Dear Parents,
Please find below the summary of our class on Friday, Nov 22nd, 2019.
Opening prayers:
Om Sahana Vavatu
Om Sri Ganeshaya NamaH
Om Sri Saraswatyai NamaH
Om Sri Sadgurubhyo NamaH
Neelambuja Shyamala Komalaangam (Rama Shloka)
Quote of the day: Asatoma Sat Gamayah
Tamasoma Jyotir Gamayah
Mrityorma Amrutam Gamayah
Discussion: Ramayana Story (up to Soorpanaka's coming
Next Balavihar class: 12/6/19
Summary:
Our quote of the day was "There is nothing, at any time, in any circumstance, to worry, "Why this to me?!".
Students shared their interpretation of the quote and also examples from their experience. Some interpreted it as always thinking about the bad happening to oneself. One of them told when she got a cold, she was feeling very bad it happened to her but there are people suffering from worse diseases. Another person said good or bad happening is all one's own choices.
We had Rajan ji join our class for some time for this class and he gave the example of the famous Tennis player , Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. who had contracted HIV from a blood transfusion he received during a heart surgery. When in hospital, the player was reflecting, while it was the height of misfortune to be the one who was picked to go through this, he was also the one to be picked from millions through several levels of picking that he became the top player.
We often complain 'Why me'? when bad happens to us but not when good happens to us.
And we need to accept everything with a 'prasada buddhi' just like how we accept prasadam from a temple without any complaints. And live with an equanimous like Rama. According to Hindu beliefs, what we go through in our life are the results of our karma in a previous birth.
We also told the story of the King and Minister going on a hunting trip wherein the minister keeps saying 'It happened for good' for everything. Ask them what the story is ? :)
7th grade annual class performance
We covered the story of Ramayana, Rama Sita Lakshmana visiting different Rishis, forests until Soorpanaka's visit in disguise, her deceit and getting her nose cut.
January 10th is our annual program day. Gave three choices to pick - skit, bhaja, gameshoe.
Unanimous choice was gameshow and they picked 'Kahoot'. We will have a preliminary written quiz for the different classes. From that will pick 4 teams for the game.
Homework:
Have asked the kids to prepare one Ramayana related question each with 4 answer choices (one right choice). We will use the questions for the preliminary as well as the actual game.
We did not have class on 11/29 due to Thanksgiving holiday break.
Pranam,
Balvihar Sevikas
