Summer Camp 2019 - Day 5 - Camp Report
Our fifth day here also started peacefully, with the holy chanting of the “Medha Sooktam” by the children, under the guidance of Swamiji, after the morning milk. The yoga session led by Shruti didi followed the chanting and children performed their asanas, with an improved flexibility.
The delicious breakfast was followed by the chanting of the “NamaRamayana” and “Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak”, led by Srijit bhaiya, Priya didi, Rajeev bhaiya and Monisha didi. The children are chanting with an increased fervour, as they have learnt the stotras, almost perfectly.
Gopalji took up the next session, with a talk, enlightening the children about the symbolism in the temples. He talked to the children, about how scientifically the temples, especially the ancient ones, were planned. For example, he told that the ‘gopura’, at the entrance of the temple has the images of many different Gods on it. This is to show us, that we human beings interact with so many people in our day-to-day lives. ‘Gopura’ is indicative of the activities in the material world and after we cross it, into the temple, we are meant to forget the material world and its distractions. We prostrate at the ‘balipeetha’ to, sort of, request the Lord to forgive all the negative karmas that have been committed by us. He also told us that the ‘vahanas’ that we see outside the sanctum-sanctorum are actually like the people who take us to the Lord. It also is a method of showing that any activity that is undertaken by us, needs the help of nature and everything around us. The purohit is like the guide/teacher/boss who mentors the students/subordinates. It was a very illuminating session and children have been asked to observe the temples that they visit.
Next was an exuberant and enthusiastic workshop on the topic ‘Communication’ by Srijit bhaiya. He told the children that communication is said to be effective only if the listener understands what the speaker conveys. There is something called the ‘structure of communication’ which needs to have an opening, a body and a conclusion. If the transition between the opening, the body and the conclusion is smooth and seamless, the result will be a very effective and complete communication. He highlighted the importance of many aspects like body language, use of precise words, crispness and clarity in speech, rate of speech (how quickly or slowly you speak) and intonation of the words and sentences. Many were the activities, interspersed with real life situations faced by the children and they were able to come out with how effective the communication could have been, in those situations. A very energetic workshop indeed, where the children have imbibed so many skills, which would serve them, for their life.
The chanting of chapter 15 of Bhagavad Geeta was followed by the usual sumptuous lunch, after which the children dispersed for their afternoon siesta/rest/relaxation.
Swamiji continued with his discourse on “Sundarakanda”. Swamiji narrated, how Hanuman, finally, after delivering the message to Sita, asked her permission to eat the fruits of the Ashoka vana. Seeing the destruction caused by Hanuman, Ravana sent many rakshasas of his formidable army, to counter him. Everyone was killed by Hanuman, including a son of Ravana, Akshaya Kumara. Hanuman’s strength came from his absolute and complete faith, that the Lord of the universe is supporting him. Indrajit managed to capture Hanuman and brought him to Ravana’s court. Three questions were asked by Ravana – by whose orders did you do this, don’t you know about my glory, why did you destroy my grove – and they were given fitting replies by Hanuman. Swamiji gave us all the message that a person who doesn’t have the grace of God is like the rivers which run dry, after the monsoon.
There was the daily round of an hour’s outdoor games, after which the children assembled in the temple for their vibrant singing of bhajans, led by Priya didi, Srijit bhaiya, Monisha didi and Rajeev bhaiya. These children are, as it is, so high spirited and when they start the bhajans, with their high tempo, the effect is almost unexplainable. There was also a daily round of a ‘nama japa’ for about 5 minutes, after the bhajans. The game for the day was the ‘taboo’ game, where the team was asked to guess the word given, without using the words which are taboo or not allowed. It was a great fun game for them and as we had a little time left, we also played ‘jam’, which stands for ‘just-a-minute’. The children were asked to talk about a topic, for a minute, without stuttering and repeating the sentences.
Dinner was a slightly different affair. Children were made to sit in groups of 11, with one volunteer per group. “Kai-thu-thu” was done and it brought out a lot more of the feeling of belongingness/oneness, between the volunteers and the children. Many children told us that they ate a lot more than their regular portions of rice and loved the whole experience. In fact, many were the children who were heard telling us that they want to try this at their homes after getting back!
Their regular after dinner relaxation of playing or circumambulation of the Ganapati or the informal session with Swamiji also concluded, and the serene ashram atmosphere here lulled, both the children and volunteers, to another night of blissful sleep.
The delicious breakfast was followed by the chanting of the “NamaRamayana” and “Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak”, led by Srijit bhaiya, Priya didi, Rajeev bhaiya and Monisha didi. The children are chanting with an increased fervour, as they have learnt the stotras, almost perfectly.
Gopalji took up the next session, with a talk, enlightening the children about the symbolism in the temples. He talked to the children, about how scientifically the temples, especially the ancient ones, were planned. For example, he told that the ‘gopura’, at the entrance of the temple has the images of many different Gods on it. This is to show us, that we human beings interact with so many people in our day-to-day lives. ‘Gopura’ is indicative of the activities in the material world and after we cross it, into the temple, we are meant to forget the material world and its distractions. We prostrate at the ‘balipeetha’ to, sort of, request the Lord to forgive all the negative karmas that have been committed by us. He also told us that the ‘vahanas’ that we see outside the sanctum-sanctorum are actually like the people who take us to the Lord. It also is a method of showing that any activity that is undertaken by us, needs the help of nature and everything around us. The purohit is like the guide/teacher/boss who mentors the students/subordinates. It was a very illuminating session and children have been asked to observe the temples that they visit.
Next was an exuberant and enthusiastic workshop on the topic ‘Communication’ by Srijit bhaiya. He told the children that communication is said to be effective only if the listener understands what the speaker conveys. There is something called the ‘structure of communication’ which needs to have an opening, a body and a conclusion. If the transition between the opening, the body and the conclusion is smooth and seamless, the result will be a very effective and complete communication. He highlighted the importance of many aspects like body language, use of precise words, crispness and clarity in speech, rate of speech (how quickly or slowly you speak) and intonation of the words and sentences. Many were the activities, interspersed with real life situations faced by the children and they were able to come out with how effective the communication could have been, in those situations. A very energetic workshop indeed, where the children have imbibed so many skills, which would serve them, for their life.
The chanting of chapter 15 of Bhagavad Geeta was followed by the usual sumptuous lunch, after which the children dispersed for their afternoon siesta/rest/relaxation.
Swamiji continued with his discourse on “Sundarakanda”. Swamiji narrated, how Hanuman, finally, after delivering the message to Sita, asked her permission to eat the fruits of the Ashoka vana. Seeing the destruction caused by Hanuman, Ravana sent many rakshasas of his formidable army, to counter him. Everyone was killed by Hanuman, including a son of Ravana, Akshaya Kumara. Hanuman’s strength came from his absolute and complete faith, that the Lord of the universe is supporting him. Indrajit managed to capture Hanuman and brought him to Ravana’s court. Three questions were asked by Ravana – by whose orders did you do this, don’t you know about my glory, why did you destroy my grove – and they were given fitting replies by Hanuman. Swamiji gave us all the message that a person who doesn’t have the grace of God is like the rivers which run dry, after the monsoon.
There was the daily round of an hour’s outdoor games, after which the children assembled in the temple for their vibrant singing of bhajans, led by Priya didi, Srijit bhaiya, Monisha didi and Rajeev bhaiya. These children are, as it is, so high spirited and when they start the bhajans, with their high tempo, the effect is almost unexplainable. There was also a daily round of a ‘nama japa’ for about 5 minutes, after the bhajans. The game for the day was the ‘taboo’ game, where the team was asked to guess the word given, without using the words which are taboo or not allowed. It was a great fun game for them and as we had a little time left, we also played ‘jam’, which stands for ‘just-a-minute’. The children were asked to talk about a topic, for a minute, without stuttering and repeating the sentences.
Dinner was a slightly different affair. Children were made to sit in groups of 11, with one volunteer per group. “Kai-thu-thu” was done and it brought out a lot more of the feeling of belongingness/oneness, between the volunteers and the children. Many children told us that they ate a lot more than their regular portions of rice and loved the whole experience. In fact, many were the children who were heard telling us that they want to try this at their homes after getting back!
Their regular after dinner relaxation of playing or circumambulation of the Ganapati or the informal session with Swamiji also concluded, and the serene ashram atmosphere here lulled, both the children and volunteers, to another night of blissful sleep.
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