Hari Om Parents,
Following was discussed in the Balavihar class on Jan 5:
1. After initial prayers we chanted all verses of Bhagavad Gita Dhyana sloka.
2. Swamiji has completed 18 verses of Bhagavad Gita chanting – please have your children practice at home.
3. We continued discussion about Dharma – it has to be lived, not just learnt. Examples were given – Duryodhana, Dhritharastra, Ravana all studied & learnt sastras yet perished as they never lived those values. Story of how fowls got caught in the nets of hunter despite proper warning was told.
4. Good conduct comes first – Acarah prathamo dharma. One should do our duties before asking questions. Good behavior is not only of foremost importance in spiritual life, but for success and happiness even in material world.
5. Pujya Gurudev had said that Hinduism is built on duties and not rights. When everyone performs their duties others rights are automatically preserved.
6. Manu smriti gives us ten values of life that characterize dharma and should be followed by all. They are eternal values or Sanatana Dharma. They explain our duties and how we should behave.
7. These ten values are – dhriti (fortitude); ksama (forgiveness); dama (control over organs of action/control over mind); asteya (non-stealing); sauca (purity); indriya nigraha (mastery over organs of perception); dhi (discrimination); vidya (knowledge); satya (truthfulness); and akrodha(absence of anger).
8. Dhriti – fortitude or forbearance – capacity to hold on to something. Three kinds of dhritis was discussed by Lor Krishna in 18th chapter of Bhagavad Geeta– sattvika, rajasika and tamasika. Sattvika dhriti exists with an individual at all times, with everyone and under all circumstances. They apply to task on hand and overcome all adversity – they try & try till they succeed. To achieve this one needs to have patience with one's own mental and physical shortcomings. Rajasika dhriti – is shown towards some people, with some tasks and sometimes. They work hard inconsistently and stop when they encounter obstacles. Tamasika dhriti is to hold onto a wrong notion or wrong course of action. For example a person who is alcoholic will say 'what if I die from drinking'. We need to cultivate sattvika dhriti.
9. Ksama – forgiveness: at highest level it means when the feeling of being offended does not even arise in first place. Forget and forgive is the way to live – by forgiving we benefit more than the person whom we forgive.
10. Dama – control over organs of action & mind. We all get caught up in our desires. More we fulfill our desires – more desires pop up in us. Only way to lead a healthy and happy life is by having our desires / mind under control. Live with contentment.
11. Asteya - Non stealing – even a thought of taking away someone's wealth should not arise. One should work hard and achieve what they desire. Taking or using more than what we need is also considered stealing – eg: using more paper towels than we need to clean our hands.
12. Sauca – Purity – implies both outer (bahya) and inner (antara) purity. Cleanliness of body is easier to achieve. Antara purity implies cleanliness of mind and purity of intention. As we listen to scriptures/satras/puranas – and practice the values learned – the mind will slowly get purified. Devotion to the Lord or to Sadguru, or Sadguru seva are other 'easy' ways to purify our minds.
13. Indriya nigraha – mastery over organs of perception. This requires discrimination. There are so many ways sense objects, especially in this modern world with TV, mobile phones, social media – can attract and lure us. Unless we have disciple and at least some degree of control over our sense organs we can spend our entire life chasing these sense objects. As we very well know overindulgence leads to all sorts of physical and mental ill health.
14. Dhi – faculty of discrimination. One has to weight every situation and make right decision, keeping in mind our overall goal. Reaching the Higher and following dharma should be the goal / value guiding our intellect to make appropriate decision.
15. Yaksha prasnas
a. What is Knowledge? Knowledge of Self or the Lord is the real Knowledge. It shows us our purpose in life and who we really are.
b. What is sama? Peace of mind or control of mind is sama.
c. What is best kind of daya (kindness)? – desire for everyone's happiness is best kind of daya.
d. What is meant by arjavam (straight forwardness)? To have equanimity is arjavam. One who is straight forward automatically has equanimity or quietude of mind. Straight forwardness implies that we say what we think and do what we say – thoughts, speech and action are in alignment.
Pranam,
Mekhala Girish
Devender Akula
8th grade balavihar teachers
