Beginning Prayers:
- 'om' chanting - 3 times
- meditation
- shuklaambaradharam, saraswati namastubhyam, gururbrahma
gitaa chanting:
- 13th adhyaaya 1- 2 shlokas
hanumaan shlokas/bhajans:
- buddhirbalam
- hanumaan chaalIsa 1-6 chaupas
- hanumaan bhajan
Brain Storming:
- Difference between physical and mental strength
Story time:
- bhIma and hanumaan's tail
- Gandhi-ji and cheating
- Swami Chinmayanandaji
Activity:
- None
Ending Prayers:
- sarvebhavantu sukhinaH
- pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam
- aarati and pledge
Comments:
Rashmi Aunty and Prajna didi:
Welcome new-comers, to our class. Our class is still very young, but our youngsters are already grooving along very well! They know our routine well and tell us the order of things we follow in class already!
After our beginning prayers and chanting, we went on to learn about the next aspect of hanumaan in the verse 'buddhirbalam...'. We have already learnt 'buddhi = intellect'. Today we learnt about 'balam = strength'. To illustrate that, we heard a couple of stories. First was about bhIma and hanumaan, where bhIma became arrogant about his physical strength and lost his mental humility and focus. That deterred his mental strength as well. But he became humble in front of hanumaan and regained his strength. This showed us mental strength is equally important as physical strength. Then, we heard the story of Gandhi-ji where he refused to cheat in an exam. This showed us that, even if one is not physically strong, his mental strength can prove greater sometimes! Ofcourse, praying to hanumaan gives us both these strengths!!
We went on to learn about the next word of the verse 'yashas = fame'. To understand that, we heard the biography of our beloved Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda-ji. We learnt about how he went as Balakrishna Menon, a journalist and became so engrossed with the teaching the guru-s were giving. He then became Swami Chinmayananda-ji as we know him and he became famous due to spreading the spiritual knowledge among the masses.
We then finished with the ending prayers. Parents, please encourage the children to practice the gItaa chanting we have been learning, as well as the other prayers.
After our beginning prayers and chanting, we went on to learn about the next aspect of hanumaan in the verse 'buddhirbalam...'. We have already learnt 'buddhi = intellect'. Today we learnt about 'balam = strength'. To illustrate that, we heard a couple of stories. First was about bhIma and hanumaan, where bhIma became arrogant about his physical strength and lost his mental humility and focus. That deterred his mental strength as well. But he became humble in front of hanumaan and regained his strength. This showed us mental strength is equally important as physical strength. Then, we heard the story of Gandhi-ji where he refused to cheat in an exam. This showed us that, even if one is not physically strong, his mental strength can prove greater sometimes! Ofcourse, praying to hanumaan gives us both these strengths!!
We went on to learn about the next word of the verse 'yashas = fame'. To understand that, we heard the biography of our beloved Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda-ji. We learnt about how he went as Balakrishna Menon, a journalist and became so engrossed with the teaching the guru-s were giving. He then became Swami Chinmayananda-ji as we know him and he became famous due to spreading the spiritual knowledge among the masses.
We then finished with the ending prayers. Parents, please encourage the children to practice the gItaa chanting we have been learning, as well as the other prayers.
See you all soon.
________________________________________________
Madhuri Aunty and Shilpa Aunty:
Likitha japa: started the class with ' sriram jayaram' likitha japa.
Starting prayers:
Sahana vavathu
Saraswathy namasthubyam
Guru brahma
Vakrathuda
Classroom: we have quite a few new comers! and welcome all!.
Dhyana sloka was chanted few times. A recap of the invisible back bone qualities and the story discussion of first quality buddih was done for all the new kids.
We discussed about the second quality of the invisible backbone 'balam'. How food, exercises and a healthy living can give us visible balam and what are the ways to achieve invisible balam.
The story of Bhima's first encounter with Hanuman and how hanuman taught Bhima 's pride was his weakness and his real strength ( balam) is he has to be humble so that he could be more stronger was narrated to the kids.
We then chanted the maha mruthyunjaya mantra for children celebrating their birthday that week praying for their longer and healthy life.
Also revised the Doha and first 6 chaupais in hanuman chalisa since there were new kids in the class this week.
Special thanks to Mira aunty who also helped us in the classroom and also chanted the first 2 verses in bhgavad Gita.
The class came to an end with the ending prayers.
Lots of enthusiasm amongst kids. They love listening to stories and also participate in discussions.
Reminders:
Note book, pencil/pen, color markers, my prayers book, super hanuman book, balavihar handbook, Gita chanting printout. - All of these must be brought to every balavihar session.
We kindly request the parents to drop off kids by 10:00am. Other kids easily get distracted during likitha japa or meditation when other kids walk in late. Parents, please bring kids on time.
Will see you all next week.
Starting prayers:
Sahana vavathu
Saraswathy namasthubyam
Guru brahma
Vakrathuda
Classroom: we have quite a few new comers! and welcome all!.
Dhyana sloka was chanted few times. A recap of the invisible back bone qualities and the story discussion of first quality buddih was done for all the new kids.
We discussed about the second quality of the invisible backbone 'balam'. How food, exercises and a healthy living can give us visible balam and what are the ways to achieve invisible balam.
The story of Bhima's first encounter with Hanuman and how hanuman taught Bhima 's pride was his weakness and his real strength ( balam) is he has to be humble so that he could be more stronger was narrated to the kids.
We then chanted the maha mruthyunjaya mantra for children celebrating their birthday that week praying for their longer and healthy life.
Also revised the Doha and first 6 chaupais in hanuman chalisa since there were new kids in the class this week.
Special thanks to Mira aunty who also helped us in the classroom and also chanted the first 2 verses in bhgavad Gita.
The class came to an end with the ending prayers.
Lots of enthusiasm amongst kids. They love listening to stories and also participate in discussions.
Reminders:
Note book, pencil/pen, color markers, my prayers book, super hanuman book, balavihar handbook, Gita chanting printout. - All of these must be brought to every balavihar session.
We kindly request the parents to drop off kids by 10:00am. Other kids easily get distracted during likitha japa or meditation when other kids walk in late. Parents, please bring kids on time.
Will see you all next week.
