Hari Om,
We began class with starting prayers and Lingashtakam. The class chanted this in pairs and it was beautiful!
The students did a recap of the previous class using their class notes. The parent portal with teacher written class summary was pointed out to class. Some students were seeing the Chinmaya Vrindavan website and the parent portal for the first time. The class took a few minutes to find the website and locate the class summary on their phones. It is a useful tool to refresh one' s memory before coming to class. Gunas, what are they, how they go hand in hand with varna, and with our karmas.
We continued with the topic of gunas. Continuing with the thread of Mind is also matter, subtle matter - we paused at this radical wisdom of Hindu thought that mind is constituted of the satvik aspect of the Pancha Mahabhutas, the 5 great elements.
Students are familiar with elements of Mendeleev's periodic table, but this idea was introduced in class that Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Aapa and Prithvi or Space, Air, Fire, Water and earth are considered the 5 elements that make up all matter. Even the mind.(We promised the class that this will be re visited in later years , in more detail, when theories of creation as per Hindu scriptures will be discussed.) So if mind is made up of satvik aspect, it will be at ease, at peace, in joy, only when it is satvik. Any departure from satva, into rajas and tamas will cause discomfort.
Thus, practices and values are taught to cultivate and maintain satva, and reduce wanderings out of satva. This lead to our lesson on 8 inner qualities. We could only do 4. These 4 are-
1. Daya/ kindness
2. Kshanti/forbearance
3. Anasuya/ Absence of jealousy
4.Shaucha/Purity
The class came up with good examples of these. Practicing these fills our minds with peace and joy and also makes others around us happy. So it s a win- win.
Saying kind words, doing kind deeds. Not complaining about small inconveniences, trying to solve problems, yet not whining. Being inspired by others' successes, feeling happy for them, and not trying to pull them down in any way. Keeping the body and surroundings clean, free of clutter, and keeping the mind straight and clean.
We then chanted Bhagavad Geeta verses 11 and 12. Please encourage students to listen and chant- this year's Chapter 3 is exceptional guidance for their age where they are all about being active in school and home. What attitude to have, what actions to do are taught by Sri Krishna here to Arjuna.
The next class in on Jan 20.
Happy Sankrathi!
9th grade teachers
