as an american and Indologist let me say that I find this beautiful. anti-religious americans tend to cause social problems, deny that they are doing so, and then promote even more problems in subsequent generations. many americans do not understand that this morning prayer helps to clam the minds of the children so they are better able to abosrb the day's lessons. Indian children are "sweeter" than american children. Jai Ho
@sweetsweatyfeet The prayer above is to Saraswati, the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge. So it kind of suits the school theme. Everyone here has come to learn, so respect to the idea is what this prayer is about.
@sweetsweatyfeet It's not odd in India for Hindus to participate in Christian festivals and for people from Islam or Christianity to take part in Hindu festivals. There are Muslim sects here who consider Hindu gods to be prophets.
Saraswati is just a symbol for knowledge. Call it wisdom if you want. The end result remains the same. Try to think of it like inculcating respect for learning in the student. Force is a strong word. Would you say text books are forced on students? :)
When I was a kid growing up in India, this was our norm... we took it for granted by that was what instilled this discipline in all of us at the time... in West we don't have this and look what has gone wrong w/ society... :)
@UnhappyDreamer Don't shoot down the West, you have no idea how much better it is. India is plagued by extreme poverty and social problems; people die in the streets like dogs and nobody gives a shit. The culture is predicated on a (religiously based) class system resulting in many people being treated like garbage.
The "west" is not perfect (nothing is) but it IS better here in most ways.
as an american and Indologist let me say that I find this beautiful. anti-religious americans tend to cause social problems, deny that they are doing so, and then promote even more problems in subsequent generations. many americans do not understand that this morning prayer helps to clam the minds of the children so they are better able to abosrb the day's lessons. Indian children are "sweeter" than american children. Jai Ho
rh001YT 1 year ago
Mandatory religion--what if someone has different beliefs or no belief? Are they forced to pretend? What is the state of religious freedom in India?
sweetsweatyfeet 1 year ago
@sweetsweatyfeet The prayer above is to Saraswati, the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge. So it kind of suits the school theme. Everyone here has come to learn, so respect to the idea is what this prayer is about.
vimoh 1 year ago
@vimoh What if students are christian or don't believe in gods at all---is that permitted? Why is religion forced on students?
sweetsweatyfeet 1 year ago
@sweetsweatyfeet It's not odd in India for Hindus to participate in Christian festivals and for people from Islam or Christianity to take part in Hindu festivals. There are Muslim sects here who consider Hindu gods to be prophets.
Saraswati is just a symbol for knowledge. Call it wisdom if you want. The end result remains the same. Try to think of it like inculcating respect for learning in the student. Force is a strong word. Would you say text books are forced on students? :)
vimoh 1 year ago
@sweetsweatyfeet Besides, most of the prayers in the video are to no gods at all. One goes thus;
Asato ma sad gamaya,
Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya,
Mrityorma amritam gamaya
It means:
From falsehood lead me to the truth
From darkness lead me to the light
From death lead me to immortality.
vimoh 1 year ago
When I was a kid growing up in India, this was our norm... we took it for granted by that was what instilled this discipline in all of us at the time... in West we don't have this and look what has gone wrong w/ society... :)
UnhappyDreamer 1 year ago
@UnhappyDreamer Don't shoot down the West, you have no idea how much better it is. India is plagued by extreme poverty and social problems; people die in the streets like dogs and nobody gives a shit. The culture is predicated on a (religiously based) class system resulting in many people being treated like garbage.
The "west" is not perfect (nothing is) but it IS better here in most ways.
sweetsweatyfeet 1 year ago
awesome. I was in Kendriya Vidyalaya school.
We used to sing 'Daya kar Dan, Vidya ka' every morning.
I still remember the prayer and the pledge.
Can't go wrong in the day after the peaceful prayer in the morning.
jaiPawanPutraHanuman 2 years ago 2