The search for meaning is one of the most universal parts of the human experience. Across Indian traditions and culture, we have always been taught about selfless actions and practices like sewa. There is a long and deep understanding that a life of service, made through positive contributions to our communities and the world, is a life of purpose. This lesson intends to help students explore the idea that a meaningful life is not only about personal success, but also about how we show up for others. This lesson invites students to look inward at their own core values while also looking outward at how they can support their families, schools, and communities, empowering them to recognize that even small acts of care and service can create a life filled with meaning and purpose.
Example of What You Could Say:
“Let’s start by sitting comfortably and thinking quietly for a moment. Think of something kind that you have done for someone, or a way you helped or supported someone recently. Maybe you helped a younger sibling with their homework, maybe you carried something heavy for a neighbour, or maybe you helped a stranger find their way. Maybe you sat with someone who was upset, or maybe you helped clean up at home without being asked. Hold that moment in your mind. How did it make you feel?
If any of you feel comfortable, would you like to share the first thought that came to mind as you reflected on this experience of helping someone? You can share in whatever language feels natural to you.”
(Invite a few students to share.)
Example of What You Could Say:
“While Mahatma Gandhi was getting on an aeroplane, a reporter shouted out to him, “What is your message for our readers?” Gandhi thought about his answer and replied, ‘My life is my message’. He meant that the way we live every day, the way we treat others, and the small acts of kindness and service we do send a message to others about what we value. Our actions show people who we are.
We are all going to do a fun warm-up activity together where we all think of the message we hope our lives send out into the world, that represents how we want to live our lives, similar to how Gandhi shared his story. This might sound overwhelming at first, but if we reflect on the kind of person we want to be right now in our lives, it can be pretty simple. We are all going to write one sentence that represents “The Message of our Life.” I wanted to share my sentence with you all first…(Educator shares their sentence with the class) and now I’m going to give you all around 5 minutes to write your own sentence that reflects how you want to live your life and treat others. You can think about these questions as you write your sentence to help guide you:
Take a few minutes to write your sentence in any language you prefer. You can decorate it with colours, symbols, or drawings like a diya, a lotus, folded hands, a tree, or anything that represents how you see yourself in your life and the service, compassion, or values you hold. You can write this sentence in the third person. For example, she helped others to see the best in themselves, or he helped children learn how to read.”
Introduce Guest Artist Video
Student Compilation video: ‘Message of Your Life’ (students in India)
Introducing the Creative Activity
Example of What You Could Say:
“With this sentence in mind, we are going to do a creative activity that allows you to expand on this connection between service and creating meaning and purpose.”
(Educator selects one of the two options below as the creative activity for this lesson. Select the option that you find most appropriate for the age and interests of your students.)
Option One: Legacy Letter (Middle and Secondary School)
“We are now going to do an activity that will help you think more deeply about the values that are important to you. When you wrote the sentence, the message of your life, you were reflecting on the kind of person you want to be.
Imagine yourself 20 years in the future. Think about the person you hope to have become, the impact you have had on others, and the values that guided your life. I know it might be hard to imagine yourself 20 years in the future, and you don’t have to have it all figured out. Just write from the heart about the kind of person you hope to have become.
Your future self can be anyone, you might be a doctor, a teacher, a farmer, a parent raising children with love, someone serving your community in quiet ways every day, even the President or Prime Minister of India. Anything you choose to imagine yourself to be is equally meaningful in life.
In this activity, you are going to write a letter. You are going to write a letter pretending to be your future 20-year-old self who is writing a letter back to the person you are today. In this letter, your future self can describe the life you created and the kind of person you are. This can include the impact you’ve had in your career, but also how you lived and everything you have done for yourself, your family, your community, and the world at large: the challenges you overcame, the kindness you showed, the responsibilities you carried with love and commitment, the people you helped, and the message you hope your life continues to send to those around you and to the world.”
Option Two: Mandala Drawing
Example of What You Could Say:
“We are going to do an activity now that will help you think more deeply about the values that are important to you: the mandala. Mandalas appear across many Indian traditions. They are circular designs that represent wholeness, the interconnection of all things, and the relationship between the individual and the world around them. The circle itself is the central idea: nothing stands alone, and everything is connected. This connects to a very old and beautiful tradition in Indian art. Today, you are going to create your own mandala. It is not going to be a piece of art to be judged, but rather a map of your values and the way you want to live.
When you wrote the ‘message of your life’ sentence, you were reflecting on the kind of person you want to be. Now, I want you to look at the handout I’ve given you and notice that there is an outline of a mandala. In the centre of the mandala, write down one value you want to live by. You can use a word in any language, for example, (satya) for truth, (karuna) for compassion, (sewa) for service, (ahimsa) for non-harm, or any word in your own language that names something you hold dear.
In the next section or ring of the drawing, I want you to write down a few of the qualities and strengths you have that will support you in living this value and helping others. For example, maybe you are a great listener, maybe you are empathetic to a friend who is going through something difficult, or maybe you are creative and can help solve problems in unique ways.
Finally, in the outermost ring, write down how you hope the people around you feel because of the way you live.
After you finish writing, feel free to be creative and add color, patterns, designs, and symbols to your drawing or mandala collage. Make it yours.”
Optional: Under your mandala, take a few minutes to write about a real moment when you lived out one of these values or helped someone else in a meaningful way. What happened? How did it make you feel? How do you think the other person felt?
Example of What You Could Say:
“Remember, you do not need to be famous, powerful, or perfect to live a meaningful life. Meaning comes from those moments when you decide to live your life as a reflection of your values. Your life can be your message, and that message is written in the everyday moments that we have with others. The quiet kindness. The time you showed up for someone who needed you. The responsibility you carried with courage and patience. The way you made someone feel seen. Think of the small acts of kindness and service you do every day; together, they will tell the story of your life.”
Schools may consider organising a visit to a local Gurudwara, community kitchen, service organisation, or volunteer initiative. Experiencing and participating in acts of service can help students connect the lesson’s reflection on values with concrete action in their communities.