Hari Om Parents,
• Welcome back to Balavihar 2021-22!!! With Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji and Swami Shantanandaji's blessing we are starting a new academic year here in Bala vihar. We are very happy to have your children in our class and will do our best to engage them in class.
• This year we will be covering topic "Yato Dharmah, Tato Jayah" and also discussing certain topics from of "Symbolism in Hinduism".
• We will be learning to chant verses of Chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita Verses 39 - 72 throughout the year using Swamiji's videos. We will also be learning together Tapovan Shatakam, Geeta Dhayana slokam, Aavo Gurudev bhajan, Vaishnava Jan Tho bhajan.
• Today we spent time letting each student introduce themselves, what their interests and hobbie etc. They all seem to be happy to be back to school in person!
• Ice breaker – we played a Kahoot quiz game – questions based on Mahabharata – to get them spiced for the classes to come. We also briefly talked about Sage Valmiki, Sage Veda Vyasa and our 18 puranas. How Mahabharata was written and how Ganeshji was the scribe for it.
• We also recapped some aspects of Ramayana that they studies last year.
• Our syllabus this year:
Road Map to Success in Life - Yato Dharma – Tato Jayah
What is Karma?
♦ Sins to be given up by the body, mind, and speech
♦ The story of the Mahabharata and characteristics of the main characters
♦ Morals through thought provoking questions/answers of Yakça Prashna
♦ What is Dharma?
♦ How to live by Dharma to succeed in the world
♦ Sanatana Dharma values as given by Manu Bhagavan
♦ The facts of life and the roadmap to success
♦ How to be the darling of Krishna by living the values given in Chapter XII (Verses 12 to 19) of the Bhagavad Gíta
♦ The bhajana and meaning of Vaiçãavajana
Approach to Road Map to Success in Life
• 1. Avoid Sins (Lessons 1 to 3)
• 2. Perform Right Actions (Lessons 4 to 40)
Mahabharata (Lessons 4 to 14)
Dharma (Lessons 15 to 19)
The Goal (Lessons 20 to 26)
The Secret (Lessons 27 to 40)
• This year our time to do monthly cultural program is in Jan, 2022 and we are allocated to do annadanam in Nov 2021 – more information about these programs will be forth coming as we get closer to the dates.
We look forward to an exciting and meaningful learning time with your children during this year in Balavihar. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any issues or questions regarding Balavihar class. We will communicate with you all via email and whattsapp throughout the year.
Pranams,
Mekhala Girish
604-651-3628(c)
Devender Akula
856-237-5646 (c)