Wish everyone a joyous spring break!!
We began class with starting prayers and the expanded awareness meditation where we let our awareness expand to encompass three targets of attention simultaneously – the breath, smile on the face and the temperature felt around the whole body. The smile was added to represent contentment, one of our themes for discussion.
We shared Dr Rao's informative video on Hinduism 101.A 10 minute video that kind of sums up what we have been discussing so far and also provides the link to the essence of Hindu thought yet to come in the remaining classes- that man is potentially divine and the goal of human life is to realize that, in and through every life pursuit. This is also the clarion call of so many Masters, including Swami Vivekanada's famous - Arise, Awake.
Here is the link to the video.
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Mentioned Gurudev's talk on the river Ganga and her flowing from the Himalayas though various barriers and finally reaching the ocean. Similarly we should strive through the various hardships in our life to reach our goals.
The all important quality of daanam- giving, and giving properly, not just giving of something inferior, not giving to make oneself good, or just to tick off a box was highlighted by the story of Nachiketas.
Not only does it properly describe daanam, it serves as a great launch pad into the enquiry of Truth and the boy's questions to Yama shows his faith in the shastra, form the Katha Upanishad.
We next went back to our discussion of values- Covet not Wealth and overcome greed (lobhah).
Talked about contentment which is an antidote to lobbhah.
The story of Brahmaji giving Da as lesson and Asuras interpreting as Daya or compassion, Manushyas as Datta or giving, and Devas as Damyata or self control/restraint was the perfect backdrop to examine again why each of these groups has the reputation that it does. But also that through choice of karmas, each of these is capable of refining and outgrowing their predominant guna and ultimately transcending the gunas.
Indra's jealousy though being a deva, Prahlad's satva though being born an Asura became good points of discussion.
Reminders:
- Geeta chanting competition is on April 10
- Our next Balavihar class is on April 9
Pranaams
Uma and Nirmala
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