Journal Topic “Some of the responsibilities I have inside the classroom”

Journal Topic “The last best book I read” (briefly discuss why you liked the story)

Journal Topic “Something I struggle with”

Journal Topic Yesterday’s topic was: “Something I struggle with” Today, reflect on how to overcome the struggle you face

Journal Topic Reflections on a goal I have set for myself (what I’ll have to do to get there—try to get as specific as you can) ~or~ What makes goal-setting difficult or unnecessary for me at this time

Arjuna’s path to his goal

EQ: How does the reader determine the key points of a text?

3 Questions What does it say? (literal level) Goal: Paraphrase text What does it mean? (deeper meaning) Goal: Support ideas with the text What does it matter? (Theme) Goal: Application of text (demonstrate understanding of the text in context of our lives and those of others)

Today… Finish reading “Philosophy and Spiritual Discipline” and create a “Say/Mean” Chart in which you discuss the following passages:

What it says…What it means… Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~ Stanzas ~~~~~~~~~~

Things to consider for “What it means”: How do ideas expressed connect to our ongoing discussion of Hinduism (dharma, karma, caste, reincarnation)? What is Krishna saying is important for a person of understanding to realize? Based on what Krishna is telling him, what difficulties does Arjuna seem to be experiencing? What is he asked to understand in order to overcome these problems? You should be ready to cite examples from the reading in your answers

Things to consider for “Why it matters”: What do people become “attached to” today? How can these attachments affect a person and their personal pursuit of “oneness”? Why is it so difficult for people to achieve “oneness” with their goals (if you like, think about people of your own “caste”)

Review of Stanzas 1-27 What does it say? (your paraphrase) What does it mean? (your interpretation)* What does it matter? (How does it connect to our discussion/our lives?)* * To be collected

Finish the text and… Record your answers to the 3 questions for the remaining stanzas

Review: Key ideas of Hinduism Dharma Karma Caste Reincarnation

Strategies for finding key points of a text Read passage Are terms defined? Are details about a subject given? Is a process explained? Summarize/Paraphrase

Strategies for finding key points of a text Summarize Condensed version of ideas (1/4 rule) Paraphrase Re-write using your own words

Review: Key ideas of Hinduism Dharma Patience Forgiveness Piety or self-control Honesty Sanctity Control of senses Reason Knowledge Truthfulness Absence of anger What would these mean for a student?

Review: Key ideas of Hinduism Dharma in “Mice” Story taught to “Simple-minded” princes King Elephant weighs the suggestion of mice (lower caste) King’s wise decision leads to benefit Friendship/cooperation found between members of different castes

Before we read (p. 371) “Philosophy and Spiritual Discipline” What does the title suggest? Note: Subtitle: Bhagavad-Gita Paradox (define in your notes) Example:

Before we read (p. 371) Overview of story: ___________ urges Arjuna to ___________ Arjuna need not feel _____________ because of belief in ________________ Wise warrior should not ______________, but should instead __________________ The narrator is __________________

Vocabulary from the story Immutable Manifest Impartial Mundane Lucid Note additional words

At Your Desks…Groups First, read the “About the Bhagavad-Gita” section (p. 370) to yourselves Then, come together to discuss: Cultural context Story-line Key themes/ideas to look for

Cultural Context

Key points to take away: Indian national epic story Mahabharata – “Great story of Bharata’s descendants (also: Mother India) Largest literary work in existence Comprised of 100,000 verses Written in Sanskrit (perfect speech) Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord) a section of story dealing with warring families (18 sections (the number 18 has significance in Hindu faith)

Story-line

2 sides of one family (Kauravas and Pandavas) engaged in family quarrel Pandavas given a portion of kingdom Kauravas’ jealousy leads to an act of deception; Pandavas are banished Eventually, they return to regain their rightful kingdom Bhagavad-Gita depicts the battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas

Key Themes/Ideas

Spiritual aspects of Hindu faith Nature of body and soul Relationship between man and the gods Dharma/Karma – how to achieve Oneness

But what do you do with literature? Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty had a great fall All the King’s horses and all the King’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again

But what do you do with literature? Use context clues Look for the familiar Make inferences What is our context? What might be familiar? What are you going to look at in order to make inferences?

Stanzas 1-8 Read each stanza and: Write a paraphrase After you have finished with stanza 8: Write a brief summary of this section of the story

Stanzas Arjuna is sad/filled with pity as Krishna appears to talk with him 2 - Krishna asks why he is acting like a coward 3 – Don’t give in (to weakness) Fight agains this urge! 4 – Arjuna is worried about fighting those he should respect

Stanzas – Shouldn’t I choose personal loss (lower caste) over victory (dishonor)? 6 – Won’t it be worse to win (and suffer dishonor) than to lose with honor? 7 – I have pity (guilt) in my heart which is keeping me from my duty – help me to know what I should do 8 – All I can think about is how I will feel (guilt/sorrow/regret) if I go against my elders to win greatness in this life

Stanzas 9-27 Repeat paraphrase/summarize steps for this section (30 minutes)

Stanzas 1-8 Sanjaya – narrator provides situation Krishna – asks question of Arjuna: Why this cowardice in time of crisis? What is the real question as it relates to the dharma of a soldier? Arjuna – responds: How can I fight? (against elders) Has personal conflict (“the flaw of pity”) Torn between sacred duty and family honor

The nature of the story – an Ethical Dialogue How to fight against those who ought to be respected What should be the desired outcome in such a conflict How should one deal with the feelings of pity one experiences as a result

Reincarnation’s role in Spiritual Discipline Krishna’s response (to the flaw of pity): “You grieve for those beyond grief” Key Questions: What makes understanding reincarnation so important for Arjuna to understand? (see 12-20) According to Krishna, when is someone fit for immortality? (see 15)

Reincarnation’s role in Spiritual Discipline Krishna discusses the implications of dharma “Look to your own duty; do not tremble before it; nothing is better for a warrior than a battle of sacred duty.” Key Questions: What consequences will Arjuna face if he does not follow his dharma? How does spiritual discipline help in this area?

Reincarnation’s role in Spiritual Discipline Krishna speaks of discernment “Arjuna, action is far inferior to the discipline of understanding.” Key Questions: What characterizes an undiscerning person (41- 44)? What characterizes true discernment (46-53)?

Reincarnation’s role in Spiritual Discipline Krishna speaks of discernment (cont.) Key Questions: How does the one with discernment overcome the sensuous/material world 55-58) How do the senses fight against true discernment (59-63)? What results from yielding to the senses (62-63)?

Reincarnation’s role in Spiritual Discipline Krishna speaks about the victory gained by the discerning person “But a man of inner strength whose senses experience objects without attraction and hatred, in self-control, finds serenity.” Key Questions: According to Krishna, how is discernment and peace achieved (64-68)?