{"id":1124,"date":"2025-04-06T15:09:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T19:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/?p=1124"},"modified":"2025-09-20T17:03:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T21:03:32","slug":"what-are-the-upanishads-lets-start-our-journey-with-the-kathopanishad-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/?p=1124","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Upanishads &#8211; Let\u2019s Start Our Journey with the Kathopanishad (April 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kathopanishad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you may recall, last month&#8217;s assignment asked kids to share what scripture they wanted to learn about. To our delight, more than 80% of you expressed your desire to explore the Upanishads! We listened and took note of your interest. As a result, we&#8217;ll be taking a detour in the next few months to cover some major Upanishads together, starting with <strong>Kathopanishad as this month\u2019s assignment<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BTW, have you ever wondered what happens after we die? Or asked, \u201cWho am I, really?\u201d or \u201cWhat is the right thing to do?\u201d Believe it or not, kids like you have asked these questions thousands of years ago\u2014and the answers were passed down in special teachings called the <strong>Upanishads<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s go on a beautiful journey to explore these ancient ideas, starting with one of the most powerful stories ever told: <strong>The Kathopanishad<\/strong>\u2014the story of a curious boy named <strong>Nachiketa<\/strong> who had the courage to question even Death!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>So, What Are the Upanishads?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The word <em>Upanishad<\/em> means \u201csitting down close to a teacher.\u201d Imagine a quiet forest, a gentle breeze, and a wise teacher sharing deep secrets about life with a curious student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM.png 1024w, https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM-90x90.png 90w, https:\/\/hawan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ChatGPT-Image-Apr-21-2025-07_18_24-PM-75x75.png 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Upanishads are ancient Indian texts that talk about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The nature of our true self.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What happens after death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to live a meaningful life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The power of wisdom, silence, and self-discovery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These are not stories about gods and magic\u2014they are <strong>conversations<\/strong> about the deepest truths of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Meet Our First Upanishad: The Kathopanishad<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One day, Nachiketa sees his father giving away old, weak cows as part of a ritual. Nachiketa feels this isn&#8217;t right. He asks, \u201cFather, to whom will you give me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His father, annoyed by the questions, says in anger:<br><strong>\u201cI give you to Yama, the God of Death!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, Nachiketa takes it seriously\u2026 and begins his journey to meet <strong>Yamacharya<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nachiketa arrives at Yamacharya\u2019s home\u2014but Yamacharya isn\u2019t there. Nachiketa waits for <strong>three days<\/strong> without food or water. When Yamacharya returns, he feels sorry for making a guest wait. So, he offers <strong>three boons<\/strong> (wishes) to make up for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Nachiketa\u2019s Three Wishes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Let my father be peaceful<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Nachiketa wants his father to be calm and loving when he returns. Yama grants this.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Teach me the fire ritual<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> He asks for a special fire ritual that leads to heaven. Yama teaches him this too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What happens after death?<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> This is the big one. Nachiketa wants to know:<br><em>\u201cDo we still exist after we die? Or do we disappear?\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Yamacharya tries to distract him by offering gold, long life, music, and riches. But Nachiketa doesn\u2019t give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>He wants truth, not temptation.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong> Yamacharya is impressed\u2014and begins to teach him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Yamacharya Teaches Nachiketa<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the deep truths from their conversation in a very simple language:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Atman<\/strong>: Your true self\u2014the part of you that never dies\u2014is called the <em>Atman<\/em>. It is pure, peaceful, and always free.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Body and Soul<\/strong>: Imagine your body is a chariot. Your senses are the horses, your mind holds the reins, and your real self\u2014the Atman\u2014is the one sitting inside, quietly guiding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two Paths<\/strong>: In life, we often choose between two paths:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Preyas<\/strong> (what is pleasant, fun, easy)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shreyas<\/strong> (what is right, wise, lasting)<br>Wise people choose <strong>Shreyas<\/strong>, even if it\u2019s harder.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Character Traits Can We Learn from This?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be <strong>curious<\/strong> like Nachiketa. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask big questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be <strong>brave<\/strong> in your search for truth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t just chase what feels good\u2014think about what is <strong>right<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your <strong>inner self<\/strong> is strong, peaceful, and beyond fear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though this story is thousands of years old, the questions Nachiketa asked are still the ones we ask today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Assignment for Our Young Explorers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Points to Contemplate (Just Think &#8211; Do Not Start Writing Yet)<\/strong>:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why did Nachiketa ask for the first boon\u2014to bring peace to his father?&nbsp; (Hint: What does this say about how Nachiketa felt about his family?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What did Nachiketa ask for in his second boon? Why was this important? (Hint: It\u2019s something about a fire ritual\u2014why do you think he chose that?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What was Nachiketa\u2019s third and final question? Why do you think he didn\u2019t pick something fun or rich? (Hint: Would most people make the same choice?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What do these three questions tell us about Nachiketa? What kind of person asks for peace in the family, knowledge for others, and truth for themselves? (Use words like kind, brave, focused, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which of the three questions do you think was the hardest to ask or understand? Why?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you were given three wishes like Nachiketa, would you choose the same ones? Why or why not?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Yama tries to distract Nachiketa with gold, music, and long life\u2014but Nachiketa says no. What does that tell us about how he sees life and truth?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does the story teach us about what is pleasant vs. what is right? Can you give an example from your own life?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you could ask one question to a wise teacher, what would it be?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Writing Your Thoughts &#8211; In A Fun and Engaging Way!<\/strong>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The above points are for inspiration; you do not have to answer every question. Just pick whatever questions resonate with you the most.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When writing about your thoughts, we encourage you to make it personal and engaging. Try using phrases like:\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;I noticed that&#8230;&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;I like how&#8230;&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;If I were in his shoes, I would&#8230;&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;This made me think of&#8230;&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;I&#8217;m curious about&#8230;&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Such phrases will help you share your thoughts and feelings in a way that&#8217;s easy to understand and grasp.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep the Assignment Short and Sweet!<\/strong>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Remember, we want to hear from YOU! So, please keep your response short and sweet &#8211; no more than 4 minutes of writing. This will help us stay on track and make sure everyone has time to share their thoughts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy thinking, happy writing, happy growing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harsh Mendiratta<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hawan.net\">www.hawan.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Couple of Inspiring Thoughts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Wisdom is not about having all the answers. It\u2019s about being brave enough to ask the questions that matter\u2014and to listen deeply. Just like Nachiketa did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t have to be a sage in the forest to begin this journey. You\u2019ve already started\u2014right here, right now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kathopanishad As you may recall, last month&#8217;s assignment asked kids to share what scripture they wanted to learn about. To our delight, more than 80% of you expressed your desire to explore the Upanishads! We listened and took note of your interest. As a result, we&#8217;ll be taking a detour in the next few months to cover some major Upanishads [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-34","category-monthly-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1124"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1124\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1132,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1124\/revisions\/1132"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawan.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}