5/23/21
Hari om parents,
Prayers
We started the class with pranayamams and three OM's, then each of our children led the beginning prayers one at a time from Karagre to the last one Karacharana. It is good to hear them.
Then we chanted together the Ramayana Dhyaana slokha
"Neelambuja shyamala komalaangam" (page 129 of My Prayers green book).
Then we recited "Namramyanam bhajan (Yuddhakandam and Uttara Kandam).
Key to Success
We reviewed three reins of Dharma Chariot; Forgiveness (Ksama0, Compassion (Krupa), Equanimity (Samata).
We learned about the shield and sword of Dharma Chariot. We learned about Attachment and Passion as our enemies in the battle of our life. We learned what is Birati (dispassion) is the shield (carma) and contentment (samtosa) is the sword (krpana).
We explored that happiness is not inherited to objects. Our enemy is Greed. We listened to Mahatma Gandi's saying "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed". In fact, there is not enough to fulfill the greed of even one person.Pujya Gurudev was once invited to Chappan Bhoga (56 food items) and he looked at them kindly before saying "All 56 items cannot be eaten. Only two or three will do" similar to just a few teachings from Gita are enough to change your life. We need not drink whole River to quench our thirst.
We further dwelled into the next part of the Dharma Chariot -axe and missile, axe of charity (dana) and missile of understanding. Lord says one must have budhu sakti, the understanding of what is Dharma and adharma, self and not-self, what is eternal and ephemeral. Generosity is an expression of kindness to others, which is dana.
Discussion on Quote
Children were given a quote to discuss, "Your words will have no effect unless you are able to live it" -Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati
Children participated in reading the quote and applying what it means to their daily lives. Few children mentioned that we have to live to upto the words, and mean what you say.
Brain Break
Then we played wordwall review game based on previous week's lessons from "Key to Success".
Pledge
We concluded with arti and pledge led by one of our students.
Pranaams,
Grade 7 Sunday PM
