Oct 3, 2021 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Dear Parents,

Hari Om!

The following material was taught to your child on Sunday, October 3, 2021 Bala Vihar class.

We began class with opening prayers. We request you to make sure that your child joins the zoom session for Balavihar on time, with webcam enabled and with Bala Vihar 2021-22 handbook 

Geeta Dhyanam: The first and second verses of Geeta Dhyanam were taught to the children. Since some children find it difficult to pronounce words, we urged them to listen to the tune and follow the words on paper.

To be victorious, we must know how to act (karma) and how to live by Dharma.

Law of Karma was discussed:

a.       Every action/karma has a result (Karmaphala)

b.      Performer of the action alone gets the result

c.       Result of karma will come at right time - at the right time flowers bloom and fruits emerge. In the same way, the result of an action (karma) comes at the right time

d.       Result may be immediate or may take several decades, or several lifetimes to fructify. We had a good discussion with the kids about karma and karmaphala. They can shape their destiny with their own hands. "What you get in life is because of actions that you have previously performed. If you do not follow your Dharma and perform wrong actions, you only will get negative consequences later on."

e.       Yatha Dhenu Sahashtreshu Vatso Vindati Maataram
Tathaa Poorva Kratam Karma Kartaar-manugachhati

यथा धेनु सहस्त्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् ।
तथा पूर्वकृतं कर्मं कर्तारमनुगच्छति ।।

Just as a calf can find it's mother in a herd of thousands of cows (Dhenu), Your Karmas follows you in every birth you take. But it also means that one's deeds decide one's karmas. Whatever we do, doesn't go un-noticed good or bad.

 

Dharma - To do good to others is righteousness, Dharma, and to harm anyone is sinful.

We introduced the 'Dunkin Donut' concept to the children so they can remember about dharma as noted below – so every time they see 'Dunkin Donuts' – they should think doing duties with devotion is dharma. Right now for them they need to do their duties as a student; as a son/daughter to the best they can. We will expand on this concept in coming classes.

One of the questions Yudhisthira asked Bhisma Pitamaha was, "If one wants to have a good life, what should one do? What kind of actions one should avoid?" Bhisma replies - one must give up ten karmas: three of body, four of speech and three of the mind.

Sins committed by the body are:

To kill someone – we are not so gross that we will kill someone, but it also means not to hurt / kill any living being unnecessarily

To steal – again we hopefully are not that gross to steal any one's property / money – but it also means not to waste any resources. We should use only what we need - not waste water, electricity, food etc which can be useful to someone else.

To have an illicit-relation – avoid bad people, be in company of good

 The sins committed by speech (vaca) are:

            To say bad words

            To say harsh words

            To lie

            To complain or spread rumors about someone to look good or gain a point or favor

We indulge in these kinds of activities due to our own inner frustrations, jealousies, anger, so we gain favor or look good in someone's eyes. When we are in good mood we don't say any bad words!

 Sins committed by the mind are:

To think of taking away someone else's wealth; To have ill-feeling for anyone – they are born out of greed, jealousy, unhealthy competition..

To not have faith in the Law of Action

 Result of an action is always according to the action done. The attitude kept while performing the action is the most important aspect. Good actions (righteous actions) mean good results, a happy life. Bad actions (sins) mean bad results, an unhappy life.

One way to overcome these 10 bad karmas is to develop awareness for our duties and to fulfill them to the best of our ability and with determination. By praying to God, we ask Him to make us aware of our responsibilities. Only when we become aware of our wrong actions/ thoughts, feel bad and ask for His forgiveness, then alone, with the blessings of Bhagavan, we will change. If we accomplish something good or are successful in an art or subject we need to be thankful to Him. By thanking the Lord, one avoids ownership of the deed and "success". In this way, one avoids developing too much ego.

During this year we will make children examine their behavior, actions, thoughts and introspect and hopefully bring about positive behavioral changes.

  

Pranam,

Mekhala Girish

 Devender Akula