Life is a Series of Moments

Masterclass:
Read together from The Courage To Be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi, discuss the chapter “Life is a series of moments,” and complete the conversation between the Youth and the Philosopher.

Key Takeaways

• Reject the “kinetic” life model (a linear path to a future goal) for an “energeal” one (finding fulfilment in the process itself).

• Live in the “here and now” by shining a “bright spotlight” on each moment, which makes the past and future irrelevant distractions.

• Assign your own meaning to life; it has no inherent purpose. The “guiding star” for this is the contribution to others.

• Change yourself to change your world; it’s a personal responsibility that requires courage to start, regardless of others’ cooperation.

Topics

GSA & Learning Forward Updates

• Sandeep Dutt reviewed the GSA website (schooleducation.com) to clarify the oorganisation’smission and programs.

• Mission: Personal and social development across 10 attributes (e.g., identity, communication).

• Core Belief: Schools should focus on service, skill, sport, and study.

• Programs:

  • Teachers Academy: Saturday 3 PM sessions for school faculties.

    • Cost: ₹10,000 annual donation per school.

    • Capacity: Currently serving 6 schools; can accept 1–2 more.

    • Recent Session: “Ecological Wisdom” with Project FUEL.

  • Masterclass: Saturday, 5:30 PM book club.

  • My Good School: Sunday session.

  • Brewing Knowledge Fridays: Friday session on learning and assessments.

• Resources:

  • YouTube Channel: Redesigned for more straightforward navigation.

  • Impact Study: Now live on the website.

  • Special Projects: Page updated with the Dune School Old Boys’ Society.

Recap of Last Session: Shalini Gupta summarised the key takeaway from the January 10 session:

• Disruptive behaviour, especially in children, often signals a need to be seen and heard.
• Adults can normalise abnormal behaviour by seeking superiority.
• Adlerian foundations for a healthy self: freedom, contribution, and belonging.
• True self-worth comes from contributing to the community, not from seeking recognition.

Chapter Discussion: “Life is a series of moments”

• The discussion contrasted two views of life:

  • Kinetic Life (Linear): A path to a future destination (e.g., a mountaintop).

    • Problem: The majority of life becomes a “tentative” period en route to a goal, making happiness dependent on a future outcome.

  • Energeal Life (Moment-by-Moment): A series of complete moments lived in the “here and now.”

    • Analogy: “Dancing”—the act itself is the goal, not a destination.

    • Principle: Each moment is complete and fulfilling on its own, regardless of the final outcome.

• The “Bright Spotlight” Metaphor:

  • Focusing on the past or future creates a “dim twilight” that prevents earnest living.

  • A “bright spotlight” on the present moment makes the past and future irrelevant distractions.

• Assigning Meaning:

  • Life has no inherent meaning; individuals must assign it themselves.

  • The “Guiding Star”: Contribution to others.

    • This provides a compass for a free and happy life, independent of others’ approval.

• Personal Transformation:

  • The world changes when an individual changes.

  • Analogy: Putting on glasses for the first time reveals a clear, vivid world.

  • Adler’s Advice: “Someone has to start... You should start. With no regard to whether others are cooperative or not.”

Next Steps

• All Participants:

  • Join the “My Good School” session on Sunday, January 18, featuring Karthik Bajoria.

  • Attend the final chapter reading (the afterword) on January 24, Tuesday, January 24.

• Sandeep Dutt:

  • Host a reception at the book café on Monday, January 19 (5–7 PM) for Governing Council members and guests.

• Khushi:

  • Invite Principal Srividya Ma’am to the Masterclass session.
    
    Notes courtesy: Fathom AI

Experience the Joy Of Learning from your home

Learning Forward India Professional Learning Program (PLP)

PLP1 The Joy Of Learning

We live in a society consumed by materialism and the desire for more. Does this mean our next generation of children will grow up being literate and numerate greedy consumers whose lives are judged by the size of their houses and the latest model BMW on the drive? Or can our society, along with the desire of educators, teach our children the values they need to take responsibility for living and learning? It's simple; the children are our future, it's our moral duty in schools to provide a Values-Based curriculum.

The future of education will be built on immutable values alone. 

Appreciation, Caring, Co-operation, Courage, Freedom, Friendship, Happiness, Honesty, Hope, Humility, Love, Patience, Peace, Quality, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Thoughtfulness, Tolerance, Trust, Understanding & Unity.

The Joy Of Learning (JOL) explores twenty-two values that can be taught through schools. This program will inspire you by using examples of where the costs are already being used by children and adults in schools and share practical tools to stimulate discussion and philosophical debate. It will also help people to take stock of their values and how they wish to lead their life. On successful completion, the individuals receive a certificate of participation.

The Joy Of Learning (11 Sessions) The teachers collaborate and work in groups to explore the 22 values and discover how the values help in the personal and social development of an individual. The benefits come alive at their school and enhance learning at the classroom level.

JOL is an extensive and profound learning experience that immerses members in a model of inquiry and problem-based learning. Staff members work collaboratively to gain knowledge to solve significant student learning problems in their schools. We seek to understand individual members' needs and then assist them in meeting objectives through a collaborative learning environment and with the support of experienced coaches.

Outcome and Certification: The educators are recognised for their effort with a Certificate Of Appreciation for every level of the Progam, a Gold Badge is awarded on completion of the three levels.

The PLP offers a great challenge and rewards the educators for the extra effort. The Certificates are awarded at the Graduation Ceremony/Annual Day of the school.

Register for the April 2020 Cohort
Experience the Joy Of Learning at Rs. 1100.00 (Rupees Eleven Hundred) only, delivered exclusively as an eLearning Program using ZOOM (Video Conferencing) & Telegram Messenger.

Should Knowledge Chase Student

Under this topic, we have learnt what the other's tried to explain, that how can we attract our students to a class. It is not always necessary that we push our students into the class rather it should be like they are pulled towards the classroom. The teacher creates and generates the curiosity within the students that they are pulled towards to gain and chase the knowledge.

Following points are the measures a teacher can apply in her/his classroom to pull /attract the students:

• We can conduct an activity-based study for chapters.
• Giving them responsibilities and making leaders (chance to everyone) work in a group.
• Sessions of audio/visual classes attract students e.g. storytellings, adventure activities/tours.
• Taking a value-based class and practical knowledge- Learning by doing.
• Asking them to find solutions to problems and in return rewarding them.
• Appreciating always, whatever they do or submit work and knowledging their efforts in the class.

Our Learning From- "Can You Teach a Zebra Some Algebra" by Debashish Chatterjee

- Urmila Rathore, Vimmy Rajpurohit and Tarun Mishra - The Fabindia School