Hari OM! Parents,
We started our class with the beginning prayers followed by learning 2 prayers on Guru Papampara
Sadashiva Samarambham…
Shankaram Shankaracharyam…
Taught about our rich Guru Parampara
Chanted verses 70, 71, 72 and 73 from Chapter18 of the Bhagavad Gita along with our Pujya Swamiji
This week we had a very exciting class taught by our own senior Rishabh Bhatt.
He first explained the importance of Balavihar and how it has helped him
Taught the children about Purusharthas or our goals in life
Taught that Vedas classify the human goals as:
Dharma: Duty combined with ethics
Artha: Wealth
Kama: Desires for Enjoyment
Moksha: Liberation
Rishabh explained dharma’s purpose in life with the Vedic prayer Bhadram Karne Bhih..
Explained the prayer as ‘See good, hear good, and speak good’. Also use our body in service of others.
Example was about how to play a sport without cheating and looking out for your friends
Gave the example about Dharmaputra. Though he was an embodiment of dharma, he told one lie in the Mahabharata war about the elephant Ashwathama
This story was told last week
Had a nice discussion regarding wars in general. Children had very interesting questions
Explained Artha as wealth. Also explained the it’s 2 aspects-Inner and outer
To enrich our outer life we have to work for money and to enrich our inner life we must live a noble life
Explained Kama as enjoyments of life
Concluded desires are good but should be under our control. They should not be binding
Also,controlling desires will reduce negative tendencies like anger, anxieties etc
Finally Moksha, or liberation. Desire for Moksha is a good desire
Concluded that living an ‘alert and vigilant life’ as often quoted by Pujya Gurudev will lead us to the path of freedom
Pranams
Nirmala and Purnima
Announcements
Please register children for the Oratorical Contest on April 30th. We will talk about it in our next class
Please register for Gita Chanting Competition. Last date to register is March 24th. We have been chanting in class every week and would really love many registrations!