A Bug's Life
Our oldest groups are not only watching A Bug's Life this week, but dissecting it to understand it's inner meaning and how it pertains to the field of Vedanta so they can apply those lessons to their own lives. Here is an overview of the points we made:
Character Progression:
Flik -
beginning - just wants to get his inventions to work
middle - wants to help the whole colony (leaves home just to find help)
end- inventions to not only work, but to benefit others
He makes his personal goal into a goal that benefits the whole community and furthers his own possibility as an effect through his ultimately selfless intentions- Flick has a vision.
Inspires other → instills loyalty
“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.” Took the “punishment” as an opportunity to explore solutions, his foundation to fulfill his goal.
not settling with/crying over the cards life deals you but using ingenuity/creativity/vision/teamwork to make the best of your situation
“Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket.”
“What you have is all His Gift to you. What you do with what you have is your Gift to Him“
Who are other people who were able to bring about change because they had a vision?
Gurudev
Gandhi
Steve Jobs
MLK Jr
Abraham Lincoln
There are multiple types of goals
Short Term : self
Long Term : community
Lifetime (Vision) : everywhere
Atta -
Was always very anxious about becoming queen because she had a constant fear of failure since she felt “everyone [was] watching her” → Risked her life to stick up to the bad guys and protect her people
Short Term - Be a good queen
Long Term - Protect the colony
Dot -
Wishes she could be a grown ant who can physically fly → Not only does she get wings physically, she is also able to mentally “fly” and go beyond the constraints of her mind (the thoughts that held her back from achieving her potential like that she’s too little to make a difference). Was able to get help from Flick when everyone else was out of hope
Short Term - Get wings
Long Term - Help the colony survive
Circus Bugs: vanity, anger, fear, sloth → when having a real goal/mission, they use their brains and smarts/talents, insecurities become confidence
-judged for their outward appearance/job rather than their actual potential - caste system?
-utilizing opportunity
Short Term - Get noticed and become famous circus stars
Long Term - Use their abilities to help their new ant friends
All the other Ants - even as they were suffering under grasshopper rule, they were able to stay to their dharma and complete the job forced upon them. By doing this, they were able to grasp just how much potential they had (able to collect twice as much food as they would have if the grasshoppers weren't there).
Favorite quotes/ideas amongst the kids:
"The bird was my idea, I'm the one you want."
"This tiny see, with some time, and a little bit of sunshine and rain, will grow into that big tree. You might feel like you can't do anything, but that's because you didn't grow into a tree yet."
"Does one grain hurt you? No. But what if a thousand grains fell on you?"
"Be confident, you'll be fine."
"I would take the credit myself, but I give credit to Princess Atta because she believed in me."
"Do not panic!"
"Not every bug would fight a bird."
"You believed in me and you sent me on my quest."
"You can do it."
Everyone shines in their own way
