Balavihar Week 16- Section 1

Balavihar Week 16- Section 1

February 24th, 2013 

Meditation Time:

Our class started with chanting "Om" and then meditated on the beautiful form of Krishna for 5 minutes. We came out of our meditation seat by chanting "Om" three times which was followed by our opening prayer "sahanaavavathu".

Guru Stotram:

We practised the entire strotram. 

Bhajan:

We did the "Raadhey Raadhey.." bhajan. 

Bhagavad Gita:

Today we did till the 18th verse. We grouped the class today and made them do the chantings. They did a pretty good job but needs to chant more loudly and confidently.  For the Gita competition, third graders have to memorize till the 20th verse. There is an online learning tool at http://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/GeetaChantingCompetition.php that they can use for practicing.  Registration is now open for the Gita chanting competition.  Parents, please register your kids at the earliest and encourage them to practice regularly at home.  

  

Bhaagvatam Time:

Today we heard the story of Indra and Vritra. 

Likhita Japa:

We did our Likhita Japa. Kids are encouraged to do the japa at home too.

Aarati and Pledge:

We wound up the class with the Aarati and Pledge in the class. See you all next week. Until then keep practicing !! 

Important Announcements:

1.Parents class meeting on March 3rd: Parents please join our class for a meeting at 11:30.

2.Bhiksha with Swamiji  on March 10th: We've  Bhiksha with Swamiji on March 10th at 1:00 p.m at Chinmaya Vrindavan, Cranbury. Kids are welcome to come along with their parents and siblings for the event.  After lunch, there will be a question/answer session with Swamiji. Kids are encouraged to come up with some good questions. We need to get an approx. head count by next week so that we can divide the menu evenly to give an opportunity to everybody. 

3. Seva Project: Our class is doing a Seva project this year. We are preparing lunch bags for TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen). For this, we need kids to give a donation of 10$. We'll buy the food for the collected amount and then make the kids pack the lunch bags in the class.

Thanks,

Pushkala Aunty and Deepthy Aunty

Balavihar Week 16- Section 2

Balavihar Week 16- Section 2

February 24th, 2013 

Meditation Time:

Our class started with chanting "Om" and then meditated for 3 minutes. We came out of our meditation seat by chanting "Om" three times which was followed by our opening prayer "sahanaavavathu".

Guru Stotram:

We practiced the entire strotram. 

Bhagavad Gita:

Today we did till the 10th verse.  For the Gita competition, third graders have to memorize till the 20th verse. There is an online learning tool at http://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/GeetaChantingCompetition.php that they can use for practicing.  Registration is now open for the Gita chanting competition.  Parents, please register your kids at the earliest and encourage them to practice regularly at home.   

  

Bhaagvatam Time:

Today we heard the story of Indra and Vrata. 

Likhita Japa:

We did our Likhita Japa. Kids are encouraged to do the japa at home too.

Aarati and Pledge:

We wound up the class with Purna madam slokha & Pledge in the class. See you all next week. Until then keep practicing !! 

Important Announcements:

1.Parents please sign up on March 3rd for Bhiksha with Swamiji on March 10th at noon.

2. Seva Project: Our class is doing a Seva project this year. We are preparing lunch bags for TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen). For this, we need kids to give a donation of 10$. We'll buy the food for the collected amount and then make the kids pack the lunch bags in the class. Thanks to those who have already contributed.

See you all next week!!

Balavihar Week 15- Section 2

02/10/13

We started class with chanting 3 oms, om sahanaa vavatu, and a couple minutes of meditation. We then practiced the entire Guru Stotram. Next, we went over Bhagavad Gita Chanting, learning up to sloka 14 today. We urge the kids to keep practicing and keep up the good work.

During our story time, we heard a few different stories. First, we learned about Priyavrta, one of Manu's sons. Priyavrta was a very pious man, devoted to the lord. Priyavrta was ready to renounce the world and take sannyas. However, Manu wanted him to become king, and do his duty and rule the world. Brahmaji went to Priyavrta and advised him to listen to Lord Vishnu, who wants him to become king. Brahma explains to him that he can remain a pious person, and still perform his duties as king. Thus, Priyavrta heeded Brahma's advice and became king. We also heard a story in which a minister teaches his king the moral of "Everything that happens, happens for the best". Next, we heard the story of Ajamila who was a good person, and lived a content life with his wife. But he lost sight of his wonderful life, and started a new life with another woman. He had many children with this woman, one of which was named Narayana. When Ajamila was on his deathbed, he called out for his son, and because he said the lord's name, Lord Vishnu came down and saved Ajamila from the grasp of Lord Yama. This story demonstrates how even if one says the lord's name unintentionally, he will still come to help you. Ajamila learned his lesson, and returned to his wife and lived a happy life.

We did likhita japa, and learned a new bhajan Gopala Radha Lola.

We will continue our play practice next class in two weeks.

Thanks,
Sanjana Didi and Indira Aunty

Balavihar Week 15- Section 1

February 10th, 2013 

Meditation Time:

Our class started with chanting "Om" and spent five minutes in meditation.  By chanting "Om" three times we came out of our meditation seat which was followed by our opening prayer "sahanaavavathu".

Guru Stotram:

We practised the entire strotram. 

Bhajan:

We did the "Aatmarama Anandaramaa.." bhajan. 

Bhagavad Gita:

Today we did till the 16th verse. Kids are advised to practice very good till the verse we did today. Next class we'll be grouping kids and then make them chant. Kids have to be more louder and confident while chanting. These days we don't get much time to practice in the class as the end half an hour goes for the practicing the annual day play. So kids have to practice good at home too.  There is an online learning tool at http://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/GeetaChantingCompetition.php that they can use for practicing. Also, if you go through the website you can see that there are  Gita chanting classes in the ashram too, on Thursdays and Saturdays. Kids are welcome to make use of that opportunity too.  

  

Bhaagvatam Time:

We heard the story of Priyavrita, who was Manu's third son. At a very young age itself  he was taught the spiritual truth by Sage Naarada himself.  He wanted to renounce the world and accept sanyasam but his father, Manu wanted him to be a king and rule the world. One day when he was in deep discussion about Brahman with Naarad ji, Brahma ji appeared before them and advised him to surrender himself to the Divine will of the Lord and that he too wants him to be the king. Brahama ji explained him how he can live a pious life and at the same time do the duties that he has to do without getting attached to it.  Thus Priyavrita accepted Brahma ji's command. Then we heard a story of a woman who considered that all that happens is according to the Divine will and we should accept things happily. Also, we heard a story of a king who had a minister who believed that everything that happens, happens for the best. The king didn't initially think the way his minister thought but as we progressed we saw that the king too realized that his minister is right. Ask the kids to retell the stories they heard today. 

We also heard the story of Ajaamila.  He was an honest and a virtuous man, who was well versed in Vedas.  He was a sensible man with a pure mind. But he fell in bad company and forgot all about his good practices and gave up all thoughts of God and his worship.  He had ten sons but his favorite was his youngest son, Naarayana.  One day Ajaamila was very sick and was about to die.  Lord Yama's men came to take his life.  On seeing Yama's men he got terrified and called out for his son, "Narayana! Narayana!".  On hearing his cries Maha Vishnu's men came to protect him.  An argument picks up between the men of Yama and the messengers of Maha Vishnu.  Having no choice, Yama's men had to leave.  Ajaamila who heard all the argument between the two messengers realizes his mistake and becomes a pious again!  The moral we learnt from this story is that he who loves God and completely surrenders himself to the Lord is released, no matter how bad he was.

Likhita Japa:

We did our Likhita Japa for sometime but kids are advised to do some at home too. 

Aarati and Pledge:

We wound up the class with the Aarati and Pledge in the auditorium. See you all after two week. Until then keep practicing !! 

Thanks,

Pushkala Aunty and Deepthy Aunty

Balavihar Week 14- Section 1

February 3rd, 2013 

Meditation Time:

Our class started with chanting Om and five minutes of quiet time in meditation.  We did our opening prayer "sahanaavavathu".

Guru Stotram:

We practised the entire strotram. The kids are very good in it.  

Bhajan: 

We practised the entire "Raadhey Raadhey" Bhajan.  

Bhagavad Gita:

Today we did upto the 13th verse. We made them chant in two groups today.  The kids did a pretty good job but needed more confidence and strength. Please keep practising at home. There is an online learning tool at http://www.chinmayavrindavan.org/GeetaChantingCompetition.php that they can use for practicing. 

  

Bhaagvatam Time:

Today during story time, we heard the story of Puranjana.  This story was told by sage Naarad to Praachinabarhi, who used to spent lot of his time in performing rituals and sacrifices. Naarad Ji told Praachinabarhi that there is a much higher goal to attain in life. One should try to reach that Ultimate Reality.  To make him understand more, Naarad Ji told him the story of king Puranjana.  He had a very close friend named Avijnaata, who always used to try to keep his friend on the right track.  But Puranjana always ignored him and his advises. He was always in search of a place to live where he could satisfy all his desires.  Finally, he came across a beautiful city with 9 gates and there he found a beautiful princess.  He married the princess and stayed in the city. He started getting so much attached to his wife that he started loosing all his freedom and thus ended up spending his life as a slave of  his wife.  After many years, his wife died and Puranjana could not bear the loss and died sadly thinking about her. In the next birth, he was born as a girl who got married to a king and got attached to him. After some years, her husband died and she could not bear the loss. At that time, the old friend Avijnaata came to him and reminded him of the mistakes he was committing and how he was constantly getting caught in the web of maya.  Then Naarad Ji explained to Praachinabarhi that Puranjana respresents the Self (aatma) and his friend, Avinjnaata is none other than the Lord Himself.  The city of 9 gates represents the human body with 9 organs and the wife Puranjana was attached to represents the intellect.  The Self united with the intellect forgets his own true Divine nature and becomes filled with ignorance and pride.  We always come across these kind of situations in real life. Whenever we are going to do something wrong, an inner voice from within tells us not to do. But, we don't listen to Him. We should try to have some quiet time with the Lord so that we can hear him.    

Likhita Japa:

We did our Likhita Japa, "Shree Krishnam Sharanam Mama" 

Aarati and Pledge:

We wound up the class with the Aarati and Pledge in class. See you all next week. Until then keep practicing !! 

Thanks,

Pushkala Aunty and Deepthy Aunty

Balavihar Week 14- Section 2

February 3, 2013

We started class as usual, with chanting 3 oms, meditating for 2 minutes, and chanting the entire Guru Stotram.

Next, we proceeded to practice Bhagavad Gita Chanting. The kids have clearly been practicing, which is great. They should also work on being more confident while chanting, as well as beginning to memorize the earlier shlokas. We finished up till shloka 12 today, so please urge them to continue practicing and keep up the good work!

During story time, we heard the story of Puranjana, which was told by Narada to King Pracinabarhi. King Pracinabarhi spent a lot of time practicing yajnas and sacrifices. One day, Narada came to him and told him that by doing these yajnas, he was harming innocent creatures and adding more karmas, getting farther away from the ultimate goal. So to help Pracinabarhi get back on the right track towards self-realization, Narada tells him the story of Puranjana. Puranjana had a friend named Avijnaata, but nobody really knew where Avijnaata lived or what he did. Puranjana, in pursuits of happiness in material things, traveled around until he found a city south of the Himalayas that would make him happy. There, he married the princess and grew extremely attached to her. He was a slave to her emotions, and Puranjana stopped living his own life. After a few years, she died, and he went mad, and died soon after. In his next life, Puranjana was born as a girl, who got married to a king. She grew extremely attached and when the king died, she was about to throw herself in his funeral pyre. But a brahmin came and stopped her. This brahmin was Avijnaata, who came to take Puranjana back on the right path. Narada explained this story to Pracinabarhi, how Puranjana represented the soul, and how Avijnaata was the Lord. The soul will always be looking for a body to fulfill its material desires, but eventually, it needs the Lord to set it free permanently.

We briefly did play practice today, assigning most of the roles. We will finalize next week, and get in contact with all of the parents to discuss costumes and stuff.

Thanks and have a great week!
~Sanjana Didi and Indira Aunty