Check out January’s Ghar Sabha Syllabus: • Celebrate Uttarayan! • Starting Fresh • Introspection • Vasant Panchmi • India’s Republic day Nourish your body, mind & family…one meal at a time! Start the year off right and eat together! For adults, increasing time constraints due to school or work can begin to impact eating habits in a negative way. In a study published in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers observed that while young adults enjoy and value time spent eating with others, 35% of males and 42% of females reported lacking time to sit down and eat a meal. It was also noted, "eating on the run" was related to higher consumption of unhealthy items and lower consumption of many healthful foods. Social eating was associated with greater intake of several healthful foods (e.g., vegetables) and with higher intakes of calcium and fiber among males. In contrast, "eating on the run" was associated with higher intakes of soft drinks, fast food and fat, and with lower intake of several healthful foods among females. Connect with each other! Conversation starters: • What is your favorite healthy meal? • How would you like to celebrate Uttaryan? • What do you like best about Gandhiji? • How did you do mansi of Swamishri to start the New Year? The Secret Ingredient to a United Family When asked what could solve many of the problems he is written to about, Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj replied, “Ghar Sabha.” Whether you eat dinner with your family or share in a light conversation with them on a drive to work, you are doing Ghar Sabha. Bond with your family! “The family that plays together, eats together, prays together, stays together.” - P.P. Pramukh Swami Maharaj TOGETHER, let's make a happy home! Strengthen our family BONDS *To subscribe to the syllabus: Please send an email to gharsabha[email protected]with the subject line "subscribe me". Jan 2013
Nourish your body, mind & family…one meal at a time!
Start the year off right and eat together!
For adults, increasing time constraints due to school or work can begin to impact eating habits in a negative way. In a study published in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers observed that while young adults enjoy and value time spent eating with others, 35% of males and 42% of females reported lacking time to sit down and eat a meal. It was also noted, "eating on the run" was related to higher consumption of unhealthy items and lower consumption of many healthful foods. Social eating was associated with greater intake of several healthful foods (e.g., vegetables) and with higher intakes of calcium and fiber among males. In contrast, "eating on the run" was associated with higher intakes of soft drinks, fast food and fat, and with lower intake of several healthful foods among females.
Connect with each other! Conversation starters: • What is your favorite healthy meal?
• How would you like to celebrate Uttaryan? • What do you like best about Gandhiji? • How did you do mansi of Swamishri to start the New Year?
The Secret Ingredient to a United Family
When asked what could solve many of the problems he is written to about, Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj replied, “Ghar Sabha.”
Whether you eat dinner with your family or share in a light conversation with them on a drive to work, you are doing Ghar Sabha. Bond with your family!
“The family that plays together, eats together, prays together, stays together.” - P.P. Pramukh Swami Maharaj
TOGETHER, let's make a happy home!
Strengthen
our family BONDS
*To subscribe to the syllabus: Please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line "subscribe me".
Item Time Dhoon: Lagni Lage 2 min Prathana: Swamiji to maha pratapi 3 min Prasang 2 min Activity/Discussion 15 min
Item Time Dhoon: Lagni Lage 2 min Prathana: Swamiji to maha pratapi 3 min Prasang 2 min Activity 15 min
Week 1 – Sabha 1
Listen to the following katha: http://download.baps.org/discourses/DSSwarupnistha-1.MP3
Discuss the following: 1. We have begun a new year. What are some satsang goals we have for the new year? As a
family, write down 2 satsang goals for the year. 2. What points most resided with you from this katha? How can these points better help you
with you satsang goals? 3. Dr. Swami asks what is kalyaan and moksha? How did he answer that question? 4. Why is it so important to have swarup nishtha and how can that help with our satsang goals
January 1, 2013 Amdavad. Swamishri came to Mahant Swami. Initially, Swamishri was holding Mahant Swami’s hand and they greeted each other. Narayancharan Swami saw this and he told Swamishri to press Mahant Swami's hand (as it would be an exercise for Swamishri's muscles). Upon the request, Swamishri started pressing Mahant Swami's hand. As he pressed, Narayancharan Swami asked Mahant Swami: "Tamne Bapa haath dabave chhe to bhaar laage chhe?" Mahant Swami replied, "Bapa na haath ma to aakha brahmaand no bhaar chhe. Aa hath thi to e aakhu brahmaand chalaave chhe. Aa to badhi emni leela chhe ke have shakti nathi. Atyare to mane e bhar no anubhav thay chhe." After listening to Mahant’s Swami’s reply, Swamishri started pressing Mahant Swami's hand more firmly. Every one around had that divya darshan. Then Mahant Swami said, "jo Bapa na haath ma ketli taakaat chhe. E kai weak nathi aa to badhi emni leela chhe." Afterwards, Narayancharan Swami told Swamishri to now let go of Mahant Swami's hand and Swamishri did.
Reflect on the past year and the upcoming year as a family. Answer the following questions as a family. Reflecting on 2012(pick 5 questions from below. If your family chooses, you can reflect on all the questions listed below). 1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year? 2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened this past year? 3. What was an unexpected joy this past year? What was an unexpected obstacle? 4. Pick three words to describe 2012. 5. What was your biggest personal change from January 2012-December 2012? Biggest satsang
change? 6. In what ways did you grow in your relationship with others (family, friends, coworkers, other
haribhaktas)? 7. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year? 8. What was the single biggest time waster this past year? 9. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2012 for you.
Planning 2013 (pick some of the areas below you want to work on for the year and come up with your answers and plan). Personal
1. What healthy character traits would you like to see developed in your life this year? What steps will you take to develop these?
2. What are some of you learning goals for this year? 3. What books (satsang and non satsang) would you like to read this year?
Physical Health
1. What is one area of progress you’d like to see this year for maintaining or improving your physical health?
2. What are some tangible, daily choices you can add to your life that will improve your health?
Family 1. In what ways would you like to strengthen your family this year? 2. What goals would you like to make as a family for the new year?
Satsang 1. In which aspect of satsang would you like to make more of an improvement this year? 2. What tangible, daily ways can you do that?
Week 1 – Sabha 3
Watch the New Year darshan of Swamishri from the following link:
April 1977. The Chaitra Sud 9 festival, Lord Swaminarayan's birthday according to the Hindu calendar, had been celebrated by Swamishri in Amdavad. The next day, we all came to sit in Swamishri's morning puja. It was only early morning, yet the sweltering heat was already getting to me. Besides, I hadn't really recovered from the previous day's fast - even though most of us had broken it late the night before. Swamishri, on the other hand, had yet to drink anything. Nevertheless, he shone with a distinct rosiness and freshness.
After his puja had finished, Swamishri, in a spontaneous burst of joy, showered upon the devotees a whole heap of roses. The devotees reveled in Swamishri's grace. Seeing this, I thought to myself how wonderful it would be if Swamishri gave me a rose too. 'But I'm still new, and young. Why would he give one to me?' I concluded, and let the thought drop. As per Swamishri's normal routine, he got up from his puja to go for darshan of the murtis in the main mandir. He walked towards the pujari's basement entrance through a path flanked by yuvaks. There I stood, among the crowd. Swamishri didn't even know me in particular. But as he passed me, he pushed the two roses he had been holding into my hand. He walked away; I was left motionless. Somehow he knew. Somehow he fulfilled my wish. Author: Sadhu Yagnavallabhdas
Read the following article: http://www.swaminarayan.org/gujarati/satsang/2007/0811.htm
Discuss the following:
1. What is the significance of the title? 2. What struck you most from this article? What did you learn from it? 3. What can we learn about Swamishri’s power from the article? How does this help us gain
more mahima of Swamishri? 4. Swamishri was able to change Surajsinh? How has Swamishri changed you personally?
Uttaraayan is a festival celebrated each year on 14 January. It marks the sun's northbound journey after reaching its southern most point. It is a national public holiday in India, as colorful kites swarm the skies. Traditionally, this is the day all monks and sadhus go to beg alms from householders. Giving alms on this day is considered especially meriting.
In 1995, Swamishri celebrated the Uttaraayan festival in Amdavad. Having finished his blessings in the morning assembly, he got up and came to the edge of the stage. In true customary fashion, Swamishri hung the traditional begging jholi behind his back from both shoulders. He folded his hands, closed his eyes and called out loudly, "Narayan Hare! Sacchdanand Prabho!" - the call to householders to come out of their houses and give whatever they desire. Just with that, the thousands sitting in the assembly erupted in applause. Everyone felt that Swamishri was really asking for alms, not out of helplessness, but with the sense of pride and dignity of a sadhu. The "Narayan Hare!" call was as if Swamishri was totally absorbed in God. Many an eye was moist with joy in the audience. Mr. K.C. Patel, son of Director of Education of Gondal State, was present in the assembly. When he later phoned Atmaswarup Swami from his home, he said, "Not even after giving lakhs of rupees can one have such darshan." What a simple gesture; yet it gave so much bliss to thousand simultaneously.
Watch Satsang Darshan 20 (the portion where Swamishri celebrates Jholi Utsav with the kishores and balaks. Celebrate Uttarayan at home by discussing what the festival means. If possible, go outside and fly a kite. Before going to fly the kite, decorate a kite (or kite shaped poster) that depicts what we can give Swamishri for jholi.
Week 3 – Sabha 3
Watch Satsang Darshan 1 – Swamishri celebrating Uttrayan in Surat.
Families with Adults
Week 4 - Sabha 1
Week 4 –Sabha 2
Item Time Dhoon: Bhaj man Swaminarayan 2 min Prathana: Bhaji le Bhagwaan sacha sant ne mali 3 min Prasang 2 min Reading/Discussion 15 min
Item Time Dhoon: Bhaj man Swaminarayan 2 min Prathana: Bhaji le Bhagwaan sacha sant ne mali 3 min Prasang 2 min Reading/Discussion 15 min
Week 4 – Sabha 1
Week 4 – Sabha 2
Once Swamishri received a letter from Gondal, but there was a slight problem. The sender had forgotten to mention his name! As Swamishri was due to go to Gondal anyway in a few days’ time, he instructed Dharmacharan Swami to hold on to the letter. Some days later in Gondal, Swamishri asked for the letter. Calling Shrikrishna Pandya, Swamishri asked, “Do you recognize the writing on this letter?” The devotee made a few inquiries but met with no luck. Again Swamishri instructed him, “You personally look into the matter and somehow find out who sent this letter.” Within three to four days, the whereabouts of the letter-writer was discovered. Swamishri called him to discuss the issue outlined in the letter and the matter was settled most satisfactorily. The person in question was amazed at what lengths Swamishri went to resolve what would be regarded by others as a trivial problem.
Listen to the following ashirvad: http://download.baps.org/blessings/20040712.mp3
Discuss the following: 1. What in the arshiwad most stood out to you? 2. What does Swamishri emphasize in this ashirvad? 3. What is it so important to preserve our Indian culture? Hindu culture? 4. Living outside of India, how do we continue to preserve our culture?
