• Table of Contents
  • Therapy as Spiritual Liberation by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Guru Purnima Message 2012 by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Like a Tortoise Withdrawing His Limbs by Swami Rama
  • Practicing Greatness by Jennifer Manion
  • About the Children’s Program by Greg Hart
  • Himalayan Yoga Camp, September 2012 by Shirin Venkat
  • Reflections on a Sacred Thread by Pandit Tejomaya
  • Silent Meditation Retreat
  • Purusharthas: The Four Purposes of Life by Swami Nitya
  • Something Swamiji Said byRomy van der Pool
  • Prana Vidya Continuing Education by Carolyn Hodges
  • Guru's Eyes by Emilio Bettaglio
  • 200-hr Teacher Training in Chile by Manuel Fernandez
  • 2012 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

About the Children’s Program

by Greg Hart

Greg Hart, an educator from Arizona, USA, read the articles about the children’s June retreat at SRSG in the July AHYMSIN newsletter, and wrote the letter below to Mr. Vishwa Mohan, the storyteller who participated in the program.

What a tremendous opportunity those children had to attend such a thoughtful 4 day retreat. I would imagine it is something that they will remember their entire lives and that will impact them their entire lives. It is such great work to be involved in.They all look very rapt and happy in the photos.

I think these types of experiences are becoming rarer for children and adults, as technology has become so intrusive and dominating. Some recent studies have suggested that extreme use of technology is beginning to alter the actual physical structures of the brain as demonstrated by MRI scans, and not in positive ways. It is unsettling.

I enjoyed the story of the Tiger and Pandit Jee. Questions can indeed save a life. I like Mr. Vishwa Mohan’s admonition to follow the scriptures, but not blindly.

I also like Pandit Jee's recognition, shared with the Tiger, that the scriptures do not admonish him to refrain from eating people!

The tiger can represent many things, depending on context. For me, the Tiger represents aspects of culture and society that appear to be out of control, the tigers of consumption, avarice, competition, which, like the Tiger, promise to be good if released, but once released, devour us.

But, as the rabbit insists, we must have the truth and nothing but the truth.  The Tiger is clever, but not smart, and in the face of the truth he locks himself away again.

Clever, but not smart, I think is an important distinction. Hannah Arendt the philosopher once said that, "Evil is banal." I have always remembered that since reading it, and the older I get, the truer it becomes to me. Evil is not thoughtful, but is capable of being quite clever, as demonstrated when the Tiger talked himself out of the cage with the naive, trusting Pandit Jee. Sometimes I feel naive like that, trusting in the better nature. I need the intelligent rabbit who asks only for the truth. The Tiger, when confronted with a demand for the truth, then becomes too clever by half and locks himself back up, because in the face of the truth, his cleverness is without power.

A wonderful story for both adults and children to consider and contemplate.......if they can spare a moment!

Editor's Note

The story Questions can save a life by Mr. Vishwa Mohan Tiwari can be read at this link: http://www.ahymsin.org/docs2/News/1207Jul/04.html

To read 50 Kids in a Memorable 4-day Program: http://www.ahymsin.org/docs2/News/1207Jul/03.html