HariOm Parents,
We had a great Friday yesterday with all your children. As we had children coming in we got the children start the day with Likhita Japa. We are writing "Sri Krishna Sharanam Mama" for Likhita Japa this year.
Thank you for making sure most of the children had finished their homework. We will continue our conversation on Mother Earth next week so we will be do the next step on that next week and check the homework as well.
We then proceeded to our routine. We said Om 3 times and then starting class with our Opening Prayers(Om Sahanavavatu).
1. Chanting My Prayers: Since all the kids who attended 3rd grade were already taught the My Daily Prayers we chanted it. For the benefit of the newcomers, the Daily prayers are in My Prayers Pg,11 of green book. The following are the shlokas
a. Karagrevasathe Lakshmi
b. Gangecha yamunechaiva
c. Saraswati namstubyam
d. Brahmarpanam
e. Subhamkaroti kalyanam
f. Karacharana kratamvaak
g. Kayenavacha manasaindriyeyva
2. Shlokas : Krishnashtakam : We did the 4th and 5th verse. Most of the kids knew upto 3rd verse. This shows that they are practicing. Thank you parents for your efforts.
3. Bhagawat Gita: We chanted the 3rd and 4th verse of Bhagawat Gita along with Swamiji. Here are the youtube links to swamiji's chanting.
Please make them practice Bhagawat Gita regularly.
You can record your childs Geeta chanting
a. Please state name of the child and grade then record the chanting
b. Send it to cnjbalaviharhouses@gmail.com OR to the Grade 4 aunties( meenarajan@gmail.com or lakshari2014@gmail.com )
4. Limbs of Krishna and Story time: Brahmins, cows, Vedas, Austerity, Truth, Physical and Mental disciplines, faith, kindness, forbearance and sacrifices are the limbs of Vishnu. It is just like putting a puzzle together. Say we are putting together puzzle of a giraffe..we put all its limbs, neck, head body and tail together to see the whole giraffe. Putting together all the qualities of Vishnu together in us we can see Vishnu.
If we believe in a purely materialistic life how can Vishnu survive? Kamsa was filled with Asuric qualities. He ordered Daityas(evil minded people) to torture good people. He wanted to kill all babies to kill the Lord.
Think: We learn values in Balavihar but if we forget them or do not follow them when we are with our friends and may do things we are not supposed to do..Let us remember what we learnt in our class..
a. Brahmins and Vedas: Vedas are Hindu scripture which tells us about how God is and how we can see Him. People who have knowledge of the Vedas are called Brahmins. People who revel in Brahman or the Lord.
Think: Do I read inspiring books? Do I read holy scriptures (Bal Bhagwatam book from Balvihar or Bal Ramayan book) Am I respectful about them practicing what I read?
b. Cows: Cows are gentle and give us nutritious milk. Bhagwan let us be kind and gentle to all animals. To be gentle in words and actions; having a gracious and honorable manner.
Once an oak tree that grew near the river which was big, tall and strong was struck by thunderstorm and was uprooted and fell among reeds growing by water. Look at me tall and strong yet uprooted and you frail and slender able to bear the wind. You were stubborn you fought but we bowed to the breeze and the storm passed over, we survived.
Inference: Be gentle to be strong.
c. Austerity: When we take vow to fix our bad habits or faulty personality and live by them, we are following austerity.
Why do we need to live life with austerity? God is everywhere but we do not see him because we do not have eyes to see him. When our mom is angry with us and grounds us even in her anger is her love and she continue to do things, we need we like. If you have eyes you would see love even in her anger i.e., tough love.
God loves us and he is everywhere. Yet we do not see Him, as we do not recognize his presence. We feel love of our parents, siblings and teachers in our heart. God's love and his presence we feel in our heart. If we have bad habits of gossiping, being lazy, lying etc., we will not feel Gods presence in our heart.
d. Truth: Understanding the truth of life and who Lord is, makes us meek and humble.
Once a lamp filled with oil was burning steadily. Its light was making the surrounding area bright. Seeing brightness all around, the lamp filled with pride and started thinking that it was greater that even the sun. Just than a soft breeze blew out the lamp.
Inference: When one recognizes the glory of the Lord, automatically one becomes meek and surrenders at the feet of the Lord.
Physical and Mental Disciplines
Sitting straight, No talking with food in mouth, Keep your body neat and clean.
Not lying, Not hurting others, Not thinking bad of anyone, Not gossiping.
e. Faith: Have faith in Lord. One who thinks of god all the time and sees god in everything will attain him.
Once Narada was visiting earth. Under one banyan tree he found a Swami who was telling the stories of the Lord all he did was read about the stories and talking about his glory. On seeing Narada he asked him to ask Lord Narayana when he would be able to see him. As Narada wondered he saw below another tree sat a cobbler mending shoes he asked the same question to Narada. Narada, was confused why the cobbler asked the question but he had same question twice so he decided to go to Vaikunta and ask the Lord Vishnu himself when he would let the Swami and the Cobbler to see him. Vishnu, immediately replied ofcourse the Swami will see me after 7 janmas but the cobbler will see me in this life. Narada was totally confused.
Then Lord Vishnu asked him to go to both his bhaktas and tell them that Vishnu was threading an elephant thru the eye of the needle. So, Narada decided to go to earth and in his own way told both the Swami and the Cobbler that Vishnu was threading an elephant through the eye of the needle.
To this the swami immediately said you are a total cheat how can anyone do that. Your saying I will take 7 janmas got be doubtful about how true you are but this proves it. As soon as the cobbler heard it he said ok is that so in a very easy way totally believing him. To this Narada, asked how did you believe such a thing. Cobbler then showed him a fruit from the banyan tree and said if the seed in this small a fruit can have the life of so many trees in it. Then Lord Vishnu is capable of doing anything he desires.
Inference: Total faith in the lord is to be able to see the Lord in everything he created.
f. Kindness: He loves all and forgives all. Let us be kind to all and learn to forgive all.
Am I kind to His plants?
Am I kind to the siblings He has gifted to me?
Do I forgive my friends and sibling like He does?
Am I kind to my parents He has blessed me with?
g. Forbearance: It means you bear even when it hurts and refrain from doing something. It means patience, tolerance, not responding even when provoked. Why do you think one will do this? Because one is wise, one knows it is of no point to start further quarrel.
One truck river used to stop by a diner for lunch every time he travelled the route. He had his favorite soup and sandwich for dinner. One afternoon as he entered the owner noticed and ordered the same. He started eating peacefully. Just then a gang of naughty men entered who for no reason started harassing the truck driver. One by one, the gangsters started calling him names, poured water on him and spilled the hot soup and tried to challenge him to fight back. He knew it was no use to fight with such gangsters! If he had tried to fight back probably, he would have lost his life.
Living the virtue of forbearance, a limb of God, saved his life.
To do at home regularly
1. Say Daily Prayers
2. Do Likhita Japa for 5 mins (this helps all of us to focus)
3. Chant Gita regularly.
We did our Pledge in the classroom then proceeded to the Outside Patio for Fireworks to celebrate Diwali.
Our Next class is on November 1st.
Wish you all a Very Happy and Prosperous Diwali !!
Pranaam,
Meena and Vijilakshmi
