Life is a Series of Moments

Masterclass:
Read together from The Courage To Be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi, discuss the chapter "Life is a series of moments," and complete the conversation between the Youth and the Philosopher.

Key Takeaways

• Reject the "kinetic" life model (a linear path to a future goal) for an "energeal" one (finding fulfilment in the process itself).

• Live in the "here and now" by shining a "bright spotlight" on each moment, which makes the past and future irrelevant distractions.

• Assign your own meaning to life; it has no inherent purpose. The "guiding star" for this is the contribution to others.

• Change yourself to change your world; it's a personal responsibility that requires courage to start, regardless of others' cooperation.

Topics

GSA & Learning Forward Updates

• Sandeep Dutt reviewed the GSA website (schooleducation.com) to clarify the oorganisation'smission and programs.

• Mission: Personal and social development across 10 attributes (e.g., identity, communication).

• Core Belief: Schools should focus on service, skill, sport, and study.

• Programs:

  • Teachers Academy: Saturday 3 PM sessions for school faculties.

    • Cost: ₹10,000 annual donation per school.

    • Capacity: Currently serving 6 schools; can accept 1–2 more.

    • Recent Session: "Ecological Wisdom" with Project FUEL.

  • Masterclass: Saturday, 5:30 PM book club.

  • My Good School: Sunday session.

  • Brewing Knowledge Fridays: Friday session on learning and assessments.

• Resources:

  • YouTube Channel: Redesigned for more straightforward navigation.

  • Impact Study: Now live on the website.

  • Special Projects: Page updated with the Dune School Old Boys' Society.

Recap of Last Session

• Shalini Gupta summarised key takeaJanuary 10the January 10 session:

  • True self-worth comes from contributing to the community, not from seeking recognition.

  • Disruptive behaviour, especially in children, often signals a need to be seen and heard.

  • Adults can normalise abnormal behaviour by seeking superiority.

  • Adlerian foundations for a healthy self: freedom, contribution, and belonging.

Chapter Discussion: "Life is a series of moments"

• The discussion contrasted two views of life:

  • Kinetic Life (Linear): A path to a future destination (e.g., a mountaintop).

    • Problem: The majority of life becomes a "tentative" period en route to a goal, making happiness dependent on a future outcome.

  • Energeal Life (Moment-by-Moment): A series of complete moments lived in the "here and now."

    • Analogy: "Dancing"—the act itself is the goal, not a destination.

    • Principle: Each moment is complete and fulfilling on its own, regardless of the final outcome.

• The "Bright Spotlight" Metaphor:

  • Focusing on the past or future creates a "dim twilight" that prevents earnest living.

  • A "bright spotlight" on the present moment makes the past and future irrelevant distractions.

• Assigning Meaning:

  • Life has no inherent meaning; individuals must assign it themselves.

  • The "Guiding Star": Contribution to others.

    • This provides a compass for a free and happy life, independent of others' approval.

• Personal Transformation:

  • The world changes when an individual changes.

  • Analogy: Putting on glasses for the first time reveals a clear, vivid world.

  • Adler's Advice: "Someone has to start... You should start. With no regard to whether others are cooperative or not."

Next Steps

• All Participants:

  • Join the "My Good School" session on Sunday, January 18, featuring Karthik Bajoria.

  • Attend the final chapter reading (the afterword) on January 24, Tuesday, January 24.

• Sandeep Dutt:

  • Host a reception at the book café on Monday, January 19 (5–7 PM) for Governing Council members and guests.

• Khushi:

  • Invite Principal Srividya  Ma'am to the Masterclass session.
    
    Notes courtesy: Fathom AI

Ecological Wisdom and Its Application in the Classroom

Learning Forward Saturday and the Wisdom Mandli with Project FUEL

To explore ecological wisdom and its application in the classroom.

Key Takeaways

• Wisdom is "passed around," not "passed down." Insights come from all ages and experiences, not just seniors or experts.

• Project FUEL collects ecological wisdom from everyday life (e.g., cooking, gardening) to create lesson plans that strengthen children's connection to nature.

• A breakout room activity failed due to technical issues and participant confusion, prompting a shift to a main-room discussion.

• Teachers are assigned homework: collect 2–3 ecological life lessons from their students and post their own lesson on a shared platform.

Topics

Project Fuel's Philosophy: Wisdom is "Passed Around"

• Project Fuel (PF) collects life lessons from people of all ages and backgrounds.

• Core Belief: Wisdom is "passed around," meaning valuable insights come from anyone, not just seniors or experts.

• Goal: Use these real-world lessons to create classroom materials that make the world a "classroom."

Initiative: Collecting Ecological Wisdom

• PF's current focus is collecting "Paryawranian Wisdom"—ecological insights from daily life.

• Rationale: To counter children's growing disconnection from nature, which is caused by urban living and convenient services like food delivery apps.

• Goal: Collect one million ecological lessons from women to build a resource that strengthens children's relationship with nature.

Activity: Ecological Wisdom Flashcards

• Objective: Share personal ecological experiences using prompt cards.

• Execution: A breakout room activity failed due to technical issues and participant confusion.

• Pivot: The session shifted to a main-room discussion of the prompts.

• Key Insights Shared:

  • Kitchen: A space for creativity, family connection, and stress relief.

  • Stars: A source of wonder and a reminder of childhood memories.

  • Flowers: A metaphor for the life cycle (growth, bloom, fade).

Application: Bringing Wisdom to the Classroom

• Challenge: How to teach ecological wisdom beyond textbooks.

• Ideas Generated:

  • Storytelling: Create narratives from nature's perspective (e.g., a flower's autobiography, a mountain's history).

  • Hands-on Experience: Involve children directly with nature to build empathy.

  • Rituals: Connect daily life to nature (e.g., enjoying the first rain after summer).

Next Steps

• Teachers:

  • Collect 2–3 ecological life lessons from students.

  • Post one personal ecological lesson on the shared platform (link to be sent via WhatsApp).

• Project Fuel:

  • Share the link and instructions for the ecological lesson platform on the WhatsApp group.

• All:

  • Reconvene on January 24th to review the lessons learned and brainstorm classroom activities.
    
    Notes: Courtesy FATHOM AI