Values for the Yatra MAR 2012

8/2/2019 Values for the Yatra MAR 2012

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ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatraArchdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC )E-Letter MARCH 2012

Value of Silence and Inner PeaceWho ever thought that in a world filled with noise and an overdose of colour,

that five Oscar Awards would go to a The Artista Silent Movie and shot in

Black and White? Sacred silence speaks loud amidst the daily noise.

Pope Benedict XVI, during the Sunday Angelus from the Vatican on January 22, 2012

asked everyone to quiet down. In his annual communications message, Pope Benedict

XVI extolled the sounds of silence. He said a little bit of quiet makes people better

listeners and better communicators by giving them more time to think about what they

are hearing and saying.

In October 2011, the seventy four year old, Anna Hazare went on a 'maun vrat'- vow

of silence! He needed to listen to the silence of his heart to be heard better.

SILENCE is not talking less; its listening more. In Tuesdays with Morrie, we read how Mitch

explains a lecture class with Professor Morrie: "He enters the classroom, sits down, doesn't say anything. He

looks at us, we look at him. At first, there are a few giggles, but Morrie only shrugs, and eventually a deep

silence falls and we begin noticing the smallest sounds, the radiator humming in the corner of the room, the

nasal breathing of one of the students. Some of us are agitated. When is he going to say something? We

squirm, check our watches. A few students look out the window, trying to be above it all. This goes on for a

good fifteen minutes, before Morrie breaks in with a whisper. 'What's happening here?' he asks. And slowly a

discussion begins -- as Morrie has wanted all along -- about the effect of silence on human relations. Why arewe embarrassed by silence? What comfort do we find in all the noise?"

Our most difficult struggles, our deepest desires, our inner peace are all ignored in the Noise that

surrounds us. We ignore a whole part of us when we surround ourselves with Noise. In Silence, we face our

true and profound self better. Silence unifies the scattered pieces of our lives, it conserves our energy and it

helps us to transcend to a higher level of living and awareness. Silence adds sparkle to our lives.

SILENCE is often a medium to maintain discipline. This is Passive Silence

Our students are never trained to appreciate moments of silence. The school must be

an ACTIVE SILENCE ZONE. There is Value in Silence, Inner Peace and God

Experience. We are so afraid of silence, so fearful of the opportunity to be with our-

selves. Students are never given an opportunity for Reflection as a medium for

personal growth, to penetrate into their inner world and find meaning to their life.

King Solomon tells us, "'Closing one's lips makes a person wise" (Proverbs 10:19).

It is also true that Genuine Spiritual Heights can only be attained through reflection and introspection which

only comes by dint of the medium of silence.

SILENCE is not only good for the body, it is also a nourishing element for the mind, heart and soul.

Along the Yatra of our everyday life, SILENCE is a great Value that we need to embrace. It adds Sparkle to

our life and it makes us get in touch with our deepest selves, our God and our World. Treasure Silence !!!

Fr. Glenford Lowe SDB


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Diamond Value SPARKLE:

Value of Silence, Inner Peace andGod Experience

This months Diamond Value SPARKLE focuses on three very important values

that we need to cultivate and embrace.

SILENCE: Is not so much the absence of an exterior sound, but the cultivation of

an interior stillness

INNER PEACE: A state of being in constant harmony and tranquility with yourself

mentally and spiritually.

GOD EXPERIENCE: In silence, one discovers the presence of a Personal God in

our life and that we can

Experience this Love of God in a tangible and unique way. Mother Theresa would say, It is in silence, that

one discovers God. God is not a knowledge to be learnt, but an experience to be cherished.

OBJECTIVE of

the

Diamond Value

School

Environment

Role of the

Value Educator

Rationale for

Promoting the

Value

To seek Silence as

a path to discover

self and God

Cultivate moments

of

Active Silence

Reflective and

Deep. Ability to

spend time in

Silence

Noise

defragments,

while Silence

unifies

To find Peace

within

and

without

Creating schools/

classrooms as

Non-Violent

Zones

Calm and Serene.

Become a

Channel of Peace

Silence nurtures

Inner Peace and

leads to harmony

To be aware of

Gods Presence in

ones life and

World

Interfaith Prayer

services and

moments for

Recollections and

Retreats

Spiritual Guru and

an instrument to

bring others to an

experience of the

Divine

Silence is the

mother of reflection

and God

Experience

To help the students to understand better the Diamond Value SPARKLE, please go through the

Lesson Plan along with the video clips that has been sent to you as an attachment. Thank you



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SPARKLE: Self Evaluation

Value Statements and Behaviour Always Frequently Some-times

Occasion-ally

Never

1. In my life, I believe in the old adage Silenceis Golden .

2. Everyday, I begin the day with a fewmoments of personal silence and

meditation. I end my day with the same.

3. I understand the Value of silence and try toavoid creating or adding to noise pollution

4. I am afraid of Silence and I constantly hidebehind loud music. I do not believe inpersonal silence.

5. I am at Peace with myself inspite of all thestress and cares of the world/school/ home.I feel a calm within me.

6. .I am constantly hurting inside me and Itake solace in running to other distractionsrather than face my inner self.

7. I feel uneasy when I am asked to stay stilland to concentrate on my inner journey oflife.

8. I make efforts to help people observesilence and reduce the noise pollutionespecially when I travel by bikes or cars

9. I am able to stay still for a least half an houreach day to reflect or mediate on sacred

scripture.

10. I believe that it is in Silence, that onediscovers the presence of God.

11. I believe in the need for a personal retreateach year to grow spiritually and to maturein my faith journey with God.

12. I believe that the world would be a betterplace if we gave silence its due value

Be a Diamond Valued StudentCultivate Values of SPARKLE: Silence, Inner Peace & God Experience



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The Story of the WoodcutterA woodcutter lived in poverty. Often he had no food, no oil for hislamp. One day he met a wise man in the woods. The woodcutter

treated the wise man with respect, and the wise man responded, telling the cutter twowords, "Go farther."

The woodcutter pondered the words, "Go farther." He was unable to comprehendthem and after several days he turned his mind to his regular worries and his hungerpangs.

But one day, during his backbreaking toil on the edge of the forest, he remembered the words, "Go farther"again. He dared to venture deep into the forest. And, he found a grove of precious sandalwood trees!

He gained enough wealth to buy a small house, to buy barrels of oil for his lamp, and he knew he wouldnever be hungry again. He was happy.

Months later he awoke in the night. He said to himself, "The wise man said nothing of sandalwood trees, didhe? All he said was, Go farther."

So, the woodcutter rose and went into the woods, past the scrub trees, past the sandalwood grove whichmeant so much to him. Then, amidst some boulders he found outcroppings of silver!

Now rich beyond his dreams, he became an important man in the city. He bought a large house somewould call it a mansion and he married well. Enjoying himself, he forgot the words, "Go farther."

The Woodcutter Goes Farther

Several months later, he awoke in the night. Once again he pondered, "The wise man said nothing ofsandalwood, or of silver, either. All he told me was, Go farther."

The woodcutter rose and went deep into the forest, past the scrub wood, past the sandalwood, past hissilver mine. He approached an unknown stream. Glancing down, he found gold. Gold!

Rich, powerful, and considered wise, the woodcutter again forgot the words, "Go farther."

Years passed. But, again one night, the woodcutter sat up in bed. He said to himself, "The wise man saidnothing of gold, either. He simply told me to, Go farther. What did he really mean?"

The woodcutter ventured past the scrub wood, the sandalwood grove, his secret silver mine, past his goldstream, and discovered diamonds!

This story goes on forever. But the main question is, "Who is thewoodcutter?" And will you, "Go farther?"

Only in Silence, does one make the journey Farther the deepestand the longest journey is the journey within ones self, and thereindoes one discover the beautiful treasures of God and Self.Inner Peace is the greatest treasure that you can possess.

For if you have found it, you own the world. Silence takes you there!

http://www.yogaworld.org/relationships/woodcutter2.htmhttp://www.yogaworld.org/relationships/woodcutter2.htm


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AVEC wishes all the SSC students Gods Blessings all through the Exams...


AVEC has prepared a

beautiful Prayer Service for

theWorld Water day

March 22, 2012. To download

the prayer service go to

avecmumbaidbys.blogspot.com

under the label Prayer Service


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NAME SCHOOL CLASS POSITION

JUNIORS

Nikhail Nazareth St. Stanislaus High School, Bandra V B First

Brendan DSouza St. John the Evangelist, Marol V B First

Keegan Barboza St. Stanislaus High School, Bandra V B Second

Subiksha R Don Bosco Senior Secondary, Nerul VIB Third

INTERS

K.S. Sandesh Don Bosco Senior Secondary, Nerul VIIB First

Yashraj H. Pardeshi St. Marys High School (SSC), Mazagaon VIII C Second

Shivram R. Baikerikar St. Xaviers Boys Academy, Churchgate VIII2 Third

Vaishnavi Rangankar Canossa High School, Mahim VIIF Third

SENIORS

Rutuja S. Khanirlkar St. Charles High School, Vakola IX A First

Akanksha Bhende Canossa High School, Mahim IXE Second

Shraddha More Holy Family High School, Chembur IX B Third

Meghana Chavan Holy Family High School, Chembur IX A Third

Congrats: Drawing Competition


AVEC wishes to congratulate all the schools and the students

who took part in all our Diamond Values: Defining Lives Competitions

for the scholastic year 2011-12.

Eleven Schools will be awarded

a special Diamond Value Trophy

in appreciation for their active participation in

these competitions.

These schools will be personally visited soon.

We look forward to your participation in the

New scholastic year ahead


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Feb 6, 2012: St. Elias High SchoolBandra ,STD VIII

SCHOOLS VISITED/ ANIMATED BY AVEC During the Month of February 2012:

February 6, 2012 St. Elias High School Bandra, Std VIIIValue Orientation Program (171 Students)

February 8, 2012 St. Anthonys Girls High School / St. Ignatius High SchoolJacobs Circle : Visits

February 13, 2012 Padua High SchoolMankhurd, Std IXValue Orientation Program (143 Students)

February 14, 2012 St. Judes High School, Kalyan (East)Visit

February 15, 2012 Carmel ConventKalomboli, Navi MumbaiVisit / Don Bosco Higher Secondary - Nerul

February 21, 2012 Fatima High SchoolBadlapur: Std IXValue Orientation Program (250 Students)

February 27, 2012 St. Aloysius High SchoolBandra, STD IX Value Orientation Program (130 students)

AVEC E-Letter Values for the Yatra is an initiative to provide Animation Resources forTeachers involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .

Values for the Yatra is published every month and is forprivate circulation.Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us in making Values for the Yatra

a useful tool of animation and bonding among the Management, teachers and students of the

ABE schools in Mumbai.

CONTACT:Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Michelle DSouza / Rochwyn Fernandes / Margaret Dubey / Sr. Vera Almeida

AVECDon Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI

Ph: 24154477 e-mail: [email protected] blog: avecmumbaidbys.blogspot.com


Feb 13, 2012: Padua High SchoolMankhurd, STD IX

Feb 21, 2012: Fatima High SchoolBadlapur, STD IX Feb 27, 2012: St. Aloysius High SchoolBandra, STD IX

Values for the Yatra MAR 2012

Documents

Transcript of Values for the Yatra MAR 2012