She has been preparing some of them for a Gita chanting competition.
Struck me as ironic.
I thought that the whole essence of the Gita was to work without being overly focussed on the result and here we have a bunch of kids who are learning to chant it for a prize.
So I asked this lady if she saw any contradiction between means and ends and whether kids need one more arena of competitive stress.
She sees the point but takes refuge under the argument that if she doesn't do it, someone else will. And that Gita chanting competitions are also a good way for children to learn it properly and well.
I see her point but i am still unable to reconcile it in my head.
3 comments:
Hi Hari
I enjoyed reading your blog - as always incisive and about the Gita competitions you are bang on! Must tell my mom this since she does this all the time! She's not going to like it!
Spot on. The Mahabharata lobs yet another paradox at us. Again a 'means / end' thing. Journey / destination.
I wonder how much of what we do, we being children as well as adults, we would do it if there was no tangible result? Personally speaking, would I write a fantastic short story to enjoy the process and nobody was to read it? On the other hand, if I wrote that story for what reason would I not? Is it simply a question of whether I am doing something with the result as a start point?
There's a beautiful scene in this movie Peaceful Warrior - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRShWun7Mc4
Hi, I could very well relate to your blog... When I was a child, I used to get motivated winning prizes in reciting slokas or rhymes...Now when i take a second look at those prizes, I completely agree with your last line!...Competitions need to be of a better degree but then guess somewhere it has to start!
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