Class Summary for Oct 11, 2020 - BG - Chapter-4 Slokas 1-6

 Summarized by: Vidya Shivkumar

We started the class with our Prayers, Meditation , Pranayama . Did a recap of our 1^st class which gave the summary of the chapter 4. 

We went through Verses  1-6

Theme : Brahma Vidya Knowledge

Supreme Lord gave knowledge  to Vivasvan  (Sun God) -> Vivasvan taught it to Manu -> Manu taught it to  Iksvaku (Rama’s lineage ). 

1.     This shows the path of knowledge flow through parampara of Kshatriya . 

2.     Krishna emphasizes why Arjuna is a kshatriya ,Krishna’s devotee friend. 

3.     For the First time Krishna talks like/As Brahman , Else HE has always referred to himself as Sakka (Friend) . 

4.     Arjuna diplomatically poses a question – right way to inquire from Guru.

5.     Direct reference to reincarnation  / rebirth ( Eg Small child not knowing about his future) . 

6.     To experience the result of out past actions we have to take rebirth. 

7.     Lord talks about He being Unborn , Understructable who has manifested & hence can remember everything in his own maya . 

8.     Differentiation between Human birth & Avatara. 

*Humans fall helplessly out of ignorance , Avatara descends purposely to dispel ignorance . 

*Humans are made of Paanch Bootha , Avatara is made of Maya . 

* Humans as born to exhaust karma , Avatara is born to protect Dharma . 

* Human rebirth is based on Papa & Punya where as Avatara is getting reincarnated by HIS Will Choice). 

Avatara are not bound by the cycle of papa and punya. 

Jeevatma doesn’t have choice they have to take rebirth.

Arjuna has never seen this side of Krishna , He is in Awe. Arjuna tells Krishna that his Equipment is not able to understand how is it possible for Krishna to give this Yoga to Sun God . (How not to talk down to)

We went through few examples of how to ask question to Guru & about Rebirth.

Eg : 1 Guru & 2 Disciples : You can meditate anywhere . One Shisya ask Can I smoke when I Meditate? Guru replied “No”

Other one ask Can I Meditate even When I smoke? Guru replied “Yes “

Context is how you are asking the question. 

Eg 2: In our Gmail we delete the old emails . Similar to our lives we do not remember our old lives . Lots of things has happened in our past . Human brains is designed in such as way that lot of things are not remembered, designed for forgetting . 

 

Subject Anaysis : Growing beyond/ out of action is what we strive for . 

Class Summary for Oct 4, 2020 - Intro to BG - Chapter-4

Summarized by: Shilpa Sail 

Started the class with meditation as it helps us to calm our minds and preps us for the class. 

Class rules were explained and a quick recap of chapters 3 and 12 was provided.  

We started with a high-level summary of chapter 4. 

Chapter 4 covers the way to engage in this world and then how to dis-engage from this world. 

The chapter can be divided into the following parts- 

• 1-8 Glory of Gita and the Avatara Purusha (Lord Krishna) 
• 9- 17 Atman and Action 
• 18- 23 Actions that do not bind the enlightened 
• 24 – 30 The twelve yajnas (sacrifices) 
• 31 – 37 Yajnas culminating into wisdom 
• 38 – 42 Gain wisdom( The ultimate truth or the ultimate freedom) 

The chapter delves into how we should live with the yajna attitude which will culminate into gaining knowledge and that will be the path to attain the ultimate wisdom. 

Vedas are really vast. It is not very organized. It is advised that we read the Veda antas which is also called the Upanishad that contains the summary of the Vedas. Upanishads do not cover Karma yoga as they are jnana kandas, not karma kandas. Hence, Bhagavad Gita can be considered as a supplement to the Upanishads as it covers Karma yoga. 

The karma part is not covered in Upanishads as only permanent things are discussed in Upanishads. Both the action(karma) and the result of action are temporary, hence the Upanishads do not cover that. 

This chapter is the transition from Karma to Jnana to reach self-realization. How to think and go beyond action is covered in chapter 4. 

Saying is not the same as realizing the ultimate truth. Gaining knowledge is not enough. It needs to be combined with realization. 

 

The class concluded with closing prayers.

Class Summary for June 25, 2020 - Self Unfoldment - Chapter-2: Happiness (Self moderated)

Summarized by: Prarthana Gururaj

CHAPTER 2 – HAPPINESS

Life is divided into Dukha Nivritti and Sukha Prapti

We divide the world into likes and dislikes.Hidden in every accomplishment/ milestone – getting away from danger and moving towards security.

Standard of living is flight from sorrow, rush towards joy

The objective of all our tasks can be divided into: Avoiding discomfort and Seeking comfort

Here we had a discussion on avoiding discomfort in the workplace where competition in work performance is a source of discomfort. Some options are: 

1. Observe rather then compete. 2. Your only competition is with yourself.

WORLD OUTSIDE US IS CONTANTLY CHANGING

WE ARE PUTTING IN A CONSTANT EFFORT TO STAY AFLOAT OR STAY BALANCED

We are excessively preoccupied with:

1. Body
2. Senses
3. What the world should be
4. How the world should see me

HAPPINESS IS A STATE OF MIND

Recent study on amount of wealth needed for happiness found that the maximum money needed for basic happiness was about $72000

Happiness is measured by tranquility of the mind

An agitated mind is filled with anxiety and sorrow.A tranquil mind feels joy.

ABSENCE OF JOY = SORROW

ABSENCE OF SORROW = JOY

QUIET MIND = TRANQUIL MIND = HAPPINESS

THE HAPPINESS EQUATION:

Happiness = number of desires fulfilled

                          number of desires entertained

We discussed the story of the stone cutter who wanted to become more and more powerful and became several different objects in the pursuit of happiness only to return to being a stone cutter again.

Class Summary for June 11, 2020 - Self Unfoldment - Chapter-1: Freedom (Self moderated)

Summarized by: Prarthana Gururaj

PARADOX OF LIFE – WE HAVE MORE AND MORE EXTERNAL COMFORTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE BUT WE ARE NO HAPPIER THAN BEFORE 

We are all seeking freedom from fear FEARS – fear of death, insecurity about jobs, relationships, health etc We seek this freedom because it is our essential nature to be free. 

FREEDOM ( aka DETACHMENT) begins with intelligent self restraint. ( egs understanding Yama, Niyama, daily sadhana, Shreyas and Preyas) Eg: using electricity requires following its laws. 

Governments impose laws for a free society to function efficiently and peacefully. We impose restrictions on our diet etc to live a healthy life. 

THE ART OF RIGHT CONTACT: 

Our religious tests have prescribed codes of contact for us to interact with the world so that these interactions create the right kind of contact. The tests describe happiness as something within us and not in the external world.Therefore problems should be seen as opportunities to sharpen our personality 

1.Perception is REALITY 

2. You are the PROBLEM and you are the SOLUTION 

3. Situation + My Response = Outcome. Eg: Knife cannot be sharpened if it is not polished against a blunt stone. Don’t blame the world, it is your view of it. Not understanding this makes us bitter in the presence of challenges. 

Step one to experience mental tranquility is the develop the attitude of gratitude. Awareness of all our blessings. ‘I had no shoes and complained – until I met the man who had no feet’ 

OUR HERITAGE: 

Our heritage is to be independent of the world around us. Our true Self seeks to be free of the World of objects. We are not meant to be slaves to the ever changing scenarios of the external world. A person who has realized that freedom has gained mastery over his mind. He is at peace regardless of the surroundings. He is not indifferent, he feels emotions but is not overpowered by them 

At this point we also discussed the concept of FIR – frequency, intensity of mental agitation and recovery in response to an external situation. The goal always being that the FIR should go down as we progress on this path of gaining mastery over the mind. 

Human being fundamentally consists of: 

Body: realm of perception( sense organs) and action 

Mind: Realm of emotion 

Intellect: Realm of thoughts and idea

Class Summary for June 07, 2020 - Chapter-12 Slokas 20

Summarized by: Bala Dhandapani

After opening prayer we discussed Verse 20 from Chapter 12

Chapter 12 is concluded with Verse 20

Krishna concludes that those who honor this nectar of wisdom (36 qualities discussed earlier) and endowed with faith is dearest to me. 

Theme:

This teaching is in line with Vedas/Shastras and is the essence of Vedic Dharam, hence this Chapter 12 (Devotion/Bhakti Yoga) is also called as Veda Saraha.

Summary

1^st step:  Yoga Kshema – acquisition and maintenance/sustenance

• Doing it for you, do your duty and then do not worry -surrender to God

2^nd step: Chita Shuddhi – Nishkaama Karma

• Cleansing of the mind

3^rd step: Ishta Devata Upasana

• Helps to focus
• Cleansing of the mind helps with the Upasana

4^th step: Vishwaroopa Upasana

• Step 3 and 4 can be combined

5^th step: Nirguna Upasana

• Final step – meditation on the Absolute Truth

Subjective Analysis

In Kali Yuga – we need to practice the above steps in different permutations and combinations. 

Gurudev’s Video on Verse 20

Summary

• The 36 values can cure all the earlier immortality and ulcerations of the inner personalities
• There is no distinction between God and Bhaktha who is practicing all the 36 values of life.
• Even if you follow “1” value, all the other 35 values will automatically be added to you.

Class Discussion

Question:  Fraction may come from surroundings who may not follow the 36 values.

Suggestions:  Forbearance quality will come into picture.  Also, do not force the qualities on others, someone should be motivated to obtain the knowledge.  One cannot force this knowledge on to others.  Practice the qualities and make yourself perfect. 

At the end of the session – the class saw the Class Play/Video:  Karam Karo Kumar along with Swamiji and Mr. Sriram. 

Link to the video skit is below -

https://youtu.be/owRCTusvxSA