Class review (Section 1) 11/18/2012 and 11/11/2012

Hari Om,
   We apologize for not updating the blog for last 2 classes. This is the update for class of 11/11/2012 and 11/18/2012. As usual we started with likitha japa. The likitha japa notebooks will be placed under the idols and in the foundation of the new temple. So please take care of these notebooks.

The children finished learning the achutham kesavam bhajan. We started the Govinda Damodra Stotram. 

Please have the children practice their geeta chanting at home. They can use the geetha chanting online tool.
We have finished up to verse 7 in our class. We are very proud that some of the children have memorized a few verses. 

In the Krishna lila we told the children how Krishna destroyed Indra's ego by lifting the Govardhana hill and protecting the inhabitants of Vrindavan. We went over the Nishkam Karma, or self-less or desireless action is an action performed without any expectation of fruits or results. The opposite is Sakam Karma (Attached Involvement) or actions done with results in mind. We discussed the Karma phalam or the fruits of our actions. 

The following week we continued with the Ras Lila of Krishna.The gopis are drawn by the melodies music of  Krishna. They abandon their work and family. Krishna chides them playfully, but rewards their devotion with a night of music and dancing. We discussed how we are all instruments for Bhagwan, We play his music when he breathes life into us. 

We also discussed the following prayer. We ended the class after we tried out a few dandia steps. Hope to see you all in class December 1st.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Class Review- 4 Grade Section B - 11/18/2012 - Class Room # A108

HARI OM EVERY ONE! 

We started our session with  breathing exercise and chanting Om 3 times. We recited Sree Ganapathi Stotram Click here for the text and audio version. If your child has lost the copy that was provided in the class, please take a copy from this link and give to your child. We noticed that couple of kids are missing the sheets and had to share with their friends. 

We practiced Geeta chanting -- recited the first 5 verses. This weeks home work is to practice the Geeta verses and be prepared to the next class with the binder, notebook, pencils and crayons.

In our story time we moved on to the most  interesting Krishna Lila's  of  Kaliya Mardhanam-  The poisonous serpent Kaliya lived in lake Madu and contaminated the whole lake. All the birds and other living things in that area died because of the poisonous fumes in that area. Some gopas unknowingly went to that lake and died. Krishna jumped into the lake .. all the gopas worried and called NandBaba and Yashoda. Krishna grew large and jumped on top of the egoistic Kaliya and danced merrily. Exhausted Kaliya and his wives prayed Krishna to pardon their mistakes. Forgiving Krishna asked them to leave that place and move to an island far away.

We discussed about Kaliya -- how every one has a taint of Kaliya in them .. difference between consciousness and egoism .. how we all can fight the Kaliya in ourselves by being good  and helpful to others.  

We started a fun project , as a first step we just traced out palm on the poster board and in coming classes we are going to work more on that. 

Kids also did Likhita japa . Please encourage your child to write "Sri Krishna Saranam Mama" . We are planning to put the likhita japa books under the deities of our Vrindavan Ashram.

See you all in our next Balavihar session on Dec 1st 2012. Happy Thanks giving!

-Grade 4B teachers

Class Review- 4 Grade Section B - 11/11/2012 - Class Room # A108

HARI OM EVERY ONE! 

 Hope you and your families are safe and sound after the hurricane sandy hit our state. We were all delighted to meet after a long break. We started our class with breathing exercises, chanting Om 3 times and morning prayers.    We discussed about hurricane Sandy .. how hurricanes are caused, effects , safety rules, etc. We reviewed last week's home work. Please do remind your children to do their home work. We are giving simple home work which should not take more than 10 mins . As we are learning about Krishna and his virtues, most of the home work will be geared towards the virtues of Krishna like, forgiveness, kindness, sharing etc. So it shouldn't be too hard for kids to do.  Doing home work helps kids to remember what was taught so please ask them what was taught in the class and if they have any home work.

We recited Sree Ganapathi stotram. Most of the kids got the hang of reciting the stotram and we are going to continue practicing this in every session. Click here for the text and audio version.

In our story time we moved on to other interesting Krishna Lila's  of Aghasura Death --Agha the Python laid in the path of gopas to kill Krishna. Gopas unknowingly walked into his mouth and Krishna made Aghasura choke and die by growing big in his mouth . 

We also learnt about Brahmaji's maha Bhanga-- Brahmaji tries to trick Krishna and took all gopas and cows away into a cave. Krishna with his Maya created look - a -likes of Gopas and cows and took them home to Vrindavan. No one including parents of gopas realized this maya.  Ashamed Brahmaji apologized to Sri Krishna and released the gopas , cows.  We talked about the humility and humbleness of Krishna for not showing off but making Brahmaji realize his mistake. This weeks's home work is to write a sentence about how you or some one you know are humble or showed humility.

We also heard about the tale of silly turtle which lost it's life by trying to show off when his friends "the two cranes" were carrying him to a pond.

We went over the great qualities of Krishna which made darling of all and discussed how we can be nice to others and be every one's darling. This week's home work is to write a sentence about "Why you are loved by others".

The last story of this session was the death of Dhenukasura  - the asura in the form of donkey, how Balarama and Krishna killed him when he harmed them when they tried to get tala-fruits. Thus Kansa's evil plans have failed again.

We ended our session with Aarthi and Pledge.

See you all in our next Balavihar session on 18th.

-Grade 4B teachers