Hari Om Parents
- This past Sunday we started with our regular prayers followed by Chapter 12 shlokas
- We played an Icebreaker game of passing the ball and calling out the names of the person that you are throwing the ball to. We now know names of all the students in our class.
- We reviewed Chapter 3 - Sins of the mind.
- We had a quick activity of scribing, so kids can experience the power of Lord Ganesha who was chosen by Sage Vyasa as a scribe to record the epic. To be a scribe, one must be alert, should possess concentration, and must write accurately with speed.
- We moved on to Chapters 4 and 5 where we introduced the Story of Mahabharata. Most of the kids knew the story as if it was fresh in their minds. The purpose of repeating the stories of Mahabharata is more to understand the essence of each of the stories as each of them imparts lesson to lead a meaningful life
- We covered the story of Shantanu, his intense desire to marry Ganga and his his impulsive agreement to her condition that he would never question her actions. The dire consequences of his decision led way to losing his 7 sons and his wife.
- Lessons learnt from this story
- Think before you act
- Do not succumb to desire, lust
- Do not agree on things without knowing all the facts
- Lessons learnt from this story
- Birth of Devavrata and how he earned the name Bhishma (the one with the terrible vow)
- Shantanu does not learn from his mistakes and gives into desire again to marry Satyavati. The effect is the fall of the Hastinapura
- Bhishma's love for his father resulted in him receiving the boon of Iccha Mrityu. One must serve parents because it always brings good to the person.
- We learnt about the ancestry of the pandavas and kauravas.
- The birth of the blind Dhritharastra and Pandu's curse to not be able to bear children by natural means
- Gandhari, Wife of Dhritharastra willingly bandaged her eyes, as she did not wish to enjoy what her husband could not. An idealistic emotional vow which if not taken would have helped in providing some direction to the decisions made by her husband.
- The couple supported the wrong doings of their children because of their love without discretion. All their children lived by adharma and ultimately died in the war. We cannot be carried away by emotions and blind love because they will eventually bring in disaster
- Kauravas forgot the laws of kharma and gave into jealousy, competition and performed wrong actions. Result is complete destruction and failure.
- Kunti wanted to test her boon given by Sage Durvasa. With that she bore a child who she had to give up, and harbor that secret which haunted her all her life until to the point that she had to admit. You must not be afraid of our mistakes. It makes it easier on us if we confess our wrong doings.
Your kids also must have received their house assignments. Please discuss with them
Please send in printouts of chapter 12 shlokas with your kids for next class.
Thank You
Hari Om
Harish ji and Sapna ji
