Scriptural Texts

Let's begin with today's focus: the Bhagavad Gita passage on duty and righteousness. The verse says, "Perform your duty without attachment to results." In other words, we act because it's right, not because we want a reward. This leads to the teaching of karma yoga – self‑less action. We serve the greater good, like helping a neighbor with chores and not expecting praise. Think about a Kenyan school project where students clean the community garden together. To recap: the Gita encourages us to do our duty freely, practice self‑less service, and apply that mindset in everyday life, such as school service projects.

The title: Jain Scripture: Acaranga Sutra (Excerpt). This short passage gives us a window into Jain teachings about truth and non‑violence. The key line reads, "Speak the truth, harm no living being." In Jainism, Satya means truthfulness, and Ahimsa means non‑violence toward any life form. Here are the main ideas: • Ahimsa – non‑violence (no harm to any living thing) • Satya – truthfulness (always tell the truth). These principles guide everyday behavior. For a practical example, imagine a friend is being bullied. Choosing to speak up protects the friend (Ahimsa) and tells the truth about what's happening (Satya). In Kenyan classrooms, we practice respectful communication by listening carefully, speaking honestly, and ensuring our words don't hurt classmates—just like the teachings we just explored. To recap, the Acaranga Sutra reminds us that truth and non‑violence go hand in hand. Let's keep those ideas in mind as we interact with each other today.

Let's begin by reading a short excerpt from the Guru Granth Sahib, the central scripture of Sikhism. The hymn says, "All humans are equal, serve humanity." This line captures two core Sikh values: equality and seva, which means selfless service. Notice the bullet points that break down these ideas: everyone has the same worth, and we should actively help others through seva. To see how this works in practice, imagine we organise a clean‑up of our local market, just like many Kenyan neighborhoods hold community clean‑up days in Nairobi. By working together, we put the principle of equality into action.

Everyone, let's turn our attention to this slide titled Buddhist Scripture: Dhammapada (Excerpt). Here we have a beautiful verse: "Mindful one, be compassionate to all beings." In simple terms, it encourages us to stay aware of our thoughts and feelings—what Buddhism calls sati—and to act with kindness, or karuna. Notice these two key ideas listed: • Mindfulness (Sati) – attentive awareness of thoughts, feelings, and actions. • Compassion (Karuna) – caring for the welfare of all beings, including ourselves. Let's work through an example. Imagine you're about to take a challenging exam in Nairobi. You feel the stress rising. First, pause – that's the mindfulness step, noticing the tension without reacting. Then, bring compassion to yourself: acknowledge that it's natural to feel nervous and give yourself encouragement. This simple pause can prevent an impulsive reaction like cramming or panicking. Whenever you face a stressful situation—whether it's an exam, a sports match, or a disagreement—try the pause‑and‑care approach. It helps you respond thoughtfully rather than react automatically.