February 14 2024

Notes by Sita Somnath Buono

RECAP:

Review of last week’s story about 2 friends and statues. We learned about three L’s on to be a good person. 

1.       LIVE upto what is right

2.       LEARN always

3.       LEAVE a place better than it was before.

Last week’s RAW was to recognize when someone is a good person.

ACTIVITY:

We brought our favorite snack to class and then heard the story.

STORY

One day there was a group of monkeys who walked by a temple and overheard a Swami saying that if you fasted on Ekadashi, Vishnu would bless you. They decided to fast and get blessed. When Ekadashi came, Chichu, a little monkey thought it was good to be prepared and said, “We should find bananas so we know where they are when we are done fasting”.

The leader of the monkeys disagreed but the rest of the monkeys decided to follow Chichu. They found a banana tree and then Chichu said “Let us just grab some bananas” So the monkeys grabbed some bananas. Then Chichu said, “Let us just peel the bananas so we don’t have to do it tomorrow.” So they did.

Then Chichu said “Let’s hold the bananas in our mouths” and then he was so tempted by the banana in his mouth, he ended up eating it.

MESSAGE:

Chichu has a resolve to fast and had good intentions, but he let temptations get in the way of his virtues. Sowmya Aunty told us the three Rs

1.       REMOVE – remove the temptation. If Chichu hadn’t gotten near the banana, he wouldn’t have gotten tempted in the first place.

2.       RESIST – if you can’t remove a temptation, you should resist it.

3.       RENEW – Chichu should have reminded herself about her resolve to fast.

It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t eat yummy food or do other things like screen time; it just means we should set limits for those things.

RAW:

Watch out for your temptations and if you use the 3Rs to resist temptation, then note it down.

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Notes by Saamya Deo

Review

Last week we learned what steps to take to be good. 

1. Always live up to what is right
2. Learn always
3. Leave wherever you go a better place than you found it

Last week’s RAW: When you see someone being a good person, remember the 3 L’s and write it down. 

Story

A group of monkeys are passing by a temple when they hear Swamiji say that it is blessed to fast on Ekadashi. Ekadashi is twice a month. It is when we take time out to celebrate the glories of Bhagvan Vishnu. The monkeys decide to fast as well! On Ekadashi, they wake up and take a bath in the river, singing songs about Bhagvan Vishnu. One of the monkey’s, Chichu, decided to go hunt for food so that when they are done fasting, they can eat. He goes out far and wide and comes across a banana tree. He sits down to rest and after some time decides that he might as well pluck the bananas so they are ready to eat. Looking at the banana on the ground, Chichu decides to pick it up in his hands. Soon, the banana started to become mushy so he peels the banana in his palms. 5 minutes later, the banana is gone, all the way down Chichu’s stomach. 

Lesson

Chichu resolved to fast but temptation swallowed him whole!

How to handle temptation: 

1. Remove – Get your temptation out of your eyesight
2. Resist – Don’t give in to the temptation, instead, stick to what is right
3. Renew – Keep reminding yourself of your resolve

RAW:

Make a resolve and watch out for temptations. If you resist or remove it, write it down!