Notes by Devank Narayan

Review:

Last week, we learned a story of a woman who had God coming over to her house, but God came in different forms and she brushed God off because she didn’t recognize God. We learned that God is everyone and in everything.

Activity:

What makes you happy, anything? Now, think about your answers, and think about if all of them have happiness in them, or if they are ONLY happiness. What this tells us is that all these things are happiness for different people, which means that not all of these things have happiness for everyone.

We believe things are happiness but it is not true for everyone.

Sometimes too much of something that you think is good will make it feel bad to you, such as eating too many popsicles or too much sugar, so things that are good can also be sorrowful. Sometimes you wake up smiling, despite that all the ice cream is in the fridge or all your friends are outside, because you know nothing. If you’re not thinking about these things, you will not be thinking about things that could become sorrowful.

============================================

Notes by Viyom & Manav Mistry

RAW FROM LAST WEEK:

Write God on a piece of paper and keep it with you. If we want to think about God all the time we have to practice and take time to do it. Most kids lost the paper.

REVIEW:

God comes in many forms. God is divinity and happiness, and it expresses itself in everything. You are happiness if you want to be happy you remember your happiness. There are 8 parts of happiness we learned. First, we learned Yamas which are principles to be more peaceful. Next, we learned Niyamas. These are practices to be more peaceful. Next, we learned Jivan Sutrani which are tips for happy living.

ACTIVITY:

Typing in the chat makes you happy. Everyone mostly typed in material things, but happiness is in yourself and every living thing. We naturally go towards things that make us happy.

Notes by Naami Deo

Review

There are two lumberjacks, one young and one old. They had a competition to see who cut the most wood. The young one thought he was going to win because the old one kept on taking breaks. At the end the old one won because the breaks were for sharpening his ax and taking breaks.

• Don’t judge a book by it’s cover 

• Just like the ax we should sharpen are body and mind

RAW: To go outside, study something, and write note about it.

Story

A woman knew God was coming to her home. Each time the god came it looked like a stranger and she shooed him away but later, God shared that it was Him just in different forms.

 Lesson

God is everywhere, in everything, and everyone.

Activity

Dwija didi asked us can you see anything on this sheet of paper? There was not anything on the blank sheet of paper. But to see God, all she needed to do was draw on it. But without drawing, there was nothing. Effort is required to see God, it doesn’t happen automatically.

 Surprise 

Usha maushi talked about steps of gratitude for teachers. 

You should reflect your gratitude to implement it.

This is guru dakshina.

Reflection Adventure of the Week 

Carry the name of a God with you!

=========================================================

Notes by Savitha Somnath Buono

RECAP:

We reviewed the lumberjack story which had the message of not underestimating people and their experience. The old RAW was to go outside and focus on something in nature.

STORY:  

There was a woman who lived in a town who wanted to see God. One night in her dreams, God told her he would visit her. The next day, she cleaned her house and put on a fancy dress. She waited all day and then the doorbell rang. Eagerly she opened it and found a salesman on the other side. Before he could speak, the woman told him to come again another day as she was expecting another guest and closed the door in his face. Some time later, the doorbell rang again. It was the neighbor’s kid who wanted to play with her daughter. She again said that she didn’t have time for her today as she was expecting a guest. She slammed the door and continued waiting late into the night. That night she had another dream with God in it. She asked him why he had not come that day and he told her that he had come twice to her home. Both times she had not allowed him to speak and had slammed the door in her face. The woman realized that God had come to her through the salesman and the neighbor’s daughter. She realized her mistake and was sad.

MESSAGE:

We have to open our hearts to see God.

RAW:

Write God on a piece of paper and keep it with us for the whole week.

Notes by Devank Narayan

Story:

At the edge of India, Hanumanji and other great beings were looking to Deva Sita. When they were informed that Deva Sita was in Lanka, they were all debating how to get there and back. Jambavan told Hanumanji that he was born to do the work to help people and to be happy. Hanumanji’s heart got bigger, then his chest got bigger, then his arms, followed by his entire body. He becomes this great being and he begins his journey to Lanka. When he was leaving, he said “Jai Sri Ram.” 

Lesson:

You were born to be happy. How should you be happy? You should have less thoughts.

What are the ways to have less thoughts? 

• You should have fun. 
• You should focus, and focus on stuff so that other thoughts go away. 
• If you combine fun and focus, you get another word called facilitate, which means to let thoughts out. 

Activity:

Go and facilitate the story to anyone in the area in three minutes. 

R.A.W:

Go for a walk as a family, but you have to have gloves and a bag,but pick up any litter you find and put it in that bag.

============================================

Notes by Viyom & Manav Mistry

Story:

On the edge of India, Hanumanji and warriors gathered to start looking for Sita Devi in Lanka. Jambavan, teacher of Hanumanji, whispered in Hanumanji’s ear. “What were you born to do? You were born to serve Sri Ram.” Hearing this, Hanumanji’s body got bigger and bigger.

Lesson from the story:

What are we born to be? We are born to be HAPPY.

If we have less thoughts our mind is quieter, so we are happier.

(3 steps to be happy.)

1. Have fun – if you’re having fun you’re NOT thinking.

Activity: Jokes!

How do you get a squirrel to like you? (act like a nut.)

What is an Astronaut’s favorite part of a computer? (space bar)

2. To focus – your mind is not multitasking.

3. Facilitate – whatever you’re feeling inside you share with others around you.

Raw:

Go for a walk as a family with gloves and a bag to pick up litter.

Notes by Naami Deo

Review

There were 6 blind men. One day, they heard about a creature called an Elephant. These 6 men argued about an elephant.

Eventually, the 6 men were able to meet an elephant in real life. All the men touched different portions of the elephant and began arguing about what the creature really is. They disagreed until they woke the king, he told them about the thing being an elephant. He said to put all the parts together and then they might understand. They went home and discussed and they understood that all of them touched different parts.

People have different perspectives and you are not always right.

Story

There are two lumberjacks, one young and one old. They had a competition to see who cut the most wood. The young one thought he was going to win because the old one kept on taking breaks. At the end the old one won because the breaks were for sharpening his ax.

 Lesson

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover 

Just like the ax we should sharpen are body and mind

Reflection Adventure of the Week 

To go outside and study something and write note about it

=========================================================

Notes by Savitha Somnath Buono

RECAP:

We talked about the story of the blind man, the king and the elephant. Last week’s RAW was to clean up trash in a park.

STORY:

Once upon a time, there were two lumberjacks. One was old and one was young. They had a contest to see who could chop more wood in one day. The lumberjack thought he would definitely win as he had more energy and also because he could hear the old lumberjack taking a lot of breaks during the day. When evening came, the 2 lumberjacks gathered to see who had won the contest. Much to the young one’s surprise, the old man had cut more wood than him. 

“How is this possible? You were taking so many breaks?” the young lumberjack stammered. 

“Really? You thought they were breaks? No, I was sharpening my axe!!!!” replied the old lumberjack. 

MESSAGE:

Never underestimate people who might have more experience than you. 

RAW:

Go outside, pick an item and focus on it (like a tree or grass) for a long time. Observe it and learn from it. 

Notes by Devank Narayan

Review:

Last week, we learnt a story about a girl who got hurt which caused her to become angry at Bhagavan. After being angry, she realized that it is sometimes ok to feel pain. We learned that the challenges we face should be used as an opportunity to change our attitude and become a better version of ourselves. 

Story:

A long time ago, there were 6 blind men. Everyone in the town liked these men and tried to keep them safe and out of danger. One day, they heard about a creature called an Elephant. These 6 men argued about an elephant, some said it was a magical creature while others claimed it was dangerous. Eventually the 6 men were able to meet an elephant in real life. All the men touched different portions of the elephant and began arguing about what the creature really is. Those who touched the legs said it was a pillar, those who touched the trunk said it was a rope. They continued to argue until they awoke the king, who told them the truth about the creature being an elephant. He said to put all the parts together and then they might understand. They went home and discussed and they understood that all of them touched different parts. 

Lesson:

You’re not always right and that there is always more than one side to anything or everything in life. 

Activity:

Have you ever asked your nose why it can’t talk? Have you ever asked your non-dominant hand why it can’t write? So why should you scold yourself for not being able to do stuff other people can do. If someone can do something better than you, it doesn’t mean that you are less than them. 

RAW:

Find time this week to go to a park and pick up litter.

Notes by Naami Deo

Review

We learned about a  taxi driver who drove a Grandma to Hospice and in the end he thought about what would happen if the taxi driver she got was bad mean and rude.

Story

There was a girl who went to her grandma’s house and her grandma was making poori and one just came out and she was super tempted to grab and eat it so after a few seconds  she grabbed it and screamed it was super hot it kinda burned her  hands. At night in her prayer she complained to God about giving her a burn. Next day she went to the market with her grandmother and saw a man begging for money with no hands. Her grandma gave him some money. Later she asked her grandma what happened and how the begger lost his hands. Her grandma told her that the man had a disease because of which when he got sick, he did not feel any pain and disease got much worse so he had to lose his hands. That night Maya prayed for the man to get better and she also thanked God for teaching her that pain is a part of life. 

Lesson

You should be Thankful and content for what you have and not looking at what you don’t have instead of what you already have.

Reflection Adventure of the Week 

Eat at least everything that’s on your plate for one of your meals every day.

=========================================================

Notes by Savitha Somnath Buono

RECAP:

Cab Driver and Old Woman story. The old RAW was to take five breaths any time you feel overwhelmed.

STORY:

There was a girl named Maya. In the summer she would go to her grandmother’s. One day she woke up to her grandmother yelling, “Maya! Come for breakfast!”  She ran to the kitchen and saw puris on the plate. She grabbed one to eat but it was hot and it burned her hand. She cried and Grandma poured cold water on her hands. Maya was mad because she couldn’t do anything all day and spent the rest of the day moping. At night, Grandma asked Maya “Have you said your bedtime prayer?” 

Maya prayed “Thank you Bhagvan for everything. But I’m upset at your for letting my hand burn.” 

The next day, Maya felt better. Later Grandma came to take her to temple. On the way, they saw a beggar and Grandma gave her money. The beggar had bandaged hands and was missing fingers. Maya felt bad and asked Grandma “What happened to that person’s hands?”

Grandma said “He has a disease where he can’t feel his fingers or toes. It’s good when you feel pain because it is a message from your body to pay attention.

Later that night at bedtime, Maya said her prayers “Thank you Bhagvan for this day. I hope the beggar is ok and goes to the hospital. I’m glad I can feel pain.”

MESSAGE:

Be grateful for everything, even pain!

RAW:

Every night, whatever food is for dinner, you have to finish it without complaining.

Notes by Devank Narayan

Review: Last week, we learnt a story about a greedy mouse that got stuck in a basket and got eaten because it ate too much corn. We also learned that we cannot only prioritize our desires, but we should prioritize our needs. 

Story: A big city driver was at his last stop on shift and honked when the passenger wouldn’t come out of her home. When the driver got a glimpse of her house, he thought that it looked almost as if no one lived there. He helped her get her stuff. She asked him to drive through downtown to go to the address she gave him. He said it wasn’t the fastest route, and she replied that she was in no hurry because she was going through hospice. He was very concerned. They took their time in the car, taking multiple hours. When they arrived, two gentlemen picked her up as if they expected her. He said there was no charge and he hugged her. Then they went their separate ways. He didn’t pick up any other passengers that night. He was thinking about what would happen if that woman had gotten an impatient and rude driver who wouldn’t take their time. He felt as if that were the most important moment in his life, helping that woman.

 Lesson: How would it feel if your teacher always hovered over you and shouted at you while you tried to learn to read? How would that feel compared to someone who is patient and kind? We are happier when we are honest and virtuous. Sometimes we struggle to live up to what is right. But when you are associated with people who are like that, it isn’t as hard. When we say we are bored we forget everything is always trying to teach us.    

Activity: Think about what is your favorite memory, your most favorite memory ever. Now how were you feeling at that time? You would notice that most people wouldn’t say angry. If you were happy all the time, everyone would be happy around you. But if you were mad, everyone wouldn’t be happy all the time when they are around. So if you want to have happy memories only all the time, you should be almost always happy and not roaming around angry all the time.

RAW: Anytime you are feeling overwhelmed, or sad, or mad, or excited, or even angry, take five deep breaths and try to calm yourself down.

=====================================================================

Notes By Manav and Viyom Mistry

Raw From Last Week: When you want something ask yourself if it is a need or a want.

Review: A mouse came across a basket of corn and it ate too much. He needed to leave, but he was too full and big to leave through the hole.  did that repeatedly. Then a cat came and ate him while he was asleep. True freedom is to be able to control your senses or cravings. You need moderation in everything. 

Story: A big city taxi driver parked near an old person’s house. When the old person stepped out the door the taxi driver looked into the house, and it looked like no one had been living in there for a long time. Then the old person got into the taxi. Then she went to Hospice, but on the way there she told the taxi driver to drive around the city. She told him to go to where she was a little girl. Then after he dropped her off at the Hospice he didn’t pick up or drop off anybody else that day. He didn’t get any more money that day either. He thought that was the most important moment of his life.

Lesson From The Story: Embrace what is natural. People are stronger and happier when they are honest, kind, and understanding.

Activity: What is your favorite memory and how did you feel? If you want good memories you have to be good and happy everywhere.

Raw: When you are feeling overwhelmed take five deep breaths and see what happens.

Notes by Naami Deo

Review

A boy who had a robot who took everything that was on the floor and gave it to people who actually needed it. 

Story

There was a greedy rat who found a basket of  corn.

He made a small hole and climbed in and saw the corn he ate so much that when he went to get out he couldn’t get out and started crying. Soon a rabbit came and asked what happened he said ‘I ate corn and I can’t get out .

The rabbit said to sleep in the morning and then get out so he was going to but in the morning he saw the corn and ate it again and couldn’t get out so he went to sleep again later a cat came and smelled him so…it ate him THE END

Lesson

One shouldn’t be greedy and content with what we have. Too much of something is never good. Technically there is never too much of Japa. 

Activity

We discussed these questions:

• What’s your favorite thing to do? While you are doing your favorite thing or eating your favorite food and someone asks if they can have it or join you, would you share?

• It is late, parents are asking you to go to bed, but you can’t give up the activity you are doing. You are almost finished, then what do you do?

• Once you get bored of doing that thing or food and you kept of eating, wouldn’t you stomach hurt after a time?

• Too much of something is never good. 

Reflection Adventure of the Week 

When you want something, ask yourself if it’s a want or a need and wait to make the decision to get it or sleep on it. 

=========================================================

Notes by Savitha Somnath Buono

RECAP: Review of the story about Jeeva and the robot butler. The old RAW was to clean up a portion of your room (if it is messy).

STORY: Once there was a greedy mouse that lived in a farmer’s house. One day he saw a basket full of corn. He wanted to eat some so he nibbled his way through the basket. He ate so much he almost couldn’t move. Then he tried to get out through the basket hole but realized that he was too fat now. He started crying, worried that he could never get out. Suddenly a rabbit heard his cries and came to help. The rabbit told the mouse to rest until the next day as he would become small again. The mouse agreed and did so. The next day, he forgot about trying to get out and started eating the corn again. Yet again, he couldn’t fit back out of the hole after eating too much. He remembered the rabbit’s advice and decided to try again for the next day. But when he was asleep, a cat came along, opened the basket lit and ate him. (A very sad story, sniff).

MESSAGE: Don’t get distracted or tempted by your desires because they make you forget your responsibilities.

ACTIVITY: We wrote our favorite food or item. Your friend came up and asked to share it with you but you were so into what you were doing that you didn’t hear them. Then you had to imagine that your parents came to call you to dinner but you were still into what you were doing and didn’t hear them. Now both your friend and your parents are upset with you. Imagine how they feel.

RAW: When you want something, think about whether it is a need or a want. 

Notes by Devank Narayan

Review: Last week, we learnt a story about sacrifice and compromise. We also learnt about how important it is to be grateful for what we have.

Story: Jiva lived in a futuristic home that had everything one could want. But Jiva didn’t care about helping around the house. His parents had bought him a robot butler and he was super happy because it helped his bedroom be clean. He left all his clothes on the ground and his robot butler cleaned it but the robot butler actually started hiding his stuff! One day the robot heard Jiva complaining and he gave Jiva some of his clothes and toys and Jiva got mad at him. Robot said, “I am programmed to give the clothes that you do not use to poor people who actually use and value them”. Jiva felt ashamed. He felt like he was complaining too much and that his room was so cluttered his head felt cluttered. Now that the robot butler came his room was super clean and his head didn’t feel cluttered anymore. 

Lesson: You should always clean your room so that it is clean and not stinky and you shouldn’t assume before you know anything about it. We should be grateful for what we have. Don’t judge a book by its cover. You should know the importance of taking care of what you have. Imagine waking up late for school. You are rushing out the door, your room is dirty, you don’t have one of your shoes on and everything is just messy. Organize the external by making everything clean and knowing where everything is to make it accessible. Organize the inside (your brain) by making a planner and making your brain feel lighter by putting everything you have in your brain onto a diary or planner.  

Activity: Think about the place in your house or room where there is a lot of stuff that you don’t use and is very untidy and go through that space to see what you might be able to donate, or stuff that you kind of just overlook and tidy the place while finding things that you don’t use. This can make things more accessible if you clean up. 

RAW: Each day pick a space in your house and tidy it up/organize it. 

=====================================================================

Notes By Manav and Viyom Mistry

Raw from last week: Think of somebody that helped you and thank them in your mind.

Review: A boy didn’t want to let his mom go to events because she only had one eye and was embarrassed by her. When he grew up, he got rich and didn’t take care of his mom. His mom gave him her own eye to live a successful and happy life. The mother was happy because her son was happy. The mother put her son’s happiness above her own happiness.

Story: Jeeva lived in a futuristic house, and he was very lazy. His parents bought him a robot butler, so it could clean the house. Butler also cooked good food. But it kept hiding Jeeva’s favorite things. Jeeva started spying on the robot. The robot said it was hiding and giving away the things at night because Jeeva was treating the items like he didn’t need them. Then it gave the stuff away that Jeeva didn’t need. 

Lesson from the story: Know the importance of taking care of things.

Activity: Think about a spot in your house and tidy it up.

Raw: Pick a spot in your house and clean it up. Pick a new spot in your house every day to tidy up.

Notes by Savitha Somnath Buono

REVIEW:  Last week’s story was about Jeeva and Ishwara. They tried to enter a magic garden and to enter, you needed to be a good person. 

The 3 Ls

LIVE (upto what is right)

LEARN (Always!)

LEAVE (a place better than you found it)

The old RAW was to realize when someone is doing the 3Ls.

STORY: Jeeva was a school boy. His mother had 1 eye. Jeeva disliked her for that. One day, it was Bring-Your-Parent-To School-Day. Jeeva was too embarrassed to bring her to school so he didn’t tell his mother about it. She found out about the event from the newspaper so went to surprise Jeeva at the school. When she got to the school, Jeeva was furious! Everyone teased him. He started shouting at her “Mom! I didn’t want you to come! Why are you here? All my friends teased me! Didn’t you see?” The mom went away crying. Jeeva. He ignored her. 

Many years later, Jeeva was now a rich man. He had a wife and children and they had never met his mother or knew that she had one eye. One day his old school had a reunion. Jeeva attended and had a good time. On the way home, he stopped at his old house and went in. On the table, he saw his mother’s diary and started reading it. He found out that he had had a childhood accident and lost an eye but his mother had donated hers to him. He also found out his mother was had died and left the diary hoping he would find it. She had also written that she had forgiven him for his mean behavior. Jeeva was heartbroken and wished he had known this earlier. 

MESSAGE: Don’t forget the people who help you along the way to meeting your goals.

RAW: Thank someone that helps you a lot. 

=====================================================================

Notes by Naomi Deo

Review 

We talked about  Isha and Jeeva, two friends that want to go to a magical land where you have to be kind. Jeeva went first and saw all of the sad statues. They made him sad but he kept on going. Then he found the gates with an angry statue and a happy statue. Soon the happy statue started talking, asking him what he did to be kind. Jeeva said that he never did anything to hurt anyone. So the happy statue said that he has to become a statue. Jeeva was shocked but he couldn’t say anything because now he was frozen. Soon Isha came along. She saw the sad faces too. But she felt so sad that she gave them water, talked to them and gave them a great big hug. Then she found the gates. The angry statue said that she can only free one of the statues and she said that she chose Jeeva. Before they went inside Jeeva said that they have to bring everyone else inside too so that they could see the beautiful land. 

1. Live up to what is right
2. Learn always
3. Leave the place better than you found it

Story

Jiva’s mom had one eye and he was always embarrassed of her. One time she attended his school event and his friends laughed at him because of his mom’s eye. Later he got mad at her and she cried, but did not argue or complain. When he was older, he got rich and successful and made a family. His family never knew about his mom.  One time she went to his house and he shooed her away but still she was smiling. Later he went to his mom’s house and found his mom’s Diary. Out of curiosity he read it and it said she gave her eye to him because of a car accident as a baby and each time he hurt her she forgave him and she went to his house to see how successful because the doctor said her days are numbered .  Reading this  he cried:[

Lesson

We talked  about  sacrifice and compromise

For example jeeva hated being poor getting laughed at and forgot about his mom = compromise and  his mom  sacrificed her eye for him and each time he hurt her she forgave him because she loves him = sacrifice   

Activity

Dwija didi asked us what’s your favorite thing and person  and would you lend it to them?

R.A.W. 

At the end of each day, close your eyes and in your mind thank them with all your heart.