Class Summary for May 13, 2018 - Chapter-2: 23 to 25

Summarized by Sridhar V:

The class observed Pranayama followed by the recap of the last workshop session.(05/06)

Chapter 2- Verses 23/24 and 25 were discussed and explained to the class.

Analysis:

• Lord Krishna advises Arjuna that "Wepaons cannot shred the soul" nor "Fire can burn it". 

• The immutable "SELF" or JEEVA is being described by the Lord in terms of mutable and ever changing world which is familiar to Arjuna and all the normal human beings. In the world of change,objects come to their end either through death associating themselves with Fire/Water or Air.

• The soul cannot be made wet with water nor can the wind dry it.The soul is unbreakable and incombustible and it neither be destroyed or dampened. It is everlasting.

• We discussed the example of a "glass coffin" where in a study was conducted by a group of indiviuals who wanted to capture the process of death and observe anything that goes away from the human body when the event of death occurs. Despite employing all the possible scientific ways to capture the same they were not able to visually spot anything leaving the body during death .

• Lord Krishna further clarifies to Arjuna that everything in this world can be related to "MANIFESTATION" and "UNMANIFESTATION". The Lord explains that a thing is called manifested when we can perceive through one or other of our sense organs. That which is beyond all the five sense organs is called unmanifested that which cant be seen,heard,smelt,felt or tasted.

• Lord Krishna thus advises Arjuna to end his grief by re-iterating the fact that he who understands the eternal nature of the SELF can have neither the occassion to see himself as the slayer nor recognise others as the slain.

Related discussions and activities:

• Maniji recited a story about Ramdas mentioning to the class the choice between returning back to mankind to serve or being one with Bramhan.

• We also discussed that there is nothing in this universe called as "Creation" and its a fallacy of various theories. The real truth is "Manifestation" and " Unmanifestation".

• Mani-ji mentioned the story of Barbarika alias Shyam ,the grandson of Bhima (second of the Pandava brothers), and the son of Ghatotkacha. It was metioned that from his childhood, Barbarika was a very brave warrior and that he learnt the art of warfare from his mother. Krishna offered him Moksha in return for Barbarika being able to witness the entire Mahabharata from a global level(from the top of a mountain).  Once Barbarika was released from the vicious cycle of birth & death all he could envision was Lord Krishna everywhere/all across the battle field.(as he became one with Bramhan).

• 2 videos of Gurudev were played where in the concept of birth/rebirth  was explained in simple terms and Gurudev also emphasised that the soul(Jeevatma) has to acquire a gross body to exhaust all the impressions acquired from the previous birth(Prarabdham)