Here is what we covered as of Sunday Feb 9th, 2019. Please note that contents of this email will be posted to our class blog at Parent's Portal:https://cmnjparentportal19-20.blogspot.com/
We started the class with OM chanting and Sahanavavatu. We then chanted Sri Rama Dhyana shloka (My Prayers - Green book Page No: 129-1,2) that we had covered in previous classes.
We continued with Vibhishana Gita (Keys to Success) by reviewing the topics covered in the previous week: Master Key to life (Fair & Just to All, Knowledge & Understanding, Know Thyself: Self-Knowledge), Success (A Self-fulfilling Prophecy) & Happiness (A Subjective Experience). Importance of Sharpening the Saw to ensure that the instrument is effective & efficient to achieve success.
We then discussed BMI – Body, Mind & Intellect – our internal instruments through which we process the sensory inputs we receive from the Organs of Perception and act on the world through the Organs of Action. Just as a muddy eyeglass is not going to help us see clearly, our own instruments need to be in good working order. We talked about how quiet mind is necessary through the story of a farm boy who found the missing watch by quietly listing to the sound.
Finally, on the topic of keys to success, we talked about handling results of action with a prasad buddhi and a sense of humor even if we fail. We also introduced the concept of "Vasanas" residue of prior actions and seeds for new thoughts. How the vasanas sitting between objective mind and subjective mind colors what we perceive – just as colored eye glasses would change the world we see. We also talked about laws of karma, and how vasanas are dissolved through Dhyana (Raja Yoga) and Prasad buddhi (Karma Yoga).
Next, Ragav had a quiz on Ramayana topics covered on the prior week. We then continued with Ramayana story about how Ravana tried to tempt / threaten Sita at Lanka. Rama search for Sita. Ragav has posted in WhatsApp a bunch of questions for students to come prepared for the next class:
We started the class with OM chanting and Sahanavavatu. We then chanted Sri Rama Dhyana shloka (My Prayers - Green book Page No: 129-1,2) that we had covered in previous classes.
We continued with Vibhishana Gita (Keys to Success) by reviewing the topics covered in the previous week: Master Key to life (Fair & Just to All, Knowledge & Understanding, Know Thyself: Self-Knowledge), Success (A Self-fulfilling Prophecy) & Happiness (A Subjective Experience). Importance of Sharpening the Saw to ensure that the instrument is effective & efficient to achieve success.
We then discussed BMI – Body, Mind & Intellect – our internal instruments through which we process the sensory inputs we receive from the Organs of Perception and act on the world through the Organs of Action. Just as a muddy eyeglass is not going to help us see clearly, our own instruments need to be in good working order. We talked about how quiet mind is necessary through the story of a farm boy who found the missing watch by quietly listing to the sound.
Finally, on the topic of keys to success, we talked about handling results of action with a prasad buddhi and a sense of humor even if we fail. We also introduced the concept of "Vasanas" residue of prior actions and seeds for new thoughts. How the vasanas sitting between objective mind and subjective mind colors what we perceive – just as colored eye glasses would change the world we see. We also talked about laws of karma, and how vasanas are dissolved through Dhyana (Raja Yoga) and Prasad buddhi (Karma Yoga).
Next, Ragav had a quiz on Ramayana topics covered on the prior week. We then continued with Ramayana story about how Ravana tried to tempt / threaten Sita at Lanka. Rama search for Sita. Ragav has posted in WhatsApp a bunch of questions for students to come prepared for the next class:
- Who is Kabandha? What is the significance of the story?
- Who is Shabari?
- Why is Sugriva hiding? Why could he hide there successfully?
- What is Hanuman's role in Sugriva's court?
- Describe first meeting of Hanuman with Rama & Lakshmana.
- What was in Sugriva's possession that Rama was interested in.
- What did Sugriva & Rama promise each other?
- How did Rama prove his strength to Sugriva?
- What did Vali possess that would make him unbeatable in battle?
- Why did Sugriva lose the first battle with Vali? What was the plan to beat Vali in the next one?
- What advice did Vali's wife give when Sugriva returned for rematch? Why did Vali go anyway?
- What did Vali say to Rama when he was hit by Rama's arrow?
- Super Challenging Question: What justification did Rama provide to Vali regarding his killing? Do you agree with Rama's justification?
Hope to see everyone today.
