Summarized by : Prarthana Gururaj
We began with Swami Chinmayananda’s videos on shlokas 9-11. In these he divides Vasanas by percentage and prescribes the most practical path towards reaching God.
For those with about 20% Vasanas – Nirguna meditation should work
Those with 40% Vasanas - the mind is under some pressure as it attempts to find the steadiness it needs, use Abhyasa yoga (Saguna) where you maintain a strong desire to reach the Lord. So as the mind travels topic to topic, the intellect has to do a stronger job of policing the mind.
60% Vasanas – When the mind runs after sense pleasures, the intellect can police it back to focus but when the person himself runs after sense pleasures, consider this a gorge of Vasanas and the individual is perpetually in the field of OET. Here the individual remains in the world of objects but attempts to remain oriented to the Lord, by performing NISHKAAMA karma.
80% Vasanas – Do all your Sakama Karma while attempting to forget the fruits of the action.
The Goal is to reduce Vasanas to the point that the mind is able to remain in the task at hand and remain oriented to the Lord while doing them.
There was a discussion on being cautious to not make listening and reading about topics related to our spiritual growth a golden chain and therefore another Vasana. Vasanas can replace one another.
In Kali yuga, all the different paths to reaching God are needed in a combination.
Shloka 12: Divides Bhakti into 4 levels or kinds depending on the analysis
Abhyasa Yoga – meditation on God without full knowledge of God.
Jnanam – Thorough study of scriptures to obtain an understanding of Brahma but no meditation. Here Jnana becomes more of an ego boost for the ‘know it all’ personality
Dhyanam – Someone who has a combination of knowledge and meditation and resists the feeling of superiority but is unable to orient to the Lord during activities of daily living.
Karma Phala Tyaga – One who can dedicate all fruits of action to the Lord and take only the Prasadam.
Here the Prasadam tends to become peace of mind, equanimity and balance.
This does not mean that we should not respond to the Prasada and we must take the necessary steps or further actions needed based on what the Prasada is. However our ‘FIR’ response is within our control and we can proceed with the next task.
For those with about 20% Vasanas – Nirguna meditation should work
Those with 40% Vasanas - the mind is under some pressure as it attempts to find the steadiness it needs, use Abhyasa yoga (Saguna) where you maintain a strong desire to reach the Lord. So as the mind travels topic to topic, the intellect has to do a stronger job of policing the mind.
60% Vasanas – When the mind runs after sense pleasures, the intellect can police it back to focus but when the person himself runs after sense pleasures, consider this a gorge of Vasanas and the individual is perpetually in the field of OET. Here the individual remains in the world of objects but attempts to remain oriented to the Lord, by performing NISHKAAMA karma.
80% Vasanas – Do all your Sakama Karma while attempting to forget the fruits of the action.
The Goal is to reduce Vasanas to the point that the mind is able to remain in the task at hand and remain oriented to the Lord while doing them.
There was a discussion on being cautious to not make listening and reading about topics related to our spiritual growth a golden chain and therefore another Vasana. Vasanas can replace one another.
In Kali yuga, all the different paths to reaching God are needed in a combination.
Shloka 12: Divides Bhakti into 4 levels or kinds depending on the analysis
Abhyasa Yoga – meditation on God without full knowledge of God.
Jnanam – Thorough study of scriptures to obtain an understanding of Brahma but no meditation. Here Jnana becomes more of an ego boost for the ‘know it all’ personality
Dhyanam – Someone who has a combination of knowledge and meditation and resists the feeling of superiority but is unable to orient to the Lord during activities of daily living.
Karma Phala Tyaga – One who can dedicate all fruits of action to the Lord and take only the Prasadam.
Here the Prasadam tends to become peace of mind, equanimity and balance.
This does not mean that we should not respond to the Prasada and we must take the necessary steps or further actions needed based on what the Prasada is. However our ‘FIR’ response is within our control and we can proceed with the next task.
Nice job, Prarthana. Thanks
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