Class Summary for Nov 18, 2018 - Chapter-2: 47 to 50

Summarized by :  Bala Dhandapani

After meditation, recap of Verse 47 and Swamiji’s explanation (from 11/11 Pravachan) was discussed

(Swamiji’s explanation was – One needs to be satisfied by the action – enjoy the work)

Some of points discussed were

-do your best and leave the rest
-example of seeds grown in different pots, even though the care and maintenance to germinate the seeds might be the same – the outcome/results may be different.  Things are beyond ones control and one need to understand and accept this.
- Spirituality  increases when one embraces the thought from  “What” to “So What”

Slokas 47, 48, 49 and 50

Theme

-Karma yoga starts here

-The result of any action does not depend ONLY on your effort


-Not be attached to Outcome (NATO) and have a Prasada Buddhi.  The result of any action does not depend ONLY on your effort, but on various additional factors outside of your control such as Prarabdha, Nature, Will of God, collective action of others-situation and circumstances “the X Factor”

            -Karma Yoga -> Proper Action and ->Proper Attitude

            -To give up the sense of doer ship         
            - attaching to a higher ideal is the key
             - with doer ship comes attachment, with attachment comes Vasanas and it becomes a cycle.

             -Inaction is also not an option

Discussion on Wastage of Energy (from Self Unfoldment)

             -worrying about the Past on what happened

             -worrying about the Present – being over enthusiastic

             -worrying about the Future on what may happen

Subjective Analysis

 -Gamma waves are generated by the brain at your peak performance (right amount of emotion + action).  From a sports perspective one would refer to this as “Be in the Zone”

-Maintain your mental state, and for best results, be at the Optimal State.

Class viewed Gurudev’s Video on Chapter Verse 48

-Once you have started your action do not be attached to siddhi or asiddhi

-Example of Ganges flow- there are obstacles, be like Mother Ganges, expect obstacles, but it should not upset one.

Video Chapter 2, Verse 49

-Work is inspired work, worker does not understand tiredness.

-reaching the destination is not the Goal, never should you reach the Goal – set it higher – striving to reach the ideal should be the Goal

After the videos, in a corporate setting a CEO vision was discussed – Employee is motivated to get to the vision but not to become the CEO- hence- Attach to a HIGHER IDEAL.

Class Summary for Nov 4, 2018 - Chapter-2: 44 to 45

Summarized by :  Shivkumar Natarajan

We started with a summary of last weeks discussion and then proceeded with Verses 44-46

Verse 44

Karma Vs Karmakanda:

In Karma the seeker entertains a single focused idea and strives hard in its pursuit

Karmakanda advices various ritualistic performances for fulfillment of various desires as instructed in the Vedas

Krishna is asking that we do not mistake the means to for the end.

The Karmakanda is to prepare the person to have a single pointedness when it is pursued without specific desires.

Only a prepared  focused mind is fit for steady contemplation of Vedanta.

If not such people cannot attain the path of Samadhi

Verse 45

We then watched chap 2 verse 45 of Swami Chinmayananda's video on this verse.

Everyone in the world have 2 urges that goads them into activity namely yoga and Kshema

Acquiring under expectation/belief/superstition that when I acquire things that I don’t have currently  I will be happy

Kshema : Maintenance of things I acquire

To renounce these 2 main fields that yields extreme restlessness and sorrow in life

The Lord asks Arjuna to rise above the 3 Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) so as to free oneself from pair of opposites.

When one is attached/focused in materialistic desires then he/she finds himself in a web.

This web includes satvvic/rajasic and tamasic desires/attractions. One has to surpass beyond it to be able to attain the real.

By acquiring the ultimate, you will automatically will get everything that is real.

If one has  an Uninterrupted pleasure supply (UPS) within you then you did not  search for it outside

e.g Running marathon for the snacks

The class then discussed need for Pravachan: If independently achieved and person is happy then no classes required

We discussed how to rise above Gunas

Sattva : We need to take dirt off and clean the mirror to see a clear reflection

Rajas: We need to clear the smoke to see

Tamas: If we are in womb then we need to come out of it to see it

You cannot get something infinite (Happiness) from  something temporary (e.g. acquiring a house). How can one  get happiness from something fleeting ?

We discussed Example of Nisarg Baba who continues with running a paan beedi shop. This demonstrates that a rich/poor person may reach same point of happiness

Vedanta: Heaven is within you. In most faith based religion happiness is later post life ends (heaven).

Verse 47 is famous verse that is the core of Karma Yoga

Your job (Karma) is only to fulfil the duty (Dharma) and not expect the reward (anxiety for result)

We discussed how in management nowadays there is a move from Result orientation management philosophy to process orientation.

In whatever one does one is only a contributory factor.

e.g.: a farmer can only plant the seeds . He cannot control influence of cyclone or make good rains to make good crops.

If you reduce effort you may get disappointed by work and result

We then watched Swami Chinmayananda's video on the same verse

The Result of an action cannot come before action or during action.

We can only act now in the present. Over anxiousness on fruit of action: Wasting my vitality for unknown called future.

Class Summary for Oct 14, 2018 - Chapter-2: 41 to 43

Summarized by :  Sridhar

We met at the basement began the class with Pranayama & meditation exercises followed by the recap of the previous class. 

Objective meaning of verses 41,42 and 43

1.       Focus is the key to achieve desiring results. A man needs to work with absolute and resolute devotion /determination with a single pointed mind to attain highest level of self realization.

Certain examples of Charlie Chaplin from “Modern Minds” were discussed.

Swami Vivekananda words were cited “ Degree of concentration is the key difference between an ordinary and extraordinary mind.”

2.       Ritualistic practices gives only materialistic happiness and absolute one pointed approach executing our Dharma must be exercised .

3.       Vedas propose material benefits through various rituals but a man should concentrate on Karma and Dharma inorder to attain greatness.

Eg: Vishwamitra wanted to be the best sage and undertook penance in order to achieve the same.

Lord Indra tried to distract him by sending damsels and other approach but Vishwamitra didn’t lose his one pointed focus to achieve his objective, though initially he did get distracted.

We will continue with verses 44,45 and 46 in our next class on 11/04.

Class Summary for Oct 7, 2018 - Chapter-2: 38 to 40

Summarized by :  Jeetendra Chandwadkar

Chapter 2 (Slokas 38 - 40).​

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These are a transition from Saankhya wisdom to Karma yoga.​

Discussion started with few points such as "Ultimate v/s Relative Reality", Action in Dharma and doing ones Duty.​

Duty was broken down as - Doing our duty without being attach of likes/dislikes and Fear of result (or more precisely "Attachment to a Specific Result").​

Then the concept such as Preparation for Action v/s Action itself(doing) was elaborated by moderators. In it Nitya Sadhana which helps Intellect controlling the mind during the action and attitude such as Why me v/s why not me should be cultivated.​

Example of doing a Child Project with or without a specific Target (School exhibition) was talked about. What was our mental attitude while doing that project, either attachment to the Grade or doing just for Fun part without any attachment to end result.​

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An issue was raised regarding Gita teachings just enhancing us Intellectually but very hard to use at Practical purposes. A need for moderators giving  personal day to day real life examples will be useful and benificial to all.​

One talk about was, Patient at doctors office and Doctors not being emotionally supportive and insensitive. As part of medical profession is the duty of doctor is "Patient caring" or "Problem fixing without caring" and move on to next Pateint in line.  Hiding behind emotions or doing right things. ​

Another example of IVY League or College Pressure on High performance students and their stress factors .​

The next example was Job related pressure and performance issue leading to suicidal tendencies. and one of the area overlook was EQ (Emotional intelligence) which is different than having a high  IQ and landing a good Job.​

Ability to maintain the Balance in every situations;​

All of these is Self journey and self effort, no quick fixes, practice Gita preaching's.​

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Then Swamiji videos for Chapter 2 verses 38 -39 was played, which reiterated the same point discussed and in a better way pointing to few examples.​

 Like: accepting result with attitude such as "Better luck next time, be a sportsman,​

 Don't get disappointed, situation are there, you play the game (win or loose is just an outcome),​ Success and failure are 2 sides of coins.​

Play with the nature of the waves (aka Situations etc), enter in their rhythm and always do the best without attachments.​

Then Gurudev also explain the concept of ACT v/s ACTION - In Human Intelligent Action is work;​

whereas in plant and animals, they are set of response with instincts and impulses.​

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At the end the subjective analysis of slokas 38 - 40 was summarize:​

Karma yoga - Purifies the mind;​

Bhakti yoga - Focus the mind (example of computer disk defragmentation process); and​

Gyana yoga - Realization (Physical, mental and phycological Freedom from Attachment).​

An example of Farmer cultivating the crop with Vyasarika buddhi was discussed, whereas he takes Step by step process and performs his work and duty, knowingly that there are lots of factors effecting the end result (i.e.: the final Crop produced)

Class Summary for Sep 30, 2018 - Chapter-2: 34 to 37

Summarized by :  Ram Sudheendra

We started the class with Pranayaama and Meditation and moved on to the summary of previous session’s chapters 30 to 33.  The summary got escalated to more debates and discussions on Dharma. Some of the questions raised during discussions are...

What is your Dharma?

Who defines one’s Dharma?

Swardharma: How it differs for every individual?

What is expected and What are you capable of?

Some of the examples discussed are:

·        A rich man who has the capability to sponsor food for the poor,  but he is bad at cooking should not try to exhaust his desire by cooking

·        Doctors duty towards his patients

·        A person in distress

We also discussed the importance of chanting the slokas and proper pronunciation of letters and words that can sharpen the intellect and increase one’s attention.

Class further discussed on Preyas and Shreyas and how man’s transactions and achievements revolve around these two paths of convenience and righteousness respectively. Humans can decide to take short term pleasures that lead to downfall or take the path that is difficult in the beginning, leading to long term good benefits of self and the people around.

Sheyas discussion then lead to the importance of one’s duties. All individuals have duties to perform for societies greater good. Communities are messed up when individuals do not perform their duties in the righteous way.

Class chanted slokas 34 to 37:

Krishna continue his teachings to Arjuna who is hesitating to fight in the war. Krishna says that people around Arjuna will talk about this dishonor and all his honor that he has earned and famous for, will disappear instantly. People will never forget if Arjuna continues this path that makes the dishonor worse than a death. The great commanders in the army who looked up to Arjuna as their hero will doubt his skills and conclude that he withdrew from this battle because of fear.  Arjuna’s enemies will disgrace his valor with foul language, point their finger at him and laugh at him as a hero who ran away from the battlefield. This will bring great suffering to Arjuna rest of his life and history will remember this forever. It does not matter Arjuna loses or wins this battle, it will always bring positive gain either way and for doing his duty by fighting this battle for noble cause of Dharma. Doing so, if he wins, Arjuna will rule his kingdom and enjoy the earth and attain Veera-swarga or if he looses and dies in the battlefield, he will still obtain a heroes’ heaven.

Class chanted slokas 38 to 40:

Krishna reminds Arjuna the importance of doing his duties will not acquire any sin. Even though there is pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat, engaging himself in the battle and performing his duty as Kshatriya, treating all of these pairs of opposite the same, will remove all sins. It does not matter if he kills many of his enemies in the battle field, which he is destined to do.

Krishna says all these teaching to Arjuna are belonging to Saankhya philosophy to achieve absolute reality that can end all sorrows caused from various attachments. Going forward Krishna will teach Arjuna how to attain wisdom by performing Yoga which will end the cycle of birth and death. Here Yoga means Karma-Yoga, the way of life and action taken daily be an individual and its consequences. Krishna says that this Karma-Yoga protects everyone from fear. Krishna brings this topic since Arjuna is still looking for more answers and justification from Krishna to overcome his fear of killing his own people.