October 13th, class review (Nirmala and Lakshmi)

Hari Om,
       Since it was Vijaya Dasami, we started the class with Saraswathi Namasthubyam. We continued learning the achutham kesavam bhajan. A lot of tongue twisters, please help the children learn this important prayer.  Some of the new prayer books do not have this bhajan. The following link make help you

http://bhajanlyrics.com/?p=54

Aunty taught us verse 1, 2 & 3 of geeta chapter 14. Please ask the children to practice using the the geeta chanting.net website.

We are introduced wives of the rishies peforming yagna, one of the most devoted followers of Krishna. We learn of how they are willing to leave their husband and stay with Krishna. We learn of the taming of  Kalia the hundred headed snake, polluting the waters of Lake Madu.

We talked about how our actions will have consequences or results. Our actions are called karma and the results or consequences are called karmaphalan. Karma can be selfless or with out concern for results. This sort of karma is nishkama karma.  Selfish Karma is called sakama karma. By laws of nature, an orange seed will only get orange fruit not an apple. In the same way what we sow, we shall reap.

Homework for the week was to practice service and sharing like the rises wives or the trees. The children also need to reflect on their actions and words.

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.