October 14th, 2012
We started our class with our opening prayers "Sahanaavathu" and then we mediated for 5 minutes. Then we did the Guru Stotram upto verse 5 and concluded with "Tvamey va maatha cha" verse. Then we did the bhajan "Radhe Radhae Radhae". Today we started with the Bhagavad Gita chanting. This year we are doing the 13th chapter. Today we did the first verse. We have distributed copies of the chapter we are doing. Make sure they bring it to class every week. Parents please ask your children to practice this at home. We did the Likitha Japa "Om Namo Naraayanaya". Make sure children bring in a note book and a sharpened pencil for it.
Bhagvatham Time:During the recap, the children filled in the details regarding the story we have heard so far. We then went ahead with the story for today.
Topic of the Day:
- Brainstorming: A Question
- Activity: Am I On Gaurd?
- Game: Red Light/ Green Light
Brainstorming: A QuestionWhy Pariksit, a nice king, did a bad act of putting the snake around the sage's neck?
- Tale: King Pariksit meets Shukadeva
It was because the king was not on gaurd. He was not alert. His hunger, thirst and tiredness made him to do the act. The noble king lost his mind momentarily and could not make right from wrong. From Pariksit's story we all learnt that we should always be alert. Our mind should always be on gaurd or else we may say or do wrong things. We made the children understand it by making them stand up and chant together "Om namo naaraayanaya" continuously, loudly, looking at the picture of the Lord. When we are on gaurd, our minds will be aware that we are chanting and we are only thinking of the Lord.
Game: Red Light/ Green LightWe played a game in the class to see who all are alert.
Tale: Pariksit Meets ShukadevaWe learnt how king Pariksit got together with a lot of learned sages like Vyaasa, Vashista, Atri, Bhrigu, etc. Then, a very learned sage Shukadeva came by too. They all suggested that Pariksit listen to the glories the Lord, that are sung in the bhaagavatam, to attain eternal peace, since he was cursed to die in 7 days. In the following classes we will be learning the stories that were narrated by Shukadeva to King Pariksit.
The aarti and pledge were done in the auditorium today. Please register for the CORD Walkathon which will be held on Oct 28th at Mercer County Park. See you all next Sunday.
~Pushkala Aunty and Deepthy Aunty
