Religious Education class in session facilitated by
Pt. Jaidath Maharaj
The Swaha Gyaan Jyoti launched its first iteration of the first module of its Religious Education course on Thursday 10th January 2013 at the Hindu Centre located at Wall Street, Madras Road, Cunupia. This course was born out of discussions with members as to the spiritual direction of the centre and our role in propagating our way of life, Sanatan Dharma. During the discussions, members expressed a desire for a structured format to spiritual and religious education, where issues and topics could be discussed deeply. Thus the Swaha Gyaan Jyoti Religious Education Course was born.
The course was prepared and delivered by the Spiritual Leader of the Swaha Gyaan Jyoti Mandali, Pt. Jaidath Maharaj and started with six sessions entitled “Introduction to Sanatan Dharma”. The following were the six topics covered in the module:
- Fundamentals of Sanatan Dharma
- Principles and Practices (the relationship between)
- Beliefs of Sanatan Dharma
- Puja
- The Concept of God in Sanatan Dharma
- Goals of Sanatan Dharma and the Ashram System.
The course required a commitment of six Thursdays at one and a half hours each (7:00 pm – 8:30 pm) for a total of nine contact hours. The sessions required strict adherence to punctuality, regularity, participation, pre-work and appropriate traditional attire. Each participant was required to complete a registration form and sign a declaration of commitment to the core values of the Swaha Gyaan Jyoti Mandali (Acceptance, Commitment, Courtesy, Discipline, Respect and Tolerance). Participants also agreed to use the knowledge gained for the purpose of teaching others and becoming qualified advocates of Sanatan Dharma. Participants were required to pay a registration fee of $20.00.
The curriculum was developed using broad and specific objectives in addition to objectives for each individual lesson. PowerPoint slides were prepared and given to each participant at the end of the sessions. The multimedia projector was used for ease of explanation and sharing of content. The curriculum included many activities, which were designed to encourage deep thought and then discussions. This was a remarkable feature of the classes as it showcased the perspectives of both the young and the not so young as heavy discussions flowed throughout the sessions.
The participant profile of the first cohort consisted of a mix of age, gender and educational backgrounds. There were 20 registered participants, some of whom will be graduating on Shiv Raatri night, having met all requirements for graduation.
It is expected that further iterations will be run for the 1st module given the success of the pilot testing. The course will continue to be built and more advanced modules will be offered. It is expected that the course will become a full certificate, recognized by official bodies and offered across the nation.
Should any centre or group be interested in participating in the course, having it run at their centre or preparing teachers, please contact the Swaha Gyaan Jyoti Mandali via our website Gyaanjyotimandali.org.
By Pt. Jaidath Maharaj, President, SWAHA
