After starting prayers and a short meditation focussing on awareness of one object, two objects and then back to one object, we started our final prep for Geeta chanting. The students took turns chanting and we discussed the vocabulary words from the chapter. We paused at some interesting verses and talked about working together in yagna spirit sinking individual preferences, much like things in nature. Verse 14- Annaad Bhavanti bhutani. Verse 8- Niyatam Kuru Karma twam… Oh, what a treasure chest is the Lord's song- we cannot wait for our 9th graders to discover the joyous lessons of the Geeta in their JCHYK classes grades 10-12. We persuaded the class to register to at least read. Happy to note that we have some students who have memorized the verses as well.
We then talked about the primary source of Hindu thought and wisdom- The Vedas. Vedas are also called Shruthi from the literal meaning of the word Shruthi- which is "heard". Great Rishi, in their fully awakened awareness received these truths and thus the Vedas are also called the breath of the Divine, and Apaurusheya- not composed by human intellect. The example of Newton and his discovery of the laws of gravity was used to drive home the point that gravity existed before Newton, but credit to him is that he observed it, and came up with a way to explain it.
The Rishis in their compassion understood that the Vedas could not be comprehended fully by the common man, and so they remembered - (Smriti and wrote smritis. Ithihasa or history in the form of Ramayana and Mahabharata recorded events as they happened and still unite the Indic ethos till today.
Puranas- stories in which a particular aspect or form of the Infinite Reality is highlighted. Vishnu Purana will talk of Vishnu being Supreme while Shiva Purana will talk of Shiva being supreme and so on. There is no contradiction here, if there is proper understanding that the Infinite Reality is One, without a second. After starting prayers and a short meditation focussing on awareness of one object, two objects and then back to one object, we started our final prep for Geeta chanting. The students took turns chanting and we discussed the vocabulary words from the chapter. We paused at some interesting verses and talked about working together in yagna spirit sinking individual preferences, much like things in nature. Verse 14- Annaad Bhavanti bhutani. Verse 8- Niyatam Kuru Karma twam… Oh, what a treasure chest is the Lord's song- we cannot wait for our 9th graders to discover the joyous lessons of the Geeta in their JCHYK classes grades 10-12. We persuaded the class to register to at least read. Happy to note that we have some students who have memorized the verses as well.
We then talked about the primary source of Hindu thought and wisdom- The Vedas. Vedas are also called Shruthi from the literal meaning of the word Shruthi- which is "heard". Great Rishi, in their fully awakened awareness received these truths and thus the Vedas are also called the breath of the Divine, and Apaurusheya- not composed by human intellect. The example of Newton and his discovery of the laws of gravity was used to drive home the point that gravity existed before Newton, but credit to him is that he observed it, and came up with a way to explain it.
The Rishis in their compassion understood that the Vedas could not be comprehended fully by the common man, and so they remembered - (Smriti and wrote smritis. Ithihasa or history in the form of Ramayana and Mahabharata recorded events as they happened and still unite the Indic ethos till today.
Puranas- stories in which a particular aspect or form of the Infinite Reality is highlighted. Vishnu Purana will talk of Vishnu being Supreme while Shiva Purana will talk of Shiva being supreme and so on. There is no contradiction here, if there is proper understanding that the Infinite Reality is One, without a second. After starting prayers and a short meditation focussing on awareness of one object, two objects and then back to one object, we started our final prep for Geeta chanting. The students took turns chanting and we discussed the vocabulary words from the chapter. We paused at some interesting verses and talked about working together in yagna spirit sinking individual preferences, much like things in nature. Verse 14- Annaad Bhavanti bhutani. Verse 8- Niyatam Kuru Karma twam… Oh, what a treasure chest is the Lord's song- we cannot wait for our 9th graders to discover the joyous lessons of the Geeta in their JCHYK classes grades 10-12. We persuaded the class to register to at least read. Happy to note that we have some students who have memorized the verses as well.
We then talked about the primary source of Hindu thought and wisdom- The Vedas. Vedas are also called Shruthi from the literal meaning of the word Shruthi- which is "heard". Great Rishi, in their fully awakened awareness received these truths and thus the Vedas are also called the breath of the Divine, and Apaurusheya- not composed by human intellect. The example of Newton and his discovery of the laws of gravity was used to drive home the point that gravity existed before Newton, but credit to him is that he observed it, and came up with a way to explain it.
The Rishis in their compassion understood that the Vedas could not be comprehended fully by the common man, and so they remembered - (Smriti and wrote smritis. Ithihasa or history in the form of Ramayana and Mahabharata recorded events as they happened and still unite the Indic ethos till today.
Puranas- stories in which a particular aspect or form of the Infinite Reality is highlighted. Vishnu Purana will talk of Vishnu being Supreme while Shiva Purana will talk of Shiva being supreme and so on. There is no contradiction here, if there is proper understanding that the Infinite Reality is One, without a second.
We reminded them of the Bhagavata Purana that they had learned in the younger grades. We also spoke about how the Puranas in an interesting story form have deeper significance and symbolism. For instance we talked about how Ravana's ten heads symbolizes his huge ego!
We then told them about the 4 Mahavaakyas from each of the 4 Vedas -
1. Prajnaanam Brahma - Consciousness is Brahman - Aitareya Upanishad - Rig Veda
2. Tat Tvam Asi - That Thou Art - Chandogya Upanishad - Sama Veda
3. Ayam Atma Brahma -This Self is Brahman - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - AtharvaVeda
4. Aham Brahmaasmi - I am Brahman - Mandukya Upanishad - Yajur Veda
9th grade teachers
A
fter starting prayers and a short meditation focussing on awareness of one object, two objects and then back to one object, we started our final prep for Geeta chanting. The students took turns chanting and we discussed the vocabulary words from the chapter. We paused at some interesting verses and talked about working together in yagna spirit sinking individual preferences, much like things in nature. Verse 14- Annaad Bhavanti bhutani. Verse 8- Niyatam Kuru Karma twam… Oh, what a treasure chest is the Lord's song- we cannot wait for our 9th graders to discover the joyous lessons of the Geeta in their JCHYK classes grades 10-12. We persuaded the class to register to at least read. Happy to note that we have some students who have memorized the verses as well.
We then talked about the primary source of Hindu thought and wisdom- The Vedas. Vedas are also called Shruthi from the literal meaning of the word Shruthi- which is "heard". Great Rishi, in their fully awakened awareness received these truths and thus the Vedas are also called the breath of the Divine, and Apaurusheya- not composed by human intellect. The example of Newton and his discovery of the laws of gravity was used to drive home the point that gravity existed before Newton, but credit to him is that he observed it, and came up with a way to explain it.
The Rishis in their compassion understood that the Vedas could not be comprehended fully by the common man, and so they remembered - (Smriti and wrote smritis. Ithihasa or history in the form of Ramayana and Mahabharata recorded events as they happened and still unite the Indic ethos till today.
Puranas- stories in which a particular aspect or form of the Infinite Reality is highlighted. Vishnu Purana will talk of Vishnu being Supreme while Shiva Purana will talk of Shiva being supreme and so on. There is no contradiction here, if there is proper understanding that the Infinite Reality is One, without a second. 