Hari Om,
Fresh from spring break. All the friends had exciting stories of holidays with family and friends. Welcome back. We started with the usual 3 loud oms. Next we said the starting Om Sahana vavutho prayer followed by 2 minutes of mediatation.
After a lively yoga break we moved on to the geeta chanting. Some of the friends came forward and recited in front of the class. Geeta competition is scheduled for this Saturday April 21st at the ashram. The individual time slots will be posted on Friday.
We continued with the Ramayana story. The North, East, Weat search parties return back to Kishkinda without any news of Sita. The South search party reaches a cave with golden trees, beautiful emerald leaves and sculpted buildings. The sanyasini at the cave welcomes them but tells it would not be possible to leave the cave. The search party plead that they are on an important mission for Rama. The sanyasini then asks them to close their eyes. When the search party open their eyes they find themselves at the shore. Some of the party are ready to give up the search but Hanuman rallies the vanaras around. While they are sitting at the shore and discussing the history of events an old featherless bird is watching them. He hears Jatayu's name and immediately calls out to the vanaras He is Jatayu's brother Sampathi. Sampathi has powerful eyes. He spots a lady setting in garden in an island across the ocean. She seems to be guarded by big raksasis.
The vanaras immediately perk up. They decide to check out the lady before giving Rama the news. But who can jump and fly? Hanuman can. Even though he is modest and humble. He is the son of Vayu. Hanuman meditates and seeks Lord Rama's blessings. He then climbs to Mahendra mountain and takes a griant leap to start his flight to Lanka. He meets a few obstacles on his way. Hanuman has the power to change size when he wants. He deals with all hurdles with caution and intelligence.
The story session ended and the children colored lesson 25 and 26. We ended the class with om pornama adah and then the chinmaya pledge.
April 1st, class review
Ram Navami 2012 update March 31st
Ram Navami
celebration started with Sundarkand parayan chanting at ashram on March 31st
at 4:30pm. The grade 1 class came together to celebrate Rama’s birthday. Some
of the children dressed up as Hanuman, Rama or Sita. At the end of the Sundarkand
parayanam, the children got up on stage and sang a couple of Rama bhajans. After the bhajans dinner was served. Thanks to grade 1 parents and children.
April 1st class.
Before the class started we took a few minutes to review the prior night's celebrations at the ashram. The class started with the usual 3 loud ohms followed by om
sahana vavathu and then meditation for few minutes.The class then proceeded to enthusiastically say the guru strotrams.
We continued the Ramayana story. Rama has helped Sugriva
become the king. With advent of the monsoon season Rama and Lakshmana have to stop their search
and wait at the Rysamukha mountain. After the monsoon ends, Sugriva does not
come forward with the help he promised Rama. Sugriva ignores nudging from
Hanuman and Angada. Rama sends Lakshmana to remind Sugriva of his duty, but
cautions his short tempered brother to act with discretion.
When Lakshmana arrives at Kiskinda, Angada tries to stop him
from seeing Sugriva. Hanuman tries to sober up the intoxicated Sugriva.
Lakshmana gets angry and lets out a twang from his mighty bow. The shocking
sound stops everyone in their tracks and also wakes Sugriva to his senses. Sugriva
rushes to meet the waiting prince. He immediately organizes his vanara army for
Rama and Lakshmana. So this chapter ends with search party being dispatched to
North, East, West and South. Since Rama has a strong instinct about the South,
the best vanaras like Hanuman, Angada and Jambhavan were dispatched to the
South. Rama also gives his signet ring to Hanuman.
Instead of the drawing we all played the Zip zap
zoom game. Thus ended the last class before spring break.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
