Special Lecture - Gurudev Jayanthi

Special talk from Shri.Arunachalam, who was a Balavihar child himself and a  Chinmaya Yuva Kendra member (CHYK) addressed the children on the “Life of Pujya Gurudev, Pujya Swami Chinmayandaji”. He has seen and interacted with Gurudev during his Balavihar days.

Shri.Arunachalam as a renowned speaker, very well took the children from know to unknown by discussing the key take aways from the movies 'Life of Pi' and 'Sachin'.
Life Lessons from 'Life of Pi':
  Key take aways that children spell out were 'Be Bold', 'Pet Dangerous Animals', 'Don't give up', 'Learn to Survive alone', 'work hard', 'proper planning is required',  'God never gives-up'.
  How did he survive?
     All alone in the boat with a tiger, surrounded by sea, a book, the survival kit, thought how to plan with limited resources when surrounded by endangered animals.
     So, in the game of life, the survival kit - Bhagawad Gita, will groom us to survive and is being taught in such camps.

Lessons from 'Sachin' movie:
  Key take away from children on 'Sachin' movie were 'Don't loose hope', 'you can win' etc.

Shri. Arunachalam & Shravan

He also encouraged the children to talk about Gurudev from theirs learnings through the movie ‘On a Quest’. Shravan, one of the senior Balavihar child, narrated the life of Gurudev, as seen in the movie 'On a Quest' which interested many folks to watch the movie by themselves to understand more about Gurudev's life.

Shri. Arunachalam added that Gurudev had a vision on how the nation have to be built from the grassroots level - like brick by brick house it built. He also added that at the time of Independence, Gurudev mentioned that `India got freedom but not Indians` and the Indians will receive freedom only when the people are free from poverty, diversity etc.

He emphasized that the study does not stop with Balavihar and spoke about different groups / activities in Chinmaya mission. The key point here is if one loose the continuity, then will loose the path to the destination, hence continue with Yuva Kendra.

Groups in Chinmaya Mission:

• Balavihar - At Chinmaya Mission, children are introduced to spiritual culture through Bala Vihar. 
• Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK) - is dedicated to harnessing the vibrant and dynamic potential of youthful energy where young people are made aware of their potential through the study of scriptures. A Yuva Kendra member is typically 16 to 28 years of age.  
• Study Groups - Study groups and regular programs at local Mission centres serve as a ready platform where the Setukaris (25-45 years) will be at work. Setukari has been a recent addition to Chinmaya Mission’s grass-root activities with the role of ‘building bonds’ between the young and the old in these fast-changing times. The group studies and discusses scriptural texts according to a prescribed syllabus that offers the seeker a systematic exposure to Vedanta.
• Devi Groups - are exclusively for women. These groups meet for scriptural study, devotional singing and a variety of cultural and social activities.

To take care of mind & intellect, we need knowledge, to gain knowledge we have gurudev or sevaks & sevikas in the form of gurudev. Hence go with an open mind to listen & learn the scriptural knowledge written by gurudev in the most simplified form & taught by sevikas.

Special Lecture - Nature

Special Talk on day-6 of the camp was from Shruthi Didi was on “Nature” .

She spoke on the impression that foreigners have on Indians, their traditions, symbols worshiped, bindi put on their forehead etc and also told an amusing story of Alexander, the Great's earnest desire to take a Yogi back to Greece.
She spoke on how humans standout many a time without appreciating others when the whole universe of nature is working on Yagna spirit.

She did create an awareness on how humans exploit animals in different ways unconsciously causing destruction to different species. Animals are useful to us and in turn we as humans should take care of them instead of unnecessarily exploiting them.

What is the difference between Animals and Humans on how they treat nature?

Animals work on instinct whereas humans have been gifted with free will or choice. It is this choice unfortunately that he humans don't use correctly. Plants and Animals are all in harmony with nature.. Albeit unconsciously whereas humans being conscious beings r not fully conscious in making the right choice. Because of choosing to not live in harmony with nature man is causing his own self destruction.

Humans are the most evolved of all creatures... Most developed brains... We have reached the moon even but we have imitated the west. West thinks we can conquer nature but east always knew we are part of nature. We are not separate from it. If we harm or exploit any creature we only have to pay for it. That's the spirit of oneness and divine cooperation. Everything supports everything

Yes, now-a-days man make all possible effort to conquer the Nature, consciously control and exploit Nature, which has lead us to face the wrath through Natural Calamities.  She emphasized that it is essential to start living in divine cooperation and in complete harmony with Nature through motivational real life stories, like 'The great sparrow campaign'  in 1952 under the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong. Destroying the sparrow eggs and nests... Which in turn led to insects destroying all grains on stalks and in granaries. Resulted in the great Chinese famine due to the imbalance in the eco system.

Who is more evolved - animals or humans?
Right now it seems humans have devolved to worse than animals. We r given a nobelpeace  prize if we live true to our humane nature.. But a cow is not applauded for behaving like a cow. Think!

So what should humans do... It's their duty to live up to being human... To help and protect other creatures.

In Vedic period, people had great interest in India due its Vedanta. Nalanda and Takshashila Universities have brought students across the globe, like Aryabhatha graduated from Nalanda and Charaka (first surgeon in the world) , Chanakya, Panini from Takshashila  because our science behind vedanta is so strong that it had a mention about the exact speed of light in ancient times.

What made the Indian geniuses they were?

• It is because they lived in harmony with nature... 
• They put in the efforts and as their minds were peaceful and creative ideas flowed into them.
• They lived in the attitude of gratitude to all things that sustained and nourished them. 
• They bowed their heads to all as a result their ego was diminished to the extent that they could see their on individuality microcosm being reflected as the macrocosm in their meditative minds.
  Because of these traits, Indian geniuses could easily see the entire universe inside of themselves. It is no wonder they could could make such accurate astronomical calculations for example, 'The distance between the sun and earth and speed of light etc.', much before the western scientists discovered it.

Concept of RNAs

Every individual by nature passes through various stages of life. Indian thinkers correlate the stages of individual to the society and prescribed duties to every stages of life. 

Further, the ancient Indian concept of rnas is truly beautiful. It said each human being is born on the earth with certain rnas and were bound to repay those rnas during his life time.

The concept of Rna implies obligation and responsibility. Man is a social animal and his development is possible, because many other fellow beings have, in some or other way, contributed to his progress. The individual is under obligation of many members of his society.

• Rishi Rna - is also called as Guru Rna. The first stage in the life of an individual i.e Brahmacharya ashrama (a student) is spent with teacher.
• Pitri Rna - is to be with community and what you owe to your parents.
• Deva Rna - The forces of nature are beyond the control of human beings. To please forces, men used to perform sacrifices. Performance of sacrifices or offering prayers was a way to show respect to deities.
• Nar Rna - is about what you owe to your friends
• Bhuta Rna - all we owe to our environment.

Swami Aparajitanandaji's Lecture on "Bhakti"

Swamiji started the session by teaching “Om namah Shivaya” Bhajan followed by a talk on

“Bhakti”

Food for thought:

• How many factors in the external world are required in keeping you alive in this planet? Infinite
• How many factors inside the body keeps you alive? Infinite
• How many factors are in our control? Nothing
• If simply means somebody else have given this life with infinite compassion. So it does not belong to us.
• How does your fingers move?
  How many cells gets activated? How nervous system gets activated? Which part of the brain works?
  In a nutshell, you are given the ability to move but you do not know the logical reason behind how you move. Same principle applies for tasting, speaking, hearing etc.
• Life is not ours but it has been given to us.
• Abilities & talents are not ours.
• Any knowledge or abilities that are given to us can be taken back anytime.

Four fundamental principles that you need to keep in mind throughout life are

Oh Lord

1. I am nothing!
2. I have nothing!
3. I know nothing!
4. I can do nothing!

But by your grace

• I am something!
• I have something!
• I know something!
• I can do something!

When the lord has given so much of talents, abilities, all that he expects from us is righteousness. Infact he takes avatar only to establish dharma which is emphasized in 

Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 4; Verse: 8

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām
dharma-sansthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge

For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.

Lord establish the righteousness by protecting the good people and destroy bad or atharmic people.
So, what should we do as obedient children of God?
Follow the path of  righteousness or dharma. Even if you deviate, he does not punish but keep warning you.

4 things in Vishnu’s hand to establish righteousness are

1. Shanka - voice of consciousness inside
2. Chakra - destroys all negativities in mind and mind becomes pure
• Kama - intense desire
• Krodha - Anger
• Lobha - greed
• Moha - delusion
• Mada - Arrogance or pride
• Matsarya - envy, jealousy 
3. Gada - knocking down all the negativities
4. Padma - makes you one with himself

God is not our wish fulfilled; he is our well wisher.

Whenever you pray, he answers in one of the 4 ways

1. Yes 
2. No
3. Wait
4. Take something better 

Example:

If teacher gives a homework and ask you to submit it by tomorrow.

• 1st day - Good children will submit the very next day by listening to their inner voice and the teacher would make other children to stand-up on the bench
• 2nd day - Some of the children who stood on the bench would have completed and teacher would take others to the principal.
• 3rd day - Some of the children who were warned by the principal would have completed and still there might be some exceptions. Teacher will now have no choice by calling the parents.

As and when your mistake increases, the intensity of the punishment increases. 
In short, if you cannot realize your inner voice now, listen to your parents, teachers, eventually you will be disciplined & can start realizing the inner conscience.

Motivational Real Life Story:

Swamiji told the emotional, motivational, real life story of Arunima Sinha, the national volleyball player who made all the way from Death Bed to Mt.Everest through her hardwork & perseverance to accomplish the goal that has deep rooted in her heart by winning over the physical disability and all the oddities that she faced.

If your mind is fixed in Lord, you will overcome all your problems.
Whatever you need, He will provide!
Whatever you have, He will preserve it.

The Poem - Krishna & the Twin Trees

KRISHNA WAS A MISCHEVEOUS CHILD,
    AT ONE PLACE HE WOULDN'T STAY!
HE WAS NAUGHTY, HE WAS WILD,
    TO CATCH HIM, THERE WAS NO WAY!

"He stole our butter" the neighbours complained, 
     Yashoda thought, am embarrassing life she lead!
She was furious:       
     To find a way, she was extremely curious!

TO THIS SHE WANTED TO PUT AN END,
    ALL HIS WAYS SHE WANTED TO MEND!
SO THEN TO A HUGE BOULDER,
    SHE TIED HIS LEGS, HANDS AND SHOULDERS.

As soon as Yashoda was out of sight,
    Krishna put all his might!
In between 2 trees, he pulled the boulder along,    
    Not knowing where they actually belonged!

IN FACT HE PUT SO MUCH MIGHT, 
    THAT THE TREES WERE NO MORE UPRIGHT!
THE TREES TURNED INTO THE TWIN SONS OF KUBERA,
MANIGRIVA AND NALAKUBERA.

And thats the story, 
    Of Krishna & the Twin trees,
About their curse,
    And how at last there were set free!

 - Poem By 

Sharanya Rao 

           

Swami Aparajitanandaji's Lecture on "Essence of Vedanta & Upanishads"

Swamiji’s lecture was on Knowledge talking about “Essence of Vedanta & Upanishads”.

His teachings were as follows

• In one line if you want to write about Vedanta or Bhagavad Gita Tat Tvam Asi => That you are
• The guru tells shishya, ‘You are That’
  Aham Brahma Asmi => I am Brahman (God)
• God is ‘Sat Chit Ananda’ which literarily means Existence - Consciousness - Bliss.

Upanishads say “You are of the nature of infinite bliss. You are immortal” However, we do not seem to experience this!!

This is because of the facts of ‘Identification Theory’.

Identification Theory:
When entity ‘A’ identifies with entity ‘B’, the properties of ‘B’ appear to be the properties of ‘A’.
Example:

1. Assume that you are in a theatre, Ads & popcorn is over & movie is started. Then slowly the story unfolds & you are gradually involved completely into the movie. Eventually whatever happens in movie happy or sad to he or she, it happens to you also.
   Here character in movie is entity 'A' & you are entity 'B'.Though you have no personal connection with characters in the movie.
2. Assume mother => Entity ‘A’ and child => Entity ‘B’"If you win, she rejoices, if you fail, she weeps"
   which means the property (emotions here) of the child (i.e. entity 'A') appear to be the property of the mother (i.e. entity 'B').

Entity A is Consciousness, which is infinite and Entity B is matter, which is finite

• Combination of five elements listed below is called matter.
•  Akasha
•  Vayu
•  Agni
•  Jala
•  Prithvi 
• Consciousness is Sat Chit Ananda
• In reality I am That Infinite Existence Bliss Consciousness but due to the identification theory, I feel I am finite and hence come to suffer sorrow.
• Story: A shepherd was taking herd of sheep into forest for gazing & bleeting. Lion was watching how the baby herds follow the senior herds and shepherd. As day passed by, the lion followed the sheep. Over years and years of doing the same as what sheep was doing & now the lion has become a coward. A new wild lion came into the forest & was stunned by the old lion's behaviour and cowardice. The old lion couldn't recollect the bravery of their species. Later the wild lion took the old lion to a pond, showed him and explained the difference between the sheep & lion and finally made it realize its strength.
  Here 
  Sheepish Lion  - We
  Wild Lion           - Sadhguru
  Pond                 - Scriptures
• We are God but we have been living like an immortal puni human, so we do not accept we as god.
  There comes a wild lion - Guru - who shows our true nature to us, by walking us through the Vedantas
• Guru is the one who shows us that we are blissful by nature by guiding us through the Upanishads and Vedas; A person who comes to know oneself is called God Man / Jeevanmukta and this state is nothing but Mukti.
  Where-ever oneness there is love,
  Where-ever love there is compassion.
• At the seat of meditation, you shift your attention to consciousness.
• Everywhere there is a consciousness but we are trying to find the existence or form of consciousness. Even in deep sleep, there is consciousness though you say 'I slept well so I know nothing. Basically we are not able to experience our infinite nature because of our presence in the finite body.
• Why you feel jealous of others success or good marks?
  If the otherness goes away, you will not feel jealous.
  If you identify yourself with your mind, you will feel jealous.
  If you identify yourself with your intellect, you will not feel jealous.
• Sorrows begins with identification and ends with the reverse.

Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 9; Verse: 2

rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣhāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam

This royal science, royal secret, the supreme purifier, realisable by direct intuitive knowledge, according to the dharma, is very easy to perform and imperishable.

The royal secret is you are God but you don't understand. Even when you are told, you don't understand. The above principles are very easy to practise and you will get good results.

Special Lecture - "Why do we..?"

Children are always inquisitive to know why we do certain things in temples and the special talk from Usha Didi was on “Why do we do Pradaksina & how” and “Why do we ring bell in temples & how?” 

Why do we do Pradaksina?

• What is Pradaksina?When we visit temple, after offering prayers, we circumambulate the inner sanctum sanctorum  of the temple with folded hands often chanting prayers, is a very common ritual in Hindu temples, which is called as Pradaksina.  The devotees walk around the innermost chamber of the shrine housing the temple deity.
• Why do we do Pradaksina?
  We cannot draw a circle without a centre point. The Lord is the centre, source and essence of our lives. We acknowledge this by performing Pradaksina recognizing him as the focal point in our lives and go about doing our daily chores. This is the significance of Pradaksina.
  
  Also, every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from the centre. This means that wherever we may be or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the lord. His grace flows towards us without partiality.

• How is Pradaksina done?
  Pradaksina is done in a clockwise direction on to one's right side facing the deity inside the garbhagriham.

Why do we ring bell?

One or more bells are generally hung from the top or at the temple dome near the entrance. The devotees ring the bell as soon as he enters, there after proceeding for darsana of Lord and prayers.

Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let the Lord know we
have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all knowing. Is it a form of seeking
permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell?

The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.

Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let the Lord know we

have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all knowing. Is it a form of seeking

permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell?

The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.

Even while doing the ritualistic aarati, we ring the bell. It is sometimes accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the conch and other musical instruments. An added significance of ringing the bell, conch and other instruments is that they help drowned any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the worshippers in their devotional ardour, concentration and inner peace.

Further, the sound of the bell is 

• considered auspicious which welcomes divinity and dispels evil.
• said to disengage mind from ongoing thoughts thus making the mind more receptive.
• said to help in controlling the ever wandering mind and focusing on the deity.

As we start the daily ritualistic worship (pooja) we ring the bell, chanting:

Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam gamanaarthamtu  

rakshasaamKurve ghantaaravam 

tatradevataahvaahna lakshanam

I ring this bell indicating the invocation of divinity, so that virtuous and noble forces enter; and the demonic and evil forces, from within and without, depart.

Usha Didi's lecture was certainly an eye opener on the science and belief behind the right way of worship.

Swami Aparajitanandaji's Lecture on "Who decides the destiny?"

Swamiji’s lecture was on the 'Laws of the Universe' with examples that kindled the children in the spiritual direction! 

The laws that leads to your destiny are

1. As your thoughts, so will be your state of your mind
   The mental state can either be peaceful or disturbed.
   If your thoughts are good, noble, positive, your mind will be peaceful.
   If your thoughts are bad, negative, dishonest, arrogant, selfishness, your mind will be disturbed.
   
   Apply the law to yourself -
      whenever you were jealous, where you disturbed or not?
      whenever you were good, where you peaceful or not?
   
   - There is a cause & effect relationship
   - To convert the disturbed mind to positive mind, apply the 5 point technique stated in "Recovering from the fall"
   Example:
   If someone abuse you, you are upset. why?
   
   You are actually not disturbed by the person who abused you but your own positive thought leading you to react instead of responding is what disturbs you. Actually speaking nobody can disturb you without your permission. So try to keep your thoughts calm & composed at all times.
     
2. Purer the mind, greater the control over your mind
   
   Mind is nothing but the flow of thoughts and the factors that decides success are hardwork, selflessness, perseverance, determination etc
   - When you have control over mind, you have control over everything else.
   - The mind is like an iron rod, which can be made into any shape.
     For that you need to heat the iron rod first. Similarly you will have to first make the mind pure to get control over it.
     
3. As your thoughts, so will be your personality
• If your thoughts are good, you will have dynamic, noble, charming, attractive personality.
• If your thoughts are bad, you will have rebelling, unattractive personality.
  You like only the former quality person but not the later one.
• When you interact with a person, you need to observe that the person & will remember the time well spent and the healthy conversation you had next time too.
  One would love to meet & interact with noble / good person but not the complain box.
  So analyse yourself to know what kind of a person you are!
• If you have been bad in the past, try gradually changing in the right way, you cannot change the opinion on you overnight forcefully.
    
4. As your thoughts, so will be the world perceived by you
• If your thoughts are positive, world is wonderful and divine.
• If your thoughts are negative, world if full of woes & worries.
• Example 1:
  If you think of ghost, you will see ghost everywhere.
  If you think of God & goodness, you will see God everywhere.
  Example 2:
  Yudistira & Duryodhana went around the city, came back & explained what they say.
  Duryodhana said no one is good where as Yudistira said all are good & perfect.
• What is the proof that you are a good person?
  If you cannot do self-marketing that you are good. If you have the ability to forget and forgive, you will eventually be a good person.
• Acharya's answer for a Child's question:
  Question: Why a person very good at heart, born with deformation / disabilities is disliked by people?
  Answer: The world will one day appreciate your goodness over & above your deformation / disabilities and you will have to put best efforts. Hellen Keller is the best example, who was adorned for her nobility despite her physical limitations - deaf, dum & blind.
    
5. As your thoughts, so will be the world formed around you
   Examples:
• In prison, everyone around are criminals, liers, endangered folks
• In Balavihar camp, wonderful teachings are given of Bhagawan Shri Krishna because you have done good deed to be amidst noble teaches, Load Omkareshwara & Chinmaya Ganapati.
• When you are studying hard to become a successful engineer, you will try & pass engineering entrance, get into engineering college, you will see engineering problems as you are in the engineering world.
  So are the people in Mathematics, Medicine and other fields. Hence choose good thoughts.
• If you go to a hotel, order for Idly Vada and when the server gets a plate of Idly Vada in 5 minutes, you shouldn't be surprised.
   
6. As you sow, so shall you reap
• According to Newtons law, it is proven that every action has equal & opposite reaction.

Swamiji ended the session with a note from Bhagawad Gita as follows

Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 6; Verse: 40

śhrī bhagavān uvāchapārtha 
naiveha nāmutra vināśhas tasya vidyate
na hi kalyāṇa-kṛit kaśhchid durgatiṁ tāta gachchhati

The Blessed Lord said:
O Partha, neither in this world nor in the next world is there destruction for him; none, verily, who strives to be good, O my son, ever comes to grief.

For the doers of good things, only good things will happen to him. He will never get bad things either when he is alive or dead.

The session was interactive and the youngsters participated very well.

Swami Aparajitanandaji's Lecture on "Winning evil mind"

On day-3 of Balavihar Summer Camp, Acharya spoke on "Winning Evil Mind", where he spoke about three topics 'Protecting the mind', 'The ladder of fall' and 'Recovering from fall'

I . Protecting the mind

    Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 3; Verse: 42

    indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ

    manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

 
  They say that the senses are superior (to the body); superior to the senses is the mind; superior to the mind is the intellect; one who is even superior  to the intellect is he, (the Atman).

    i.e Higher than the sense organs is the mind, Higher than the mind is intellect and Higher than the intellect is supreme power.  

   Swamiji spoke on the 5 sense objects through which we gain knowledge from the external world.

1. Shabda - ears
2. Sparsha - skin 
3. Roopa - eyes
4. Rasa - taste 
5. Gandha - nose

    Note that ears, nose, eyes, tongue and nose are called sense objects and sense organs are higher compared to sense objects.
     He explained the 3 levels of protection along with real life examples.

• Never expose yourself to anything that would pollute your mind.
• Even when you are exposed to bad situation, show disinterest.
• If you are affected by bad thoughts, listen to your intellect over the mind to win over the bad thoughts.

          Mind vs Intellect: 

• Mind is the faculty / instrument in us which takes decisions based on likes & dislikes
• Intellect is the faculty in us which takes decisions based on right & wrong.
• Example: A very good chance for you to steal the question paper lying unprotected for the toughest exam coming-up. 
• Mind will tell you to take the question paper to prepare & get good marks. But the intellect will alert you to stay on the righteous path even at the cost of lesser marks.
• Mind will give shortcut to success but cannot give sustained / permanent success.
• So, whom should you listen - mind or intellect?
  Yes, go by the intellect to be on the righteous path.
• Points to ponder:Anything that you listen to often will become dormant, so always go by intellect. Eventually mind & intellect becomes one & you will love doing only the right thing and such a person whose mind & intellect goes hand in hand is called integrated personality.
• Example:
  If you want to get up in the morning, mind will say no & intellect will say yes.
• If you hold onto the omnipresent almighty, who is ever ready to protect & empower you, your intellect will be able to win over mind.

II. The ladder of fall

      Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 2; Verse: 62, 63

      dhyāyato viṣhayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣhūpajāyate

      saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ’bhijāyate

   
When a man thinks of objects, attachment for them arises; from attachment desire is born; from desire arises anger...

   
    krodhādbhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛiti-vibhramaḥ

    smṛiti-bhranśhād buddhi-nāśho buddhi-nāśhāt praṇaśhyati

From anger comes delusion; from delusion, loss of memory; from loss of memory, the destruction of discrimination; from the destruction of discrimination, he perishes.

     Swamiji detailed the steps for the ladder of fall; as always with child- centric examples 

• Vishaya Dhyanam - Thinking of sense objects
• Sanga - desire
• Kama - intense craving
• Krodha - Anger
• Sammoha - delusion (you see what you don't see)
• Smriti Vibhrama -  loss of memory
• Buddhi Nasha- Inability to think
• Sarva Nasha(Pranaasha) - Total destruction 

     Example: 

• Vishaya Dhyanam: A child, who was addicted to video game on tablet, was studying for his exams.
• Sanga: I like this; let me play for some time.
• Kama: This simple `like` became intense craving, he started playing.
• Krodha: Mother came in, was angry with the child's action and scolded.
• Sammoha: From the child's point of view the mother became the enemy of the child.
• Smriti Vibhrama: The boy has forgotten all the good mom have done.
• Buddhi Nasha: He was unable to think beyond the situation.
• Sarva Nasha: And out of anger threw the tablet onto mom with full force, mom got hurt and it started bleeding & was admitted to hospital.
  
  Observe the downfall of the child and how a simple `like` got intensified.
  Whenever there is an addiction, you cannot do anything but get angry. If you re getting angry on something, you might be attached or addicted to something. Look back & check what is that you are attached to.

III. Recovering from the fall      

      As the life falls through, it becomes more & more difficult, So one should correct at the very initial stage
      Swamiji spoke on 5 point technique to overcome the fall

• Observe the thoughts
• Detect the negative
• Eliminate the negative
• Substitute with positive
• Strengthen the mind with repeated substitution

      Let's start relating with the example of a child reading for the exam, intend to play with tab, which lead to his fall.
      Once the right thinking becomes way of life, then there is no struggle because you will enjoy doing the right thing. Later Success becomes the natural fact.

Assignment for Children:

     The ladder of fall leading to a total destruction with a personal life example (that can be shared). Add the corrective action to the above assignment.

"Kanha Trail" organized by Chinmaya Yuva Kendra

Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYKs) of Bangalore, have organised a fun-filled set of events as part of day 3 of the Chinmaya Balavihar Camp at Chokkahalli, Kolar.

The day started with the young & enthusiastic participants gathering in attendance as they listened to Shri. Prasen Moudgal lay out the rules for the 'Kanha Trail', a treasure hunt which encompassed the various stages in Sri Krishna's life. The trail, which comprised of a total of 10 clues all across the vast space in the ashram demanded a lot of skills from the participants such as teamwork, quick thinking and a keen eye for detail.

Participants were divided into groups and each group was allotted a colour which added spice to the contest. The clues, which were placed at unique locations required the participants to dig a superficial layer, climb trees and run for certain distances which added to the fun aspect of the trail.

The challenging hunt was matched with the never-say-die attitude of the children, who worked as a team to hunt down the clues. As part of the trail, teams were also given a chance at gaining some quick knowledge on how to build a tripod, how to make a catapult from a basic gel pen and the art of water filtering from a combination of basic commodities such as sand, pebbles and charcoal on completion of which the teams were given their next clue.

As the teams collected their final clues, they were led to the final destination where they indulged in a fun 'Cooking without flame' session in which the teams had a fun time preparing an assorted medley of food items with a combination of raw vegetables, puffed rice, spices amongst others.

The session culminated with the kids reminiscing the best of moments through the day and enjoying their master crafted food as the whole lot in attendance walked away with smiles on their faces.

Photo Gallery:

CHYK Team with Swamiji