November 20th Class review

         We started our class with 3 loud Oms followed by the Shanthi mantraram Om Sahana vavathu. We talked about the importance of lighting the lamps or diyas at home everyday. We set up the altar with guru dev and Goddess Sarawathi's pictures. The children learned that the head of the Chinmaya mission is Swami Tejomayananda. Homework for this week is meaning of the word 'Chinmaya'. Parents please help children research this.

The children then moved on to one minute meditation with couting of the marbles in the metal cup. We urge them to practice this at home as well, so they can calm their minds and concentrate better.

We reviewed the first and second verse of the gita chapter 12 a few times and started on the third verse.

verse 1
 Arjuna Uvaacha:
Evam satatayuktaa ye bhaktaastwaam paryupaasate;
Ye chaapyaksharamavyaktam teshaam ke yogavittamaah.

verse 2 Sri Bhagavaan Uvaacha:  
Mayyaaveshya mano ye maam nityayuktaa upaasate;
Shraddhayaa parayopetaaste me yuktatamaa mataah.
                                                                           
verse 3
 Ye tvaksharamanirdeshyam avyaktam paryupaasate;
Sarvatragamachintyam cha kootasthamachalam dhruvam.


      After the children enthusiastically recounted the events that they had heard in previous classes we moved to the next phase of the story. Today the children heard about how Rama was calm and controlled when his father asked him to exile to the forest. On the other hand Lakshmana was furious. But Rama would not let him fight Kaikeyi. It is a son's first and foremost duty to fulfill a father's wish/command. Rama also says that Kaikeyi had been most noble till now. This had to happen as God wished it so. It is the way the Lord works. Nothing but good will come to good. Rama asked Lakshmana not to be swayed by emotion.
     After giving away their wealth and belongings Rama, Sita and Lakshmana went to Dasaratha to take leave. But Dasaratha was desperate to hold on to Rama. The old king asked Rama not to obey his command. But Rama would not swerve from the path of Dharma. The king asked him to leave the following day. Rama would not delay his departure. He said "Tomorrow will always come". Rama, Sita and Lakshmana departed from Ayodhya but the people followed them.
      
We ended the class with coloring the chapter 10 picture. Hari Om.

Hari Om,
      Next balavihar is on Sunday November 20th in Crossroads Middle school. The annual fund raiser is also being held that evening at the Crossroads school. The program starts at 3:30pm. Please plan to attend this once a year event.

November 6th Class Review

Welcome back after Diwali break. The class started out well with many children seated five minutes before start of class (may have been the end of daylight savings time) .While waiting for start of class we played an interesting game of follow the leader with Ruchi aunty clapping some measures and phrases and children following her lead.

We started our class with our 3 Oms followed by the Om Sahana vavathu. The altar was set up with Goddess Saraswathi and Gurudev's picture. We talked about the altars in our homes and how we light our lamps and pray everyday. We did one minute meditation with couting of the marbles in the metal cup. The children were excellant. There were quite still and focused with two third of the class getting the marble count on the dot.

We reviewed the first verse a few times and started on the second verse of the geeta chapter 12.
                 

sri-bhagavan uvaca
mayy avesya mano ye mam
nitya-yukta upasate
shraddhaya parayopetas
te me yuktatama matah 

      We will give out handouts with all the verses in the next class. Please review these with the children. There are Friday evening classes being offered at the ashram as well.

      We continued with Rama's story. The children reviewed the sequence of events leading up to Rama's coronation.We are amazed at all the details the children pointed out.
      The story moved to the next phase. Dasaratha feels old and wants to retire to the forest. He is eager to coronate and appoint Rama as the next King. He consults his guru Vasistha and they decide the next day is right time. Rama and Sita are informed and asked to fast. The couriers make the announcements and preparations ensue for the joyous occasion. There is riot of festivity.
But one person is not happy. Manthara is Kaikeyi 's maid and she poisons the Queen's mind. Following Manthara's advice, Kaikeyi threatens to kill herself if the King does not grant her the two boons (promises) he had pledged her.
     The king is in extreme mental agony but ultimately concedes to Dharma. Rama arrives at Kaikeyi's palace and is alarmed at his father's state but calmly receives the order to be banished to the forest for fourteern years. Rama says there is no one better than Bharatha. Rama says to help his father fulfill his duty he would do more than be exiled for fourteen years. We ended the story session with Rama, Sita and Lakshmana leaving for Dandka forest.
     Next we played the No, I am Rama game. Rama was calm and steady when he was told he was going to be King and he did not get angry or depressed when he was asked to go to the forest. To emphasize this we played the What will you do if you are Kaikeyi, what will you do if you are Rama. When we think of me and mine we act like Kaikeyi. When we are composed, steady and obedient we are like Rama. Please discuss the game with your children.

We ended the class with coloring the chapter 9 picture. Hari Om.