angles of respect – in typical scenarios. For instance, when a kid changes his mind after taking a few bites from his plate full of food and throws the rest into trash, it is a perfect example to convey and discuss the Respect aspect. One may consider it to be a case of wastage, but it is also showing lack of respect. Who is being disrespected here: first, the food itself; then, his mother/cook, who spent life’s precious time cooking it; his parents, who spent their money to purchase the raw material; trees, plants, earth, water, sun, farmer, and all the workers who produced, shipped and sold the material; then, he is also disrespecting those unfortunate kids in this world whose parents cannot afford to provide them with two meals a day.

Another small yet profound enough to convey the message is a case when a kid comes home and throws her jacket on the floor. This act not only makes the jacket dirty and shortens its life, but also requires her parents to spend extra time cleaning the house. It’s another example where disrespect is imparted in indirect ways.

This list can be very long. Here are a few categories of objects to consider that command our respect (from the last month’s article):
– God (first and foremost);
– Living things: Self, parents, teachers, noble/learned people, elders, siblings, family members, fellow citizens, animals;
– Inanimate objects:  Objects that help acquire knowledge (books, notepad, pen, pencil, bag, school, school property and so on), scriptures and any object that gives spiritual knowledge, objects used to worship (hawan kund and associated stuff, temple), nature (plants, trees), shelter (house), food (meal, fruits, water), clothes, public property;
– Qualities: Beliefs, rights and feelings (our own as well as others’), relationships

This month, kids will quote real examples from their own lives. Please make sure that the examples being quoted are personal – not pointing at others. In other words, kids are observing themselves – not other’s behaviors – in the examples.

Let’s start discussing at least one live instance everyday until the Sunday.

ओ३म् शांति ओ३म्!
हर्ष मैंदीरत्ता