Hari OM Parents,
Please find the details of today's class.
Prayer time:
We started the class by chanting OM 3 times followed by morning prayers - "Sahanaavathu". We practiced slokas 1 through 5 of Dashavatara stotram.
Recap of previous class
In the last class, we learned about Sage Rishabha and why he was called Jivanmuktah. We discussed about doing the right things in life:
§ What is the most important work ?
o Work that is in front of you.
§ What is the best time to start work?
o Now
§ Who is the most important person?
o The person who is with you right now.
Story Time – value of discipline and training
Someone asked Leo Tolstoy what's the value of discipline and training in a person's life?
Leo Tolstoy gave an example of a piece of iron that has a low value, its value increases when it is made into a horseshoe, its value further increases when we make needles from the same metal. When the same metal is used to make tiny parts of a watch, its value becomes a lot more. How do we make the needles and tiny parts from the metal lump? By putting the metal in the fire. Fire makes the metal soft and then by beating and soft metal to mold it into the desired shape. Human beings are also like this. More we train ourselves and have more discipline, we increase our value. Living with discipline is like putting our bad habits into fire, purifying ourselves. We will not like it in the beginning, but if we continue to be disciplined, we become more productive and increase our own value.
Then we become like Rishabha, which means the best. By having great control over our body and mind, we can increase our own value and we can be totally free from our likes and dislikes which bring us unhappiness.
Can we also do this? Yes! Sure we can! Keep trying. Don't be afraid of failure. If we keep doing the right thing with discipline, we will be the best like RIshabha.
Bhagavatham Story Time – King Bharata
King Bharata was the son of Sage Rishabha. He was a great king who ruled very well and fulfilled all his duties. After that he gave up his kingdom, all of his wealth and power and went to the forest. His son then became the King. He went to the banks of River Gandaki and built a small hut for himself. He spent many days, months and years meditating in the peaceful place.
One early morning, as Bharata was about to start his meditation he saw a doe was about to give birth to a fawn. She had come to the river to drink some water. Just then she heard the lion roar. This frightened her, and she jumped into the water. A baby deer was born in the water itself. The mother deer tried to swim to the bank, but was tired and cold, so she died. The river current slowly swept the baby to the bank. She was cold and frightened. Bharata immediately rescued the baby deer and brought her to his hut. He lit the fire and made the deer warm and comfortable.
Soon he became very fond of the fawn. He looked after her like a father. The fawn grew up to become a beautiful deer. In the process, Bharata's mind started turning more and more towards the deer than towards God. Instead of meditating on God, he used to always think and worry about the deer.
He had once given up everything including his kingdom. He had made his mind pure and detached. But now he was so attached to a little deer he rescued, that he even stopped his devotional practices completely.
The more he grew fond of the deer, the less he thought about God. Even when he was dying, he was thinking about the deer, instead of God. A person's last thoughts determine his/her next life. Bharata was reborn as a deer.
Due to his prayers and devotion in his past life, the deer remembered all about his previous life. The deer started living near the hermitages of Rishis, and used to listen to their talks. He patiently waited to end the life as a deer, as it is impossible to meditate as a deer.
After his life as a deer, he was born as the youngest son in a wealthy family. He still remembered the past two lives. He was careful not to get attached to anyone or anything. So, he was always quiet and alone. Everyone treated him as a mad man. His parents treated him normally, but after they died, his brothers started being very mean to him. He would always obey them without saying a word.
One day when Bharata was keeping watch over the fields, a robber chief caught hold of him. He wanted to sacrifice the strong looking Bharata to please Goddess Kali. He made Bharata ready and tied him up to a post. He raised his sword to kill him. Goddess Kali could not bear any longer. She emerged from her statue, killed all the robbers, and set Bharata free. Bharata, who was so absorbed in God, did not even realize what happened.
One day King Rahuguna was passing by in a palanquin. One of the palanquin bearers fainted. Bharata who was nearby had to take his place and carry the palanquin. While walking Bharata was making sure he would not step on and hurt any animal. So his walk was uneven. This made the King very uncomfortable. He looked out and saw that the new person, although strong and sturdy, was constantly hopping and jerking. Kig said, "Fool, Put down the pole and rest for a while if you are tired, though you look very strong to me". For the first time in his life Bharata smiled and spoke. Oh King, who are you calling a fool and who are you calling strong? If it is the body you are addressing, it is made with the same flesh and blood as yours. I am no madman. My mind is always fixed on the Lord. But this body did not want to trample on any creature. It is the same self everywhere in the universe. Then Who should command and who should obey? The King was astonished. He prostrated in front of him and apologized for insulting him.
The King saw that he was a very wise man, and asked him to teach him many more things. Bharata sat down under a tree and the King sat at his feet. Bharata taught the King many things about God.
§ Get rid of attachments.
§ Love and serve the Lord.
§ You will see him in your own heart.
§ Realize Him to be the very Life of every living creature.
§ You shall reach Him, who dwells in the hearts of all.
We discussed the morals of the story and how we can apply them in our lives.
Attach yourself to proper things. We discussed examples of Good and bad companies.
We should learn to depend on ourselves to be happy. We should have faith in God. He knows what is best for us.
Bhajan practice - Krishna Bhajan
He Murali Sridharaa, Raadhe Krishnaa Raadhe Shyaam
Keshava Maadhava Yadhava Nandana,
Raadhe Krishna Raadhe Shyaam ||1||
Nanda Nandana Raadhe Shyaam, Navanita Choraa Raadhe Shyaam
Keshava Madhava Yadhava Nandana,
Raadhe Krishna Raadhe Shyaam ||2||
Bhakta Vatsala Radhe Shyaam,Bhagavata Priya Raadhe Shyaam
Keshava Maadhava Yaadhava Nandana,
Raadhe Krishnaa Raadhe Shyaam ||3||
Panduraanga Radhe Shyam, Pandarinaatha Radhe Shyam
Keshava Maadhava Yaadhava Nandana,
Raadhe Krishnaa Raadhe Shyaam ||4||
Link to Bhajan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CCcR6bNX2E
We concluded the class with Aarthi, prayer and the Pledge.
Guru Stotram: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcTvswcTFs
Geeta chapter 3: https://bit.ly/BGChapter3Playlist
Thanks and warm regards,
Aruna and Subbu
