Apr 18, 2021 - Grade 7 (Sunday AM)

Hari OM Dear Families,

Here is this week's update.

Week 21:

18th April 2021 / 9:15AM
Class began with opening prayers -3 OMs and followed by SahanAvavatu.

Three students led the chanting  of "Neelambuja shyamala komalaangam".

We had a discussion on the upcoming Ramanavami festival and the way each family tradition's practice which included the neivedhyam prasadam. The Krishnapaksha, Shukla Paksha and amavasya and pournami were also discussed.

We played a Kahoot game, reviewing the Ayodhya kanda from Ramayanam. After the quiz the winner was asked to summarize the story of Bala kanda and Ayodhya kanda. We will also have any random child/children summarize after other kanda quiz reviewing. So, please be prepared.

Key to Success- Vibhishana Gita

We had a quick recap of the value- The charioteer

Today's topic- The Shield - Dispassion/Detachment (Birati): Passion, the development of an interest or a liking can be towards something on a lower level or a higher level. A passion for something higher can inspire us to work hard and achieve great things. If we want to stay happy, keep the shield of dispassion or detachment in front of us. The attitude of "I have it, but I don't own it" is the key to withstand the detachment. An example would be, your beautiful beach vacation home which faces the dancing waves. You enjoy until your vacation time and that's your booked resort and you don't own it for yourself and you leave happily on the day of the end of the vacation, instead if you claim it's your cottage, this is absurd! This art, if you learn, this method, this value you cultivate within, wherever you go.., you'll be free. Recognizing that happiness is within us and not in the objects that we seek, we develop dispassion in our lives.

The Sword- Santosa (contentment) "There is enough in the world for our needs, but there is never enough for our greed".
"I wanted 20 things, but I got 12 things, I'm happy!"

"I wanted 20 things, but I got ONLY 12 things, I'm happy but I didn't get it all"- Both these statements do convey different sense, one is non materialistic (No Raaga) and the other is materialistic (raaga, attachment in abundance) Sri Rama tells Vibhisana, "my sword is santhosa ; I cut the world with happiness, I can go and wield the sword happily" Do we need reasons to be happy? We have enough and more reasons to be happy, always!

Pujya Gurdev was content just to taste only three dishes during Chappan Bhoga at one of the govardhan pooja celebrations, even though devotees wanted him to try everything offered.  Another example is how we look at a half cup of water. The contented mind will look at the presence of water to quench the thirst, the non contented mind will not drink the water, but keep unwantedly thinking about the missing half and the thirst for thought is never satisfied.

This is the class' discussion summarized on the whiteboard.

Our next class is  on April 25th

House Contests:
Art works for art contests- you may submit now until May 1st. Parents are welcome to participate as well.
Please feel free to reach out in case you have any questions.

Hari OM
Abhirami Shrinivas and Vidhya Aiyer