Hari Om!
Dear Parents,
Here is the summary of our class on Friday, Mar 12, 2021.
Opening prayers:
Om Sahana Vavatu
Om Sri Ganeshaya NamaH
Om Sri Saraswatyai NamaH
Om Sri Sadgurubhyo NamaH
Vasudevasutam Devam (Krishna Shloka)
Mookam Karoti Vaacalam
Activity: Dharma Thermostat
Lessons: The Facts of Life; Yaksha Prashna
Bhagavat Gita: Ch. 2 Verses 31-33
Pledge: led by Student
Next Balavihar class: 3/19/21
Summary: We had yet another very interesting class. After the opening Shlokas we discussed the Dharma Thermostat. As explained in the previous class, going forward we will continue with reflection on our virtues/values using the Dharma Thermostat. Each student has picked a value that they will work on through the week. Some of the values picked by the students for this week are Purity, Satyam, forgiveness, Akrodha, etc. At the beginning of the week they set their thermostat for their value at 30 and try to get it up to at least 60-70, while the ideal number would be 100. The students will be their own judges and monitor their values and how well they followed through with their Sankalpa. They will share their reflections in class each week. We then discussed some Yaksha Prashna:
What is steadiness?
To follow one's Dharma and do our duties without trying to find loopholes and excuses is considered steadiness by the Rishis.
What is Dhairya or Patience?
When we are able to control our senses and urges, like jumping the line to get ahead, or getting upset with a younger sibling or a friend, etc.,we practice Dhairya.
Which is the best bath?
To cleanse our physical body we shower or take a bath daily with soap and water but seldom do anything to purify our minds. The best bath is considered to be one of mental purification by getting rid of low tendencies such as jealousy, anger, guilt, hatred, fear, vanity etc.
What is Daanam (charity)?
Yudhishtira says that Daanam is to protect all! We give our time and money etc to causes that we truly identify with. Where there is identification, there is love and where there is love, there is kindness. Where there is kindness, there is no room for hurt, which means that we will protect all. Thus, Daanam is to protect all!
We then moved on to talk about the beauty of speech as explained by Pujya Gurudev. He explains that the beauty of speech is determined by the personality behind it. An inwardly harmonious individual uses kind words and soft and sincere speech. Such a person shines with their straightforward speech and clear conviction. They do not indulge in malicious gossip for self gratification! According to Gurudev, the world is like a stage and we are performers and our life is our performance! the only thing is we don't get rehearsals or do overs! So it is important to fix a goal and develop a strategy to unswervingly adhere to our Dharma and move forward towards our goal.
There are six stages of life:
Jaayate - birth
Asti- living
Vardhate- growing
Viparinamate- changes to the body
Apaksheeyate- decay
Nashyati- death
Although people may be born into different circumstances, there are many common experiences that everyone goes through. Ultimately what matters is how and on what principles and values we live our lives by. We also have to accept what we have in this life and learn to navigate through our hurdles! To summarize, it is safe to say that the Asti stage of our life is our chance at achieving the real true purpose of our birth and we have to work on a goal to achieve during this!
We then reviewed a few more Yaksha Prashnas:
What is ego?
When we get boastful of our knowledge without realizing how little we know, we exhibit our ego in the form of ignorance!
What is Dambha (pretense)?
Pretending to be someone we are not to show off to others how great we are is Dambha!
What is Daivam (divine)?
Daanam or giving whole heartedly without any ulterior motive is divinity!
What is Paishunyam (cruelty)?
Blaming others and pointing fingers at them for our misgivings is cruelty!
After this discussion, we practised Gita chanting for the week with Swamiji's video and then ended the class with Pledge and ending shlokas. The students are assigned specific verses of Gita Dhyana stotra. It was shared with them through Whatsapp. Please encourage them to practice their lines. We will meet again on Friday. Please stay safe and healthy!
Pranam,
Mythili and Anandhi
