May 4, 2014

Today was a very busy day for the 9th Grade class. We began class by discussing some upcoming events.

These events are:
1. CORD Walkathon - May 11, 2014
2. Annual Day - June 22, 2014
3. Opening of the New Ashram - July 2 - 4, 2014
4. Registration for next Year - Ongoing
5. Upcoming Photo Day - May 18, 2014

After these announcements, the class began discussing topics brought up during last classes discussion with Amit  Uncle. We started with the topic of the three gunas (Satvic, Tamasic, and Rajasic) as well as what the word guna means. We then moved on onto the topic of the stages of life (Brahmacharya, Grahasta, Vanaprashta, Sanyasa).

The topic of the day was in regards to entering of Grahasta after graduation, and your duties as a house holder.  This is known as Samavartana.  It is simlar to a convocation after completion of college.   The guru gives advice to the student about how he should lead his life after the days in the Gurukula.

The Guru gives the following advice;
1. Speak the truth
2. Do your duty.
3. Study scriptures
4. Pay your fees
5. Get married
6. Never neglect your welfare
7. Do not neglect the study of Scriptures.
8. Do your duties towards ancestors, parents, teachers and guests.
9. Reverence to all learned people
10. Give charity

We went into a discussion specifically about charity. Some topics included whether intentions had a play in charitable actions, as well as if it is possible to give more than what you take. One example brought up to prove that point was the CORD organization and the people who work for it.

- Nirmal Prakash

April 27, 2014

Today in class, we reviewed talking about the three gunas, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.

For a recap:

Gunas- the nature of an aspect.

Sattva - This Guna means doing good for others for the benefit of others.

Rajas - This Guna is doing good deeds, but for one's own self advantage. 

Tamas - This Guna represents all the time wasting and dull, bad deeds that one can do. 

 

We all need to keep in mind that everyone has these three gunas, but one needs to proportion and control each to be as good as one can be.  We looked deeper into the meaning of what the three gunas actually mean and represent; how all these are connected in our daily lives. The class tried to categorize the gunas into simple definitions and determined that if Sattva is "good" and Tamas is "bad", then Ragas must be "indifference", right? Many people didn't agree, yet they didn't have an answer so we finalized that this must be true.   We came to a conclusion that as we grow up, we might face situations in which the correct answer to choose is not a specific one, but instead a blend of two gunas. We might even come across such a situation today. 

 

Another topic discussed in class was The Four Stages of Life, also known as the Ashramas. 

Brahmacharya(The Student's Life) - This period ranges from birth to age 25 where a person devotes their life to study as it is their number one priority. 

Grihastha(The Householder's Life) - This period ranges from age 26-50 where a person earns a living and helps supports them and their family. One shall carry out the duties of the family and society in this stage. 

Vanaprastha(The Retired Life) - This period ranges from age 51-75 where a person's household life comes to an end and are preparing to renounce all their belongings so they can prepare for the next stage. 

Sannyasa(The Renounced Life) - This period ranges from age 76-100 where one is to depart from the world and be devoted to God. 

There is no specific time where one transitions from one stage to the other, but it is so that one can fulfill each stage in their lifetime.  

Lastly, the class went to the auditorium to see the seniors graduate from Balavihar and hear Swami Shantananda's words of wisdom.

- Alekhya Battini