Dear Parents, Harih Om!
During our last Balavihar class on Apr 30, 2023, after our opening prayers:
1. We chanted Bhagavad Geeta Dhyanam and Tapovan Shatakam (till verse 6).
2. We recapped what we had covered and discussed in our previous Balavihar sessions.
3. We started learning about the 35 gems or virtues. Sri Krishna in Chapter 12 of Bhagavad Gita enumerates 35 virtues or gems for us to live by. Bhagwan says he is showing us these gems so that we can make use of them and be happy. He says, "anyone who lives by these virtues is My darling". By following these values, we can lead happy and contented life. In the next few classes, we will be discussing these 35 values.
4. Gem 1 – Hate None (advesta sarvabhutanam): the idea here is to see everyone as one's own self. When our nose catches cold, we don't cut it off! Because it is part of me only – we tolerate it and start seeing the good side of it – it helps to breath. If our finger accidentally pokes our eye, even though we may be in great discomfort – but we don't punish our finger. Similarly, if we understand that there is God in everyone, we all function because of His presence and that there is no one other than Him – if these ideas sink in deeply - then we will not hate anyone. If everything is God's expression, how can we hate anyone?
So, the question arises: How can you not hate person? Our response is you hate the action not the person. Everyone has some shortcomings; we all make mistakes and we all upset someone or the other, nobody is perfect. We should not judge the person just based on one action. Pujya Gurudev said love is the heart of all religions. If you want to others to love you, be lovable.
Children like to eat cake, bake cookies – for which they need flour, sugar, oil, heat etc. We did not make any of these ingredients. For example, to grow flour you need sun, rain, fertile soil, farmer to farm it, someone to harvest and transport it to the store for you to buy it! We did not do all that – so by stretching this logic we can see that we need everyone in the society for us to survive and live comfortably. Hence, we need to be grateful to everyone.
5. Gem 2 – Be Friendly; Maitrah – we should be friendly with all. Not choose only those to be friends who are popular/rich or famous. We must remember what a needle can do a sword cannot – each has its own importance. A sword may be very powerful but cannot help in stitching like a needle does.
Pujya Gurudev said we must cultivate friends. We cannot buy/pick or wish someone to be our friend. Nor can we compel anyone to be our friend. We must behave in a way to deserve friends. We must develop friendliness in us – be selfless, loving, and have genuine concern for others.
Story – Once in a forest lived a lion in a cave. One day a mouse crossed its path, and the lion caught it. Mouse pleaded with the lion not to eat it and said that she will help the lion when right opportunity comes. The lion laughed at this suggestion that a tiny mouse will help him but took pity on the mouse and let it go. After few days the lion got caught in a hunter's net. He could not escape from the net. The mouse heard that the lion was in trouble, came running to the lion and cut the net. Lion was freed! From that day onwards they become good friends. Moral - Be friends with everyone. You never know whose help you will need at what time.
6. Gem 3 – Be Compassionate; Karunah. Be compassionate towards needy. We asked who the woman was, who was not Indian but served the poor & sick in Calcutta –Mother Theresa! Why is she so popular – because of her compassion.
Pujya Gurudev says – kindness is an attitude of sympathy cooked in compassion, honeyed with love and served on a golden platter of understanding.
We reminded the children to pick up their Balavihar notebooks, take 10 minutes and write a page of their favorite mahamantra each day and do their Likhita Japa.
Tomorrow morning, children will participate in Guru Paduka Pooja; there are monthly programs and group activities planned tomorrow. We humbly request that all children come and participate in this important program.
Thank you!
Inchara, Rekha, and Mekhala (Grade 8 Sunday AM Balavihar teachers)
