Kids' Corner

Seeds are Beginnings
Living Sikhi - Lesson One

by VERONICA SIDHU

 

 

OBJECTIVES

To appreciate, as Guru Nanak did, the natural world God created.

To understand the importance of moderation and balance..                   

To learn what helps the seeds of goodness to grow in our souls.        

 

PREPARATION/ MATERIALS

Potting soil and seeds, small pots, watering can. Photos of seeds and the plants/ trees the seed will become.

The lesson may be held outdoors or in, or both.

Planting around the gurdwara is also seva.

 

 

Guru Nanak Dev ji was a little boy once. His first job was to tend to his father's cows, to make sure that they did not stray far from their land.

It was a very important job because the cattle were his father's most important possessions. If he lost them, the family would not have milk to drink.

Young Nanak had to be out in all sorts of weather.

Can you imagine what he saw, heard and felt while he was in the field? (Pause for children to answer)

Right! He was a careful observer of nature. He saw the sun and the clouds, felt the heat, wind and the rain. He heard the cows mooing and watched the farmer planting the wheat. Young Nanak saw that the sun helped the seeds to grow, but too much dried them up. He saw that rain helped the plants to grow, but too much drowned them. Observing, watching nature taught him the lesson of moderation and balance.

Can you think of another example in your life where too much or too little of something is harmful? (Pause for answers)

As a grown-up, Guru Nanak became a great teacher. He also worked in his fields as a farmer.

What do farmers do? (Pause for answers)

That's right! Farmers plant seeds and take care of the plants to make sure they grow. Do you know that today is a very special day because we have begun to study an important subject. Actually it is more important than anything else you will study in your life, because it is about life itself.

It is about your life and God's life in you.

When you were born, God planted a beautiful seed in you called the light of life. It is like a spark of God's own life. We can help this spark grow into goodness or we can put it out.

What helps it to grow? Doing good deeds - (wait for examples from children), Being honest and doing our best work is important, too. But most important is simran.

Teach children "Sat Naam, Sat Naam, Sat(a) Naam ji. Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru ji" - which means "The Name of God is Truth, how great God is!" 

Simran helps us keep our spark of God's life growing stronger, just like water and sunlight help seeds to grow. Guru Nanak wants us to meditate during the day, especially in the morning when we get up. But he also knew that working hard and helping others was important as well for keeping the spark of goodness alive in our soul.            

Would you like to take care of your very own plant?

What will your seed need to grow into a plant? (Remind students of moderation - sun, water, nutrition in the soil.)

Homework

1  Observe something in nature. Teacher, please give examples of  "nature" - a storm, a plant, a pet. Write or report on what you learned from your observation.

2  Care for your seed. Care for your spark. Discuss how with the children.

 

Parents and teachers, help children to remember God in the morning and throughout the day. Talk about how Guru Nanak  respected nature and how he learned spiritual principles through his observations. Interact with your child, observing nature together. And do simple simran with your child.

 

April 15, 2010

 

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