Summarized by: Shilpa Sail
Started the class with meditation- it helps us to calm our mind and preps us for the class.
Discussed previous class topic which dealt with NirguNa Upasana, SaguNa Upasana, Nishkaama Karma, and Sakaama Karma.
Sai Sir shared an interesting story about Vyasa. Vyasa wrote the Bhrahmasutra, the four Vedas, Upanisads, and Mahabharata. All of them covered karma and jnana yoga still, he was not satisfied with his work.
Then, Narada muni advised him to write Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which deals with bhakti. Bhāgavatam is a compilation of stories of Lord Vishnu. It is a great source for implanting bhakti in devotees.
Mani Sir shared that his spiritual journey started with Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Chanted shloka 13,14, ad 15. The translatory of those shlokas are below.
Lord Krishna tells Arjuna (or us) what type of bhakta he likes.
Shloka 13 - Those devotees are very dear to Me who are free from malice toward all living beings, who are friendly and compassionate.
They are free from attachment to possessions. They are contented, steadily united with Me in devotion. Self-controlled. Firm in conviction and dedication to Me in mind and intellect.
Those who are not a source of annoyance to anyone and who in turn are not agitated by anyone who are equal in pleasure and pain and free from fear and anxiety.
A story about a supreme bhakta was shared by Mani Sir.
(Once upon a time:) there was a bhakta who was in Anandamaya state all the time. That person had elephant leg disease in one of his legs. He was in great pain and had difficulty walking, but he still was in a happy state. Looking at his condition a sage advised him to perform penance to relieve him from the pain. The bhakta performed penance and Lord appeared to him. Lord asked him what you want. A normal bhakta would have asked relief from the pain instead the supreme bhakta requested the Lord to give him elephant leg in the other leg. He told Lord that I have an imbalance in my leg. I would like to get the disease in both my legs. This story wonderfully portrays the quality of a Supreme bhakta and his thinking.
Later we discussed the qualities of a STiTHA PRAJNA.
36 values of a Jeevan Laskhanam are discussed in shlokas from 12 to 20 from the bhakti-yoga point of view.
- Freedom from Hatred
We should not have hatred at all. No exception. The hatred component should be removed from ourselves. We cannot have hate for anyone as there is God in each one of us.
It is very difficult to accept that our enemy has God in them.
I liked the example that Sai Sir gave. Usually, with kids, when they do something wrong and we react in a very harsh manner. We say things that are not appropriate like- you moron, you monster. Do we really think our kids are monsters? NO. Actually, we hated the action the kid performed. But we react in a very severe way. The key is to free ourselves from hatred.
Start each day from scratch with no preconceived notions. It is said that Krishna told Arjuna to kill all his enemies with love. Translate that to the person at work or any relationships in a family that you cannot get along. You hate the action they have done but we have to see good in others.
Another approach is to separate the action from the actor. Keep experiences limited to that unique transaction or interaction. Do not carry forward the experience to the next interaction.
We have to try to practice these values in daily life.
2. Friendliness
Friendliness is an attitude.
One example that was shared in the class was of milk and water. When we heat milk, water evaporates. Now milk is unhappy that his friend water left so he wants to commit suicide and jumps out of the vessel. The lady of the house then sprinkles water to calm the milk down. Now it is reunited with its friend.
Another story is Sudhama and Krishna’s. When they meet after a long time, Sudhama gives Krishna a handful of poha. Krishna relishes the food so much that he feels it is better than 55 bhoga. It is not the food the feeling of friendliness that filled Krishna.
3. Compassion
We need to have compassion towards everybody and everything at all times. Even on our bad days, we need to be compassionate. No selective compassion.
4. No sense of possession
It does not mean I don’t want to possess anything. I won’t buy anything.
We have to imbibe in ourselves the thought that everything is coming from the Lord. Everything that is around us is from the 5 elements - Water, earth, fire, wind, and space.
These five elements are created by the brahman. It belongs to him so we have no possession.
We should treat the entire life as life on rent. It comes with an expiry date.
We are given this body for a certain amount of time. We have to take care of the equipment ( that is the body) and returning it with thanks. What we are returning is of great value.
Don’t drink alcohol, practice yoga, keep it healthy. Return it with thanks. Take good care.
5. No Ego
When you help somebody from a pity perspective ego is there. We create inequality in ourselves. The pseudo ego is fed. We need to take the ego out of our system. When we do something with compassion there is no ego.
6. Balanced in duality
Hot/Cold, Unhappy/happy, Lockdown/No lockdown. We should have an appreciation for all the extremes. Try to adjust in all the environments. Even if you have 1M or 100k or 10k, don’t get upset. Strive to stay satisfied with whatever you have.
7. Forbearance/forgiveness
Ability to bear any situation. Forbearance is beyond tolerance. The knowledge that I don’t have control over all situations. The ability to surrender and take it as it comes. Deal all situations with the same energy.
8. Contentment
It does not mean we should not aspire, but at the same time, we should be satisfied with our current situation. We should not get agitated. Try to live life in a peaceful way with what we have. Work towards your dharma.
9. Self-control/Yogi
Try to inculcate the qualities of a Bharmacharya. Have self-control/moderation in daily life.
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