Exam experiences

 It's the exam season for children across various schools in India. I just wrapped up my 2nd sem exams (MSc Yoga Therapy) last week.

At SVYASA (my Yoga University), we are asked to enter the exam hall 30 min before the exam start time.

We settle down on the floor by rolling a mat with an independent small desk in front of us. (Those who are unable to sit on the floor are allowed to sit on the chair).

We close our eyes and take deep breaths for 5 minutes.
We chant OM 3 times, followed by "Om Sahana Vavatu" Shanti Mantra.
We then do 9 rounds of Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing).

The answer sheets are then distributed, followed by the question papers.

This routine made us feel calm and peaceful (switch from stressful sympathetic nervous system to relaxed parasympathetic nervous system). The nerves settle down and we then start writing the exam.

As I wrapped up the exam schedule, the memories of my 10th/12th board exams and Engineering degree semester exams came up where the stakes were high. I remember we would enter the exam hall at the very last minute and within 5-10 minutes, we would start writing on our answer sheets.

Exam stress is real and many of us have exam-related nightmares even in our 30s and 40s. Reaching late for exams, forgetting answers, feeling blank, pens not writing properly - these dreams still haunt us! :-)

Not sure how the experience of board exams is for the children of today. But a few minutes to ground oneself - deep breathing, Pranayama and connecting with the divinity of one's faith - will help alleviate stress to a large extent. And children won't carry the exam samskaras (impressions in the subconscious) into their 30s and 40s!

Human Evolution and its Foundations

 Human evolution is a transition in our mental refinement. Our scriptures talk about this transition in two stages:

• Prakrta Purusha - unrefined person
• Samskrta Purusha - refined person

Prakrta purusha is a stage driven by our likes/dislikes. We lead our lives according to our whims and fancies. Young children (infants and toddlers) act according to what they feel like doing. They do what they want to do without any hesitation or guilt.

We then slowly transition to refining our personality and decide our actions based on what is proper. This transition coincides with the manifestation of our intellect at the subtle level and the growth of the cerebrum and nerve cells in our forebrain at the gross level.

Intellect helps us to reason, analyze, and think about the consequences of our actions before acting impulsively.

This transition from Prakrta purusha to Samskrta purusha is influenced by multiple factors - parenting, family values, childhood environment, right role models, value-based education, habits and routines, exposure to the right content, friends, community, etc.

In today's scenario, we see that this transition has slowed down. And in many cases, we notice that it is shifting backward.

Movies and social media influence youngsters to pursue actions based purely on likes/dislikes. Value education gets the least importance across the board - in family, schools, society, or access to role models. 

Herd mentality without questioning, YOLO mindset, peer pressure, instant gratification, and ignoring the calls of conscience are some of the repercussions we are noticing due to the lack of importance given to values.

Swami Dayananda Saraswati, in his book "Value of Values" states:

"A value is a value for me only when I see the value of the value as valuable to me".

Refinement of personality and character is built on the foundation of values.

There is no point blaming Gen-Z and Alpha kids unless we (the previous generations) establish the right foundation for them by setting the right example.