“Children are not vessels to be filled, but lamps to be LIT. The seed of spiritual values should be sown in young hearts, and the conditions made favourable for sprouting and steady growth through proper control and discipline. It must be cared for with the warmth of love and affection, and such a tree shall blossom forth flowers of brotherhood, universal love, peace, bliss, beauty, and Perfection“
– Swami Chinmayananda
Purpose
The Chinmaya Bala Vihar programme offers weekly spiritual Vedanta classes for children in their formidable and moulding years. The classes, categorized by varying age groups, start and end with Sanskrit prayers. They include chanting, bhajans, stories of devotion and moral values, interactive discussions, and creative games. Conducted worldwide, the 90-minute classes are based on specially designed syllabi, with the aim of accomplishing the Bala Vihar rationale set by Swami Chinmayananda:
- To inculcate in children and youth reverence and pride for our ancient culture, and give them a healthy foundation to build their life.
- To provide an atmosphere of growth that is filled with physical discipline, healthy emotions and noble ideas.
- To create self-confidence to be able to act and serve cheerfully with true affection.
- To provide a vision that generates personal discipline and dynamic leadership.
- To nurture their dormant faculties, so that the children can improve, cultivate and express their creative abilities and individuality.
- To help our children and youth develop a healthy resistance against peer pressure and the temptations of ‘modern’ society.
- To develop love for God and forge a lasting relationship with Him
During the weekly classes, and at special events and festival celebrations, both the children and sevaks/sevikas (teachers and administrators) learn the art of living in a loving, nurturing environment of discipline, where their personalities spontaneously blossom at the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual levels.
Where
Bala Vihar Classess are held every Sunday at – Reedy Creek Middle School, 930 Reedy Creek Road, Cary, NC 27513 . Schedule of the CMRDU programs can be found here. Children and Parents assemble in the Cafeteria for General assembly, where we jointly recite prayers, sing bhajans, and listen to stories before dispersing to their respective classrooms. The adult satsang runs in parallel to the Bala Vihar class. In addition to Bala Vihar Classess, CMRDU offers Hindi Language class, Gita Chanting and Swaranjali for Bala Vihar kids. Details can be found by clicking on respective programs.
Curriculum
The Bala Vihar curriculum is based entirely on our scriptures. A team of specially trained, experienced, and dedicated teachers teach the Bala Vihar program. Through games, arts, crafts, stories, and other unique techniques, the Bala Vihar program imparts and reinforces spiritual and cultural values. The curriculum designed for all grade levels (Pre-K through Grade 12) is creative and dynamic, and covers a wide range of topics. Details can be found here.
Teachers
Each grade from Pre-K to Grade 12 has a sevak & co-sevak (if required). Details of the Classs Sevaks and Class rooms can be found here.
“To help children learn values with fun, to delight like the moon and shine like the sun” – Swami Tejomayananda