Hari OM Dear Families,
Here is this week's update.
Week 15:
21st February 2021 / 9:15AMClass began with opening prayers -3 OMs and followed by SahanAvavatu.
One of the students led the chanting of "Neelambuja shyamala komalaangam".
We learned Naama Ramayanam- Yuddha Kaandam completed
Key to Success and Vibhishana Gita
We had another very interesting open discussion on the Mind, its nature and how it sometimes seems to have "a mind" of its own! Please see the picture above for the children's insights. We learnt that mind is a collection of thoughts and at any moment, can take us far away from we really are or are meant to be in the physical sense of the moment. Calming the mind through meditation, japa (mental or written), paying attention to the physical presence in the moment helps us to keep it sharp and focussed.
The calm and focussed mind can take in data from the objects through the senses and the steady, introspective subjective mind gives the impetus necessary to produce useful, selfless deeds. The imprints left by distractions or repetitive habits are vasanas, which disrupt the clear flow of information between the subjective and objective mind. Developing good habits, and steering away from the wrong habits will help us to minimize the disruptive effect of the vasanas. The effects of the good/bad deeds return back to us like a boomerang, so we need to watch our actions!
Gita Chanting
We started to learn the 23rd, 24th and 25th slokas from this year's topic- Chapter 2 Saankhya Yoga. We followed Swamiji's chanting video and we repeated it.
Likhita Japa We focussed on a silent time in doing the likhita japa. Assignment given as a week activity (details in WA group)
Being Spirit Day, we had a class group activity, a scavenger hunt game. The class had so much fun playing before concluding with the shanti mantra. We then joined the common zoom link for the higher grades spirit day presentation.
Being Spirit Day, we had a class group activity, a scavenger hunt game. The class had so much fun playing before concluding with the shanti mantra. We then joined the common zoom link for the higher grades spirit day presentation.
Our next class is on February 28th.
Parents, please record the kids memorized video version of Gita chapter 2 (4 verses at a stretch) and send it to house email to gain points for our Bajrangi Bolt's house. Art works for art contests- you may submit now until May.. Parents are welcome to participate as well.
Please sign up for slokathon contest coming up on 3/20, registration deadline is 3/12/21.
And, also.., if the child completes a minimum of 10 pages of likhita japa, please take pics and send it as an attachment/link. The email to be sent is cnjbalaviharhouses@gmail.com
Please feel free to reach out in case you have any questions.
Hari OM
Abhirami Shrinivas and Vidhya Aiyer
Abhirami Shrinivas and Vidhya Aiyer
