Dharma Shiksha - Class 10

Jai Jinendra everyone!

With the blessings of our revered Gurujis, yet another Dharma Shiksha class was concluded with lots of enthusiasm, fun and of course, invaluable learnings.

As informed in the WhatsApp group, our last class began with Shri Prabhas Muniji answering all the remaining questions from the little ones.

The kids' inquisitiveness and eagerness to learn more about our Dharma has indeed filled our hearts with gratitude and immense pleasure. These kids are responsible for carrying our great religion's legacy forward, so it is imperative that their souls are nourished with the right knowledge (samyak gyaan) and character (samyak charitra) from an early age.

Guru Vandana Path (Tikkhuto Path)

After patiently answering the questions, Shri Prabhas Muniji then went on to give a beautiful explanation of the Guru Vandana Path in simple words.

Our Gurus are our spiritual beacons - they don't just guide us towards the path of Moksha, they also lead by example. This is why it is so important for the kids to learn this Path and understand its meaning and significance.

7 Kuvyasnas - Introduction

After Maharajji's pearls of wisdom, our team took up the topic for the day - 7 kuvyasnas.

In Jainism, the 7 Kuvyasanas are seven types of bad habits or wrong ways of living that stop a person from walking on the right path. The word "Kuvyasana" itself means evil habit.

We explained the concept of kuvyasnas to the kids through a riveting and emotional story meant to leave a lasting impact on the young minds.

PS: Please note that a lot of thought goes into crafting each and every aspect of this Dharma Class - right from the engaging story sessions to the fun games and activities - so please make sure you ask the kids to recall what they learned in class. This will not just help them revise, but also lay a strong foundation in your kids for "swadhyaya." And who knows, you might also learn something new and inspiring from your little ones!

7 Kuvyasnas - Meaning and Explanation

1. Gambling

   This includes playing games like cards, betting, or lotteries to increase wealth. Gambling addiction creates greed, dishonesty and an insatiable desire to accumulate more money. This often leads to fights or loss of wealth and peace.

   

   👉 Gambling is a trap that pulls people away from right living and creates suffering.

2. Eating Non-Vegetarian Food

   This means eating meat, eggs and fish - not for health, but just for pleasure. People who eat non-vegetarian food ignore the excessive torture other living beings have to go through just to satisfy their taste buds.

   

   👉Our religion teaches us to eat simple, clean and non-violent food— that too in quantities that we need to stay healthy.

   
   

3. Consuming Alcohol / Other Intoxicants

   This kuvyasna is about drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or using anything that confuses our mind and makes us lose control over our actions. When a person is under the influence of intoxicants, they forget what is right and wrong and may end up harming others or themselves too.

   

   👉 Jains strictly avoid such things because they harm the soul and body and lead to violence.

   
   

4. Prostitution

   This refers to getting involved in vulgar singing, dancing and other immoral activities that distract our mind, increase our desires and lead to wrong thoughts and actions.

   

   👉 Jains live a life of high values and principles, and there is no scope of immoral conduct in the life of a true Jain Shravak/Shravika.

   
   

5. Hunting

   Killing animals for entertainment is one of the biggest sins a human being can commit. Addiction to this inhumane activity called hunting will take a soul to the doors of Hell (narak) and keep it locked there for a very long period of time.

   Also, please note even enjoying violent games, videos or thoughts is almost equivalent to hunting itself.

   

   👉Ahimsa is the essence of Jainism. A true Jain has love and compassion for all living beings.

   
   

6. Stealing

   Stealing means taking something that belongs to someone else without asking or without permission. It can be money, objects, ideas, time or even trust.

   

   👉Stealing usually comes from wanting more than what we deserve or refusing to work honestly for it. Jainism teaches us to be content and truthful.

   
   

7. Adultery

   This refers to not being faithful in marriage. This is also a big sin according to our Dharma and people who indulge in it are collecting huge amounts of bad karma.

   

   👉In a religion that celebrates Brahmacharya, there is obviously no place for adultery.

   
   

Activity Time

In order to make the concept of kuvyasnas clearer to the kids, we played a fun activity game where our team members asked a series of questions and the kids had to sit if the answer was correct and remain standing if it was wrong.

We are sharing the list of the questions asked below:

🍷 Consuming Alcohol

1. “Alcohol peene se relaxation मिलता है, इसलिए इसे लेना ठीक है”

2. “Alcohol से इंसान की सोचने-समझने की शक्ति प्रभावित होती है”

3. “थोड़ी सी शराब पीना modern होने की निशानी है”

4. “Jain dharm में नशा पूरी तरह वर्जित है”

5. “Alcohol lena body and soul के लिए हानिकारक है”

🍗 Eating Non-Vegetarian Food

6. “Only non-veg food इंसान को ताकतवर बनाता है”

7. “Non-veg खाने से जीव हिंसा होती है, जो पाप है”

8. “अगर जानवर खुद मरा हो तो उसका मांस खाना गलत नहीं”

9. “Jain dharma में जीव की रक्षा को सबसे बड़ा धर्म माना गया है”

10. “Vegetarian food भी पूरी nutrition दे सकता है”

🏹 Hunting

11. “शिकार खेल है, कोई पाप नहीं”

12. “जानवरों की हत्या भी जीव हिंसा है”

13. “Jain dharma में किसी भी प्रकार की हिंसा मना है”

14. “Cruel/violent वीडियो गेम्स खेलने से भी हिंसक/violent behaviour बन सकती है”

🎰 Gambling

15. “Gambling में thrill होता है, ये सिर्फ entertainment है”

16. “जुआ खेलने से व्यक्ति का लालच बढ़ता है, we become more greedy”

17. “Jua केवल तब गलत है जब कोई हार जाए”

18. “जुआ family and personal life दोनों को नुकसान पहुंचाता है”

19. “Jain dharma में गलत तरीके से धन कमाना भी पाप है”

🚬 Consuming Intoxicants like Tobacco/Drugs

20. “Addiction stress को कम करता है”

21. “तम्बाकू और नशा करने से व्यक्ति का behaviour and body दोनों बदल जाते हैं”

22. “नशा cool बनने की पहचान है”

23. “Vyasan is a source of physical and mental illness”

24. “True Jain को कभी भी Vyasan/ addiction नहीं करना चाहिए”

💔 Adultery/Prostitution

26. “Bad touch में कुछ ग़लत नहीं”

27. “रावन ने पराई स्त्री को बुरी नज़र से देखा”

28. “किसी को ग़लत नज़र से देखना भी ग़लत है”

29. “Prostitution destroys our body and soul”

30. “Prostitution से हमारे family relations अच्छे रहते हैं”

🧤 Stealing

31. “छोटी-मोटी चोरी तो कोई बात नहीं”

32. “बिना पूछे किसी की चीज़ लेना भी चोरी ही कहलाती है”

33. “गरीब होना चोरी करने का बहाना नहीं बन सकता”

34. “Jain dharma में honesty को BEST माना गया है”

35. “Mummy papa के wallet से बिना पूछे पैसे लेना is not चोरी”

**IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT**

As shared already in the WhatsApp group, we have introduced a special "Pledge Form" (picture shared below) that the kids interested in taking the "7 Kuvyasna Niyam" can fill.

Filling this form is NOT mandatory, but advisable for sure. And interested parents can also fill out this form because it's never too late to start walking on the right path! All it takes is a bit of will power sprinkled with a little dose of self-discipline and willingness to change (for the better!).

In case you're still indecisive, maybe try listening to Nike and... "Just do it ✅!"

Once the form is filled:

➡ Please have it signed by Upadhyay Shri Jitendra Muni Ji Maharaj.

➡ Inform us once it’s done!