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Children are not vessels to be filled but lamps to be lit.
- Swami Chinmayananda
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Mar 6, 2022 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Harih Om Parents,

Following was discussed/taught to the children during Bala vihar class on March 6, 2022.

1.Initial prayers.

2.Verses 64, 65 and 66 of Bhagavad Geeta chapter 2 were taught: please have your children practice at home.

The following children chanted a verse each from Bhagavad Geeta: Satvik, Anwita, Yashvi, Venkat, Srividhya and Shreya.

3. Since we know that your goal is liberation from this birth/death cycle, we need to create a roadmap or plan to achieve it. For instance, if we are planning to drive to Orlando on a family vacation, we need to set up the global positioning system in our phone or car to the correct destination and address. If instead, we forget our phone/navigation system at home and we think we know the route and are enjoying the journey, a stage will come when we realize that the destination is nowhere in sight! Although, we may have put forth the effort/work to reach the destination, we realize that in time we do not have complete knowledge of the right path to reach our destination. Similarly in spiritual journey we must utilize a special GPS – Guru Positioning System – the teaching of Guru and scriptures will guide us in our life to reach the ultimate destination – liberation or moksha. So before we map out our destination, we must turn to our scriptures and learn the right path and follow it with faith.

4. Brahmacharya, Ahimsa and Satyam are the three cornerstones upon which the foundation of Hinduism is built. Whenever these values are followed there will be peace and serenity within the individual, family and society. These three disciples should be followed at all stages of life – in order for us to progress towards our ultimate goal of liberation. We have three instruments: Body, mind and intellect. The discipline of Brahmacharya is for the body, the discipline of Ahimsa for the mind and the discipline of Satyam for the Intellect.

5. In order to follow the road map successfully we need to change our habits. How do we do that?

Watch your thoughts – they become your words

Watch your words – they become your actions

Watch your actions – they become your habit

Watch your habits – they become your character

Watch your character – for it defines your destiny

 

Hence it all starts from controlling and being aware of our thoughts, we should not dwell upon bad, negative or wrong thoughts – this benign looking activity can cascade down and cause major problems in future. We must detach our mind from lower/inferior thoughts and attach it to higher/divine thoughts. Having a higher and nobler ideal will enable this process.

7. Once habits are formed it is difficult to change as seen below

 

You work on a habit                                      HABIT

A-bit remains                                                 ABIT

Work some more--bit remains                       BIT

Work some more--it remains                         IT

 

8. Luckily, we are endowed with great mental strength and intellectual discrimination, which will enable us to overcome our negative habits. Don't delay – 'now' is the precious time to start to change.

 

6. The discipline of Brahmacharya is for the body: To achieve anything meaningful in life disciple is required. If we consider an athlete training for the Olympics, that person has to go through a strict regimen prescribed by his/her coach: healthy diet, adequate sleep, refrain from drinking smoking etc. It is understood by the athlete that any excesses lead to a weak body and a weak mind. These excesses will prevent the athlete from having the absolute focus and concentration required for the level of excellence demanded in an Olympic sport. Similarly, our Rishis advise us to conserve our energy and not fritter it away on external dramas, temptations and situations.

7. Brahmacharya begins at body level - is achieved by controlling our sense organs. Brahmacharya is the method of living with self-control with regards to all our sense organs. But this does not mean that we should not enjoy what the world has to offer. Enjoy what the world has, but with restraint - enjoy the world, but let not world enjoy you!

8. Overindulgence is a malady of modern times – too much TV, social media, smart phone use, games, ads – our senses are constantly bombarded. If don't have control, forget about progress in spiritual path, even in this material world we suffer. Is it not an irony that today – obesity is becoming one of the most common health problems in western world.

9. Only when we have at least some degree of control over our senses, that we can conserve some energy. This energy when applied in right action with right attitude, success is sure to come. Hence brahmacharya, or self-control is very important to achieve any success in both material and spiritual fields.

Pranam,

Mekhala Girish
Devender Akula