May 31, 2026 - JCHYK Gr. 10-12 (Sunday AM)

Hari om everyone, 

We started today's class with a brief box breathing, also called sama-vritti-praaNayaama.  We then kept up with our practice of chanting BG ch. 12. 

Our Quirky Question (QQ) of the Day caught everyone off guard: “Who is the one person who can never be grateful?”

Answers flew around the room—“a rich person,” “a poor person,” “someone unhealthy”—until we arrived at the surprising answer: a dead person. We said, “A rich person can still find something to be grateful for. A poor person can too. Even a dying person can thank God for one more breath. But a dead person cannot.” Then came the deeper lesson: if we are not grateful for all that we already have, we are as good as dead. That powerful thought led us into a discussion on humility, gratitude, and how remembering our blessings leaves little room for arrogance.

A real-life visitor to our temple—a crow that wandered in after Sita Rama Kalyanam yesterday—became the perfect segue into the fascinating story of Kakabhushundi from the Ramcharitmanas. We traced his journey from a rigid devotee who refused to see beyond his own viewpoint to a wise being who realized the unity behind all forms of God. Along the way, we explored why Guru is greater than God (“Without the Guru, you wouldn’t know which way to go!”), the cycles of the four yugas, and Krishna’s declaration to Arjuna that He has appeared again and again throughout countless ages. When someone asked how the same stories could repeat across yugas, we discussed how Bhagavan returns whenever dharma declines—yada yada hi dharmasya—taking different forms to guide humanity back toward righteousness.

As we connected these stories to the Bhagavad Gita, our discussion shifted inward. We explored how a single thought can derail discipline, how the baby in the womb is said to remember past births before becoming entangled in the world’s attractions, and why Krishna remembers all His births while we do not. We then unpacked Krishna’s teaching that the head and heart must work together. They said, “You can’t want one thing and do something else.” We said, “Exactly—intellect knows right from wrong, but likes and dislikes pull us away.” We reflected on how intense likes and dislikes create suffering, FOMO, attachment, and poor choices, while harmless preferences are perfectly fine. The goal is not to become emotionless, but to balance IQ with EQ, logic with empathy.

Finally, we brought everything back to Karma Yoga. We asked, “Can breathing be Karma Yoga?” The answer: yes—if it is done with awareness and gratitude. We explored Ishwara Arpana Buddhi, the attitude of offering every action to God even in the most basic act as breathing. “God is acting through me,” one student said. We discussed becoming like a hollow bamboo flute—empty of ego, so that divine music can flow through us. Whether helping someone, taking an exam, or simply living each day, our responsibility is to give our best and then let go of ownership of the results. The class ended with a beautiful reminder: drop doership, drop enjoyership, stay grateful, and every action can become Karma Yoga.

We also watched Swami Mitrananda ji's AI summaries of Chapters 4 and 5.  It was received with mixed reviews, and we had an interesting discussion afterward. Some students felt the visuals looked unusual—“Krishna in golden armor on an airplane!”—some giggled, while others wondered whether the content was simplified for younger audiences or those unfamiliar with our scriptures. We appreciated their honest opinions and continued to say, “If we focus only on the surface details, we will lose the plot.” Every image was trying to convey a deeper message: Krishna surfing with Arjuna symbolized rising above the waves of life instead of being overwhelmed by them, and scenes where everyone appeared as Krishna reflected the vision of seeing God in all beings. The takeaway was clear: whether it is a story, a video, or a scripture, our goal is to look beyond the packaging and absorb the wisdom being conveyed. 

Unique Statement Review

• A dead person is the only one who cannot be grateful.
• If we are ungrateful, we are as good as dead.
• Guru is the GPS that guides us to God.
• Krishna remembers all His past births; we do not.
• The yuga cycles repeat endlessly, with Bhagavan appearing whenever dharma declines.
• Intense likes and dislikes distract us from doing what is right.
• Mind and intellect must be integrated for balanced living.
• We should act without expecting rewards or recognition.
• The baby in the womb is said to remember past births before Maya takes over.
• Blind attachment to one viewpoint prevents us from seeing the bigger truth.
• Every action can become Karma Yoga when performed with Ishwara Arpana Buddhi.

Until next time, here's something to ponder - 

Regards,
Rashmi and Jacqueline.