We learned about four types of Abhinaya and how to develop characters for a story. We also created our own story independently, which was a great achievement! The wonderful sessions ended with a movie screening. Thank you Sagar Sir for making the sessions engaging!
The storytelling life class on the 5th and 6th days was an extraordinary experience, filled with inspiration, learning, and creative engagement. Sagar Sir’s approach to teaching and motivating each of us to create our own stories was nothing short of remarkable. His ability to make storytelling accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of prior experience, showed his deep understanding and passion for the craft.
Through concepts like “abigyas,” character building, and narrative structure, Sagar Sir guided us in a way that each topic felt clear and meaningful. He didn’t just explain the elements of a story; he brought them to life, allowing each participant to connect with the material on a personal level. His encouraging words and insightful feedback gave us the confidence to explore our own ideas and express them fully.
Beyond the technical aspects, Sagar Sir fostered an environment that celebrated creativity and self-expression, making each session not only educational but truly enjoyable. His dedication to passing on the art of storytelling created a memorable and enriching experience for everyone involved. We are incredibly grateful for his commitment, and his teaching has left a lasting impact that will undoubtedly inspire us as we continue to write and share our own stories.
In our recent storytelling session, we explored the four types of ‘abhinaya’ — Angika, Vachika, Aharya, and Satvika — to enhance our narratives. We drafted stories that integrated these expressive elements, seeing how they shifted the tone and depth throughout. The movie Rockstar illustrated this beautifully, showcasing the protagonist’s journey through varied abhinayas from a lively start to an intense end. This example inspired us to embody our stories with these expressions, making them more vivid and engaging.
Wonderful sessions conducted by Sagar sir. The way he described about bhava, rasa and relevant videos helped us to understand to add different elements of the story. He also motivated us to create our own story using detailed worksheet and creative activities. The knowledge shared by him helped us to understand every little element of the story.
Growing up in a Brahmin religious family, I was naturally introduced to a traditional belief system and was engaged in basic rituals like visiting temples and observing customs. Over time, however, my perspective evolved. While I respect these traditions, now I feel a deeper resonance with the natural world, viewing nature itself as the truest form of god.
I often find myself questioning: if nature is the true god, then who are Krishna, Ram, Hanuman, and all the other deities I grew up praying? I wonder about the role they play in my beliefs now and how they fit into my understanding of divinity as rooted in the natural world.
I believe that nature is our true form of god. The elements fire, water, air, and earth are sacred forces that shape our lives, providing all we need to thrive and grow. They remind us the connection with the universe. As people see God as a creator, protector, and destroyer, I believe these natural elements are fulfilling these roles. They create life, sustain and nourish it, and also bring it to an end when the time is right.
During the critical thinking session, we encountered a subject that resonated with each person’s feelings, convictions, and emotions. The subject revolves around God and religion. When I contemplate God, I envision a powerful entity that has created everything, and people seek it in every feeling. However, my perspective is different, as I reside in a country with diverse religions and beliefs, along with countless rituals and customs, making it challenging to define a perfect representation of God. I was raised in a Punjabi family and have closely observed that faith, yet I grew up in a region where an entirely different religion is practiced. Additionally, during my childhood, I connected with individuals from a different state and religion, allowing us to celebrate each other’s festivals, which helped me gain a deeper understanding of various customs and beliefs. Nevertheless, despite all these experiences, as I matured, I never discovered a definitive image or form of God. In my view, God is merely an energy or a power I turn to for assistance or communicate with in various situations. However, various religions have attributed faces to God, making it challenging to discern which deity is the strongest or if there is a God at all.
A few questions that often arise for me are whether religion or God is significant. Are all religions true? Are the texts, evidence, and books that individuals adhere to accurate and will they provide us with the right direction? However, I also ponder what the right direction is. Throughout a human life, many people’s engagement with work, passion, enthusiasm, and eagerness to accomplish various goals has diminished their connection to faith in God and religion.
I also believe that when we’re focused on working diligently to attain success and accomplish significant objectives, we tend to overlook thoughts about God and religion. It’s our dedication and hard work that lead to success; no deity or religious belief will help me achieve my aspirations.
In this vast population filled with numerous Gods, education holds significant importance. Individuals can quickly become sidetracked by magic and superstitions, and in every faith, there are individuals exploiting it for their gain. Superstition presents a complex situation where people struggle to discern right from wrong. Under the guise of religion and deities, a major issue lies in the destruction occurring among different faiths. A great deal of political maneuvering occurs in the name of religion, raising doubts about the existence of God. If God does exist, those who misuse His name for harmful actions, thereby harming humanity, should face consequences.
Therefore, having faith in God or a religion is a personal decision for each individual, but avoid imposing your beliefs on others or making comparisons. Instead, have faith in humanity and your abilities, and strive diligently to reach your objectives.
On Day 5 we discussed a lot about religion, beliefs, values, customs and their importance. I am a religious person and my beliefs and faith in God are very strong. During the first day, I got to see many different views about religion and the existence of God. This session helped me understand that to be a good human being we do not need religion but a right direction. We should have our own values that lead us to the right path. Also, this session gave me a new understanding that before following any belief, think seriously and follow the practice that gives you peace. Your aim should be humanism and not religion.
Day 5 and 6 of our Life Class sparked intense discussions on critical thinking and religion, challenging our perspectives and deepening our understanding. As an individual born and raised in an orthodox Brahmin family, l’d like to share my thoughts on God, religion, and the intriguing connections l’ve discovered.
While the discussions in the critical thinking day 5 – provoked so many aspects about the belief system about the religion, I still believe the existence of a super power, Like concluded in the session by Vardan sir yesterday there might not be a proper evidence for the existence of religion /God, that we are in search for, however neither of us know how the vedas ,shlokas and mantras were developed that are in praise of Lord. I could still interpret the Darwin’s theory of evolution which points to the concept of Vishnu’s dasavatar in Hinduism while the latter part of it was found ages back and we term it as mythology. Dasavatar has taught the early humans about evolutionism and survival of the fittest way back however we are able to accept the scientific framework in a better way as modern humans.
I have also read articles that most premier research institutes have installed the idol of Nataraja -the dancing form Of shiva .
( https://tinyurl.com/3u76d9h6) While the scientists across the globe started believing about the super power Indian humans had, why are we still reluctant and in search of evidences is still a question unanswered in my mind.
While we all know that the universe follows diverse culture, we should start respecting the same. Also fostering a cultural empathy will help later generations understand the value system of our ecosystem.
God is an the Superpower that controls the whole universe, watching over everything that happens. Religion, on the other hand, is a system created by humans that sets the rules and guidelines for how people should live and behave in a community. It helps people understand what is right and wrong and teaches values that bring people together. Through religion, individuals find direction and purpose, while also following the teachings that are believed to come from a higher power. In this way, religion helps guide society by shaping how people live and interact with each other. I still question the existence of God. If God is imaginary, how do we explain the evidence we see? Believe that God is both the creator and destroyer, controlling everything in the universe. This view sees God as having the power to create life and also to change or end it when needed. It’s a belief found in many religions, where God has ultimate control over everything. People often grapple with finding a balance between their personal beliefs and the expectations of society or their community. There can also be confusion or conflict when different religions or belief systems clash, leading to doubts or a search for deeper understanding. To find common ground in religious beliefs, we should respect each other’s differences, focus on shared values like kindness, and have open conversations. Working together on common goals, like helping others, can also bring people closer. Being open to learning from one another helps build stronger connections.
These sessions transformed how I approach challenges in my life and work. The facilitators led us through thought-provoking discussions on the development of the human brain and posed complex questions that revealed how much our perspectives shape the way we solve problems. This experience made me realize that adopting multiple viewpoints can profoundly change the quality of our decisions. One key takeaway from the session was the concept of System 1 and System 2 thinking. System 1 is the part of our brain that makes instinctual, and sometimes emotionally charged decisions, while System 2 is more focused on careful analysis and reflection. Becoming aware of these two ways of thinking has started to reshape how I handle decisions, whether they’re minor day-to-day choices or more significant professional ones.The session also shed light on how subtle external influences can unconsciously shape our thought patterns and opinions. I hadn’t fully realized how much these influences impacted my perspective until now. This awareness of ingrained thought patterns has made me more conscious of the balance between emotional reactions and rational thought. By reflecting on both, I’m now able to approach decision-making with a sense of clarity and a greater degree of empathy. In short, this critical thinking session has been transformative, encouraging me to question first impressions and invest more time in finding well-rounded solutions. It’s a shift in perspective that I know will continue to benefit me, both personally and professionally, as I tackle challenges with a more mindful and open approach.