Currently the children in the youth class are studying the Bhagavatam. Following have been some of the discussions held in this class during the study of Bhagavatam.

For February 2009 The kids have been assigned a brief task of

1. Researching, and bringing to class next Sunday, the definitions of the words "atheist" and "agnostic".
2. Write (and bring with them) their own thoughts on how they would answer the following question Nayana raised yesterday: How can you prove to people that god is everywhere?

For April 2009 Religons that believe in reincarnation:

• Hinduism
• Jainism
• Buddhism
• Sikhism
• Islam*
• Judasim
• Parsis
• Zoroastrianism

For May 3, 2009 Yesterday we discussed the karma cycle. The synopsis of our discussion is as follows. According to the Upanishads, the true nature of the Self or soul (or Atman) is happiness and peace itself. Due to misunderstanding the true nature of Oneself, people look outwards for happiness. This gives rise to desires which can manifest in many ways. Some desires might be in the form of accumulating wealth, acquiring material wealth such as better games, cars, jewelry, clothes, a swimming pool, etc. However, while in the process of fulfilling one desire, another emerges. This occurs because the joy of having fulfilled one is only temporary. We start looking for that pleasure once more, thus giving rise to new desires. As a result we weave an endless web of causes and effects and get ensnared in them. In the process of spiritual evolution, a person reaches a stage of realization that every time we work toward fulfilling a desire and to enjoy the fruits, we also endure suffering. When one reaches this realization, the person wishes to break out of that web. We liked the suggestion of using the analogy or metaphor of a Ferris wheel that does not ever stop. A person, having realized the endless cycle of “ups” and “downs”, wishes to get off the Ferris wheel and be at peace for eternity. At this point, the soul (jiva-atma) is still bound by desires and reincarnates in different forms. By detaching oneself from the fruits of one’s actions, the soul detaches itself from the Ferris wheel and is free forever (which is called moksha). At this point I emphasize the fact that one cannot abandon their duties and their roles in search of liberation. One has to evolve into an environment that supports such a quest. Until then, they must perform their roles as students/sons/daughters and whatever duties those entail. They must also give it their best effort. Those that continue being part of the Ferris wheel are stuck in the endless cycle of birth and death through the 4 Yugas. At the end of the 4th Yuga, the whole universe merges into Narayana , or pure consciousness, which is also called Brahman. With the exception of those souls that have liberated themselves, all others get back on the metaphorical Ferris wheel and cycle through the next Yuga. It is believed that the same patterns of birth, people, and beings, are repeated during each SET of Yugas. Each set of Yuga is called a Kalpa. For example in a previous Kalpa, there was a BalVihar with the same kids and same teacher. However, those that have liberated themselves are replaced by other souls that are journeying through their process of evolution. The reading of the Bhagavata purana has provided the children many opportunities to raise such profound topics of discussion. Next week’s assignment is to devise a way to graphically depict the karma cycle. Assignment: Pick any of the concepts above and try to design a graphical way to depict it.

For May 31, 2009 Our class discussed a concern one of the kids encountered at school. The topic was "If one does not accept Jesus, does one go to Hell?"