Kishor Kishori #7

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

• Understand what “equal vision” (sama-darśinaḥ) means in bhakti-yoga.

• Discuss how knowledge + humility changes how we see others.

• Apply the teaching to real-life school, family, and social situations.

Shloka

Icebreaker Question

Before verse, ask:
👉 “If you had to sit at a dinner table with five people — a rich businessman, a beggar, a cow, a sweeper, and your best friend — who would you treat best?”
This hooks them immediately and sets up the debate later.

Bg. 5.18

विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि ।
श‍ुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिता: समदर्शिन: ॥ १८ ॥

The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].

Ask: “What do you think ‘equal vision’ means?” – let students guess freely.

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A. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Equal Vision

• When Prabhupāda went to America, he didn’t go only to universities or temples.

• He sat under a tree in Tompkins Square Park and sang Hare Krishna.

• Who came? Hippies, drug addicts, businessmen, professors, children.

• He gave Krishna to all, without asking for money, caste, or qualification.

• Key line for children: “For Prabhupāda, a hippie on the street and a big professor were both souls needing Krishna’s love.”

B. Gaura–Nitai’s Equal Mercy

• Tell short Jagāi–Mādhāi story: Two drunkards who insulted devotees. Everyone avoided them.

• But Nityānanda still approached them. Even when hit, He begged Mahāprabhu to forgive them.

• Finally, both were delivered and became devotees.

• Key line: “Even those everyone else rejected were accepted by Gaura–Nitai.”

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Song - Parama Karuna

Teacher : “Prabhupāda gave Krishna to hippies and professors. Gaura–Nitai gave Krishna to drunkards like Jagāi–Mādhāi. This song — Parama Karuṇā — celebrates that mercy given to all without discrimination.”

This makes the song feel like a natural continuation, not a separate block.

https://kksongs.org/songs/p/paramakaruna.html

parama karuṇa, pahū dui jana
nitāi gauracandra
saba avatāra-sāra śiromaṇi
kevala ānanda-kanda

LYRICS:

(1)

parama karuṇa–supremely merciful; pah dui jana–the two Lords; nitāi gauracandra–Lord Nityānanda and Lord Gauracandra; saba avatāra–of all incarnations; sāra–They are the essence; śiromaṇi–and the crest jewels; kevala ānanda-kanda–exclusive fountains of bliss.

1) The two Lords, Nitai-Gauracandra, are very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations. The specific significance of these incarnations is that They introduced a process of chanting and dancing that is simply joyful.

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Debate Activity – “Who Deserves Respect?”

• Split class into two groups.

• Give them a scenario:

  • A school principal, a sweeper, a rich businessman, a beggar, and a cow - you see them all near your home/school.

• Group A argues why some deserve more respect.

• Group B argues why all should be respected equally.

• After debate, teacher sums up: In material society respect is unequal, but spiritual vision is equal because everyone is part of Krishna.

Game – “Soul Glasses” (10 min)

Material Needed

Soul glasses (make from paper or bring a buy a plastic one)

Start

• Give one student “soul glasses” (can be a paper frame).

• Others act out roles: doctor, beggar, dog, cow, friend, enemy.

• The student with the glasses must greet each one as “You are a soul, part of Krishna.”

• Rotate students.
  👉 Reinforces that vision changes when we see through knowledge.

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Practical application in real life

Discussion prompts

• How do we treat classmates who are poor, weak in studies, or of different background?

• Do we sometimes treat people differently based on money, power, or looks?

• What can we do to change that in our school and home?

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Closing & Take-Home Challenge (5 min)

• Key takeaway: True knowledge + humility = equal vision.

• Challenge: “This week, practice treating one person you normally ignore with respect and note what happens.”

• End with chanting one round. As we chant, let’s remember we are not just chanting for ourselves. We chant for every soul — classmates, parents, animals, even those we don’t like — because everyone belongs to Krishna.

• “Let me see every soul as Krishna’s child.”