Hari Om!
Dear Parents,
Please find below the summary of our class on Friday, Feb 7, 2020.
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: Actions are the louder expressions of thought. The quality of thought is ordered by the nature of our inner belief and faith.
Ramayana Story: Vibheeshana Sharanagati
Lesson: What is mind made up of?!
Bhagavat Gita: Ch. 1, Verses 24, 25
Aarati and Pledge : Temple - Lead by Grade 7
Next Balavihar class: 2/14/20
Summary: It was a busy class this week. We started with the discussion of the quote of the day after the opening shlokas. It was an interesting one. We automatically tend towards making choices based on what we think is good for us. So it is important to work on our thoughts and belief. Our repeated choices and thoughts form the impressions on our mind. Until the children go off to college, they will have a responsible adult guiding their choices in life. In order for them to make the right choices as adults, they should start practicing the right thinking now. Our mind can be compared to a soft mound of dough. When we repeatedly make a line with a pencil in the same place, it forms a deep crevice in that spot. If we pour water over the dough, the water naturally starts flowing into the crevice. Our repeated thoughts form the impressions in our mind and if the thinking is right, we make the right impressions and therefore the right actions. In Ramayana, we discussed about Vibheeshana's advice to Ravana to not act in Adharmic way and return Sita back to Rama. Ravana did not like Vibheeshana's advice and insulted him. No longer wanting to be on the side of Injustice, Vibheeshana went and surrendered to Rama. Meanwhile, the Vaanaras helped to build a bridge with sand and boulders to Lanka. The heavy boulders floated on the ocean and didn't sink as they had Rama Nama written on them. They crossed the ocean and reached Lanka. We will continue the story and discussion of the mind in the upcoming classes. We chanted Bhagavat Gita verses 24, 25. During the last few minutes, we practiced the Arati songs as it was our turn to lead the Arati at the temple.
Shanthi & Anandhi
