Spritual Curriculum in Darshan Academy

7. Leadership Training, Peace Studies, Conflict Resolution, and Communication

Other course offerings include:

- Leadership training to prepare students for moral and ethical leadership in whatever field they choose to enter in life;

- Co-operative learning and team-building to teach students how to work harmoniously in groups;

- Peace studies, in which students learn conflict resolution techniques for solving problems peacefully and how living according to the higher values of life can prevent wars and conflicts in society;

- Goal setting and time management; and

- Non-violent communication.

8. Selfless Service

Part of spirituality is learning to serve humanity. Students are encouraged to engage in community service such as helping people in need and improving the ecology. Through their participation, students develop the concept of using their knowledge to make positive contributions to society. Once a year the school holds an "Acts of Kindness Week" to promote the importance of selfless service.

9. Study Skills, Creative Problem Solving, and Decision Making

Students are taught how to adapt to the technological advances of an ever-changing world. They develop the study skills and effective, productive working habits that will enable them to become independent learners. They are also taught creative problem solving techniques to prepare them for the challenges they will face in life. As part of their leadership training, students learn how to make decisions and choices that will have a positive effect on their own life and on society.

10. Inner and Outer Peace

Another focus of the spiritual curriculum is learning how to develop both inner and outer peace. Through meditation, students develop a peaceful center within themselves, allowing them to deal with challenges and conflicts calmly and consciously.

11. Pre-school Spiritual Curriculum

A rich spiritual curriculum has been developed to establish a strong academic, moral, and spiritual foundation for pre-school children. Students learn how to get along with each other, to share, and to work together in a group setting. They learn basic manners, good health habits, and polite and courteous social interactions. At this level, they learn to appreciate multicultural diversity through learning about customs around the world and holidays of different religions. They also learn how to take care of their own belongings, those of others, and to take care of the earth, animals, plants, and nature. They explore these topics through games, art, music, literature, crafts, drama, and role-playing.

12. High School Spiritual Curriculum

Students also explore spirituality as expressed through the arts. They study spiritual art, music, poetry, literature, and drama through the ages. They also have an opportunity to express themselves through various art forms and develop their creative talents.

A high school spiritual curriculum for grades nine through twelve is under development. This will include a variety of topics such as:

- Meditation;

- Developing ethical values;

- Biographies of great people including the founders, mystics, and saints of all religions;

- Spiritual arts;

- Health and nutrition;

- Leadership;

- Communicating spiritual values through personal example, public speaking, and writing;

- Conflict resolution within the family, among peers, in organizations, and at the community and global level;

- Peace studies;

- Study skills and career training;

- Comparative study of religions;

- Service projects;

- Personal projects in spirituality; and

- Theater productions in honor of holidays and special events.

Cooperative learning and team building techniques help prepare students for entry into their future professions. Research shows that students retain information longer when it can be applied to every day life situations. When students see a practical application for what they are learning, their motivation increases and they retain information longer. Therefore, in each lesson, students apply their knowledge to their everyday life or to its practical use in today's world. Theory and practice go hand in hand at the Darshan Academy schools.

1. Spiritual Curriculum Development and Teaching Methods;

2. Meditation;

3. Benefits of Spiritual Curriculum;

4. Ethical and Moral Values;

5. Cultural Diversity, Appreciation for all Cultures, and Comparative Studies of Religions;

6. Spirituality and the Arts;