Class Summary for Jan 5, 2020 - Chapter-3 Slokas 36- 39

Summarized by :  Aruna Amaresan

We refreshed on last week's message. We reviewed the Sadhana package from last week. And the key messages.

 

Below is a sample saadhana package  - We should try to do at least a subset of these in order to burn our vasanas, and maintain that equi-balance of our mind:

1. Wakeup prayer/Thought

2. Sandhya vadanam

3. Prayer/Puja at Home altar

4. Yogasana (10-30 min)

5. Pranayama (5-10 min)

6. Meditation (10-30 min)

7. Afternoon/evening walk (outdoor if possible)

8. Daily Shravanam (Spiritual book read/ audio/video)

9. Volunteering activity

10. Night Bed time introspection

 

Try to keep to 150 min per week. Appx. 30 min per day. Example of good books to read were given  (e.g., How to break bad habits - By James C - Helps to change habits by doing one right thing for that week.

 

Today's focus was on two sections:

1. Chapter 3 - Verses 32-35

2. Chapter 3 - Verses 36-39

 

1. On Chapter 3 - Verses 32-35:

Even though you know that you are living as stupid and lifeless as before, it takes time to prepare for making a change. 

Janmanapi - Each individual lives exactly with the same tendencies of their past.

 

If you are involved and make efforts to change, performance will improve.

 

Chapter 3 - Verse 34: Each of us have our own likes and dislikes. Even though the world is like a gift to us, we can’t enjoy. We divide the world into likes and dislikes. We are running away from what we don’t like, and run towards what we like.

 

Swamiji shares that you will see that whatever you don’t like follows you. And whatever you like, runs away from you.

E.g., He never preferred eggplant and it followed him everywhere. He loves sweets, but he can’t eat it

 

Message:

 Don’t yield to likes and dislikes. But understand it.

 Tendencies are present due to Vasanas. That drives objects/emotions thoughts towards or away from us. Don’t live according to your vasanas. Try to change it.

 Where you are, and what you are facing is your prarabhda and vasanas. But how you face it is your freedom. Think and improvise

 Vasanas may go away in groups. Get into Sadhana to get your vasanas knocked out quickly. e.g.,Ekadesi Viradha

 Try to have a Delete button - In reality, most of the past is unimportant.

 

2. On Chapter 3 - Verses 36-39:

Why are we doing what we are doing? Because of lust and the past, that makes you do it. E.g.,

Smoke covering the fire. Dust covers the mirrors. Clean away the dust.

Sattvic State: It is similar to Smoke and fire situation. It can be more easily cleared. E.g.

Introspection - If you are doing it, you will be able to get insights and be an observer of yourself.

Rajasic State: It is similar to the dust covering the mirror. It takes longer to clean the dust. E.g., FOMO - Fear of missing out.

Tamasic State: Like the embryo in womb situation where it takes 9-10 months.

Note: Don’t confuse between Phobia's and mix it with texture of mind and gunas.

 

Message:

 For you to make progress towards moksha: Move to be in sattvic state more.

 All vasanas good or bad need to be sublimated. Vasanas are bondage of us to this world, and needs to be removed. E.g., As a pole vault, you have to first run with the pole, use the pole to get that momentum, and finally let go of the pole. That pole even though was so helpful for you, you do let go of it. The pole is like you moving towards the sattvic state.

 What are Vasanas? These are repeated thoughts that exhibit itself as strong habits, or

attachments, or desires. E.g., Coffee in the morning. The best person to know your vasanas is yourself. If you have no vasanas, you will have no likes or dislikes. This implies you will have no attachments to objects/emotions/thoughts. You have to attempt to clear it.  

 Sithaprajna - How do you ensure that even though you like/dislike person, you continue to

engage with them, while at the same time give them a chance? Reset your expectation on that person. Be aware of your previous experiences, but give them the benefit of the doubt. E.g., At work, you have challenges with certain individuals. You have to work with that person. What you have control is how you engage with them. Learn from your experiences, but continue the interaction.

o Look at it from a much bigger picture. There is one divinity out there. The same divinity that is within you is the divinity present in that person

o Message: Dislike the action, but not the person who performs it.

 Vasanas have a close link to desire. Lord Krishna talks about this in detail in Verses 36-39.

 What is desire? It is trying to make up for some incompleteness within us. (Apoorna). Desire is used to address the emptiness inside of us. E.g., In last year skit, we reviewed the following cycle

o OBJECTS --- SENSES ----- ATTACHMENTS -- DESIRE - If desire fulfilled, OK. If not fulfilled, leads to KRODHA ---This CLOUDS JUDGEMENT -- ANGER/DOOM STATE

 How to differentiate between Desires vs. Goals/Objectives? Desire is when you get anger/anxiety when it is not accomplished. Whereas, setting goals and objectives is to do your duty to do the best possible way as per the role you are playing.

o It is complete folly on our part, to feel incomplete due to specific objects. You decide to

buy the item, then you feel complete temporarily.

o Don’t try to make yourself feel complete by temporary objects. Look for a source of

permanent happiness

o You need the urge to do your best of your duty given to you. Note, that as an individual

everything you do is a duty. Note that treating a patient is as important as folding clothes

properly.

 A beautiful example of Lord Krishna's behavior in an event: A big yagna was happening. Lord Krishna was invited for that event. Krishna requested the host for some ways to help. The host requested him to stand outside, and take care of the footwear of the guests coming in for the event. Lord Krishna did the job so elegantly well, that no one went inside the event location. If Lord Krishna can treat even arranging footwear so well, how should we be treating each of our duties?

 Note that each job is important, and you give your 100% to it.

 On Desires:

o Desires are most impactful in Rajasic state . In Sattvic state, you will be able to manage

desires. Remember the learning earlier: Happiness formula = Desires Fulfilled / Desires entertained

The lesser desires you entertain, the higher your happiness state.

o There are 3 types of desires

 Tamasic e.g., Kumbakarna

 Rajasic e.g., Ravana

 Sattvic e.g., Vibhishana - He had a desire to do good, but managed it better, by installing

proper governance

Note: When you mind acts from a Sattvic state, you will get the support you need.

Class Summary for Dec 22, 2019 - Chapter-3 Slokas 32- 35

Summarized by :  Prarthana

We continued with the discussion on ways of living ideally and the 5 key factors to become a Karma Yogi.

Surrendering to God is easier said than done and one’s inner instrument has to be prepared. Just as a pickle jar cannot contain milk until it is washed and cleaned. But one can start by at least being curious about he who gives us Moksha. Real surrender is a process that happens rather than just a thought in our mind.

Ways to imbibe this thinking:
1. Start the day with these thoughts.
2. Maintain your Sadhana
3. Think on these thoughts frequently

Those who do not even try will be ruined: Eg Duryodhana was given multiple opportunities to redeem himself and he could not control his mind to bring himself to make a peaceful deal with the Pandavas. When given the Vishwarupa darshana he called it Maya where as someone with the right and prepared inner equipment would have surrendered to the Lord.

An important place to start the clean up of the inner equipment is to deal with our senses becoming attached to objects.

1.Do so not by suppressing but by substituting those attachments with more subtle and higher goals.
Eg: marathoners are focused on finishing the marathon and not on the Gatorade stops.
Kids should be focused on the exam and not the vacation after the exam or adults should focus on the project rather than the gazebo that can come from the bonus after the project is completed.
2. Renunciation of attachments and distractions as far as possible.
Our attachments are going to cause energy leaks and we have to learn to manage the energy loss.
Most of our energy is lost in thinking of regrets about the past, worries for the future and being over excited about the present.
To be able to stop these energy leaks and function at a higher level of vitality – act like a Sanyasi who works without attachment to the results. Eg: Gurudev was able to work on 3 hours of sleep.
Recognise when your energy is drained and stop and re- energize in whatever way works best for you.
Increase and be aware of your Sadhana time to be able to absorb the inevitable negative energy that we may have to deal with in our daily lives.

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;