This report covers all February classes
Hari Om Parents,
We started class with the beginning prayers followed by chanting of Sri Rama dhyana shloka and some parts of Namaramayanam.
We then went on to do meditation, by first performing breathing exercises and then chanting a mantra.
We continued with our Ramayana story after Sundara Kanda and entered Lanka kanda..
Told the story of Malyawan, Ravana's grandfather and his wife Mandodari asking Ravana to make peace with the Lord. Ravana's ego doesn't allow him to do this. Ravana's brother Kumbhakarana did not like Ravana's actions, but he is loyal to his brother and gets ready to fight with him. However, Vibhishana, another brother of Ravana, tries to reason with him and asks him to return Sita and make peace with Sri Rama.
Ravana does not agree, so Vibhishana switches sides. With four of his loyal followers he surrenders to Sri Rama. Sri Rama accepts him on his side. The vanaras along with Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Vibhishana, Hanuman and others get ready to fight with Ravana's strong army and take up positions.
Sugreeva without warning goes to Ravana's palace and tries to warn him again. Ravana and Sugreeva wrestle for some time and could not defeat each other. Ravana then resorts to magic and Sugreeva decieds to return to Sri Rama. Sri Rama felt it was wrong of Sugreeva to risk his life.
Sri Rama finally tells Angada, Vali's son to give Ravana a final message- Return Sita or meet his end at Sri Rama's handa as his last chance.
Angada shows his strength to Ravana, and Ravana starts fearing his enemy when some turrets of his palace break in the fight. Ravana is filled with fury. He tries to again persuade Sita to yield to him. He sends a skilled sorcerer, named Vidyut Jihva, to prepare a model head of Sri Rama to fool Sita. Sita is fooled first and is overcome by sorrow. She thinks Sri Rama is no more. But just then some generals of Ravana summoned him to the council hall. The illusory head of Sri Rama goes up in smoke and Sita is confused. Then a good rakshasi named Saandra told Sita about Ravana's wicked plans to deceive her. Sita is joyous but the citizens of Lanka tremble with fear and the great battle between dharma and adharma begins.
Parallel to the story from Ramayana we have started the topic 'Key to Success' by adopting key lessons from Vibhishana Gita. This book teaches Lord Rama's teachings to Vibhishana in the battlefield. Vibhishana is worried for the Lord as he does not have any armor to fight the battle with Ravana. Vibhishana felt Ravana was well prepared for war as compared to Sri Rama. Sri Rama teaches Vibhishana that true victory is gained by the chariot of righteousness or dharma ratha. This is the chariot to win the battle of life. Our lessons are based on these values. We will be teaching the values from Vibhishana Gita.
1. What is true success?
Success is achieving a worthy goal. We had a discussion with the students regarding their goals.
2. What is the master key of life?
We need to get material knowledge first, get a job etc. however knowledge of the self is the master key of life. Happiness comes, not from the objects around us but from within us.
3. What is the secret to success?
Discussed that success comes from working hard towards our goals and knowledge. With life's failures we should not give up. Talked about Thomas Edison who after 2000 experiments finally invented the light bulb. Also discussed not to take life seriously and laugh a lot.
4. How do we gain knowledge?
We should spend time reading and assimilating from books and other sources. Talked about ways to make our mind sharper and quieter so that we can acquire knowledge efficiently.
5. How do we sharpen our mind?
Adapting our mind to follow our culture and heritage. Refine our thoughts by following noble values. We told the Leo Tolstoy story- to be the fine wheels of an expensive watch, the metal has to suffer through the heat to make it malleable . Similarly, the mind has to be molded to get noble thoughts.
The mind along with the intellect has to be tuned to remove all the agitation. This keeps us
happy and we perform better.
Feb 24th was Spirit Day. Children worked together and enjoyed a lot. Their team won the highest points!
Next Balavihar is on March 10.
Slokathon is on March 18.
Pranaams
Nirmala & Mythili
Slokathon is on March 18.
Pranaams
Nirmala & Mythili
