Apr 14, 2024 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,

 We started with an opening prayer. This week we celebrated various Indian regional New year, we discussed that and shared how it was celebrated at their home. Some kids shared they had  "Pachadi" and expressed how they felt after eating. It's a South Indian dish made of sweet, salt, sour, bitter, tangy and piquant ingredients to showcase the various experiences we go through in life and pick the good from it.

       We talked about another significance of the regional new year. It's the start of the harvest season in India - where we start plowing and seeding crops for the upcoming harvest. 

       This week we discussed "Duty vs Rights" to highlight how it brings harmony in the community if everyone/majority follows their duties. Kids came up with their examples to articulate the difference between duty vs rights. Also Discussed about Swami Chinmayananda's quote "Hinduism is built upon duties and not rights"

       Following that Discussed about the 4 stages of life( Brahmacharya, Grihasta, Vanaprastha, Sanyasa) again to highlight the duties of each stage and each one/ especially "Grihasta" serves by supporting all the other stages of life. 

    Also we discussed the dharma cakra concept of how Sanatana dharma values act as a spokes in life to strengthen who we are. 

    A small story of Devas & Asuras get together where they were challenged to eat with a right hand only which was tied with a straight stick. How Asuras are without harmony; however Devas fed each other harmoniously to eat even though their hands were not bendable. Kids were laughing and enjoyed the story. 

      We quickly touch base on the class play write up as where we stand and make sure kids complete the write up by the next class. 

       It was time for Geeta chanting, so all of us focused on chanting. After closing prayer we went to the temple. 

Follow the updates in 2023-24 Chinmaya parents portal - https://cmnjparentportal23-24.blogspot.com/search/label/Gr%208%20-%20Sunday%20AM 

Pranams
Selvi
Partha 

Mar 24, 2024 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,

       We started with an opening prayer and went on discussing spring break plans. Only a few kids showed up due to spring break.

         This week we covered the 2nd set of Yaksa Prasna Q & A using Kahoot game. It was a productive class with good discussion on Yaksa's questions about Ego, Greed, Anger, Friendship, Contentment, Self Discipline, detachment and etc with examples of character from Itihasa and Swami Chinmayananada quotes.

       Also discussed about handling our day to day life by constant practice, reflection and effort to correct ourselves which will help us in the long run to be out of such lower natures. 

       We also discussed, what is detachment? And what does it mean in each phase of life?  We can practice detachment by attaching ourselves to high natures within ourselves and god instead of lower nature.

       It was time for Geeta chanting, so all of us focused on chanting. After closing prayer we went to arati. 

Follow the updates in 2023-24 Chinmaya parents portal - https://cmnjparentportal23-24.blogspot.com/search/label/Gr%208%20-%20Sunday%20AM 

Pranams
Selvi
Partha 

Mar 17, 2024 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,

    We had one of the kid to lead the opening prayer. Last two weeks we have spent more time to discuss on our upcoming class play ( May 19th) and kids have come up with a high level theme and certain details.

Following that we played a Kahoot game with set of questions from "Yaksa Prasna".

It was time for Geeta chanting, so all of us focused on chanting. After closing prayer we went to arati. 

Follow the updates in 2023-24 Chinmaya parents portal -

https://cmnjparentportal23-24.blogspot.com/search/label/Gr%208%20-%20Sunday%20AM

Pranams
Selvi
Partha 

Feb 11, 2024 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents, 

    We had one of the kid to lead the opening prayer. Since it was a superbowl Sunday, we had a brief discussion on the finalist football teams and moved on to discuss one of the game from NY Times called "Connections" - Group words using a common thread between them. 

https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections

   Using post-it we depicted the game. We randomly placed the Mahabharata characters and traits in 4x4 on the white board ( teachers came prepared with what words & groups).

  The class was divided into 3 teams to play it. Each team took turns to solve one group of words and explained the rationale as to why those characters belonged to that group.

   Two groups were created in such a way where the kids needed a deep understanding of the characters. 

     Below are the words that were used to play. ( this was the final grouping). 

     It was a fun and little tensed moment for some of them as they were given the time limit to solve.

Next we moved to discuss with the same 3 teams taking turns to share their understanding of what is Dharma? based on so far what we learned. Continued on discussing more on Dharma and Sanatana Dharma

• We discussed about the Dharma from "An Exposition by Swami Chinmayananda"Essential character that is in every single object and living being because of which the object/ living being continues to be that, without which the object/living being cannot continue to be that thing, is it's Dharma. 

• Used the below items to discuss what each one's essential nature.

1. Sugar 2) Salt

• discussed the man's essential Dharma is to be divine; the Atma. By living Dharmic way in every stage of life would make every individual unfold to attain the divinity within them.

• discussed how adharmic character like Ravana from Ramayanam and Hiranyakasipu from Bhagavatam ended with death even though they were powerful through penance and rituals due to their arrogance.

• Discussed whether Dharma is/ should be followed by only Hindus/Indian origin? Some Kids  answered as No and said it's universal.so we discussed how it's applicable in all yugas. 

It was time for Geeta chanting, so all of us focused to chant and went to watch 9th grade play.

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Class summary by  Parth Deshmukh(from 4th Feb 2024). Since 4th Feb class summary was sent already, adding here.

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• We got into groups that we formed last class to play a game about  scenes from Mahabharata and who and what the characters did.

Each scene was from the preparation of the war and how each side of the war the Pandavas and Kurvas.  

• The first scene was when Arjuna and Duryudna both went to Krishna, however Duryodhana made it first by standing next to his head while he was resting. When Arjuna comes he stands near Krishna's. When Krishna wakes up he sees Arjuna first granting him the first wish for who will join their side of the war, himself, but he won't fight or wield any weapon or the Narayani Sena(his army). Arjuna picks Lord Krishna, and Duryodhana picks his army which he wanted from the start.  

• Another scene was when Duryodhan tricks Nakula and Sahadeva's uncle (Shalya) by honor bounding him to serve Duryodhan as he gives Shalya hospitality without knowing the opposite side was treating him.

•    I feel that Duryodhan was cheap for tricking Shalya, I feel this because he already had many people in his army, including many of the strongest and most known people, for example Bhishma. He did not have to trick Shalya to join their army. 

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Pranams
Selvi
Partha

Feb 4, 2024 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,

After the opening prayer, when we followed up with the kids on who still not having Mahabharata book, numbers went down. That's a good sign. We have highlighted  the importance of reading Mahabharata stories and internalizing the character behaviors, moral involved and dharma aspects. 

Next we moved on with the same 3 groups to continue our discussions on the next set of events - Taking counsel, Arjuna's charioteer, Salya against his nephews, Krishna's Mission to Hastinapura, Kunti & Karna's meet and Karna's non co-operation. 

The above incidents related pictures in Mahabharata were shown for a short time through a powerpoint presentation. Following that we asked each group to take turns to summarize the event. We highlighted significance of the events and learning aspect from it for us. 

Example: 1

Arjuna's charioteer event - How Arjuna asked only Krishna to be with Pandavs not the Yadha's army. By doing Arjuna choose the divine power over man power which led him to listen the great Bhagavad Gita.

Example 2:

Krishna's mission to Hastinapura - how evil minded Duryodhana couldn't understand the divine Krishna's nature and treated him of less and tried to seize Krishna.

We also started with Yaksa Prasna and had kids to answer as they interpreted the Yaksa's questions and we added details as needed.

Overall we had a very engaging discussions. Please encourage them to continue to read Mahabharata and participate in the class. 

Follow the updates in 2023-24 Chinmaya parents portal - https://cmnjparentportal23-24.blogspot.com/search/label/Gr%208%20-%20Sunday%20AM 

Regards & Pranaams,
Selvi
Partha 

Jan 28, 2024 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents,

We have been trying to think of ways to move forward in the class to cover the portion of Virata Parva into Yudh Kanda of Mahabharata. A big proportion of the class does not have the book and is not familiar with this part of the story. We wanted all the class to internalize the story and pick Dharmic aspects from that story. 

We divided the class into 3 groups. We decided to show pictures of various incidents in Mahabharata for a short time through a powerpoint presentation. The students were expected to cross-learn the incidents in the pictures and around them within the group. The teachers then asked questions around them. This made the class interesting and students seemed to have a lot of fun. 

We covered incidents after the game of dice, the pandavas staying incognito in Virata's palace, Uttara kumara and Arjuna fighting the Kauravas. 

There were some digressions. One such was when Uttaraa, wife of Abhimanyu, was saved from Brahmastra. We asked this question - Why was her son saved? There are some crucial points of inflection in Mahabharata that standout. And inevitably Krishna is there at those incidents. This is one of those  crucial junctures. The family tree of Pandavas survives because Utaraa takes refuge in Krishna. She does not go to any other Maharathis that are there but to Krishna. This incident shows the basic theme of Mahabharata and Bhagwad Geeta. Where there is Dharama, Krishna is there. And where there is Krishna there will be victory! 

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Student summary written by Shirish. 

Balavihar Notes 1/28/2024:

• End of Sabha, Vana, and Virata Parvas

• Games of Dice and Banishment to the Forest 

• Pandavas get called to the Game of Dice and are forced to come

• Yudhisitra waged his kingdom, brothers, and wife, and lost all of them

• Duryodhana called them for a second game and they had to come, and they ended up losing and got exiled from Hastinapura for 13 years, 12 years in the forest and one year incognito

• The Pandavas went incognito in the Virata Kingdom

• Bhima was a cook

• Arjuna was a dancer

• Bhima killed Kicaka (the commander in chief of the Virata Army)

• The Kauravas attack Virata Kingdom and the Pandavas defend

• When the Kauravas attacked Virata, 4 of the 5 pandavas were fighting the army on one side, but it was only Arjuna and Uttara Kumara (Virata's son) on the side where Duryodhana and Bheeshma were attacking from

• After the Exile

• Duryodhana said that the Pandavas should go back to exile for 13 years because Duryodana saw Arjuna but Bheeshma tells him that the year was over already so they didn't have to go back

• The Pandavas revealed themselves to the Virata Kingdom

• Virata tells Arjuna that he can marry Uttara (the king's daughter), but since Arjuna taught her to dance he says she can marry his son, Abhimanyu

My Thoughts:

• The Game of Dice stood out to me because it influenced a ton of events that happened in the story. For example, if Yudhistra ended that game early, he could have kept his kingdom and never gotten invited to that second game of dice.

• Another event that stood out to me was when Bhima killed Kicaka. Why would he do this? Even though Kicaka was not being nice to Sairandhri, he shouldn't have killed him, because since he killed him, the Kauravas now got the idea to invade Virata because they knew that only someone like Bhima would kill him

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We can move faster if students read Mahabharata. We are hoping they do this by the next class. 

Follow the updates in 2023-24 Chinmaya parents portal - https://cmnjparentportal23-24.blogspot.com/search/label/Gr%208%20-%20Sunday%20AM 

Regards & Pranaams,
Selvi
Partha 

Jan 21, 2024 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents!

With Ram Mandir inauguration &  Ram Lalla's Pran Pratishtha on 22nd Jan 2024, we started the conversation on this great auspicious event to bring the knowledge of the past and why this is important for every Indian/Hindus to understand.

Discussed the below points:

1. Ayodhya history back dated 500 years. How Babri mosque was built  and subsequent struggles by Hindus to regain the place for Ram's temple until 2019 Supreme Court declared to be the site for Ram's temple based on evidence.

2. Discussed about various religious that existed or even today found in India. Next country where we can see this diversity of religions is here in US. 

3. Talked about the Ram temple significance and how Dharma is established by building the temple for the devotee of the Rama all around the world in his birthplace. Rama is a symbol of Dharma who lived his entire life doing the righteous act. He was an idle king who established dharma in every single aspect throughout his lifetime.

4. Discussed how money was raised for Ram Mandir and how much was it? Rupee 3600 crores. Kids also did a math to convert Rupee to Dollar to get the feel of the donations came to raise the Mandir.

5. Watched an animation video of the temple construction with details on site evacuation and how the build up temple area will be constructed.

6. Following that we watched the latest Ram Mandir which was ready for the inauguration with flower decorations.

7. Encouraged the kids to watch the pran pratishtha.

Reminded the kids to complete the reading on the last week assignments on parvas from Mahabharata. 

Discussed about the monthly program for our class on 19th May. We will discuss more on that in the following classes. 

The below class summary was written by Devaki

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In this week's class we learned about the new Ram temple in Ayodhya (modern Uttar Pradesh). Many people all over India are donating for the making of this new temple. Even those who have barely anything donate food and money. We also learned about the Ram idol put into the temple. They calculate when to put the idol into the mandhir by the positioning of the stars. In conclusion, from this week's class we learned all about the new temple and its strong importance.

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Pranams

Selvi

Partha

Dec 10, 2023 - Grade 8 (Sunday AM)

Hari Om Parents!

One of the kids led the opening prayer by making sure all the kids sit in the right posture and started with 3 OM, followed by Sahanavavatu. Followed by it another kid continued Saraswati Namastubhyam.

We followed up on the homework and sounded many have completed. So we have started going over two kid's homework. Kids presented their essay and followed by a class discussion on the presentation.

Essay: Yudhishtara - the Dharmic person in Mahabharata written by Ananya Gorantla

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jlYSyZBq90o2tFw9EXy9W3GnHCmM958zbaFILfAO-F8/edit

Essay:  Who is the most Dharmic character in the Mahabharata? by Riya Balaji

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12uXera72w44beOLncpYFfuNmb0Pbj2nhxDrYMOlRJmw/edit

There was a long discussion on why Draupadi was put at stake in the game of Dice. and how she handled herself. Some class discussions were around the role and intellect of Draupadi. The class is functioning well, barring a few bursts of excitement from some students. We sit in a circle, raise our hands when we want to talk and then give our opinion. Everyone in the class participated. 

Two other groups that presented today. One group talked about Arjuna. We discussed his focus, determination, and love for his family. He was born by the grace of Indra. On his birth the Devas from the skies showered flowers on him. He was considered to be the one who would destroy evil with Krishna. We discussed that he had the power to destroy enemies in thousands. He wielded very powerful Astras like Brahmastra, Pashupati and Narayana Astras. 

Another group discussed Nakula and Sahadeva. They were twins born through the grace of Ashwini Kumaras from Pandu and Madri. Ashwini Kumaras were considered to be divine physicians. Nakula was considered to be the most handsome man in those times. He was an expert charioteer. Sahadeva was the smartest of the pandavas. He was an expert swordsman. He is also considered an expert in Astrology. 

We had a side conversation about Astrology. Indian astrology is based on the positions of the moon, planets and stars among other things. We had a slight digression into how the birth chart (Janam Kundli) is calculated. These calculations require a lot of science and mathematics. Astrology normally carries a connotation of superstition but Indian Astrology can be considered a combination of art and science.

Our class led the closing prayers in the assembly. 

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Pranams

Selvi

Partha