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Teachers' Notes
This story illustrates the six auras or lesyas. The most intense and harmful is the first "black" lesya (aura). The act of cutting down the tree for the jamuns represents this. The intensity of the lesyas decreases, to the sixth and the most benign.
Children may not be familiar with the jamun tree. A picture and eating the fruit would help! This chapter explains how thoughtlessness leads to violence. Expand on this. Violence is often not deliberate. Introduce the word Jayna, i.e. to be careful, to think and learn, and to balance the good and the harmful.
Talk about environmental concerns again, the destruction of species, the preservation of rain forests etc. The WWF and the FOE produce excellent teaching materials.
What do these words mean?
attract destroy amun tree precious recycling shed survival wantonly
Exercises
1. What do you think was the most sensible way of obtaining the jamuns to eat?
2.
Act out the story of the six friends.
3. Write down why trees are important.
1. Write down the ways in which you can help the environment.
5. Look at the booklet entitled the Jain Declaration on Nature.
5.
Draw a picture illustrating the story.
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