Class Summary for Oct 16, 2022 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-6: Slokas 37-42

Summarized by Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Recap & Initial Q&A 

• Discussed briefly about Saguna and Nirguna Meditation
• It's easier to meditate on form than a formless entity.
• Question - If Arjuna's focus was good then why is he finding it hard to meditate?
• Answer - Even though Arjuna was good with Abhyasha but Vairagya from relationship and desires may be missing.
• Meditation is not just an action, it's more like living in that state.
• Flow/zone usually brings the best out of you. It's close to a meditative state.
• Hindrance to meditation
• Tamasic - Falling to sleep during meditation
• This could be due to lack of sleep.
• Rajasic - Mind wandering is one of the common hindrances in meditation.
• Unexpected vasanas that are suppressed deep inside can surface up causing a sudden shock.
• Addiction to Silence - Folks start to enjoy silence. Even that is not the desired state. It has a beginning and an end. What we are seeking doesn’t have a beginning and an end.
• Do not meditate full or an empty stomach or if you have done some heavy workout.
• Before meditation, do a ritual like lighting a lamp. This helps prepare our mind that this is the time to focus and not to sleep.
• Give a strong message to mind before starting the meditation that it's not a sleep time. It's rather focused.
• Even though our focus is on Gyan Yoga, our scriptures give a lot of importance to Bhakti Yoga, Karma yoga. e.g. Pickle Jar. You cannot put milk in a pickle jar unless it goes through the thorough cleansing.
• Some organizations directly teach methods of meditation like Raja Yoga without driving the path of Bhakti and Karma Yoga.
• Shravanam, Mananam and Nidhidhyasham as well as Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga are required in this journey.

 

Verse 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42

• Verse 37
• Translation - Arjuna said - When a man, though possessed of faith is unable to control himself and his mind wanders away from Yoga to what end does he, having failed to attain perfection in Yoga.
• Verse 38
• Translation - Fallen from both, does he not, O mighty armed perish like a rent cloud, support less and deluded in the path of Brahman.
• Verse 39
• Translation - This doubt of mine, O Krishna, please dispel completely, because it is not possible for any one but you to dispel this doubt.
• Verse 40
• Translation - Lord said - O Partha, neither in this world, nor in the next world is there destruction for him, none, verily who strives to be good. O my son, ever comes to grief.
• Verse 41
• Translation - Having attained to the worlds of the righteous and having dwelt there for everlasting (long) years, he who had fallen from Yoga is born again in the house of the pure and the wealthy.
• Verse 42
• Translation - Or he is even born in the family of the wise Yogis; verily a birth like this is very difficult to obtain in this world.

Theme 

• Can we end up in Trishanku state? Somewhere caught in between the materialistic and spritualistic world.
  
• Here we see Arjuna’s total confidence and surrender to the Lord.
  
• Power of righteousness is cumulative in nature from lifetime to lifetime.
  
• Efforts in this direction will never go waste and carries towards the future birth.
  
• This will help being born in a conducive family and environment. 
  
• e.g. It was believed that Buddha lived 499 lives before being born as a Buddha, so his enlightenment was emiment.
  
• We being here today shows that we are continuing the journey.
  
• We need to remove stupidity, selfishness, ignorance, low thinking etc.
  

 

Discussion

• You cannot preach Bhagwat Gita to someone who has not eaten for a few days.
• Being born in a safe environment where we have freedom to spend a couple of hours every Sunday. It's because we are better off and not worried about food or day to day hussle.
• Rebirth - Sanchith/Prarabhdha/Agami Karma.
• We are all born with the portion of Sanchit Karma as a Prarabhdha and we all have to live through it. Any new actions are going to create Agami Karma.
• We briefly referenced the book “Many lives many Masters” that covers some of the similar philosophy.
• Nishargdutta Maharaj - How did he suddenly get the wisdom? Based on his past life Karma’s he was ready and attained the realization without going through any formal education or process.
• Reduction of FIR is a good measurement.
• We briefly discussed an example of a tribe who used to live in a cave. There was a person who decided to go beyond the cave where no one else ever went. Before he reaches the light, there is a deep darkness and one can choose to return, however he may be just steps away from the light.
• Arjuna is in a similar state, just a few steps away from enlightenment.
• Devi Sita was in a similar state. She almost gave up so that no one would come to save her. Then Lord Hanuman came as a hope and renewed the belief.

Swamiji’s Video -

• Video 1 - Verse 36 (video 135)
• Few economists were discussing around the table including a few professors. They were reviewing data around national debt, national income. They all concluded that India’s end is near. No hope, no future. Their logical thinking took them to this conclusion. However they had utter sorrow as they didn’t want that conclusion.
• They approach Swamiji and ask. Swamiji said, you are right this country has no future. However they didn’t want that answer.
• Similarly Arjuna asked Mind is constantly restless, it cannot be controlled. Krishna says “You are right”.
• By practice and by giving up your clinging attachment to the pleasures, senses and desires you can control your mind. 
• However sincere you may be in knowledge or studies, unless you bring your mind in control you cannot bring an unfoldment.
• Video 2 - Verse 37 (video 136)
• Arjuna asked Krishna “This is my doubt” and I don’t know how to get out. You must cut it out for me. This is a hopeless situation. Krishna must be like “Why me? You created this doubt” 
• e.g. Mother knitting cardigan, someone rings the bell and mother has to step out. Her toddler behind the scene entangled himself in the woolen thread. By the time the mother returns, the child starts crying for help. Mother sees all her effort is spoiled by her own child.
• Similarly Arjuna got himself entangled and called for Krishna to help. You must release me from this.
• 
  

Subjective analysis

• Keep up your sadhana and efforts knowing you are accumulating to your account.

Class Summary for Oct 9 25, 2022 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-6: Slokas 33-36

 Summarized by Sree Sekhar Palaparthy

We started the class with pranayama and meditation. 

We did a quick recap on what we learnt so far within Chapter 6

Journey from Bhogi to Gyani

 Bhogi – always in desires and cultivating more, and moving in the opposite direction of the

spiritual path. 

 Yogi – reducing desires, and thereby moving in the right direction

 Sanyasi – able to eliminate his desires

 Gyani – one who is free from all desires (desires will still be there but there is no attachment to

the outcomes of the actions)

What is Meditation?

 Meditation isn’t an action , but a state in which an evolved person conducts himself with

equanimity

 One needs to prepare at different levels to be able to reach the ultimate state of “being” in

meditative state

o Body – Physical cleanliness and of surroundings; place; posture; seat etc

o Mind - Being able to quieten the mind with no disturbances

o Intellect – Having FAITH in the process of meditation

 PORT reduction - Meditation reduces Possessions, Obsessions, Reactions and Transactions

2 aspects of meditation

    1. Saguna meditation:

        a. Meditating upon a physical form

        b. Leads to Bhakti , which then eventually leads to Nirguna meditation

    2. Nirguna meditation:

        a. Meditating upon space/OM symbol/ Maha vakyas (Aham Brahmasmi etc)

        b. One reaches to a very closer state of “Living” in meditative state ,while performing actions

We looked at verses 33-36 and recited them

Verse 33:

Arjuna’s Question to Lord Krishna - After Lord Krishna talked about how one needs to prepare for

meditation by controlling the mind, Arjuna is confused (like most of us are)

 How he can control the mind?

 Would he end up in a hanging state (Trishankhu state) – where he would neither be able to

control the mind to meditate nor enjoy the world

Verse 34:

Arjuna is further elaborating on the difficulty of being able to control the mind. He compares it to be as

difficult as being able to control the wind. Mind is fickle, violent, powerful and stubborn , hence very

difficult to control

Verse 35:

Lord Krishna’s response:

 Krishna, first accepts/agrees with Arjuna’s concern, that it’s really tough to control the mind

 The style in which Krishna responds here to Arjuna is a great learning for our transactional

situations as well. It is very critical to first agree /empathize with the one who is seeking advice,

and then provide further clarity (by using BUT , for instance)

 Krishna prescribed 2 solutions to answer Arjuna’s question

    o Abhyasa: One needs to consistently practice Karma Yoga to purify thoughts and quieten the mind.

    o Vairagya: One needs to detach from desires by the process of practicing Karma Yoga and through meditation ; Not to get attached to the outcome of the action

 Vairagya and Practice are key to control the mind

We then discussed about the 3 Yogas which help in the process of Meditation

    a) Karma Yoga – Performing Nishkaama Karma

    b) Bhakti Yoga - Developing FAITH in the scriptures

    c) Gyana Yoga - Acquiring Knowledge through -

            a. Shravanam – Listening to scriptures, engaging in Satsangs; Consistent inputs related to

                spiritual journey

            b. Mananam - Internalizing the knowledge by introspection and clarifying questions from

                qualified teachers

            c. Nidhidhyaasanam – Living the meditative state by practicing Saguna/Nirguna meditation

We discussed couple of questions as a group

“Does Sanyasi have all questions answered?”.

 Sanyasi too have questions, but he/she are in a meditative state where the answers to those questions don’t matter

 Other example discussed:: Did Ram do justice by killing Vaali from behind the tree? Did

Rama treat Sita in a right way after the war? Etc . The answers to these questions aren’t

relevant for one to make progress in the spiritual path;

“Are there any discomforts in Meditation?”.

 There could be discomforts at 3 levels

    o Body level – Seat ; surroundings, body pains etc

    o Mind level – distractions

3 other considerations one need to avoid as part of the meditation

    a) Laziness – One may fall asleep during meditation

    b) Mind gets shocked – one may be overwhelmed with the new experiences they go through during the         meditation

    c) Attached to the process – One may get attached with the mind’s quite state as they enjoy the                 peacefulness

Subjective analysis: Use intellect to start control of mind – start small

During “Nirguna” meditation, one transcends the body , mind and intellect and experiences a “blank

state”, which helps to live in meditative state even while performing actions

We also discussed briefly about how deep sleep state is different than this blank state OR being in the

meditative state.

Deep sleep state - No awareness is present; State of ignorance where Vasanas are unmanifested;

Might reduce pain or emotions

Blank state/Meditative state - Awareness is there; Consciousness goes beyond BMI; Helps reducing

Vasanas

We will continue with Verse 37 onwards in our next class.

Class Summary for Sep 25, 2022 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-6: Recap

Summarized by Shivkumar N

We started the class with pranayama and meditation. 

• As it was the first class of the year we started with introducing everyone.
• We then followed it by a general overview of the class format, general do's and don'ts, and recommendations for sadhana practice.
• We then did a quick recap/summary of the initial 5 chapters of Bhagvad Gita.
• As chapter 6 was already introduced last year we did a recap of what the team had covered.
• Chapter 6 structure

Verses 1-9  how a person raises from being a Yogi to a Gnani

Verses 10-15 Preparation for meditation

Verses 16-18 Prerequisites for meditation

Verses 19-24 How to control one’s mind or calm one’s mind

Verses 25-28 Meditation lead to Realization

Verses 29-32 Test for realization

Verses 33-36 Mind is difficult to control – obstacles to perform meditation

Verses 37-42 What if one is unsuccessful to attain Moksha 

Verses 43-47  Yogi attains Moksha 

• One of the discussions brought a point where a swami when asked by a student whether scriptures mention that we must not enjoy anything,  he clarified that scriptures say to enjoy everything but don’t get attached to it.

• We then read out the verses 33, 34, 35 and 36. The next class would begin with an in depth walkthrough of these verses. The class were then given homework to go through the blog so that they get a fair understanding of what Lord Krishna had covered in the initial 51/2 chapters thus far. 

Class Summary for June 5, 2022 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-6: Slokas 26 - 32

 Summarized by Prarthana Gururaj

In this class we reviewed and analyzed shlokas 26 to 32.

We discussed the following points.

1.Mind is characterized as chanchala and asthira – restless and unsteady and when trying to stay on the

path of meditation on must not lose hope with repeated loss of control

2. The intellect is the main guiding factor that is going to help redirect the mind

3. In human interaction our subconscious belief that I am the BMI accompanies all interactions. The goal

of Vedantic meditation is to guide the fact that we are the Brahman into our subconscious. This should

help us start every interaction with fresh eyes.

4. A comparison to a waiting room was given:

The gross body must lose its passions

The subtle body must remain calm

The causal body must be cleansed of its vasanas.( even wanting moksha is a vasana but one could

consider it a golden chain. As we move on this path, even this golden chain must be relinquished)

Only then can one enter the realm of realization

5. A key aspect to staying on this path is the belief or conviction of the intellect about this path.

When Ganga is asked why she flows, her answer is that it is because it is her nature to flow. Not because

she wants to reach Bay of Bengal

6.Some people can have mystical experiences when they start meditation. This should not be

misunderstood and sought after again and again. These experiences are also not real.

7. In their purest form, all Jivatmas would like to gain realization. However our vasanas cover this desire.

Meditation is the unveiling of this real nature/objective to gain realization.

8. As we are on this path, we find ourselves having increased sensitivity to the happenings in the world

around us. A true Gnani smiles when the world smiles and cries as the world cries while maintaining an

inner equipoise.

9.Religion is the acute perception of the unity everywhere in the world and with everyone. A realized

person sees one in all and all in one.

10. A common dilemma and how to proceed from there:

• The body – lives in the present and is limited in its effect on the world. It is happy when we eat and care for it but the joy cannot be given to others.
• The mind – can move between the past and future. Can have a multiplier effect. Thoughts and feelings are transferred to others by way of words and actions
• Intellect – capable of entering unknown realms. Discoveries, inventions etc occur through intellectual pursuit
• Spiritual – is all inclusive. our energy can have a strong impact on others. Can give us infinite bliss
• Knowledge – makes us aware of our ignorance, makes us reflect, experiment and absorb
• Devotion – enhances the feeling of gratitude and being able to see God in everything.
• Service – fulfills our need to repay the world
• Worshipping Brahman in everything and living with the witness attitude is the goal.

Class Summary for May 1, 2022 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-6: Slokas 22 - 25

 Summarized by Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Recap & Initial Q&A

• We talked about the support needed for the upcoming skit.

• Recap
• Recapped conversation around Ashtanga Yoga
• Talked about food
• Eat only half a full stomach.
• Sleep - 6.5 to 7.5 hours
• Too much sleep is Tamasic
• Too less sleep doesn’t bring 100% out
• Ahara
• Vihara
• Yukta - One whose mind is restrained.
• We chanted 19, 20, 21 again
• Revisited Translation of Verse 19, 20, 21

 

Verse 22, 23, 24, 25

• Verse 22
• Translation - Having gained that state one doesn’t consider any attainment to be greater, Being thus established, one is not shaken even in the midst of the greatest calamity.
• Verse 23
• Translation - That state of severance from union with misery is known as Yog. This Yog should be resolutely practiced with determination free from pessimism.
• Verse 24
• Translation - Completely renouncing all desires arising from thoughts of the world, one should restrain the senses from all sides with the mind. Slowly and steadily, with conviction in the intellect, the mind will become fixed in God alone, and will think of nothing else.

Theme 

• Like a flickering flame impacted by wind cannot provide light for long; a mind agitated with desires cannot focus for long.
  
• We need to have spiritual discipline to protect the mind, like our own Lakshman Rekha
  
• Steady mind destroys Vasanas and connects to the higher like a steady flame moves upwards.
  
• Karma yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana yoga will help "still" the mind.
  
• We need to be unaffected by sorrow or sufferings
  
• We are creating our own prison cell, locking ourselves in it; and throwing away the key!
  

Discussion

• When there is no wind, fire will rise up.
• Tools that we have learned to make our mind steady.
• Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga.
• We bind ourselves to sorrow and suffering. Folks think they can manage happiness but are not sure of suffering.
• It's like we are creating our own prison cell and throwing away the key.
• For e.g. 
• Example 1 
• A 5-year-old kid, who is terminally ill. If you see the kid will cry only when he/she is in pain. If the pain goes away, he/she will be playing. Suffering is limited to the pain.
• However, when an adult realizes they are terminally ill. They will always be sad/crying (relatively more than kids). This is due to the fact that you are thinking you are terminally ill. Kid is limiting its suffering to the pain.
• Folks end up living more than what doctors suggest, however we define our own misery.
• Ramakrishna Paramahansa always referenced that the body is suffering.
• Example 2 - Players often think playing Cricket on home turf, they will have the upper hand. This is also a mindset.

• Verse 20 -23 
• Verse 20 - 
• Talks about Chitupramana - Total tranquility and relaxation of mind. When you start focusing on the inner, all other thoughts go away. When you realize ataman all other noise goes away.
• Focusing on just ataman is not a thoughtless state, there is focus on one thought that is ataman. You are able to feel one with ataman. Technical definition of paramatma and Jivatama
• Verse 21 - 
• Ultimate happiness you can ever get.
• Let’s say you meditate and get a glimpse of ataman, the second time you had the same experience .. if you continue to have that experience you will dissociate your identity with gross.
• Nothing is aging in self, it’s just the body.
• The Self that was experienced as a child, it’s the same self that is experiencing old age.
• Why are we able to solve other problems - For our own situation our emotions take over? However, if you dissociate your grossness with subtleness, you will be more efficient.
• Verse 22 - 
• There is no achievement in this world that is greater than atma. There is nothing in the transactional world that can make you sad.
• Transition from “What" to "So what” becomes relatively easy.
• Verse 23 -
• Yoga is to unite two things. You are not uniting with atma. Atma is the only reality. Also Atma is not something that is material .. its omni present and beyond time. When you establish in witness principle, this delusion that Samsara is subsiding atma will go away.
• When this ignorance goes away, you realize Atma and Paramatma are the same.
• Once you objectify the body, you realize this is the body and I am not the body.
• Witness while breathing your body (as an object) rising.
• This is Annmaya kosha, next is pranmaya kosha. Next stage is You focus on breath, however you are not "breath" either.
• Then Manomaya and Vigyamaya kosha. Next stage is you focus on thoughts. Watch the thought without being judgemental. You separate yourself from your mind.
• As you watch thoughts start slowing down. There will be gaps between thoughts. Focus on that gap (that silence).
• Now realize that you are not that silence. Put the thought that I am the ataman.
• It's hard to explain the unexplainable. Don’t think of that and get demotivated.
• For e.g. 
• We all know magnets attract iron, it doesn’t attract wood. Let’s say wood is tied to iron, iron is going to force the wood towards the magnet. Because of bondaze to the iron, it's getting pulled. If you remove iron, wood will not be attracted to the magnet.
• We are like wood. Vasnas are like iron, and the world is like a magnet. You need to be unaffected by worldly force. More you attach to Vasana you get attracted to worldly affairs.
• Bhakti Yoga is like expanding your love.
• For e.g. Britishers asked Nelson Mandela what he wanted for your family, he said my family is 40 million people.
• Gnana Yoga - What is permanent and what is impermanent. Once the iron piece is gone, none of the worldly affairs will be important.
• Another example - Lokmanya Tilak and a girl
• A girl challenges her mom why she should do a certain ritual when Tilak doesn’t do it. Hearing this Lokmanya Tilak shows takes her out and shows the crowd that this is my devotion.

Swamiji’s Video -

• Video 1 -
• Like the flame of the candle remaining in the corner of the room without a cross bridge, it doesn’t flutter, rather it steadily goes up. In the same way your thoughts are steadily going upward to higher reality if the wind of desire doesn’t flutter.
• “stha" means remaining on.
• Video 2 (127) - Verse 20 - Beyond Intellect - Torch and Battery
• True intellect can illuminate everything.
• Suppose you enter the dark room with a flashlight, you can see everything that you can illuminate.
• Can you see the name of the battery in the dark room? You cannot, because if you take out the battery, the torch stops.
• The intellect has intelligence only when life is functioning. In the light of intelligence there is nothing in this world (OET) you cannot perceive. Intelligence itself is powered by consciousness. 
• Once Einstein is dead, his same grey matter is not holding intelligence.
• Video 3 - (128) It cannot be explained
• What is that state which is beyond that intelligence. Even in a dark room you know who you are. It is the self in you that you are searching. It cannot be felt or thought of.
• Krishna said, never mind, Yoga is divorce from sorrow. You are currently wedded to sorrow.
• Video 4 - (129) - Borrowed desires
• Swamiji if there is no desire what is the purpose of the body.
• Krishna particularly used adjectives and qualified desires that you should get rid of. Some desires will always come because they are impressions of your vasanas.
• Krishna says - A desire that arose in you because of your fancy. How would you know which one is yours and which one is borrowed?
• Whatever desires arising in your mind are borrowed. Someone is naturally good at writing and now wants to sing like his wife, it will not be ideal.
• All desires that are spinning in your mind nearly for imitation are borrowed.

Subjective analysis

• Go beyond yourself and focus on the welfare of the world.

Ended class with Meditation.