Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 Dear List Let me share my experiences of putting across Hinduism in England. This morning I was invited to go to a small Primary school in a remote village in Hertfordshire. The journey took us through small country lanes, with very few signposts.. I quipped to my wife, " See, how Sri Ramakrishna leads me to such awkward places? " She quipped back, " Nothing to do with Sri Ramakrishna, you have a habit of agreeing to go to any school that phones up without checking on how remotely it may be located. " We reached a small Church of England school located amongst the farms. The headmistress received us very cordially, but then confided into us her fear of inviting outside speakers. She said, " The last speaker had told the children that the world is about to end! " We were asked to conduct a session with about 35 youngsters in the 7 to 11 age range. These presentations are well received. The children find Hinduism very interesting and amusing. We tell them, some Hindus say why should God be just the father in heaven, why can't God be mummy in heaven? Mummies are so sweet and nice and cuddly while daddies can be so rough and tough and often so hairy! The children and the teachers (almost all female) find this idea very appealing. We say that different people like to think of God differently and that is why there are so many religions in this world even though there is only one God. Thus the presentation goes on and ends with the story of Ganesh and the cat (this story is the favourite with English children). The story focuses on how it is really the mother goddess that lives in all living things and why reverence for life is so important. If you see a snail on the garden path... don't step on it..... bend down and say 'hello mammy'. Then we explain how the greeting used by Hindus ~ 'Namaste' ...suggests respect for God in all living things. Great care is taken at such presentations to make sure that none of the children feel slightest bit less secure about their own faith but go away feeling refreshed and excited about spirituality in general. At the end of the presentation there is always a question and answer session. This is always a wonderful encounter. These guile-less children come up with such unusual questions! They may ask about some important issues like the role of the temple and the priests etc. But then one or two come out with what is really bothering them. Today one little chap (who must have been told off at home for using hair-gel) asked.... " Are the Hindus allowed to use hair-gel? " : ) By the grace of our mentor the work goes on. jay Vivekananda Centre London Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2002 Report Share Posted September 13, 2002 In a message dated 9/12/02 8:04:40 AM Mountain Daylight Time, vivekananda writes: By the grace of our mentor the work goes on. jay Vivekananda Centre London Thank you for sharing that, we have 4 children growing up with the love and blessings from my wife, me, the Guru and Ganesh. Kanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2002 Report Share Posted September 14, 2002 Dear Jay, You must have lots of fun doing what you do, because you are so good at it. Your wife is right. Guess what would have been the remark of Mrs Vivekanand, if he had one, when he was wandering on the streets of Boston with no place to live or food to eat? :-) Anup - " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda " list " <Ramakrishna >; " self-knowledge-list " <Self-knowledge >; " viv list " <vivekananda > Thursday, September 12, 2002 9:12 AM [sri Ramakrishna] Fun in England > Dear List > > Let me share my experiences of putting across Hinduism in > England. This morning I was invited to go to a small Primary > school in a remote village in Hertfordshire. The journey took us > through small country lanes, with very few signposts.. I quipped > to my wife, " See, how Sri Ramakrishna leads me to such > awkward places? " She quipped back, " Nothing to do with Sri > Ramakrishna, you have a habit of agreeing to go to any school that > phones up without checking on how remotely it may be located. " > > We reached a small Church of England school located amongst the > farms. The headmistress received us very cordially, but then confided > into us her fear of inviting outside speakers. > She said, " The last speaker had told the children that the world > is about to end! " > > We were asked to conduct a session with about 35 youngsters in > the 7 to 11 age range. These presentations are well received. The children > find Hinduism very interesting and amusing. We tell them, some Hindus > say why should God be just the father in heaven, why can't God be mummy in > heaven? Mummies are so sweet and nice and cuddly while daddies can > be so rough and tough and often so hairy! The children and the teachers > (almost all female) find this idea very appealing. We say that different > people like to think of God differently and that is why there are so many > religions in this world even though there is only one God. > > Thus the presentation goes on and ends with the story of Ganesh and > the cat (this story is the favourite with English children). The story > focuses on how it is really the mother goddess that lives in all living > things and why reverence for life is so important. If you see a snail on > the garden path... don't step on it..... bend down and say 'hello mammy'. > Then we explain how the greeting used by Hindus ~ 'Namaste' ...suggests > respect for God in all living things. > > Great care is taken at such presentations to make sure that none > of the children feel slightest bit less secure about their own faith but > go away feeling refreshed and excited about spirituality in general. > > At the end of the presentation there is always a question and answer > session. This is always a wonderful encounter. These guile-less children > come up with such unusual questions! They may ask about some > important issues like the role of the temple and the priests etc. > But then one or two come out with what is really bothering them. > Today one little chap (who must have been told off at home for using > hair-gel) asked.... " Are the Hindus allowed to use hair-gel? " : ) > > By the grace of our mentor the work goes on. > > jay > Vivekananda Centre London > > > > > > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.vivekananda.co.uk > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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