YUVA

(Level 4) - Age 14-17

Curriculum:

  • Prayers: Beginning of Class.
  • Purana Vidya.
  • Discussions and Debates.
  • Prayers: End of Class.

Activities in the Class:

Important topics for discussion and debate: Identity, Peer Pressure, Conflicting Values, Diet-  Veg vs Non Veg, Vegan, Expectations vs Reality, How to talk to parents so they understand, Dating, Karma and Dharma, Power of choices, Religion vs Spirituality, Salvation vs Moksha

Syllabus:

  1. Overview of Ramayana and Mahabharatha with emphasis on core values.
  2. Discussion of Importance of Value and the Values.
  3. Importance of Avatara.
  4. Who is Isvara? (Discussions)
    • How to look at the Jagat and appreciate an Isvara.
    • How to see the intelligently put-together “creation” and infer a creator and then go into the nature of that Isvara.
    • How to “understand” (not “believe”) Isvara as material and the maker and then, appreciate that Isvara without a feeling of alienation as the Order.
  5. Four Purusharthas.
    • Purusharthas leading to moksha as the goal and introduction to the fundamental human problem.
  6. Fundamental Human Problem.
    • Introduction to the need for a Pramana and why other available Pramanas do not help us here.
  7. Veda as a Pramana, Vedas as an oral tradition, 14X Vedic Knowledge.
  8. Follow the Purana Vidya Books (9-12) on Sanatana Dharma, Religious culture, Vedic Knowledge and Introduction to Gita.
    • Vedangas and Upangas first from Book 11 or Unique Aspects of Vedic Dharma from Book 9. Topics from Book 11.
    • Start Gita Dhyanam and it’s Meaning.
    • Introduce the Context of the Gita/Review of pertinent Mahabharata.
    • Discussion on the important topics of Gita.

Resources:

Core Reference Books:

  • Purna Vidya (Part 9-12).
  • Hinduism by Anantanand Rambachan.