January 27th Class

Beginning Prayers:

• 'om' chanting - 3 times
• meditation
• shuklaambaradharam, saraswati namastubhyam, gururbrahma

gitaa chanting:

• 13th adhyaaya 1- 11 shlokas

hanumaan shlokas/bhajans:

• buddhirbalam
• hanumaan chaalIsa 1- 18 chaupas

Brain Storming:

• why is hanumaan the lifesaver of lakShmaNa
•  why raama loved hanumaan like a brother
• how does one become glorious
• why is raama indebted to hanumaan

Story time:

• lakShmaNa's revival - sanjeevinI mountain
• hanumaan is like bharata to raama 
• Finding faults is easier than praising others :(
• 1000 mouths of aadishesha not enough to sing hanumaan's praises
• Man's greatness lies in his efforts

Activity:

• Ready, set, go - Game
• Practice praising - Saying one nice thing to the person sitting closest!
• PS check

Ending Prayers:

• sarvebhavantu sukhinaH
• pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam
• aarati and pledge

Comments:

Rashmi Aunty and Prajna didi:

The gItaa chanting and hanumaan chaalIsa are coming along nicely.  For those of you interested in extra help with the gItaa chanting, there are gItaa chanting classes happening at the ashram on Thursdays between 8 pm and 9 pm (Rashmi Aunty).  Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

In our stories segment today, we saw how hanumaan was very alert and his timely thinking saved lakShmaNa's life.  This made raama very happy and indebted to hanumaan forever.  He even said to hanumaan that He was like a brother to Him, as dear as bharata too.  To be like hanumaan, ever ready to go on a mission for raama, we played a fun game - Ready, set, go.  We tried to trick the children giving complicated directions, but then... we could not succeed even once :).

To sing the glories of hanumaan, even aadishesha's 1000 mouths fall short!  Such are His qualities.  We heard a story about how people find it very easy to speak of others' faults whereas, look for words if they have to praise others!  But then, it is good things one is identified for that makes people happier and the world a better place to live!  We then practiced saying nice things to the children sitting next to each other.  

We then listened to the story regarding the importance of one's own efforts.  When a magic genie appeared, the boys wanted the genie to do their homework, clean their rooms for them, do their chores, etc.  But one smart boy wished that the genie should disappear before granting anyone's wishes!  He explained that he wanted so, because - 'A man's greatness lies in HIS OWN EFFORTS'.  He said that there would be nothing great or fun in their own lives, without putting in their own efforts.  Then all the boys agreed and were happy about his wish!

We have spoken to the children about the likhita japa.  We all have a unique opportunity this year!  Since our ashram and temple are being built, we call can contribute our share.  We can write likhita japa in composition notebooks, exclusively, on regular basis.  At the end of the year, the children can bring in their books.  The books shall be kept under the respective deity idols before they are installed.  The naama smaraNam shall remain there forever!  Please encourage your children to do this regularly.  Do ask them for more details about this sacred work.

See you all soon.

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Madhuri Aunty and Shilpa Aunty:

Hari Om