Class Summary for Dec 15, 2019 - Chapter-3 Slokas 28- 31

Summarized by :  Shilpa Sail

We started the class with opening prayers, pranayam, and meditation.

This week we discussed 3rd chapter verse 30 and 31. Also, watched swamiji's video.
A brief summary of verse 30-
This verse delves into energy generation and preserving the generated energy. It explains how we generate energy and how we should conserve it. The key is to not dissipate the generated energy..
To generate energy, be focussed on your goal. Work towards your goal with laser focus.
The energy generated gets dissipated through three ways-
1.Worrying about our past. Past errors or missteps should not clout our current vision else we will lose focus towards the goal. Past is done and cannot be altered. Worrying about past will disturb you further and lead to a restless mind.

2. Anxiety for the future. Worrying about the future will not help in anyway. It will only lead to an agitated mind.

3. Excitement about the present prevents you from seeing what is in front of you.

We should develop ways to prevent energy dissipation.
Try not to delve on past mistakes or over think about the future. Use the intellect to hold the mind in the present.Focus on your current task. Work  with all your energy on the current task.

Swamiji's analysis on verse 31 - dynamic religion.
When we plant a sapling, a cement fence is built around it to prevent the cattle from grazing it and for the soil to stay at the roots and not erode away. After a while when the sapling grows into a tree it needs space and encompasses into the cement fence into it as it becomes a part of the tree.
The same way religion should change with time. It should embrace the change and then it will grow. There are multiple examples of some older religions that were not able to withstand the pressure of time.
On the other hand Hindu religion has thrived due to it’s embracing nature.
A dynamic religion that changes based on the needs and demands of the society continues to grow.
The above rule also applies to parenting. When the kids are young they need your support as they grow the fence around them should be more elastic.

Five key factors to become Karma Yogi
1) Focus=> Primary goal should always be spiritual
2) Perform=> dedicate all ACTIONS as an offering to the Lord by giving your 100%
3) Niraashi=> Hare Prasada buddhi towards  the results of our action.

4) NIRMAMAHA = Humility - Don't claim full credit for result

5) VIGATHAJWARAHA - Maintain mental balance/equanimity (Samathvam)

Class Summary for Dec 8, 2019 - Chapter-3 Slokas 28- 31

Summarized by :  Shivkumar Natarajan

We started the class with a review of the prior class lesson and continued discussion on the same. Few points from the same : 

1. Meditation keeps the mind in check : In Self unfoldment Gurudev advises doing various forms of Japa to concentrate their mind,(It can be any mantra Om, Om Namah Shivaya, or think about your Ishta Devta, or by doing Nadi Shodhana (Pranayam).  

2. Don't preach spirituality. Just because you come into some perspective others need not also get there . Its been said that in Kali Yuga you will only get 25% success.

3. In Carnatic music a shruthi box keeps the singer balanced to the rhythm. A good singer may go up or down in pitch but always is able to come to the even pace with the help of the shruthi box. Same for dancers.

Similarly in Karma Yoga you have to come back to the baseline : no attachment. It can be the Gita 360 App or Nadi Shodhana..

4. We went through Lord Krishna example. A Gnyani: evolved person he was aware of attachment. But when Satyabhama was upset about the Parijata flower he went to heaven and brought the Parijata flower. He did not preach, he played the role of a good husband.

We then watched the following videos of Gurudev:

Verse 25: A spoonfull of salt makes a water in glass salty. That same salt makes a wider vessel (tumbler, a lake) etc and the water progressively less salty. 

 In the same way desire is not bad. Only when it is selfish desires can be made.

When Masters and Prophets of the world  embarked on big tasks , there is no selfish desire.

Verse 26:Lead by Example 

Currently ignorant people all are going about beautifully. Dont stop them from working. Prompted by their desires and ego. Wise men to teach them do not sit in crystal palace. You must mingle with all the people. Do your duty as beautifully as possible without a touch of Ego .Others notice you are not cribbing

They imitate via osmosis. Slowly entire community follows it.

5. Example of Real Heroes of India (restraunt that Mani Sir visited). Pictures of ordinary people :heroes..

• A person who used his personal savings to fill pothole in the city.
• Lady that plants trees daily
• Person who donated his entire retirement savings and continues working.

All folks who went against the  tide and now other people are joining them.

We then chanted verses 28 to 31.

Themes

• Vasanas are typically linked to Gunas which drive the senses and attachments through them.
• These makes the ignorant get attached to the results of action. The knowledgeable  should not try to change the ignorant
• Path to perfection
• Generate the energy
• Focus the intellect on an IDEAL
• Surrender the mind to an IDEAL
• Make the body act dynamically
• Mind is focused on 80% Past and 15% Future . . Energy is getting dissipated in both and low energy left for Present.
• 6C's to Success
• Core Interest : Swadharma
• Cooperation:: Team spirit, union, focus on strength of others
• Commitment :Not giving up
• Consistency: Intelligent focus on the ideal
• Competence: Intelligence + Hard Work
• Concentration: Mind focused on task at hand
• Subjective Analysis  
• Knowledge to Wisdom; Information -> Transformation; Tution -> Intution; Sight -> Insight;  Speak-> Live

Class Summary for Nov 24, 2019 - Chapter-3 Slokas 25 - 27

Summarized by :  Sree Sekhar Palaparthy

Q: What is the goal of the course OR by the end of Chapter 3 classes, what would we plan to achieve?
Everyone is moving at their own pace in their spiritual journey and hopefully these classes can move everyone closer towards the final truth
Swami Paramanantha mentioned that , there is one way to measure how one is progressing in their journer i.e "Reduction in FIR"

F ->  Frequency with which you get upset
I ->  Intensity with which you get upset
R ->  How quickly you recover from upsetness

This is a way to practically apply Gita in our daily lives

Without Saadhana, just listening to Gita wouldn't help much. For instance, we can't pour milk into a bottle filled with pickle. We need to first clean the bottle thoroughly and then pour milk. The knolwedge in Gita is like milk. We need to clean our bodies by practicing Saadhana , for understanding and applying knoweldge in Gita

Saadhana can be defined as "dedication of doing things repetitively with discipline"

One of the key takeaway, we all should remember is , if one understands what the real truth is, they shouldn't preach but they should practice it and be a role model

One shouldn't follow leaders blindly, by looking at their external qualities and without knowing their inner qualities (Ex: Virat Kohli, Indian cricket captain). He looks aggressive outside, but is apparently a very calm/focussed personality in his real life

Always try to attach yourself to the higer ideal; Don't be a Bogi, but be a Yogi

Don't be shy to swim against the tide -> Do not feel shy to practice learnings from Gita in real life by looking at others; You never know when others might follow your path , after realizing that your actions are more ideal

Question with reference to sloka# 27: Am I not the doer from accountibility perspective?
The way one should look at this is , I'm an "instrument" /"medium" for all my actions (leaving ego). But I'm still responsible/accountable. One cannot run away from accountability saying that I'm not the doer

Duryodhana was able to realize that, what he was doing is wrong but wasn't able to stop himself from doing so. However, Vikarna, was able to change and join Paandavas

What you are facing is "Prarabdha"; How you face it is "Free Will"
Reality is between Prarabdha and Free will (Need additional points to clarify this)

As long as one asscociates himself with BMI and Vaasanas, their ego will go up; 

Class Summary for Nov 16, 2019 - Chapter-3 Slokas 20 - 24

Summarized by :  Sudha 

• Opening Prayers & Meditation.
• Review of previous class verses followed by discussion of its applications in real life:
• Performing actions with a level of abstraction/detachment (I, We, Small team, Large Team, Universe)
• Discussion of 3 types of action:
• Don’t contribute/act, but take full credit.
• Act with a selfish motive.
• Act without being attached to our actions.
• Discussion among individuals regarding goals versus results.
• Gurudev’s videos pertaining to Verses 15, 16 and 18:
• Our ability to function is a gift given by the Creator.
• Gurudev refers humans to two legged animals, when they simply follow and don’t think and act in an appropriate manner! Such people’s lives are not straight but full of disorder!
• Actions caused by external pressure is not a trait of a realized man. We have to work to purify our mind, thereby exhausting our vasanas to reach the higher goal. On the other hand, realized men work out of pure compassion to the human kind.
• Chanting of verses 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 with detailed explanation as follows:
• Lord Krishna changes his tactics in dealing with Arjuna, as he shifts from the ‘highest order perspective’, to a ‘direct order’ approach.
• He emphasizes that if Arjuna doesn’t perform the right action and runs away from the battle ground, there will be total chaos!
• Lord Krishna emphasizes the general adage behind human development, and tells Arjuna, that his followers will simply imitate his actions whatever it may be, and therefore asks him to be a role model, a leader, thereby setting an example to the society.
• He starts giving Arjuna examples of exemplary individuals like King Janaka, a Sage King who performed his duties with great fervor and a sage like attitude.
• We discussed teachings of Gandhiji, who said, “Be the change, you want to see in the world”.
• Talked about the difference between a Bhogi (One who performs action for the fruits of his action) and a Yogi (One who performs action for self-purification).
• Krishna then brings in a special example of leader among men.. Himself! He says the world would come to a halt, if he did not continue to work without relaxation – men would simply follow Him and plunge into an unproductive existence!
• Lord Krishna reiterates that the entire universe survives and lives by mere action alone!
• Ended the class by watching Gurudev’s video pertaining to verse 21.
• He gives an example wherein the kid would likely take up to reading if he saw his parents spending their time reading.

• Closing Prayers

Class Summary for Nov 3, 2019 - Chapter-3 Slokas 14 - 19

Summarized by :  Ramya Balasubramanian

Verses 8- 13

Continuing on verses 8-13 from the previous week, we watched two videos of Swami Chinmayananda on creating/balancing the Vasanas and BMI. Actions taken by individuals, playing a specific role such as role of a parent or spouse, also different roles played during a day in your life. How are we treating the roles? Every action has to be performed with the right attitude, so that happy and fulfilled in any action you do. Action without right attitude leads to bondage. Take away the “I”ness away. For eg: as a parent, we are instruments to bring the child to the world. Think of yourself as being a part of a bigger puzzle. If we have the attitude of being grateful to be given the opportunity and not expecting anything in return. The key is to maintain gratitude sort of approaching every action performed, which will take the “I” part away, which in turn helps us get out of the vicious cycle of vasanas. The Action itself should give happiness. When you are attached to the result, and results don’t happen to go your way, the attachment manifests as disappointments that in turn eventually leads to downfall. 

Chapters 14-19

Food <- Rain <- Yagna <- Action <- Creator <- Brahman

This is an agricultural metaphor. Out of Brahman comes Lord Brahma or the creator of the universe. Brahma is symbolic of ignorance or vasanas. Vasanas manifest as action. Yajna is refined or purified action which gives rise to rain or a conducive mind-set. Rain yields food or products which sustains all living beings, creates prosperity. Yagna is the physical form. which brings down the noise in the mind  so we can focus on absolute reality and work more towards it,. With this sacrificial approach, you feel refreshed since there is no expectation. One who does not follow the principle of yajna which seems to pervade the entire universe merely lives a sensual, indulgent life, oblivious of a higher purpose. Every Action of ours without the Yagna spirit makes us stuck in our vasanas and stops us from self realisation. The choice is ours, whether we perform the Actions for  materialistic reasons or with no expectations. Indriya Rama vs Aatma Rama( Stick vs Gnana Mudra depicted by Krishna). Ātmārāma - one who enjoys in the spiritual atmosphere, Indriyarama - sense indulgence. 

If we are delighted/contented with what you have, you will automatically be exempted by expectations. Do not be dependent on the world, but should be able to transact with the world. Inaction is not an option, we have to be happy with our current state but still be able to perform actions expected of you. 

Example discussed - Man sitting on a tree branch vs bird 

Try and imagine the mindset of the man vs the bird. The man is attached to the branch, whereas the bird can fly away whenever it wants. We have to still perform all action but not be attached. Your attitude should be like that of a bird, such that you should be able to leave the tree whenever you want.