Hari Om! Parents,
We began class with starting prayers. Then, progressive tensing and
relaxing the body allowing each of us to connect to the restlessness
of the body, if any and showing us how to relax that away. We then did
a recap of the varnas studied in the previous class.
We watched a clip with English subtitles of the teleserial Chanakya
highlighting the critical role that the brahmana Varna plays in
preserving and propagating knowledge of all kinds, and thereby in
shaping the arc that social thinking will take. Video below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ8QhRmRoo
We also discussed some of Chanakya's quotes:
A man is great by his deeds and not by his birth
Education is the best friend and an educated person is respected everywhere
One who cannot determine his goals cannot win
As soon as fear approaches learn to destroy it
Root of all fear is attachment
Purity of speech, mind and the senses are needed by one who desires to
rise to a divine platform
He was not a warrior, but he fought his battles with the brain
Next came our look at 'Satyam Vada'
We discussed this statement from Taittiriya Upanishad.
What is truth, why speak the Truth? Because 'Satyameva Jayate' meaning
'Truth always wins'. Based on the Mundaka Upanishad which says, a
speaker of truth is a winner in life.
We narrated 2 stories to talk about the 2 statements.
The inspirational life stories of Ashoka the Great and Gandhiji were
examined as examples of discovery of the power of truth in personal
and political life. The power of truth, as means to highlight social
injustice and mobilize support for the just cause was seen in
Gandhiji's life and that model inspired Nelson Mandela, MLK Jr was
seen in class. We discussed Ashoka's awakening after the Kalinga war
and Gandhiji's sticking to the path of truth even in adversity.
Concluded that our speech should be with the least distortions and we
should be as transparent as possible in our speech and actions to be a
winner in life.
We watched a short video examining Ashoka's edicts and how the world
is richer for having such an emperor make this discovery and pass it
down for generations to learn from.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH63aG1af5E
Our next Balvihar class is on Feb 19th.
Pranams
Uma and Nirmala
