Class Summary for May 03, 2020 - Chapter-12 Slokas 13-15

Summarized by: Shailesh Vyas

Class Format -

• Started with Prayer
• Followed by meditation
• Nadi shodhna (Anulom Vilom)
• Recap of previous class - Where we discussed 9 qualities of stitha prajna. 
• Continuation (notes below)

In this class we continued the values from 9 to 18 that are described in Chapter 12 (verse 13-15).

10 .Firm conviction -

Stitha Prajna literal translation is firm conviction.

In order to stick to anything be it a philosophy or actions, one need to have firm conviction. One need to have “Viveka” to evaluate what falls within my conviction and what falls outside of it? Sadhana gives you strength to stay firm.

Gurudev once said - In Kaliyug, choice in good and bad is easy, choice between two goods will be interesting.

11 Surrendered -

Sometime people may see surrender as someone is weak, however that is far from truth. Surrender doesn’t mean inaction. Surrender requires firm conviction.

If you take surrender based approach, you do not get agitated, anxious. Surrendering to the LORD is the key.

12 World not threatened by you - 

Your action should not threaten others around you. We need to evaluate if anything we are saying or the way we are reacting is a threat to anyone.

Good example is Jainism culture follows this philosophy strictly, they even cover their mouth to not accidentally kill micobials.

13 Not afraid of the World -

While it is important that world is not threatened by you, at the same one shouldn’t be afraid of the World.

We discussed Draupadi’s example, she had enormous power being emerged out of fire . After she was insulted in Kaurava’s court, she could have finished all of people in court. However Krishna explains her that you should forgive all of them. Revenge is a selfish act (more like Sakam karma). If Kaurav can do something like this to a powerful lady, imagine the ordeal of an ordinary citizen in their kingdom. Krishna advise her to not take revenge but do justice (more like Nishkama Karma). This will be for larger good and not for her revenge alone.

14 Agitation less -

One has to stay calm and composed. Important here is, it says agitation less which means it should not even come to you. 

Agitation arises from three emotions - Joy, Envy and Fear.

15 Not overly excited -

One need to have a balanced state during both positive and negative times or during pleasure and pain. If life has all joy then joy has no meaning. Without Sorrow joy means nothing and vice-versa.

16 Not irritable - 

There should not be anything around me that should effect me. If you are irritable, your actions will threaten people around you.

17 Fearless -

If you are sure about your actions and your philosophy, if you have firm conviction, one should be fearless.

18 Free from anxiety -

Most of the time anxiety is related to worry about future or things that are not in your control. Our mental state should not be tied to external factors. One should be in control of keeping a balance act within oneself.

After discussing the last nine qualities, we watched Gurudev’s video’s explaining the same.

We wrapped up the class with closing prayer.