Summarized by : Neelima Turaga
We started the class with opening prayers, pranayam and meditation.
After a brief recap of last week's class we watched three videos of Gurudev related to the verses 4, 5 and 6 of chapter 3.
Summary -
By giving up all activities or by not undertaking any activities that will benefit the society, a person does not reach a state of actionlessness or naishkarmya as indicated by the rishis and vedas. A person escaping from the world cannot reach religion or spirituality. One has no right to renounce the world. The world is not yours to give it up. You can only give up what is yours and that is your attachment. No living organism can remain without activity. As long as there is life there is response to external stimuli. Life is expressed in action. Never can a living organism keep quiet or without activity even for a moment.
Naishkarmya is a state accomplished where one becomes actionless, or all actions become totally spontaneous, There are no more desires, thoughts or vasanas.
Nothing can be without action. It was even been scientifically proven, that every cell in the body of a living organism is performing an activity all the time. Inaction is not an option.
We then chanted Shlokas 8,9,10, 11,12 and 13
We discussed how a person's action can be compared to a yagna or sacrifice.
The field of activity in which a person operates (ex - doctor, soldier) is the yagna kund. The talent or ability a person puts to use is equivalent to the ahuti or offering to the sacrificial fire. The fire then shoots up with the offering, which is like the profits or results received. Even though the yagna is performed by one person, the prasad at the end of the sacrifice is distributed to everyone, Similarly, the profits or the fruits of a person's action should be distributed to everyone.
As long as a person performs one's duty, there is peace. The moment he/she starts thinking in terms of rights, there are bound to be disagreements or fights.
It is important to perform one's duties and accept the result, whatever it is, as a prasadam.
There was a discussion about the application of these principles of duties and rights in daily life. The examples of Buddha giving up his duty as a prince and renouncing the world, and Rama sending his pregnant wife to the forest were briefly discussed. The concluding point was that although these examples can be perceived as a deviation from duty, a deeper insight into such topics will help us understand that there is a higher goal and a greater good involved.
Other points discussed -
Prescribed vedic duties are based on your dharma and how you perform them makes a difference. It can be classified as Satvik, Rajasik or Tamasik based on the reason for the action, obligatory, desire driven or prohibited. (ex - a soldier in a war vs an active shooter, both using weapons, but for completely different reasons).
Nitya karma encompasses the duties a person has to perform everyday, no matter what.
Naimitya karma includes actions that need to be performed due to certain circumstances.
Action without the right attitude will result in bondage, whereas, action with devotion is equivalent to a yagna and will free one from bondage.
Harmonious living with the right attitude is the way to sustain the world. There needs to be harmony and balance, whether it be in the workplace or elsewhere. The underlying attitude is what matters the most. Whether the action is performed for a selfish motive or is it for the greater good is what determines this.
The world and the body are God's gifts to us. What we do with them is our gift back to God. It is important to take appropriate action as per the circumstances.
A grateful and thankful attitude is very important.
After a brief recap of last week's class we watched three videos of Gurudev related to the verses 4, 5 and 6 of chapter 3.
Summary -
By giving up all activities or by not undertaking any activities that will benefit the society, a person does not reach a state of actionlessness or naishkarmya as indicated by the rishis and vedas. A person escaping from the world cannot reach religion or spirituality. One has no right to renounce the world. The world is not yours to give it up. You can only give up what is yours and that is your attachment. No living organism can remain without activity. As long as there is life there is response to external stimuli. Life is expressed in action. Never can a living organism keep quiet or without activity even for a moment.
Naishkarmya is a state accomplished where one becomes actionless, or all actions become totally spontaneous, There are no more desires, thoughts or vasanas.
Nothing can be without action. It was even been scientifically proven, that every cell in the body of a living organism is performing an activity all the time. Inaction is not an option.
We then chanted Shlokas 8,9,10, 11,12 and 13
We discussed how a person's action can be compared to a yagna or sacrifice.
The field of activity in which a person operates (ex - doctor, soldier) is the yagna kund. The talent or ability a person puts to use is equivalent to the ahuti or offering to the sacrificial fire. The fire then shoots up with the offering, which is like the profits or results received. Even though the yagna is performed by one person, the prasad at the end of the sacrifice is distributed to everyone, Similarly, the profits or the fruits of a person's action should be distributed to everyone.
As long as a person performs one's duty, there is peace. The moment he/she starts thinking in terms of rights, there are bound to be disagreements or fights.
It is important to perform one's duties and accept the result, whatever it is, as a prasadam.
There was a discussion about the application of these principles of duties and rights in daily life. The examples of Buddha giving up his duty as a prince and renouncing the world, and Rama sending his pregnant wife to the forest were briefly discussed. The concluding point was that although these examples can be perceived as a deviation from duty, a deeper insight into such topics will help us understand that there is a higher goal and a greater good involved.
Other points discussed -
Prescribed vedic duties are based on your dharma and how you perform them makes a difference. It can be classified as Satvik, Rajasik or Tamasik based on the reason for the action, obligatory, desire driven or prohibited. (ex - a soldier in a war vs an active shooter, both using weapons, but for completely different reasons).
Nitya karma encompasses the duties a person has to perform everyday, no matter what.
Naimitya karma includes actions that need to be performed due to certain circumstances.
Action without the right attitude will result in bondage, whereas, action with devotion is equivalent to a yagna and will free one from bondage.
Harmonious living with the right attitude is the way to sustain the world. There needs to be harmony and balance, whether it be in the workplace or elsewhere. The underlying attitude is what matters the most. Whether the action is performed for a selfish motive or is it for the greater good is what determines this.
The world and the body are God's gifts to us. What we do with them is our gift back to God. It is important to take appropriate action as per the circumstances.
A grateful and thankful attitude is very important.
