Class Summary for Feb 3, 2019 - Chapter-2: 57 to 60

Summarized by :  Sridhar V

We met at the basement on 02.03.19 and began the class with our routine rituals of Pranayama & meditation exercises, followed by the recap of previous class.

The class discussed about practicing F.I.R (Frequency/Intensity/Recovery) when it comes to dealing with emotions and the response and reaction to the same. 

We also discussed real examples from people's life on how to practice Karma Yoga in daily life, and the benefits of the same.

EXCERPTS of Verse 57,58,59 and 60.

Verse 57:

Lord Krishna replies to Arjuna’s enquiry as to how a perfect Master would speak,behave/conduct oneself and this verse may be considered as an answer to the same.

 He who is everywhere without attachment,on meeting with anything good or bad,who neither rejoices nor grumbles,his wisdom is fixed as, is called a Gnani.

Verse 58: 

In this verse, Lord Krishna reassures Arjuna that a man of steady wisdom is one who has the ready capacity to fold back his senses and emotions from any or all the fields of activity when needed.

“When like the tortoise which withdraws its limbs from all sides,he withdraws his senses from sense objects,then his wisdom becomes steady.”

Verse 59:

In this verse Lord Krishna clears Arjuna doubts that even in a Yogi or sage, the capacity to withdraw from the temptations of the sense world may be temporary and that under favorable or sufficiently tempting circumstances,they may again raise their hoods to hiss and poison.

“The objects of the senses turn away from the abstinent man leaving the longing behind,but his longing also turns away upon seeing the Supreme.”

Verse 60:

Lord Krishna warns the seeker within Arjuna that he should not on any account let his objective mind take hold of and enslave his subjective intellect.

“The turbulent senses, O son of Kunti,do violently carry away the mind of a wise man,though he may be striving to control them.”

Objective meaning of verses 57,58,59 and 60

·        One who remains unattached in all conditions and is neither delighted not dejected,he is a sage of perfect knowledge.

·        One who is able to withdraw the senses from their objects just like a tortoise withdraws its limbs and goes into a shell becomes a Gnani.

·        A Gnani remains the same in both favorable and unfavorable conditions and responds after proper thought to any situation.

·        Constant practice of the below 3 is required to accomplish sensory and mental discipline:

·        Shravanam(Active listening)

·        Mananam (relating to oneself and self internalization)

·        Nidhityasanam (Freedom from Vasanas through meditation)

We will continue with verses 61 to 64 in our next class.