Class Summary for Sep 23, 2018 - Chapter-2: 30 to 32

Summarized by Shivkumar Natarajan:

We started the class with pranayama and meditation. We then picked up from the last session where each of the groups had done a recap of the following:

·         Key terminology revisited from self-unfoldment

·         Chapter 1 summary

·         What Bhagwad Gita means to us

·         Relative reality vs ultimate reality.

We started with the last team elaborating on the 4^th point.

Arjuna’s continued agony and final surrender for Lord Krishna’s teaching and guidance. Lord Krishna starts with the ultimate truth regarding the true self in you (Arjuna) and that it can never be destroyed. He explains in great detail regarding the Aatma. He then shifts teaching to the relative reality and explains that the body like everything is not permanent.

We then discussed the difference between Attainment vs Realization

Attainment is a journey  whereas Realization is being aware of something that is already present

We then discussed the importance of Mananam with couple of examples

The class debated on ultimate reality not being sufficient (telling person whose close one passed away about aatma moving on ) and need to excel in relative reality. We summarized the point that the ultimate reality helps accept and move on . How it helps one be balanced in dealing with situation at work (example of colleague who came dressed not as per dress code)

A unique view of chapter 2 was presented: The treatment of a patient (Arjuna) by Lord Krishna.

·         Shlokas 1-10 Arjuna surrendering to the Lord

·         Shlokas 11-46 Sankhya/Bhrama Gnyana (Surgery)

This could further be split as

(a. 11-38 : Cosmic vision b. 30-46:Dharmic or Loukika dhristi)

·         Shlokas 47-60 Karma Yoga (Secondary medicine)

·         Shlokas 71-72 : Bhakti Yoga  (Supplemental medicine)

·         Shlokas 71-72 Renunciation/ Sanyasa Yoga or Jeevan Mukti Purusha (Cured person)

Then, we discussed that If there are many routes why did God start with the toughest part first instead of something Arjuna would easily understand? 

Typically,  given a lower goal mankind settles for the same. God wanted the standard to be set at the highest so that there was a clear goal to go towards as we evolve in the easier paths.

It was also mentioned that there is a school of thought that the Gita ended with chapter 2 and the remaining chapters are added by Vyasa muni (or his disciples) to elaborate on the topics that were described by the Lord in a concise manner.

At final part of the class we read through verse 30-32.

Verse 30 is the Lords conclusion to the topic of Absolute Truth (Lord Reiterates the same).

There are 2 types of Swadharma

·         Para Dharma: Spiritual ( to love, serve and realize God)

·         Apar Dharma : Materialistic (as per ashram and guna )

Few points we discussed on :

·         Many times our likes and dislikes stop us from doing our swadharma.

·         Fighting for a noble cause is considered punya/merit

·         Sin can occur through commission or omission

We then concluded the class with prayers ..