Hari OM Parents,
Please find the summary of today's class.
Prayer time:
We started the class by chanting OM 3 times followed by morning prayers - "Sahanaavathu".
Activity time:
Students made origami lotus flowers. During the process, we discussed the significance of lotus and how lotus stands for purity and perfection.
Next, students did a coloring activity to learn about the 6 ferocious sharks in the world and how we can sail avoiding them. These sharks are lust, anger, greed, pride, delusion, and jealousy. If we accept Lord as our ferryman, he will take our boar across the ocean with ease.
Music time with Swamini Radhikanandaji:
Swamini Radhikanandaji visited our class and taught a few devotional songs. Swaminiji played guitar and sang following songs, students repeated after her. Swaminiji also taught hand movements for the songs. It was a lot of fun. Please have the kids practice with them at home.
Great God Ganapati
(From original Sanskrit hymn Maha Ganapate;
English adaptation: Sw. Radhikananda)
Great God Ganapati, I bow to Thee
Elephant-faced Lord, I bow to Thee
Delight of Lord Shiva, I take refuge in Thee
Oh, Big-Bellied Son of Mother Parvati
Infinite Om, O! I bow to Thee
You ride on your mouse winning victory!!
My God is So Great
Chorus: My God is so great, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do.
The mountains are His, the rivers are His
The stars are His handiwork too!
(chorus)
He fashioned the trees, the wind and the seas
And painted the sky royal blue.
(chorus)
He made us with Love sent straight from above
And filled us with His wisdom too!
(chorus)
Crossword puzzle to recap Churning of the Milky Ocean:
Students solved a crossword puzzle about the goodies that came during the churning of the milky ocean.
Story Time:
Kids watched the story of "Two Frogs in Buttermilk" and learned about perseverance. Moral of the story is we should always be trying and never give up. Kids loved the story.
Link to the story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Xyzftb3Lw
Bhagavatham Story Time – The Royal Sage Rishabha
Sage Rishabha was a descendant of Priyavrata. He was born to his parents after they prayed a lot to Lord Vishnu. Rishabha grew up to be a lovable, gifted and self-controlled young man. He got married to Jayanti, one of Indra's daughters.
Gradually, as knowledge grew within him that there is but one God in all beings and things, he came to look upon all with equal eyes. Everyone, whether high or low, rich or poor, loved him.
Rishabha was a Jivanmuktah. With his mind free and his heart pure, he engaged in activities for the welfare of his subjects. He was the friend of all beings. He sympathized with them and was kind and loving to all. Everyone was happy and peaceful in his kingdom.
Sage Rishabha taught his sons not only how to be great kings and also men of truth and perfection. He told his sons that as a human, it is important to worship the Lord, do tapas, and help people. One should not live just to enjoy worldly things. After teaching them the right way to live, he handed over his kingdom to his eldest son, Bharata, and went to do tapas. As he did the tapas, he gained many yogic powers. But he ignored them. Deeper and deeper he went into meditation, until he merged with the Lord. Once there was a forest fire, in which he gave up his body.
Jivanmuktah
Rishabha was a Jivanmuktah. What does this mean? This means he saw only God everywhere. It means he was totally free. He could do anything he wanted. He never wanted to do anything that is not good or that is not right. That made him very happy all the time. He trained himself in such a way that he would only want to do the right thing.
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
