Beginning prayers
· 'om' chanting - 3 times
· 'om' chanting - 3 times
· saha naavavatu
· gurustotram verses 1-5 and 14
Gitaa chanting
· bhagavadgItaa 12th adhyaaya 1 - 3 shloka
Story time
· the curse
· parIkShit meets shukadeva
Chanting/Songs
· none
Quiet time
· Writing ‘namo’ in Sanskrit
Game time
· I am on guard
Ending prayers and pledge
· pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam
· aarati and pledge were done in the auditorium
· aarati and pledge were done in the auditorium
Rashmi Aunty and Indira Aunty:
We started the class with 3 'om'-s and the opening prayers. In the bhagavadgIta segment, we revisited the facts about the gIta, which chapter we are learning and why. We learnt that this chapter (the 12th) talks about bhakti (devotion). In the first verse, arjuna asks kRuShNa who is the best kind of devotee. In the following 19 verses, bhagavaan explains to him who is the best devotee, how to become the best devotee, what are the characteristics of a devotee, etc. We learnt the words for the 3rd verse also today. We had fun learning new words, that sounded like tongue twisters in the beginning, but after saying it a few times, it was a piece of cake, wasn't it :). Parents, please encourage them to practice the verses at home. You have all been given a handout in the beginning of the year. The script of the 12th chapter is in that book. (We will be giving printouts for using in the class, they do not need to bring the books from now on.)
We then revised the story we have heard so far. The children knew all the details and names that were told to them. They have been taking notes and writing down pointers. Parents, do help them revise and narrate to you, what they have understood. That way, they will be reinforcing their learning in class. It could be a brief narration, even on their ride home from balavihar. That will play a key factor in how well they participate in class, so that they can tell you all about it during their ride back.
Building on the story, we heard how once king parIkShita went on a hunting venture. After a long time, he got weary, hungry and thirsty. He walked into the ashram nearby where sage shamika sat in very deep meditation. The king asked him for food and water, but the sage was unaware of the king's arrival. Restless and hungry, the king lost guard of his thoughts and actions. The king got annoyed. He placed a dead snake that was lying near by, on the sage, in order catch his attention. But the sage was in such deep meditation that he did not know what the king had done. His son, sage shRungI, saw this and cursed the king, saying that he shall die in 7 days, by getting bitten by a snake called takShaka! On waking up from his meditation, sage shamika was not happy with the events that had happened. He scolded his son for having cursed and asked him to go and apologize to the king! This showed us that, one mistake cannot be fixed by another mistake!
We had a wonderful discussion with examples, how we forget guarding our thoughts at times and get in trouble. We even played a game of 'I am on guard', to see how alert we were during the game. We did not catch many 'off guard', so as to say :).
In our desire to write dhruva's favorite mantra, we learnt writing 'namo' in Sanskrit. Some of the kids immediately recognized the similarity of the alphabet to Hindi. But everyone successfully wrote the likhita japa of 'namo' today.
We were having so much fun, we did not have time to chant 'raama hare' today. That is okay. We will do it next class.
We concluded the class with pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam. We went to the auditorium for aarti and pledge.
See you all next Sunday.
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Alka Aunty and Prasad Uncle:
We started the class with 5 minutes meditation, Children have slowly started taking the meditaion time seriouly and learing to chant OM.
The children have received a welcome letter. Please check their folders.
Since we met after two weeks we revised brielfy what they learnt in last couple of classes.
Continued with the story of Parikshit and Kali, We explained them what are Kali's addresses where Parikshit told him to reside.
The children also listened to the story of Parikshit and Rishi Samika and Parikshit's curse. Children are very much interested in listening to stories and seriously trying to understand the message given in the stories, We are glad to see their interest in learning the backround of Srimad Bhagavatam. Keep it up!!
We don't expect them to read any stories ahead of the class becuse some times they lose interest in listening and then don't understand the message given in them.
We are chanting BGeeta Chapter 12th, So far they have learnt 3 shlokas. Please ask your son/daughter to practise them at home.
CORD Walkathon-- While explaining importance of donating and helping needy people we have given information about CORD walkathon on Sunday Oct 23rd that will take place in Mercer county park,That day Balavihar class will not be held in Cross roads school SouthBrunswick.
See you next Sunday in Cross roads school.
