Hari Om Parents,
We started our class with OM chanting, opening prayer of Sahanavavatu, Guru stotram, Govinda Damodara stotram and finished learning Krishna ashtakam.
In our My 24 teachers book we learnt about desire and expectations. Desiring or expecting anything from any person brings disappointment. We spoke about how the mind should not be engrossed in material things by which we become selfish and not see or enjoy other beautiful things around us.
We talked about how Letting go brings happiness and Holding on brings sadness and discussed a couple of stories on this topic.
There was once a hawk who was carrying a fish in its beak and then it was chased by other birds who tried to get it. The more the hawk was holding on to the fish the more it was being attacked by other birds. after being stubborn for a long time the hawk finally thinks logically about the situation and lets go of the fish and he himself becomes off the hook from other birds. Similar to the hawk, when a man becomes fond of some object in his possession, that very possession will cause him unhappiness. Once he abandons it, he gains happiness.
We talked about another story of a simple man named Ramu who is happy man until he gets a big bag of gold from his boss which he tries to carry on his back and starts walking to his village on a very hot and sunny afternoon. He feels tired of carrying the gold and when he sees a horse carrying his master thinks of how lucky the other man is, as he does not need to carry any burden, he exchanges his bag of gold to the horse. after sometime he feels the horse was a burden to him as it wouldn't let him sit on him and swaps it to a cow so he could get milk. The Cow wouldn't let him milk and starts kicking him and then he wants to exchange it to a pig. In this fashion he keeps on exchanging whatever he has in his possession that was not giving him happiness and eventually gets a big cobblestone from a knife grinder. he gets tired of carrying it and stops near a river for a drink and he accidentally looses the stone in the water. Instead of getting upset Ramu feels very very happy and relived and screams that he was the luckiest man in the world as he has nor burden to carry.
Our Krishna's story was about the proud Gopi's and how Bhagawan teaches them a lesson for their arrogance. On the blessed night of Rasa Lila after all the music and dancing the Lord began to notice that each Gopi was starting to act haughty and proud. They were all bragging about how the Lord belonged only to them and no one else.They started thinking that they were the best among all the ladies. When Bhagawan saw this he decided to disappear to destroy their arrogance but in a way bless them with the moral of never to be proud and show off. The Gopi's realized their mistake and lamented inconsolably for Krishna to come back. Once Bhagawan felt that they learned their lesson he manifested himself in not one but many forms so each Gopi could dance with him. The moral of the story is to never be arrogant of your possessions.
Towards the end of the class we chanted Bhagawad Gita slokas 61 and 62 with Swamiji. All of use also recited verses 41 through 60.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Annadanam seva project to Trenton soup kitchen. Kindly sign up and drop off your items by Feb 16th
2. Register your kids for Shlokathon competition coming up in April. most of the kids know Govinda Damodara stotram, with a little help at home they should be able to memorize it by then and can participate.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me and/or Rama at ramamalini@hotmail.com.
HARI OM,
Thank you,
Purna and Rama.
