Hari Om parents,
How are all of you doing? Here is the summary of our last class (1/29/23) -
1. We started our class with 3 OM's & the beginning prayers followed by shlokas for Lord Ganesha, Devi Saraswati and our Gurus.
2. We chanted the first 8 verses of Guru stotram.
3. We revised what we have learned so far.
4.Brainstorming - Three Gunas
The world consists of three gunas - sattva, rajas & tamas. The three gunas are each associated with a specific characteristic - sattva (purity), rajas (activity), and tamas (darkness, destruction). These three gunas are present in all persons and objects to various degrees. However, one of the gunas or characteristics is always more present or dominant than the other two.
Sattva manifests itself as purity, knowledge, and harmony. It is the characteristic of goodness, joy, satisfaction, nobility, and contentment. It is free of fear, violence, wrath, and malice. Sattva is pure and forgiving. In order to reach Samadhi or liberation, people want to increase their Sattva guna. Increasing sattva is possible by reducing rajas and tamas, both in your mind and in your body.
Rajas expresses passion, action, energy, and motion. Rajas are characterized by a feeling of attachment, a longing for satisfaction and desire.
Tamas manifests itself as impurity, laziness, and darkness. It is the consequence of ignorance and it prevents all beings from seeing reality
5. Story time - Dhruva
Once there was a king called Uttanapada. He had two wives – Suniti and Suruchi. Suniti had a son called Dhruva and Suruchi's son was Uttama. The king was very fond of his second wife and son and neglected his first wife and child. Dhruva loved his father very much and wanted his time and attention. Once when he entered his step-mother's home, he found the king seated there with the other child on his lap. Dhruva ran to his father to sit on his lap. His step-mother Suruchi stopped him on the way and said: You are an unfortunate son as you were born to your mother. If you wish to sit on your father's lap you need good fortune. Go and pray to God that you are born to me as a son in your next birth so that you can sit on your father's lap. Dhruva noticed that his father was indifferent to what had happened. He was stung and pained by his step-mother's words.
Dhruva went weeping to his mother Suniti. His mother tried to console him but it was of no use. Dhruva asked her if there was someone in this world who could take away his pain and give him what he wanted. His mother replied that Lord Narayan was very kind and when anyone pleased Him by constantly remembering Him with love, the Lord granted darshan and blessings.
Dhruva went to the forest dressed in bark(the outer covering of tree) clothing. On the way he met Sage Narad. When the sage enquired, Dhruva told him about what happened at home. Sage Narad saw the determination and resolve in the face of the young boy and in his compassion, gave him the holy mantra: Om Namo Narayana. He also directed Dhruva to the forest called Madhuvana, on the banks of the holy river Yamuna. Dhruva took a bath in the river and sat under a tree with his mind focussed on Lord Narayan and the mantra 'Om Namo Narayana'. His mind was empty and devoid of all thoughts. He did not even think once about his father or step mother or step brother or even his own mother or the insult to him. In the meantime, Sage Narad went to the kingdom of King Uttanapada. He was met by the remorseful king who was now saddened by the grief of his son Dhruva which drove the child away from his home to the forest. Sage Narad informed the King of Dhruva's decision and proclaimed that Dhruva would be successful in appeasing the Lord and he would be so successful that he would be remembered for all eternity.
In Madhuvana, Dhruva carried severe austerities. He gave up food and immersed himself in japa throughout the day. In the first month he ate one or two fruits, once in three days. In the second month he ate only a few leaves once in six days. In the third month he drank a little water once in nine days. In the fourth month he opened his mouth once in twelve days and swallowed only a little air. In the fifth month he stopped even that and stood on one foot like an immovable post and continued japa with all his mind set on Lord Narayana. The intensity of his tapas created immense heat which even the heavens could not withstand. Lord Narayan, moved by the bhakti and austerities of Dhruva appeared in front of him and blessed him that his father and others would love him, he would be a great king and after his death he would become the Dhruva star (Pole Star) which would guide and show the way to others. After his death, Dhruva became a star and even there he is very firm and never changes position in the skies. Dhruva is a benchmark to us in smaran and firmness of resolution in attaining Grace of God.
6. Game - Can we be like Dhruva? He stood on one foot and chanted the Lord's name all the time. So we tried to balance on one foot? Ok that's doable. Now we need to freeze as in not move just as Dhruva did. Hmm that's a bit tough. After that chant "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya".Doing all that for a few minutes was difficult enough as our minds are always restless. Dhruva did it for years as his mind was peaceful.
7. We went to the temple for aarti & closing prayers.
*Sorry for sending the summaries late.
*Pics for the game on whatsApp group.
Regards,
Chitra & Rupa.
