Visit regularly for the latest updates each week.

Children are not vessels to be filled but lamps to be lit.
- Swami Chinmayananda
_________________________________________________

Please select your child's session and grade
from the list on the right side for the latest updates




Dec 20, 2020 - Grade 9 (Sunday PM)

Hari OM! 


Welcome to the 9th Grade Sunday PM Balavihar class for the 2020-2021 school year. We wanted to give you a brief rundown of the topics we have covered in class thus far.


Curriculum: Hindu Culture


Topics Covered to Date:


  • What Does it Mean to be a Hindu?

    • Believing in the Theory of Karma (we are the products of the actions and consequences from previous births, and our actions NOW will affect what happens later on life and next birth)

    • Believing in Reincarnation

    • Believing in the ultimate goal in life is to attain Moksha (liberation)


  • Our Scriptures: there are 7 categories in our Hindu scriptures

  1. Sruti (the 4 Vedas)

    1. Rg

    2. Yajur

    3. Sama

    4. Atharva

  2. Smrti (Dharma Shastras)

  3. Itihasas 

    1. The Ramayana

    2. The Mahabharata (The Gita)

  4. Puranas

    1. 18 Puranas

    2. 46 Upapuranas

  5. Sad Darshanas (6 Philosophies; ie: Vedanta)

  6. Sadangas (6 Limbs)

  7. Upavedas (ie: Ayurveda the study of life and medicine)


  • The Pioneers of Hindu Scriptures:

  1. Veda Vyasa

  2. Sri Adi Sankaracharya - the Father of Vedanta (Advaita Vedanta or non-duality)


  • The Types of Karma:

    • Nitya Karma: daily actions that must be performed

    • Naimittika Karma: actions that are performed for special occasions

    • Sanchita Karma: karmas accumulated from past lives

    • Agami Karma: karmas that will fructify in the future


  • The Law of Karma:

    • You will receive the consequences of actions from your previous and current life

    • Consequences of your actions will affect your next life


  • Punya vs. Papa:

    • Punya: good deeds, good and positive Karma

    • Papa: bad deeds, negative or opposing Karma

    • When Papa > Punya: rebirth as something of "lower intelligence" such as an animal

    • When Punya = Papa: rebirth as a Human to continue to Cycle of Karma and exhaust all tendencies/desires/attachments

    • When Punya > Papa: attaining Moksha, liberation from Cycle of Karma


  • Prarabdha vs. Purushartha:

    • Prarabdha: destiny/fate of certain situations and circumstances in this current life (such as certain medical conditions you are born with, family you are born into, etc)

    • Purushartha: free-will (one has control over certain decisions and actions that will shape their future)


  • The 3 Gunas (qualities/characteristics):

    • Sattva: pure, balanced, calm temperament; bland or not overly spiced food

    • Rajas: active, passionate temperament; spicy, garlicky, and highly flavored food

    • Tamas: lazy, procrastination, sleepy temperaments; old, spoiled, rotten food


  • The Caste System:

    • Brahmana: teachers, educators

    • Kshatriya: warriors, military

    • Vaishya: business owners, merchants

    • Shudra: laborers

    • In the metaphor of the human body:

  1. Brahmana is the Head

  2. Kshatriyas are the Arms

  3. Vaishyas are the Thighs

  4. Shudras are the Feet

  • Bottom line… each section and every job has a particular role in how the community and the world functions. There is no hierarchy.

  • Which "caste" we belong to is determined by which Guna(s) we comprise of the most.

  • For Example: Kshatriyas are primarily Rajas guna because of their continuous active roles and job requirements.


  • The 4 Ashramas (stages in life):

    • Brahmacharya: student life; ages 0-25 years

    • Grihastha: married/working life; ages 25-50 years

    • Vanaprastha: retirement, initial stages of renouncing attachments; ages 50-75 years

    • Sannyasa: renouncing all attachments and desires, primary aim is for liberation and total renunciation; ages 75-100 years

    • Most of us go through each of these stages in our lives depending our role, interests, and what is necessary for society.

    • Exceptions are included, but not limited to:

  1. Those who seek to attain sannyas after college or possible working a few years (ie: Swami Chinmayananda)


  • The 4 Purusharthas (goals in life):

    • Dharma: desire to follow moral duty

      • Swadharma: our own personal Dharma or purpose in life

        • What we like to do

        • What we are good at

        • What the world needs

        • What the world will pay for

    • Artha: desire for success/wealth

    • Kama: desire for enjoyment and hobbies/pleasures

    • Moksha: desire for liberation/exit from the Cycle of Karma


We look forward to seeing you all in the New Year… with exciting more topics and activities to cover.

Wish you all a safe and healthy Happy New Year!!



In His Service,

Devika Krishnamoorthy and Sanjana Manikandan (Grade 9 Sunday PM Teachers)

By at
Labels: