Hari Om Parents!
Happy New year to all!
After our small chit-chat with kids, we started the class with 3 OMs followed by the opening prayer "Sahanavatu", Ganesha, Saraswati and Guru shlokas.
Then We moved to chant the Gītā dhyānam shlokas and completed till verse 8.
To recap Mahabharata events and characters, we played a Jeopardy game dividing the class to 2 teams. Kids enjoyed it especially when each team's score was close to another one.
As a Yaksa Prasna lesson continued, we learned the different character values that each human should possess to bring themselves closer to the path of dharma. We did that by playing a Kahoot game with Q&A.
Kids scored correct for the majority of the questions except 2. One was about :
What is the highest dharma? - Non-Injury
Kids couldn't easily comprehend the meaning of it. We explained with day to day examples like how we can be kind even when the opposite person is arrogant & irrespectful; basically try our best to live a harmonious life everywhere. Also we talked about how Kaurava's lost the war even though Bhisma and Dronacarya were with them. Even Bhisma and Dronacarya sided with Kauravas because of their personal vows which also contributed to overall cause of the war. On the other hand Pandavas were always advised by Krishna to make sure their personal vow were interpreted such a way it does not bring destruction and have them follow the highest dharma of non-injury.
what is ego? - Ignorance of the self ( self here is the True divine nature )
Discussed about what is self and whether we can have ego to live this material life. Used the example of Tree and bark to explain how having ego to a certain level is fine to grow individually strong like a tree. Tree in its early stage has bark to protect itself to grow strong and tall, then later the bark separates and the tree lives without the bark. Like that when we are young we can have ego to show our individuality to grow strong with the right values then later once we gain the experience and knowledge we can let go off ego. also explained to them ego can be shown depending on the place and people around us. Not always even when growing.
Time to do the Gita chanting chapter 5, started with verse 12 & 13. Chanted together while a video recording of Swami Shantananda Gita chanting was played.
Spent sometime discussed about the stage play concept then after the closing prayer went to arati.
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Pranams
Abhirami
Selvi
