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The Hibbert Assembly
Ideas for things to do in a follow-up session

1. Draw a picture of thirsty people on a hot day being given a cooling drink by a Sikh.
2. The Sikh Golden Temple at Amritsar has four opening, to the east, north, south and west, to signify that it is open to all. Make a plan of a building for which you provide symbolic features and explain what these are and what they mean.
3. Guru Arjan was a good man who was put to death because he stood firmly by his beliefs. He is the first Sikh martyr. Read about the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Acts Chapter 6, and Chapter 7 verses 54 to 60.
4. Find out about other people whom we would regard as good men or women but who were condemned to die, for example Socrates (469-399 BCE), and Joan of Arc (c1412-1431)
5. Here is a hymn by Guru Arjan. In a Sikh place a worship, a gurdwara, it might be sung to the accompaniment of a tabla, a pair of drums which can be tuned to different pitches. Work out a way of presenting the hymn using percussion instruments or with a very simple melody on a keyboard:
I always meditate with God's name in my mind.
Because of this all my friends and neighbours will be saved.
The Guru is always beside me and I constantly think about Him and remember Him.
Oh God, your will is sweet to me.
All your follower seeks is the gift of your Grace.
6. Make a chart listing the ten Sikh gurus. Remember that the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is regarded as the sole guru after the tenth, Guru Gobind Singh, so be sure to draw a book as the last item on your chart and label it.
7. Like Guru Arjan, Toussaint L'Ouverture (c.1744-1803) was a good man who was imprisoned for political reasons and died in prison. Toussaint L'Ouverture was born a slave on the island of Haiti, where his people were exploited by British, French and Spanish colonialists. In 1891 he led a successful revolt and became Governor of Santo Domingo. However in 1892 he was captured by the French and imprisoned in France. Read Wordworth's sonnet To Toussaint L'Ouverture. What comfort does Wordsworth offer to the black hero? Notice Wordsworth's phrase, 'Man's unconquerable mind'.

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