2013 – SSE Group 4 Lesson Plans

Teacher: Sreenadh Jonnavithula

Attendance: Kavya, Thayany, Yaathika, Manasa, Swetha, Hriday, Aneesh

Lesson Plan: We surveyed the New Year traditions of different religions and communities around the world, and showed that they all followed different calendars and celebrated the New Year at different times. Children read out and summarized quotes from Swami’s New Year discourses over the past few years. The essence of Swami’s message, that there is nothing special about the date picked as the New Year, was emphasized. “Regard every second as a new year and act on that basis. You need not wait for the passing of twelve months to embark on any enterprise. Transform yourselves every moment.” (Jan.1, 1993)

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher:Chandrasekar S

Attendance: Thayani, Vishudhi, Yathika, Pallak, Kavya, Simran, Riya

Lesson Plan Structure:

We discussed the significance of Christmas with the help of the following sub-topics:

1. What Christmas means to me ? – we went around the group listening to students voicing their thoughts
2. We discussed Christmas traditions from various countries
3. We finished the discussion with a Quiz on Christmas ( Based on Swami’s Christmas discourses )

Lesson Plan– Document enclosed

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Teacher:Sushama Tangella

Attendance: Anish, Simiran, Palak, Vishudhi, Thayani, Riya, Yathika

We watched videos on the life of Paramacharya (68th Sankaracharya) and discussed the values he believed in. They realized that the values he believed in are the same values Swami believed in.

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Teacher:Shankar Krishnan

Attendance: Thayany, Diya, Hruday, Isha, Riya and Sai Vishudhi

We had a wonderful discussion on Forgiveness and how it feels to forgive others and some case scenarios.

Please see attached powerpoint and two word documents 1 & 2 that were used. We also saw a short video clip

Video clip – Swami teaching to students

1.How to write exam?
2.How to practice?
3.How to get good grades?
4.How to be a good student?

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Teacher: Suhasini Jonnavithula

Attendance: Kavya, Divya, Thayany and Pallak

Lesson Plan: Forbearance and Patience, one of the Eight Flowers of Worship.

Since the children enacted plays on the Eight Flowers of Worship on Nov 23rd, Swami’s Birthday, we had a short discussion on what the Eight flowers were and went into detail about the Flower of Forbearance.

We studied the Sai Literature on Forbearance from SAI GITA and the material is enclosed.

Life Application: Welcome difficult circumstances as an opportunity to practice Forbearance.

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Teacher:Sundar Venugopalan

Attendance: Thayany, Yaathika, Riya, Vishuddhi, Aarthika, Kavya, Pallak, Simran, Isha, Anish, Hruday

Lesson Plan:

Since it was Ladies Day at the center, we reflected on the significance of the day and the attributes of womanhood as mentioned by Swami. Reflecting on the reasons of the chosen color of the day at the center, green, we discussed the three R’s of Reuse, Reduce and Recycle. We discussed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in detail as a possible end result if the three R’s aren’t followed. We reflected on Swami’s Teachings about respecting Mother nature and following it in our daily lives and in the center. We prayed for the victims of natural disaster, Typoon Kaiyan, and sent Swami’s Love to the victims.

Life Application:

Write a one page summary on what each one is doing to follow the three R’s in their daily life. Prepare a list of recommendations for the center on how we can practice these as a group.

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Teacher: Sushama Tangella

Attendance: Kavya, Vishudhi, Thayani, Yaathika, Anish, Simran, Isha, Riya, Arthika

Lesson plan attached

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Teacher:Sujatha Anant

Attendance: Hriday, Anish, Esha, Vishuddhi, Simran, Divya, Riya, Arthika, Swetha and Kavya

As an extension to avatarhood discussion the children had last week, in this class, we talked about the purpose of life and how an avatar, with particular reference to Swami, comes down in a human form to teach us the way to lead our lives both by precept and by example.

In this context, “Tales to Transform” was the topic which are stories told by Swami in various discourses to convey simple life messages. In each story, the children were asked to guess the later part of the story and analyze the message from it.

Lesson plan attached.

Life Application : “To find one small story from Swami’s discourses and understand its message”.

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Teacher:Krishnan Shankar

Attendance: Hruday Rajput, Sai Vishudhi Chandrasekhar, Isha Joshi, Simran Mohan, Thayany Jeyakumaram, Riya Bhattarai, Aarthika Jeyagandhi, Swetha Hariharan, Divya Dommaraju

Welcome Swami

Significance of Oct 20th Avatar Day

A video Clip on Avatar Day

Nine Point Code of Conduct powerpoint presentation!!

The class started by inviting Swami to class with 3 oms and then what Avatar day meant was discussed along with short video Clip. Also they sang the swami’s first bhajan “Manasa Bhajore” and then we discussed through the 9 point code of conduct. Interesting points were share on how they prayer daily in morning and evening and how they converse with God.

Also they shared the likes and don’t likes and they were given the life lesson regarding chanting 2 times Gayathri daily and speaking sweetly to family members.

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Teacher:Bhaskar Anant

Attendance: Kavya, Vishudhi, Dayani, Isha, Srishti and Hruday

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Teacher:Mani Sundaram Ayer

Attendance: Simran, Vishuddhi, Kavya, Thayani, Ria, Divya, Sweety, Arthika, Isha, Hriday, Anish

Step by step process to attain Divinity.

Ashtanga Yoga by Patanjali

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Teacher: Sundar Venugopalan

Attendance: Thayany, Swetha, Isha, Simran, Divya, Vishudhi, Aarthika, Srishti, Riya

Coinciding with the 175th Birthday of Shirdi Sai Baba, we explored His Teachings, with particular emphasis on the nine forms of devotion. It is a very well known incident that Shirdi Sai Baba gave nine coins to Smt. Laxmibai before leaving his mortal body. These nine coins indicated the nine types of devotion. 1) Shravanam (hearing) 2) Kirtanam (praying) 3) Smaranam (remembering) 4) Padasevanam (resorting to feet) 5) Archanam (worship) 6) Vandanam (bowing) 7) Dasyam (service) 8) Sakhyam (friendship) 9) Atma-Nivedanam (surrender of the self). All these types of Bhakti are included in the Nine Gems of Sai Bhakti, if practiced regularly would surely make us pass the Bhavasagar (ocean of life).

1) Shravanam (hearing): Shravan means listening the glories, stories, plays (lila) of incarnations of God with pure love. The devotee gets absorbed in the hearing of Divine stories and his mind merges in the thought of divinity or his beloved God with deep faith. The mind loses, as it were, its charm for the world. We should hear the stories or lila of God with a sincere heart devoid of the sense of criticism or fault finding.

2) Kirtanam (praying): Kirtan is singing of Lord’s glories. Kirtan destroys devotees all sins and purifies mind and heart of devotee. It gives divine bliss to devotees and it also purifies the whole environment. Kirtan is one of the quickest ways to get oneness with God.

3) Smaranam (remembering): Smaran means remembering God all the time without interruption. This is unbroken memory of the Name and Form of the Lord. There is a rule that whatever we remember all the time in our whole life, we remember the same at the time of death due to our practice. And our next birth depends upon what we remember at the time of death. If we remember God at the time of death, then cycle of birth and death stops and we get liberated and become one with God. So, smaran or remembrance of God is very essential.

4) Padasevanam (resorting to feet): Padasevan is serving the lotus feet of the God. When the devotee constantly and intensely is attached to the Lotus Feet of the Lord he is said to be in the Param Bhakti of Padasevanam.

5) Archanam (worship): In this kaliyuga, the best way to worship the lord is by doing Archana or Worship to his Archa Vigrahas. Worship can be done either through an image or a picture or even in a mental form. Archana is offer beautiful and fragnant flowers in worship of God. God is pleased with whatever we offer him full of love. Lord Krishna said in Gita; Patra(leaves), Puspha (flowers), Jala (water), Toyam (fruits) whatever my devotee offers me with deep love and devotion, I become please with him and I personally come to receive it. The purpose of worship is to please the Lord, to purify the heart through surrender of the ego and love of God.

6) Vandanam (bowing): Vandana is another form of “Bhakti”. We can show towards the Lord. Vandana is prayer and prostration. Humble prostration touching the earth with the eight limbs of the body (Sashtanga-Namaskara), with faith and reverence, before a form of God, or prostration to all beings knowing them to be the forms of the One God, and getting absorbed in the Divine Love of the Lord is termed prostration to God or Vandana. The ego is effaced out completely through devout prayer and prostration to God.

7) Dasyam (service): Dasya Bhakti is the love of God through servant-sentiment. Fulfilling his wishes, realizing his virtues, nature, mystery and glory, considering oneself as a slave of God is Dasya Bhakti. In Dasya Bhakti the devotee considers himself a servant of God.

8) Sakhyam (friendship): Sakhaya bhava utilizes friendship which exists only between equals. God raises the human to His level and becomes one with the soul. The aim of making friend is to be in close company of God all the time, love him and feel oneness with him.

9) Atma-Nivedanam (surrender of the self): Atma-nivedanam means complete self-surrender to God. The devotee offers everything to God, including his body, mind and soul. He keeps nothing for himself. This self- surrender is absolute love for God. By complete surrender of self to God, God takes all responsibility of his devotee. By Atma-nivedana devotees becomes egoless and desire less, experiences oneness with God and merged into God at the end.

The nine modes of Bhakti are the ways in which a devotee attains the Supreme ideal of life. If any of these is faithfully followed, we can reach closer to Swami.

We looked at how Baba practiced all these Himself and gave us practical examples as documented in the Shri Sai Satcharita.

Activity:

Had each student pick one form of devotion which they want to put into practice and had 3 students volunteer and present it to the class in the form of a spontaneous talk.

Life Application:

Locate a copy of the Shri Sai Satcharita, the Life story/Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba and start reading it everyday. They were requested to inform us if they aren’t able to locate a copy of the book, among the suggested resources provided.

Practice one or more forms of devotion everyday and report their experience in the next Class (10/6). Make it a habit to practice these forms of devotion in their daily lives till they become a habit.

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— Dr.Aroon Yusuf workshop: Studying Skills —

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Teacher:Sushama Tangella

Attendance:Kavya, Vishudhi, Simiran, Riya, Yaathika, Isha, Hruday, Anish

Value: Right Conduct

Lesson Plan

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Teacher: Mangala Shankar

Attendance: Pallak, Thayany, Kavya, Swetha and Simran

Lesson Plan : To realize the importance of developing positive thinking and to be optimistic.

a) Welcome Swami : Om, Gayathri 3 times

b) Examples: Story of Dhruva,the young bhaktha of Lord Narayana.

c)Mahatma Gandhi

d)Vivekananda

e)Winston Churchill

References: Divine stories volume 2

Bhajan : Narayan Narayan Bhajaman Narayan

Life Application: Practise to have optimistic thinking even in apparently hopeless situation

Retire Swami.

3 Sai Gayathri’s

Om shanthi shanthi shanthi

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Teacher:Sujatha Anant

Attendance: Thayani and Pallak

We had talked about father’s role in families as stated by Swami, history of Father’s Day, famous Fathers and Father Figures across the world. Kids offered heart-warming responses when asked on how they would pay tribute to their fathers.

Attached is my lesson plan for the day.

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Teacher: Krishnan Iyer

Attendance: Thayani, Simran

Value : Peace

Subvalue : Purity

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher: Mani Sundaram

Attendance: Palak

Lesson Plan:

1. Five human Values to sanctify our lives as Humans. Discussed each of the values to be imbibed in day-today lives with our thought, word and deed united.

2. Beware of Six Internal Enemies – Kama, Krodha, Lobh, Moha, Mad, Maatsarya –Do not allows them any space in your lives.

3. Ceiling on Desires … Practice Contentment and desire for only minimal needs.

Activity: Apply the five human values in your day to day lives. Think of ways to apply Love and Compassion to your family and community around you.

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Teacher: Sujatha Anant

Attendance: Kavya, Thayani, Manasa, Sweetie, Phallak, Simran

Lesson Plan

We talked about Mothers Day and its significance, when it started being observed in this country and in other countries, who initiated this day in history and the famous mothers around the world including our Lord and Mother Eswarammaa. Kids shared what they did and how they paid tribute to their mothers. As part of the activity, we had a trivia between two teams, Mother Eswaramma and Mother Teresa. In addition, kids interviewed a Mom on her experiences being a mom and how she implemented Swami’s principles in raising her children. Overall, it was a nice class and a positive experience for all of us.

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Teacher: Chandra Sekhar

Attendance: Kavya, Swetha, Thayani, Simran, Yaathika

Topic: The Power of “Smile”

We started our discussion by watching a video from ted.com. The video is titled ” The hidden power of smiling”. Ron Gutman the speaker, reviews a raft of studies about smiling, and reveals some surprising results like how our smile can be a predictor of how long we will live and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being. The video helped us learn more about this evolutionarily contagious behavior.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_gutman_the_hidden_power_of_smiling.html

After the video we went around the group gathering thoughts on what each of the students felt about the power of a smile. What followed was an active interaction among the group. Subsequently we switched to the following story.

Story: Winning Smile

This story concerns the legendary sage Mulla Nasruddin, whose humourous tales contain a delightful down to earth wisdom which cross cultures and centuries. Many different middle-eastern regions claim him to be their own, where the ever popular Nasruddin is often shown besting his worldly superiors. As in the following anecdote, he somehow always manages to score the winning point.

The Sultan of Arabia had grown very fond of Mulla Nasruddin and often took him along on his travels. Once, while on a journey, the royal caravan approached a small nondescript town in the desert.

On a whim, the Sultan said to the Mulla, “I wonder if people would know me in this small place. Let us stop my entourage here and enter the town on foot, and then we’ll see if they can recognize me.”

Accordingly, they dismounted and walked down the main road of the dusty town. The Sultan was surprised to see that many people smiled at Nasruddin, but ignored him completely.

Irritated and a trifle angry, he said, “I see that the people here know you but they don’t know me!” “They don’t know me either, Your Excellency!” replied the Mulla, innocently. “Then why did they only smile at you?” questioned the Sultan. “Because I smiled at them.” said Nasruddin, smiling.

Key message:

This simple tale beautifully portrays how the simplicity of a childlike smile can speak more than worldly finery and authority. Often we may believe in the power of our intelligence, or our ability to impress or argue a point, but fundamentally when we express the five human values as ‘love in action’ we will more often than not receive a response from people’s hearts and create little miracles of love. Sometimes the silent strength hidden in our soul can blossom forth in a simple smile

Life Application:

During the current week, look out for ways and means to explore the power of a smile

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Teacher:Mani Sundaram Ayer

Attendance: Swetha, Thayani and Simran

Lesson Plan: His Life is his message – We watched a video by Richard Bock on the life and message of Swami.

After that the key messages of Swami were discussed . Students were asked to analyze the message deeper.

Seva – it is not enough to serve the community but is important to see the Lord in those being served.

Love – it is not enough to love those who are already near & dear but is important to Love one & all you come in contact.

Life Application: Students were asked to write a page about the key messages of Swami per video by Richard Bock and how would they imbibe them in their life to make their life his message. They are to submit this write-up in the next 2 weeks.

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Teacher:Mangala Shankar

Attendance: Thayany, Yaathika, Simran and Pallak

Lesson Plan : To realize the importance of developing truth based on love. Significance of Ramanavami and Earth day discussion

a) Welcome Swami : Om, Gayathri 3 times

b) Examples: Rama story from Ramayana- to discuss the theme based on the lesson plan as per References from Swami’s discourses and speeches.

c) References : Ramakatha Rasavahini

Summer showers in Brindavan 1996 chapter 2-Glory of Rama Thathwa

Sathya Sai Speaks Vol 3 Chapter 10 True Nature of Raama

Sai Echoes from Kodai Hills 1998 – Chapter 3 Truth based on love is the best dharma.

d) Taught Sathyam Gyanam Anantham Brahma

e) Life Application

Practice truth in your daily life. Chant Om Sri Sai Ram everyday 9 times.

f) Retire Swami. 3 Sai Gayathri’s Om shanthi shanthi shanthi

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher: Sailaja Challapalli

Attendance: Kavya, Yaathika, Simran, Thayani

Affirmation:–I yearn for Swami’s divine presence with me.

Bhajan–Swami take my hand

Story-Chinna Katha, Sincere Yearning and sure Grace

Life Application–Chant 3 Sai Gayathris every day plus continue doing Sadhana with lots of love. At the end a puzzle was given to students to solve.

Story details

There was once a Sultan, ruling over the region of Mathura, Brindavan and other places, situated on the banks of River Yamuna. During his reign, the emperor of Vijayanagara (a kingdom in the South of India), came on pilgrimage and stayed at Brindavan for a few days to pay homage to Lord Krishna in the temple there. The Sultan understood that the Emperor had come only to pay respects to that One in the shrine at Brindavan, and he decided to himself, come what may, he would too have that spiritual experience.

So late one night he went and called out before the closed doors of the temple, “Who is inside?” He heard a voice, which gave the reply. “Govind Maharaj and Radha Rani (The Lord Krishna, the King, and Radha, the Queen)!” The Sultan was now sure that there were two persons living inside, a Super-Emperor and His Super-Empress. He was filled with an agonizing yearning to see the distinguished occupants of the temple. He waited outside the door, without food or drink for three full days. He was overcome with hunger and thirst; but he did not stir, for he was afraid the Imperial Couple may emerge any moment and he might miss the Darshan.

That night, when the town was asleep, just before midnight Govind Maharaj and Radha Rani emerged from the shrine. They signed to him to follow him. They were magnificently dressed and had elaborately bejeweled headgear, necklaces, wristlets and ornaments for the hands and feet. They moved on until they reached the banks of the Yamuna, where thousands of Gopas and Gopis (cowherd devotees) were gathered to welcome them. There was music and dance in the bright moonlight, heavenly joy shone on every face. At 4 a.m. they returned to the temple and before they passed through the closed door, they gave into the hands of the Sultan the kankanas they wore on their wrists, for safekeeping. Before he could say anything, they had gone.

A party of priests came along at that time, in the morning hour, and seeing the Sultan there, asked him as to why he was standing there and what he had in his hands. They had come to open the locks of the inner doors and inaugurate the ceremonials of the day, with Suprabhatham and Nagarasamkirtan (morning prayers and chantings).

The Sultan said, “Govind Maharaj and Radha Rani have just gone in; I was with them at the Yamuna Bank from midnight till a few minutes ago. They gave me these kankanas for safekeeping. I don’t know why.”

They surmised he was a thief who, caught in the act, was spinning a yarn and so bound him to punish him. But they found the locks unbroken, everything intact. Only the idol of Lord Krishna had no gold kankanas! Now they were convinced that the man outside was a great Bhakta (devotee), who had the unique vision of the Lord. They honored him and craved pardon for the wrong perpetrated in ignorance. Such is the reward for sincere yearning; unlimited ananda (bliss) can be earned through implicit faith in God.

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Teacher:Chandra Shekar

Attendance: Thayany, Pallak, Simran, Kavya and Yaathika

Lesson Plan enclosed on the Effects of keeping Good company.

The company of the good weans one away from false attachments; from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, when the delusion ends, the mind becomes unwavering and steady and from an unwavering and steady mind comes liberation

During the session we discussed in detail the opportunity given to us to be part of the Sai Center. This gives us the required good company and the foundation to practice Swami’s teachings.

Life Application:

We discussed about the aspects the students have learned from SSE. Looking forward, the students were requested to think about the aspects they would like to focus and share the same in the next SSE session

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March 30th- Group 3

SSE teacher: Tanuja Sankar

Attendance: Kavya

WATCH your Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character & Heart

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has instructed us to WATCH our Words, Actions, Thoughts,

Character and Heart. Today He is not with us in His physical form but His words will remain with us forever. Once when Swami was blessing a group of devotees a lady called out to Him loudly and said, “I Love You Swami”. Baba turned to her and responded and said, “Love My Words”! Swami’s words are not to be taken lightly.

March 31, 2013

Teacher: Krishnan Iyer

Attendance: Yaathika, Simran, Thayany, Kavya and Pallak

Lesson Plan:

Celebrating 150 years of Swami Vivekanda and the 15 laws of Life as expounded by the Saint.

Some of the laws are below:

Love Is The Law Of Life: All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying.

It’s Your Outlook That Matters: It is our own mental attitude, which makes the world what it is for us.

Life is Beautiful: First, believe in this world – that there is meaning behind everything. Everything in the world is good, is holy and beautiful.

It’s The Way You Feel: Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha.

Don’t Play the Blame Game: Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so.

Uphold Your Ideals: Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea

Listen to Your Soul: You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual.

Nothing Is Impossible: Never think there is anything impossible for the soul

You Have The Power: All the powers in the universe are already ours.

Be Truthful: Everything can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed

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Teacher:Mangala Shankar

Attendance: Thayany, Simran, Yaathika, Pallak Malhotra

To realize the importance of developing forbearance in our lives.

a) Welcome Swami : Om, Gayathri 3 times

b) Examples: Rama and Sugriva story, Buddha and Angulimala story, Jackie Robinson story

Swami’s quote on Forbearance:

The tree can teach you forbearance and tolerance. It offers shade to all, irrespective of age, sex or religion, nationality or status. It helps with fruit and shade even to the foe who lays his axe on its trunk!

c) References : Ramkatha Rasavahini for Rama and Sugriva story. chapters 4 and 5 (An ally accepted and Success in the search) Sanathana Sarathi Jan 85/ Premavahini for Angulimala and Buddha Story Character crafting lesson plan # 3 Jackie Robinson ( Brief discussion)

d) Taught Repeat His Name bhajan

e) Life Application

Practice forbearance in your daily life this week. Write down in your journal what happened and the manner in which we handle each issue by the act of forbearing.

f) Retire Swami. 3 Sai Gayathri’s

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher:Bhaskar Anant and Vijay Reddy

Attendance: Thayani, Simran, Yaathika and Swetha

Discussion on Etiquette and Sai Etiquette which involves behavior in social and Sai gatherings and drawing parallels to those in Swami’s life and His teachings.

Lesson Plan Attached

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Teacher: Mani Sundaram

… No class conducted due to zero attendance …

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Teacher:Sushma Tangella

Attendance: Kavya, Simiran, Swetha, Thayani

Namasmarana- Sadhana

3 Oms, 3 Gayatris

Why should we do Sadhana?

Sadhana is the easiest namasmarana. When there is no electricity, It is like keeping a lamp at the entrance of the house, so the lights both inside and outside.

Even if there is a little curd in a pot full of milk. It will make a pot of curd. Similiarly even a bit of bad qualities will not let you attain God. So you have to be 100% good not 99%. You should try your best to Avoid Bad Company (ABC)..

What is the best Sadhana for Kaliyuga?

Namasmarana.

Why should we do Namasmara?

Mind is like a monkey (mad, drunk, bitten by scorpion) it can go to any extent. Mind is like a Genee. You should keep it engaged. (discuss Story of genee going up and down the pole). The best way to keep it away from bad thoughts is to keep your mind engaged in namasmarana.

Quote: Empty mind is a devil’s workshop.

Power comes from so many poles and substations to our home. To get recharged (we have to do sadhana) every link in the chain is importange, even if one link is broken you have start again. So if you stop namasmarana then you will loose connectivity with god.

Seeking God Within:

Mind is wife, Atma is husband. If mind and atma are in harmony then it is union with god. Otherwise it is like getting a divorce. When you are able to shut your mind then it will sparkle your inner sled and becomes precious like a diamond.

Namasmarana is love of atma. Focus one thought first, then relinquish absolute nothingness.

God is like the sun, mind is like an object. Do not blame the sun for the shadow of the object. Shadow is due to the object. So control your mind and try to nullify the mind.

When you are inside a train and look outside. If your train is still and the other train is moving, you will feel you are moving. That is maya. Look inside not outside. SAI-See Always Inside.

When a bird sitting on a tree branch during storm, is calm. If the branch breaks, it flies to another branch. It does not panic, as it depends on its wings. So also you should depend on your innerself.

Swami- How many know how to drive a car? How many gears does it have? 4

1. Happiness
2. Sorrow
3. Happiness
4. Sorrow

Problem comes when you change the gear, at the time when you transit from happiness to sorrow and sorrow to happiness, you should press the clutch (Surrender) . That is a gift of god to us.

Critical factors for success – Patience and perseverness

Monkey is never satisfied keeps jumping – Man keeps changing Gods and Sadhana, must stay steady to attain god.

Happiness is union with God. Sadhana is way to happiness

You cannot stop a running train with your hands, but with the push of a button. God is that button. Have faith and do Sadhana.

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Teacher: Suhasini Jonnavithula

Attendance: Thayany Jeykumaran

Value: Right Action Subvalue: Conscience

QUOTE: ” The body is a temple of God. In every body, God is installed, whether the owner of the body recognizes or not. It is God that inspires you to good acts and warns you against bad. Listen to that voice. Obey that voice and you will not come to any harm.”

Reviewed Life Application from last Class about the importance of Prayer.

Story of Samson and Deliah and the pitfalls Samson faced for not listening to the Inner voice, his Conscience which is the Voice of God.

Discussion on Clear conscience and Guilty conscience and the feelings they evoke in us. MAN is the only living creation who has been given the power of discrimination and the capability to distinguish the right from the wrong. Strengthen your capability to Listen to your inner voice, our conscience which is the voice of God by daily prayers, chanting Gayatri, namasmarana, bhajans, meditation and reading Sai Literature.

Methods on how to make things right with God as well as with people.

To make things right with God, we must confess our sins to Him. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

To have a clear conscience, we must not only make things right with God, but we must also make things right with the people whom we have wronged in any way.

1)Make a list of the wrong things you have done and accept in your heart that it was wrong..
2)Don’t procrastinate, but go to or call immediately the person and apologize.
3)Apologize correctly.

Many people do not know how to apologize. Here are some examples of wrong ways to apologize: “If I did anything wrong, I’m sorry.” This apology is not a correct one because you have not really admitted that you did anything wrong. You have not said what your offense was or asked for forgiveness.
“I was wrong, but you were wrong too.” This is wrong because you are trying to excuse yourself. You must take full responsibility for what you did, regardless of what the other person did.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper, but you made me do it.” This is wrong because you are blaming the other person for what you did.

Now let us learn the right way to apologize. To apologize correctly, one should:
a) Say what you did wrong.
b) Not blame anybody else.
c). Ask the person to forgive you and wait for his answer.

4)Don’t make excuses, but accept the blame sincerely and take responsibility for the wrong committed.

5)Make things right with the other person.

Life Application: Keep a diary and note your experiences of listening to the Voice of God, your Conscience and how that helped you face challenging scenarios and be successful with them.

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Teacher:Mangala Shankar

Attendance: Thayany, Kavya, Yaathika, Pallak

Lesson Plan: Understanding the importance of Prayer and Power of Prayer (Document attached)

Life Application: Pray each night and morning upon awakening this week for anyone suffering in your family and/or in the world. Pray chanting 3 times Sai Gayathri every morning and every night.

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Teacher: Mani Sundaram Ayer

Attendance: Thayani

Life of Shri Paramhamsa Yogananda

Early Life : Paramhansa Yogananda was born Mukunda lal Ghosh on Jan 5th,1893. in Gorakhpur India in a devout and well-to-do Bengali family. From early years it was evident to those around that the depth of his awareness and experience of the spiritual was far beyond the ordinary. In his youth, he searched far & wide for an illumined teacher.

In 1910 he met and became a disciple of Shri Yukteshwar Giri a Master in Yoga. On graduation from calcutta university he became a monk when he received his name Paramahansa Yogananda. His ardent desire was to dedicate his life to love & service of God.

Later:

He founded a school for boys with Yoga training with spiritual ideals. He addressed the congress of religions on the Science of religions. He also formed the Self realization fellowship to disseminate his teachings.

He emphasized the underlying unity of all religions.

In 1935 he went for tour of Europe & India. He became a pioneer of Yoga in the west.

Life application :

Write a paragraph on any spiritual sage of India by next week.

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Teacher:Sailaja Challapalli

Attendance: Yaathika, Thayani, Swetha, Simron

Value: Right Action

Subvalue: Duty

What exactly is your duty? Let me summarize for you.

1) Tend your parents with love and gratitude
2) Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara, speak the truth and act virtuously
3) Whenever you have a few moments to spare, repeat the name of the lord, with the form in your mind
4) Never indulge in talking ill of others or try to discover faults in others
5) Do not cause pain to others, in any form

Moral/Ethics Discussion:

Ravi and Surest are very good friends and generally compete for the number 1 rank/position in the class. Since they both are in the same class and attend the same school, they study together for tests/examinations. Their teacher encourages the student to work/study together as a team.

On the night before their final exam, Ravi and Suresh are working on a tough problem. Their teacher has said that the final exam will include two problems very similar to the one they are working on. It is late in the night (about 11:30 PM) and the problem is NOT yet solved; Ravi and Suresh have run out of ideas! Both Ravi and Suresh are very disappointed and return back to their respective homes. There is no time to get help from the teacher since the final exam is at 7 AM the next morning.

It is 5:30 AM in the morning (the next day) of the exam. Suresh gets a brilliant idea (after a good night sleep) and he quickly sits down at his desk and solves the problem. Ravi does not get any such ideas. Should Suresh call Ravi and let him know how to solve the problem? (Please remember that the final exam will include two problems similar to this problem and both compete for the first rank and this brings with it a prize and a scholarship!)

Life Application–Asked kids to think about their duties towards society

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Teacher: Sushama Tangella

Attendance: Simiran, Thayani, Kavya, Yaathika

Lesson Plan

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Teacher:Krishnan Shankar

Attendance: Kavya, Thayani, Svetha

1.Welcome Swami

2.Swami Visit to East – Africa video

3.Martin Luther King

4.Discussion on Faith

5.Retire Swami

6.References

Attachments: Lesson Plan Faith

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Teacher:Krishnan Iyer

Attendance: Kavya, Thayani, Yathika

Religions Of the World – Hinduism – Swami Vivekananda

1) Celebrating 150 Years – Swami Vivekananda
2) Amazing Life Incidents Of Swami Vivekananda Download
3) 15 Laws Of Life By Swami Vivekananda Download
4) Swami Vivekananda’s message Vivek Vani – A powerpoint presentation. Download
Key take from the class was “Fearlessness” to be practiced in day to day life. See attached documents.

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Teacher: Mani Ayer and Chandra Shekhar

Attendance: Thayani, Shweta

Lesson Plan: Unity of thought, word & deed as reflected in our body language.

We discussed how our body language is able to provide clues about the state of mind when a person is communicating. Unity of thought word & deed will build inner confidence and reflects a positive body language when speaking.

When a person is speaking something different from what he is feeling or thinking …the body language would provide clear hints of the incorrect state of mind.

Life Application: Observe/Check for the body language of people both negative and positive. Use these body language to gain better insight into your actions.

We closed with 3 Oms & Shanti.

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