Summarized by Sridhar.V
The class started off with our Omkar routine followed by prayers and Pranayama.
We did a recap from our last class 02.27.2022 where in verses 1-6 from Chapter 6 were discussed.
We looked at a comparison of a Bhogi, Yogi, Sanyasi and a Gyani.
A Bhogi is a person always in desires and cultivating more, and moving in the opposite direction on the spiritual path.
A yogi is reducing desires, and thereby moving in the right direction. A sanyasi is able to eliminate his desires, and a gnani is completely free of any desire.
In the gunas also, there is a progression from tamasic/rajasic for Bhogi to completely satvik for a gyani.
Mind is the most agitated for a Bhogi, and becomes progressively calmer and is the calmest for a gyani.
A Bhogi is most dependent on the external world, and a gyani is the least dependent
We also watched few videos of Gururdev on Chapter 6.
Excerpts of verses 7 ,8 and 9:
Translation of verse 7 :
The yogis who have conquered the mind rise above the dualities(pairs of opposites) heat and cold,joy and sorrow,honor and dishonor.Such yogis remain steadfast and peaceful in their devotion to God.
Commentary/Meaning :
Three pairs of opposites are indicated here as
1. Hot and Cold
2. Joy and Sorrow
3, Honour and Dishonour.
Shree Krishna mentions that “hot and cold” are stimuli that are experienced at the body level, “pleasure and pain” indicates that all destinies suffer at the mind level and “honor and dishonor”pair of opposites offer no threat of any storm in the intellectual zone of an accomplished individual.
Thus,by these three representative pairs of opposites from the three worlds of the body,the mind and the intellect, Shree Krishna is trying to exhaust all possibilities of obstacles in man’s life.
Translation of verse no 8:
The yogis who are satisfied by knowledge and discrimination(viveka) and have conquered their senses remain undisturbed in all circumstances.They see everything -dirt,stones and gold as the same.
Commentary / Meaning :
An individual who is self controlled and serene,who has constantly come to contemplate upon the nature of the Self as understood from the shastras,through all his circumstances in life becomes filled with a divine satisfaction and becomes and unshakeable Yogi.
According to Shree Krishna, the satisfied contentment which a true Yogi comes to experience is much superior to the thrilled joys experienced in all intense studies.
The knowledge gained through study is indicated as Jnana and the first hand experience gained by the seeker of the Self in himself is called as the Knowledge of direct perception also called as Vijnana.
Translation of verse no 9:
The yogis look upon all as -well wishers,friends,foes,the pious and the sinners-with an impartial intellect .The Yogi who is of equal intellect towards friend,companion,and foe,neutral among enemies and relatives,and impartial between the righteous and sinful,is considered to be the distinguished amongst humans.
Commentary / Meaning :
In the previous verse,it was indicated that the man of perfection develops equal vision as far as things of the world are concerned. The universe is not made of things alone but also beings.
Lord Krishna says that a man of excellence regards all relationships with an equal love and consideration,be they friends or foe,nearest relations or enemies,indifferent or neural. In his equal vision,all of them are equally important and he embraces all of them with the same warmth and ardour.
Suhrin-well-wishers,Mitra-friends,ari- enemies,udaasina-neutral parties,madhyastha-mediators,dvesya-those who are provocative by their bad behaviour,bandhu-relatives,sadhus-3 meanings(noble person who follows dharma,sanyasi or simpleton,papeshu-one who is a sinner.
How can a person have the same attitude towards all of these- Example of sandalwood-When its dry its fragrant and everyone likes it, when it becomes moist and soggy, it emits a foul odour which is not liekable,and the same when its rubbed and is dried again becomes fragrant.
Don’t be judgemental towards people and allow everyone a fair chance.
We also discussed examples of the mindset of individuals who have won a major tournament and lost (Wimbeldon)-
We also discussed the example of a visit to the new York- Federal Reserve Bank where in all the gold exchnages are stocked and people are allowed to visit the same.
Theme of verses 7,8 and 9 :(Yogi to Gnani)
HOW DOES A GNANI INTERACT WITH THE WORLD:
We used the Yin and yang or yin-yang concept that refers to an ancient Chinese philosophy where-in the opposite forces are seen as interconnected and counterbalancing.
Goes beyond dualities controlling his BMI.
Acts as the constant around whom everything else is changing.
Master and not a slave.
Treats all objects irrespective of value as the same.
Converts the knowledge(external) to wisdom- raw pickle to seasoned pickle.
Treats all people around as the same. Eg:Animal Biscuits.
In everyday interactions,is constantly aware of the knowledge and is not bothered by ups and downs.
We will continue with verses 10,11 and 12 from Chapter 6 in our next class.
