Feedback Strategies

My favorite topic from the feedback gallery was fill in the gaps. I sometimes struggle with leaving important pieces out, or putting too much unnecessary stuff in, so it would be nice for someone to let me know. I also like the idea of asking questions, as it engages the authors mind towards putting more thought and reason into their story. The 

Be a mirror - 

I liked this article because it emphasized the growth mindset, and how we should be trying to let go of a fixed mindset. I have read this same idea many times across multiple different courses now, so it is really starting to stick in my head. I personally have been trying to take on hardships as challenges from a positive perspective rather than a negative. 

The difference between praise and feedback - 

This article focuses on as the title says, the difference between praise and feedback. When we emphasize how hard someone works, it can help them grow rather than telling them good job. The article says, “Kids are thrilled by the idea that they can grow their brains through their effort and strategy." This idea emphasizes that there is more growth in praising someones efforts rather than their results. This can lead to more growth in people, and it is something i will attempt. 

Be a Mirror

Topic Research

Holi - 

This is the popular Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil, and is known by a variety of different names such as the "Festival of Love" and the "Festival of Color". Its celebration can be attributed to history that involves both Krishna and Vishnu. 

Rama Navani -

This is the Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Rama. I will focus on the history of what they used to do on this holy day and the deeper significance that the day has. 

Ganesh Chatruthi - 

This is the Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of famous deity Ganesh to earth. The holiday includes many things such as the formation of clay models of Ganesh, prayers, and sweets. I will focus on the origination of the holiday and why it is so celebrated. 

Sources are in blue

Holi - The Festival of Color 

Week 3 Story

 The avatar ran aggressively deep through the dense and thick forest, chasing after the cursed demon who posed a threat on his wife. 

"Thee won't receiveth her o'er mine own dead corse!" the avatar called chasing the demon. The demon had run down to the river waiting for the avatar to arrive so he could kill him.

"Thee doth not standeth a chance 'gainst me, thy existence is a disgrace and thou art not fit to beest a king.  Cometh h're to kicketh the bucket!" called the demon, holding three large spears and a mouth full of fire.

The avatar attacked the demon from behind, propeling the two into the flowing river. The demon's fire was extinguished but he was still stronger than the avatar. The avatar stole a spear from the demon and attempted to lodge it into it's heart. A demonic spirit came sweeping through, taking the spear out of the avatar's hand and picked up him in mid air right above the water. 

"Thy fath'r hadst curs'd us, that gent wast a filthy sir! anon i planeth to killeth thee since i wast unable to killeth that gent!" 

The people of the forest had been cursed by Dhasharatha previously for attacking an innocent boy for trespassing onto their lands, in seek of divine medicine. The curse had stayed with them for centuries.

The avatar's companions had come and distracted the spirit, releasing him back into the water with the demon. He had landed right on the demon's head, stole his spear, leaped up into the air with the spear pointing down and came right down through the center of it's skull, his body passed down through the river bank. The spirit was now on a mission to abduct his wife, so he faked the avatars voice and cried for help.

"Help me! help me please for i am in grave danger!"

The avatar's wife heard his plea for help and her heart sank. 

"I am coming f'r thee my love! Stay putteth!"

And with that she set out into the hands of the cursed spirit.

The Rakshasa or Demon 

Authors Note: The story I retold was The Chase from the PDE Ramayana. The avatar in the story was Rama, the demon was Rakshasa, and the wife was Sita. The story focuses on the fight between the demon and Rama, and results in a holy spirit trying to lure in Sita in the hopes of punishing Rama by taking away his love.  

Bibliography: PDE Ramayana, The Chase

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana Part B

  Ramayana Part B:

• Everyone around town is mourning the death of Dasharatha, his son Bharata held a funeral service 
• This resulted in weeping for 10 whole days
• recited japa
• performed sacrifices, fire
• Jabali tried to convince Rama to depart the forest and head back to the town, using reasoning that his father is dead and there is no use to please those who are now dead and how there is no hereafter. 
• argument about hereafter, Jabali does not believe in it but Rama does
• Bharata gave Rama gold sandals, to put on his throne, then Bharata went away for as long as Rama's exile lasts
• Rama and Sita fought a mighty Viradha, and no worldly weapons were able to pierce him because he had been cursed. Once they dug a hole and threw him in, he told Rama that he had been freed of this curse and then later attained heaven.
• Rama encounters Agastya in the forest, and he gives him a variety of weapons. 
• Shuprankha tries to convince Rama to leave Sita for her
• theme of loyalty
• Rama was loyal to Sita
• Shuprankha is testing his faith
• Shuprankha calls her brother and an army on to kill Sita, the mighty Rama slays them
• To punish Rama, they want to torture him by killing Sita
• she is his only weakness 
• Ravana in a deer disguise is used to lure in Sita, even taking the voice of Rama saying that he is hurt.
• Sita wants to help but is not allowed
• she would rather die than live without Rama
• Jatayu, a bird, saves Sita
• Ravana is to die soon
• Jatyu can signify that you are always being watched by someone, he was in the trees during the whole exile just silently watching
• Ravana was cursed due to a prior rape
• Rama encounters many people leading him on a quest to find Sita

Bibliography - PDE Ramayana 

The beautiful Sita

Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana Part A

 Ramayana Part A:

This week I will attempt to do my notes in bullet points rather than the traditional paragraph.

• King Dasharatha is a very noble and widely respected man, but he has longed for a son to rein over his empire after his passing. He has multiple wives and not one of them was able to give him a son. 
• In the strive for a son, they conduct a sacrifice that involves a horse. The village people all attend and there are chants and various other spiritual tasks performed.
• After the sacrifice he ends with four sons. One being Rama.
• I want to focus on how Rama and Sita were able to wed
• There was a sword that any man needed to bend in order for them to have permission to marry Sita
• Rama was able to bend the sword, or break it, causing a stirrup with a man from a forest
• The theme that was exemplified was jealousy and spite, showing that even when you do something amazing there will be many people who are happy for you, but there will always be those who shun you and are simply jealous of your achievements.
• There are many themes in the stories, my favorites were jealousy, love at first site, destiny, and hatred
• They were all very prominent throughout the stories, especially hate
• When Rama was banished from his land all because Manthara convinced Kaikeyi he was a bad man. Manthara had a personal grudge against Rama and wanted him banished. This idea of hatred led to the exile of Rama, his brother, and Sita. The hatred that one had for Rama had eventually led to him being confined from living the dream life that he was just about to live as a newlywed.

Bibliography - PDE Ramayana 

The great Rama