October 1, 2017

Hari Om, Parents

Navarathri/ Dusshera Greetings! Hope you all had a good one!

Last two classes we continued our quest to learn the keys to success. We learnt that the secrets to success are Hard Work, Knowledge and the capacity to laugh, and heard a few stories and anecdotes to drive home the point. Reaching the destination is success. Our destination is to be happy in life. Scriptures teach us how we can be happy in life. We gain knowledge through our five sense organs - ears, eyes, nose, tongue, and touch. But each of our sense organ has its own limitation. For example, with naked eyes, we may not be able to see everything clearly, so we might need appropriate eye wear or magnifying glasses. Knowledge we get in the world depends upon the caliber of our instrument. We have three instruments - our body (with five sense organs), our mind and our intellect that help us in gaining any knowledge of the world. If we sharpen our instrument, we can do what is the right thing and always gain happy results. 

We also learnt about the mechanics of the mind. Mind is a flow of thoughts, As the mind so is the individual. If the mind is disturbed, the individual is disturbed. If the mind is good, the individual is good. For the purposes of our study and understanding, human mind can be considered to have two sides - one facing the world of stimuli/objects known as objective mind, and the inner mind that faces the subject within, Om, the Lord, and that reacts to the stimuli known as the subjective mind. That individual is whole, healthy and happy in whom the objective and subjective aspects of the mind work in unison,  but unfortunately for majority, these two aspects are split, due to pre-existing Vasanas or sub-conscious conditioning or inclinations or pre-dispositions. To bring the subjective and the objective aspects of the mind together is the way to be happy. Tuning our mind and intellect means refining our thoughts. Refining thoughts lead to living by noble values that are prescribed in our scriptures to be successful.

Also learnt the difference between the fact and the behavior. When the mind is quiet, when the mind and the intellect are tuned, sharpened, there are no more agitations which keep us away from the Lord within, We feel bliss, happy. We learnt this through a story of an art collector business man who looked for a famous painting all over the world only to find it right in one of his warehouses. We also demonstrated that unagitated mind throws its own light of joy, in the absence of sorrow, greed etc., through a simple torch light experiment. We also made a Boomerang to show 'What goes around comes around'. Please ask them all about the fun experiments we did in the class.

Balavihar Fest: You should have received an email on Balavihar Fest. If not, please let us know. Please mark your calendar and attend the 'Picnic and classes' in an open setting, starting 1230pm on Sunday Oct 8, 2017. Please note that there is no class in the morning,  This picnic is for all the family members, not just the kids. Please come with all the family members and have a fun afternoon mingling with other Balavihar families.

Date: Sunday, October 8, 2017
Time:  12:30 - 5:00 pm (no lunch, picnic snacks at 3:00 pm)
Place: Pavilion Grove Picnic Area, Duke Island Park,
Old York Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. 

Reminders:

• Please ensure that your child carries a note book, and a folder with Pens/Pencils, along with Slokathon, and 'Values in Bhagavad Gita' Manual.  Taking notes during the class is highly encouraged.
• Homework: 
• Children are asked to read the first two lessons, (Amaanitvam and Adambhitvam) and attempt the questions.  First lesson on Amanitvam was covered yesterday.
• Similar to what we did last year, we will do '5 take aways' from each class - due the next class beginning. This is especially important as we are learning new words, concepts etc.,
• As an assignment after the boomerang experiment in the class, children agreed to smile at everybody, and come report on their observations. Please remind them about it

Hope to see all of you with all of your family at the Balavihar Fest on 8th Oct at the Park,