Hari Om!
Dear Parents,
Wish you all a very happy and prosperous Deepavali! Please find below the summary of our class on Friday, Nov 2,2018.
Opening prayers: Om Sahana Vavatu
Vakratunda Mahakaaya
Saraswathi Namastubhyam
Guru Brahma Gurur VishnuH
Neelambuja Shyamala Komalaangam (Rama Shloka)
Quote for the day: Let not your choice leave behind a sense of guilt
Bhagavad Gita: Chapeter 18 verses 47 - 48 (available in the handbook)
Story: Bharata brings back Rama's Padukas to Ayodhya
Character Analysis: Lakshmana's, Urmila's and Bharata's choice
Aarati and Pledge : Temple - Lead by Grade 6
Next Balavihar class: 11/9/18
Announcement: There will be a grand Deepavali celebration at our Ashram today!
6:00 PM: Sri Sukta Homam
7:00 PM: Lakshmi Kubera Pooja
8:00 PM: Mahaprasad and Firecrackers lighting
Please come and celebrate with our Chinmaya family!
Summary:
We started the class with opening prayers and went on to discuss the Gurudev's quote of the day. As always, the children had very interesting takes on the quote. Some of them said that it meant they shouldn't hurt anyone's feelings. We emphasized that while that is important, it is equally important to choose to do the right thing! We discussed a situation where they had to respond to a game request from a friend when they also had an assignment with a 2 day deadline. In such a situation we should always think it through before making our choice. Our first and foremost duty or Dharma as a student is to finish our school work before indulging in leisure. Although, we may feel 'guilty' about not responding to our friend, we will feel a greater sense of guilt if we ignored our work in order to play. It was a very productive discussion overall. We then moved on to the story of Ramayana and we discussed how Rama prepared to go to the forest and Lakshmana and Sita were ready to go with him. We saw how Urmila asked Lakshmana to go with Rama and she didn't want to be a hindrance in his Seva to Rama and Sita! We saw how Bharata was angered and heartbroken beyond words about Rama's exile. Bharata did not take the throne but placed Rama's Padukas on the throne and ruled in his name while himself leading a hermit's life on the outskirts of Ayodhya! We also discussed Dasharata's curse that he would suffer and die because of seperation from his dear son. We spoke about Kaikeyi's choice too. She chose to disrupt the peace and happiness of her beautiful family to make her son the King! Ultimately, she was always ridden with guilt even though she got what she wanted! Followed by our story and discussion, we learnt verses 47, 48 of Bhagavad Gita, Ch. 18 and then practiced verses 41-45. We will share the video of the kids chanting in the group soon. We are very proud of each one of them for participating so well! Please encourage them to practice at home as well. We then went to the prayer hall for Aarati and Pledge. The next Balavihar class will be on 11/9/18.
Grade 7 Sevikas
