Happy Maha Sivaratri to all!
We started our class with the beginning prayers followed by the chanting of Om Namaste at bhagavan… 3 times
Asked the children to do meditation on Lord Siva on Sivaratri using this mantra. Also asked them to visit our temple for the pooja
Chanted verse 65 and 66 of Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita along with Pujya Swamiji
This week our curriculum was on:
Continued with the first Mahavakya which is, ‘Consciousness is Brahman’
Discussed with a verse from Shankara’s Vakya Vritti, which states, The seer is always different from the seen
We tried to make it simple by giving examples like, I see my dog but I am different from the dog
Extended this to, I the Consciousness, is different from my body, emotions, thoughts etc..
Thinking this way, our focus towards life will change for the better
We asked the children to practice with simple things, I see my phone or TV, but I am different from them
Moved on to a more simple topic of Compassion
Told many stories based from the lives of Gandhi ji, Dalai Lama. Talked about some incidents from the movie ‘Gandhi’
How Gandhiji treated even a thief with compassion and changed him for the better
How India is so full of compassion and given refuge to the great Dalai Lama
Discussed Buddha’s teachings of how to live by compassion for all beings
Discussed the story of Yuddhishtira, how he had to go to hell for one day because of the one lie to he had told on earth
Discussed the story from The Mahabharata of the time when in the battle field, the elephant died, Yuddhishtira said Ashvattama is dead, hoping for the moral of his teacher Drona would be affected
Discussed how in hell Yuddhishtira created a heaven like atmosphere due to his compassion
Also told a story to show the differences between Duryodhana and Yuddhishtitira
Lastly, we told a story about the hunter and the birds. The hunter would go to the forest every day and trap the birds in his net. One day an ornithologist sees this and teaches them to beware of the hunter and not get trapped in his net. But the birds only repeat the lesson and don’t implement it. Talked about how we too make the same mistake and act foolishly in this world. We have to apply the teachings in our life and not make it a mere lip service
Practiced for our play. Thank you parents! For all your support for our play
Our class play will be on March 8th at 8.15 PM
Pranams
Nirmala and Purnima
Announcements:
Please register your children for Shlokathon (includes all shlokas from single verse shlokas to Sahasranamas!)
Shlokathon link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15YOqRECSsKrXGq4kbVmcmW_cvzAasQriR3jSq3Vg3CU/edit?ts=5c0bba88
Registration form for Storytelling
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAulpPmVPaEIDQnm6oopfYP2vEsFA3eDRbktDtge84RFLdAg/viewform?usp=sf_link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAulpPmVPaEIDQnm6oopfYP2vEsFA3eDRbktDtge84RFLdAg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Registration form for Art competition https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvftCv8wEfW10HwC24epdZ3gJTosvyk35173clqXoeTbDwqg/viewform?usp=sf_link Please register your children
