The thirteenth 'Sunday Breakfast Serving (SBS)' of AF-Mysore was conducted at 'Saptarshi Gurukula Sevashrama', located off KRS road on 22nd May 2010. This was the first time that an SBS activity was being organized at a Gurukula. The SBS is weekly activity in which the members of AF-Mysore visit an ashrama/orphanage and spend time there. Breakfast would be served to the residents. It is an activity wherein the members understand and learn the values and the best practices and offer any possible help towards educating the kids. Empowering the children with quality education is one of the objectives that AF-Mysore is committed to.
The volunteered gathered at around 8.15AM and proceeded towards the Gurukula. On reaching the venue they were startled with what they saw. The Gurukula was unlike any other place wherein SBS was conduced. The place was in the middle of open space and much of the activities were happening outdoors. The volunteers were greeted with 'HARI OM' and offered to sit on the hay carpets under the blue sky.
The seer of the Gurukula, Sri Abhinava Ramanujacharya, then addressed the group of volunteers and his disciples. He explained the values on which his Gurukula was founded. He informed the volunteers that the Gurukula adopted kids from all sections of the society and every disciple of him was entitled to the same standards of education and spiritual teachings. It was learnt that the children attended a nearby government school. Swamiji emphasized the importance of a holistic education that involved an understanding of one's surroundings, sensitivity towards the ecology & the knowledge of the medicinal values of the available herbs/shrubs to supplement the formal education. Knowledge from the Vedas were also taught to the children.
The Gurukula provided boarding and lodging for the children. It was learnt that the Gurukula would support them till their matriculation (10th Std), after which the children would be allowed to pursue their interest.
Most of them, so far, had went on to become Archakas (high priests at temples) or take up appropriate roles within industries etc. The Seer was particularly proud of one of his disciples who has become an Archaka at a temple in Germany and is teaching the Vedas to the localities there.
After the discourse by the seer, the volunteers served breakfast to the children. Some of them also sat with the children and joined in for the breakfast. The children were served with Idli, Vada and Sambhar. They were also provided with Badam Milk.
It was a different experience altogether to sit together in the open under the blue sky for the breakfast.
Mr. Anil Raj, an active member of AF-Mysore and the sponsor for this event celebrated his birthday by distributing chocolates to the children. He also seeked the blessings of the seer on the occasion. The seer blessed him and other members of AF-Mysore and wished them well in their endeavor to make the society a little better place.
The volunteers bid farewell to the residents of the Gurukula after a group photograph.
More smile to be spread and more hopes to be nurtured. The caravan of Aashayein Foundation - Mysore will continue next week.
The seer of the Gurukula, Sri Abhinava Ramanujacharya, then addressed the group of volunteers and his disciples. He explained the values on which his Gurukula was founded. He informed the volunteers that the Gurukula adopted kids from all sections of the society and every disciple of him was entitled to the same standards of education and spiritual teachings. It was learnt that the children attended a nearby government school. Swamiji emphasized the importance of a holistic education that involved an understanding of one's surroundings, sensitivity towards the ecology & the knowledge of the medicinal values of the available herbs/shrubs to supplement the formal education. Knowledge from the Vedas were also taught to the children.
Most of them, so far, had went on to become Archakas (high priests at temples) or take up appropriate roles within industries etc. The Seer was particularly proud of one of his disciples who has become an Archaka at a temple in Germany and is teaching the Vedas to the localities there.
It was a different experience altogether to sit together in the open under the blue sky for the breakfast.
The volunteers bid farewell to the residents of the Gurukula after a group photograph.
More smile to be spread and more hopes to be nurtured. The caravan of Aashayein Foundation - Mysore will continue next week.
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