Hari Om Parents
Namaskar and greetings to all
We started the class a little after 7:10 as kids continued to stream in with a few minutes of meditation - an activity to calm the senses and ability to focus and concentrate. Please help your kids in realizing the importance of focusing and calming their minds - nothing to do with religion or spirituality, which is primarily may be the reason a number of them and we sometimes, shy away from practicing it.
We started the class a little after 7:10 as kids continued to stream in with a few minutes of meditation - an activity to calm the senses and ability to focus and concentrate. Please help your kids in realizing the importance of focusing and calming their minds - nothing to do with religion or spirituality, which is primarily may be the reason a number of them and we sometimes, shy away from practicing it.
We started off the daily prayers and Gurustrotam - with each kid leading in chanting one sloka each. While the majority of the kids are fluent in reading it off the book, they still need practice and help in remembering it. Please continue to encourage them at home to chant it loud and practice
This was a short class due to early dismissal to meet in prayer hall to participate in the houses commencement ceremonies. All the 8th grade kids have been nominated as mentors and captains. A number of them were given the responsibility to lead other younger kids to lead to prayer hall and a few others were nominated help all younger kids in house activities. These type of roles instill in kids, a sense of leadership and responsibility. Once these instructions were dispensed with, we started to the interesting part of the class - The beginnings of Mahabharatha
This was a short class due to early dismissal to meet in prayer hall to participate in the houses commencement ceremonies. All the 8th grade kids have been nominated as mentors and captains. A number of them were given the responsibility to lead other younger kids to lead to prayer hall and a few others were nominated help all younger kids in house activities. These type of roles instill in kids, a sense of leadership and responsibility. Once these instructions were dispensed with, we started to the interesting part of the class - The beginnings of Mahabharatha
Mahabhatatha stated off with King Shantanu, succumbing to his worldly desires, agrees to Ganga's conditions with out forethought, to marry her. Ganga's condition was that Shantanu will never question her actions or deeds, the moment he questions her deeds, she will quit her marriage and will go away. Having agreed to such a a promise, Shantanu does not say a word when Ganga takes her first born and throws into river to drwon and die. Shantanu filled with anger and disgust bears her cruel activity for fear of loosing her. Ganga continues with this horrible activity, until the 8th one is born, Shantanu can no longer bear this cruelty and admonishes Ganga when she was about to throw away the 8th child. At this point Ganga reminds the King that he broke his promise and as per the agreement, she needs to return back. She, however informs the king that she will take thew 8th child - named Devavrata with her and get him trained in all vidyas - "schools" and return him back to Shantanu as heir to his kingdom, at the age of 13. Before going away for good, Ganga explains the rationale and reason for her seemingly wicked activities of drowning her own children. Please ask your kids if they can recollect the background story that Ganga recalled.
After the recounting of the episode it was time for discussions - kids were very perplexed at how mothers can throw away their own kids!, one kid asked a very interesting question - how can such a wise king as Shantanu give such a foolish promise!. The answers to such questions are given by the great thinker Veda Vyasa himself - when one is consumed by a desire to have something and performs actions to full fill it - the result are seldom pretty or good. This in my humble opinion is the story behind the story of Ganga and Shantanu. This kind of running after uncontrolled desires leads people to miseries and unknown consequences!! "Act in Haste, Repent in leisure"
Best Regards
Shivram & Sangita
