Morning Prayers Recited:
• Om Saha naavatu (My Prayers, page 6)
• Karagre Vaasate (My Prayers, page 43)
• Sarasvati Namastubhyam (My Prayers, page 44)
• Guru Brahma (My Prayers, page 9, third shloka)
Vedic Chanting:
• Praarthanaa (Chinmaya Book of Vedic Chants, page 3)
• Gayanti Mantra (Chinmaya Book of Vedic Chants, page 5)
• Medha Sukhtam (Chinmaya Book of Vedic Chants, page 35)
• Mantra Pushpam (Chinmaya Book of Vedic Chants, page 170)
Bhajans: Sri Krishna, Govinda Radhe, Swami Chinmayananda
Storytime: Today we blissed out on Vishnu Puran episodes! We started out having some technical difficulties, but after we took a break for lunch, we went back and troubleshot some wires with the projector and got back in business. Swamiji agreed to come back in the afternoon and show us some more videos. We started our viewing with Sage Parashurama coming to Mithila angrily demanding to know who was responsible for breaking his deity's bow. Lord Ram stepped forward, and there was some intense dialogue between the two which ended with Sage Parashurama having a change of heart and acknowledging that he was indeed in the presence of Lord Vishnu -- and that he now understood the purpose of Lord Ram breaking the bow. He (Parashurama) was a brahmin who has been living as a kshatriya ... and he can now dedicate himself to brahmin activities.
Art Projects: None.
Shaanti Circle Discussion:
We used pretty much all of our Circle Discussion time in watching Vishnu Puran episodes.
End of Class Prayers: Poornamadah, Chinmaya Pledge
Photo Gallery: August 14 Photos (click here to view.)
Comments: It's a sad realization that this is our last blog post of the summer. This auntie is not quite sure how she's going to fare Monday morning ...
There was a lot of excitement and energy bouncing around the ashram all day. Swamiji treated all the campers to a yummy pizza lunch with cupcakes for dessert. A couple of the aunties and didis spent last evening baking -- and made the butter icing (real butter icing!) this morning. Everything was absolutely delicious and fresh. We definitely were feeling a bit overstuffed as lunch came to and end.
At 3:30 this afternoon, we were reunited with some campers from earlier in the summer. We asked that everyone get together today for a little recognition ceremony. After the children sang the bhajans that Sheila Auntie taught us, they very nicely performed all the three vedic chants they have been learning with Swamiji. It was fantastic to hear all these children chant together. Afterwards, Swamiji reminded us when each vedic chant is to be chanted. We should chant Medha Suktam every morning before going to school. This will give us perfect and photographic memory. Na Karmanaa is chanted when we are receiving and greeting a swami. Mantra Pushpam is chanted at the end of pujas. Swamiji suggested that we can now chant with the pandits in the temple :-)
After our chanting, Swamiji handed out certificates to all the children congratulating them on performing all of their activities and disciplines over the summer. Everyone then high-tailed it to the porch for our end-of-the summer photo shoot. (Be sure and check out the photos in the gallery.)
We hope that your children had as much fun as the aunties did. We feel grateful and blessed to have had this opportunity to learn and work with the kids ... there wasn't a day that passed when we ALL didn't learn something! Kids: please continue to do your vedic chanting and shlokas on a daily basis. You really did a super job this summer -- and we couldn't be more proud of you!! We are going to miss you ... Don't forget: if you see us in the Balavihar hallways, make sure to give us a big "Hari OM" and high five!
See you in the fall!
