Week 4,
Sunday PM 10/11/2020
Dear Parents,
Hari Om!
The students energetically socialized with each other, emitting positive vibes for a few minutes prior to the beginning of class.
After we started with the breathing exercise and three OM's, each of our students led the beginning prayers one at a time from Karagre to the last one Karacharana. It was a delight to hear them.
Then we chanted together the Ramayana Dhyaana slokah
"Neelambuja shyamala komalaangam" (page 129 of My Prayers green book).
We put up Gurudev's quote for the class for their interpretation.
" The God-Man functions as a true 'sportsman' in his playfield,
where the very enjoyment is in the sport and not in the score."
What it comes down to is this: why are we playing a game?
Is it for a win to help boost our sense of self-worth?
Is it for the pure love of playing the game?
Any activity should be enjoyed for its own sake. It is not whether you win or lose, but how you played the game. The most important thing is not winning but taking part in it.
We need to focus on the work rather than to procrastinate the result.
The fun is in the sport itself rather than the outcome.
There is a parallel between life and sports. It is the connection between one's character off the field and his/her good sportsmanship on it.
Furthermore, we said in our lives, we should also play our roles well by doing our duty, irrespective of the consequences or the end product.
We also directed this quote in relation with chapter 2 of Geeta that we are learning to chant this year. The gist of Karma yoga of Bhagavad geeta.
Chapter 2. Verse 47:
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction". So Karma-Yoga teaches us how to work for work's sake, unattached.
Then we moved on to singing Prema mudita bhajan that the class has been learning by unmuting a student to sing a few verses.
Ramayana
We briefly reviewed Rama's story where we ended in the last class by asking them a few questions, and then moved to Ayodhya Kanda.
Rama and Sita lived happily in Ayodhya for over twelve years. Sita was loved not only by all the queens, but also by all the people there. As Dasaratha was getting old, he desired to crown Rama as his successor to the throne. He called a meeting at court and sage Vasista and his other ministers happily accepted his proposal of crowning Rama as the king of Ayodhya, and started the preparations for the coronations. Bharata and Shatrughna have gone to Kekaya to visit their grandfather. Rama was informed about his coronation and he was pleased to obey his father. Kaushalya, Sumitra and the whole city rejoiced with it. On hearing the news from Manthara, the queen's maid, the queen Kaikeyi, who was so fond of Rama. took off her gold necklace and gave it to Manthara, but the wicked hump-backed maid threw away the reward, and told Kaikeyi if Rama becomes king, then she and her son Bharata would have to humbly bow to them, and Bharata would never be able to rule, as the kingship would pass from Rama to his elder son and not to Bharata. Queen Kaikeyi was confused and seeked Manthra's counsel. The wicked Manthara then told Kaikeyi to ask the king to grant her two boons, that he had promised in gratitude for her help in the war against SambharAsura. The first to crown Bharata as king and the second to send Rama away to the forest and lead the life of an ascetic for fourteen years. Dasharatha delightfully entered Kaikeyi's room, but was surprised to see her ornaments scattered, lying, clad in an old garment, on the bare floor. The king was eager to get her back into a cheerful mood, and asked her why she was so unhappy, and he swore that he would grant her any wish she demanded. Kaikeyi then requested him for two boons that he had promised her, to crown Bharata to crown as king, and to send Rama to the forest for fourteen years.
Kaikeyi's words entered the king's ears like sharp knives. Dasharatha looked at Kaikeyi and begged her not to be so cruel and ask him for selfish things. But the spoiled mind of Kaikeyi would not listen to his requests. Sumantra was asked to send Rama, as Dasharatha was in utter shock.
Rama entered queen Kaikeyi's room and saw the king distressed, and asked her respectfully, the reason for his father's plight. Kaikeyi then told Rama of the two wishes granted to her by the king. Despite the harsh words of Kaikeyi, Rama stayed calm and said he would honor his father's promise and follow the two boons the queen had been granted. Kausalya was heartbroken to hear this, and wanted to go along with Rama. Lakshmana wanted to wage a war to regain the kingdom, but Rama calmed them down, and made all the preparations to leave. Rama consoled his mother saying that he would have a good company of sages and holy men in the forest. Sita, as an ideal wife, accompanied to share her husband's fortune. Lakshmana expressed his wish to join them to protect his elder brother Rama and princess. Rama, sita and Lakshmana gave away all their possessions and dressed in ascetic garb. Then they went on foot to kaikeyi's apartment to take the blessings of the king. King Dasharatha stared at the chariot till it disappeared from sight and fell unconscious.
People who had gathered in happy anticipation of the coronation of beloved Rama, were stunned to see their simple appearance. The news spread like wildfire, throughout the city and they wept openly and cursed Kaikeyi for her hard-heartedness. The people of Ayodhya ran behind the chariot. Rama decided to spend the night on the bank of river Tamasa. People believed Rama went to rest. To stop people following him, unknown to them, Rama whispered to Sita and Lakshmana to leave quickly as people were fast asleep. The royal coachman, Sumanta, took them in the royal chariot and dropped them at the borders of the holy river Ganga.
At the end of class, we engaged the students in a character discussion of this episode, and the students shared their views about each character. The discussion is re-capped below.
Rama:
Rama demonstrated his intense loyalty and honor when he insisted that Dasaratha uphold his promise to Kaikeyi and crown Rama's brother, Bharatha, as king instead. Rama retreated to the forests with Sita and his brother. He also consoled his weeping mother by saying that he would have the company of the sages and holy men, along with nature's delight in the forest. He is considered the ideal man (Maryada Purushottama) and a hero.
Kaikeyi: The girls in the class said that they would have driven Kaikeyi away instead for being so mean to Rama and Dasharatha.
Sita: Sita was exceptionally loyal to her husband and followed him into exile. Everyone appreciated this as her strength.
Lakshmana: The class liked him and happily related to him, saying: "Lakshmana is just like all of us in being rational".
Lakshmana is Rama's half brother, and son to King Dasaratha. Both brothers are closer than his twin Shatrugna. He went with Rama, along with Vishwamitra, to help the sage. He also chose to go to exile with him.
Lakshmana is to some extent emotionally driven just like all of us. He engaged Parashurama with his sarcastic remarks after Sita swamyamvaram wanted to wage a war to reclaim the kingdom for Rama. Rama had to stop Lakshmana from making violent and rash decisions without thinking the outcome through.
How about Lakshmana's wife Urmila?
As Nidra Devi went and explained the whole matter to Urmila, she happily agreed for her husband's share of sleep for the next 14 years so that Lakshmana can constantly stay awake without any fatigue. This is how Urmila slept night and day during the 14 year exile while Lakshmana could serve Ram and Sita attentively.
We then learned the next two verses from Geeta with Swamiji's video. We encouraged the class to repeat along with it, and then asked two students to chant on their own. Parents, please insist them to practice, so that they will be able to memorize and be ready for the Geeta chanting Yajna in April next year. Here is the recording for you to help them practice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxXftSrWRM&feature=youtu.be
On students demand, we played the Ramayana Kahoot game for a short time.
Our next class is on November 1st. NO Balavihar on 10/18 and 10/25.
Navarathri is coming up. We will be posting the video explaining the significance of Navaratri by Swami Chinmayananda in the class parents whatsapp group as well!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cHe9Fyp16U
We will also post the Geeta verses link in the class parents whatsapp along with other BV houses announcements.
Happy Navaratri and Vijayadashami, Dussehra!
Stay tuned for the next!
Pranaams,
Vyjayanti & Lakshmi
