Hari Om Parents,
Below is what we covered this week.
Shlokas:
Opening prayers, Sahanavavatu,
Nama Ramayanam - Uttarakandam (pg 138 & 139 My Prayers)
Lessons and activities
Vibheeshana Gita:
We reviewed components of this chariot covered so far- Wheels, flag, Horses, Reins and Charioteer.
Next components of the chariot are:
"Birati Carma, Santosh Krpaana"
Dispassion is the shield and contentment is the sword.
Dispassion or the lack of attachment above all to ourselves - to the I and mine.
Contentment fills the heart with joy and prevents unnecessary suffering. It is the lack of greed.
Children were asked what objects they could not live without. They listed phones, nintendo etc.
Stories to highlight the effects of attachment
1. A poor brahmana got a lot of uncooked rice one day. He was very happy and tied the cloth sack with rice to a hook and fell asleep under it. He dreamt that he would later plant the rice, grow a paddy field, sell it and become rich, then build a big home, get married to a rich man's daughter, then have a son. Then one day his wife would neglect the child and he would kick her in anger. As he dreamt this, he kicked up in the air and brought the sack of rice to the ground thus destroying even the little that he had
2.The bull who pulled a 100 carts for his master initially refused to do so when the master got arrogant that he had a strong animal and humiliated it. Later when he lost his attachment to his ego and pleaded with the bull, the bull pulled the chain of a hundred carts.
3. Brahmaji is giving away gold and people bring many large vessels. One man brings something covered in a cloth and no matter how much gold Brahma puts into it, it is not filled. When Brahma removes the cloth, he realises that it is the human brain.
When the kids spoke about their phone, we discussed how it should not matter if they have the latest model or not.
Other components of Chariot are
Dana- Axe of Charity, Missile of understanding - Budhi, Bow of Self-Knowledge
Charity springs from generosity. Opposite of generosity is miserliness.
Gurudev's words of wisdom on Charity: "Charity is an attempt wherein I try to expand and bring into the ambit of my life all others around me and grow to consider other man's needs and requirements as important as my own personal needs"
We watched a video on
Story of golden Mangoose and discussed Charity done by Brahmin Vs Charity done by Yudhishtra
Link to the story:
Be generous in charity
Story of the currency bills:
Once $100, $50, $20 and $1 were talking about their trips.
$100 bill said that it went to the casinos. $50 bill shared that it went to five star hotels. $20 was at the groceries and $1 went to church alone.
Buddhi is "The Missile of understanding"
Enemies in the front can be destroyed with astra. Enemies within like vices can be destroyed with weapons of dispassion. But enemies which seem far away (not perceived)- Vasanas can be destroyed only when we understand what is dharma and what is the difference between Self and not-Self.
Gather pebbles story: Few travelers in an expectation to find treasure and experience miracles set out on a journey to the Himalayas. A brilliant light advised them to collect as many pebbles as possible in their journey. Upon reaching the destination it was said that they would be both happy and unhappy. They continued their journey in disappointment. Next evening when they looked into the bags, they discovered that each pebble turned into gold. They were happy about this but were sad that they collected only a few. In life we should collect as many pebbles of wisdom from saints and sages, parents and well wishers as possible. Such pebbles make our missiles of understanding in life. They show us the goal and purpose in life.
The Bow of Self-Knowledge:
All negative tendencies such as passion, desire, anger, greed and attachment are due to ignorance of Self. The bow of Self-realization will destroy all these.
Class was asked how far away can they remember their childhood? Some answered that they could go back to two years of age!!
When I am standing on the road side I can observe all the vehicles going past me. If I am in the vehicle, I will not be able to know this. If I am noticing all changes in my life, there is a presence of a changeless factor in me.
Always be contemplating on that changeless factor. Once you associate with change, it will bring sorrow when you have to let go of it.
What is that we assumed as Self:
Story from Chinmaya Udgosh:
Moon village had no mirrors. When Ramesh accidentally finds a mirror he mistakes his reflection to the image of his dead father. His wife Bhargavi, curious of her husband's secret love with the mirror, mistakes her reflection to an image of a mistress. When she complains this to her mother-in-law Gayatri, she is perplexed to see an old woman image. Gayatri seeks her Guru's help to resolve the issue. The Guru patiently asks all the three to look into the mirror at once. Then they understand that what they thought was real was not.
We have also assumed that which we are not. We are much more than what we think we are!
Pranams
