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. 

 

 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.” 

 

 

 

 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. 

 

 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. 

 

 

 

 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? 

 

 

 

 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.”