Class Summary for Jan 24, 2021 - BG - Chapter-4 Slokas 31 - 36

 Summarized by: Shivkumar Natarajan

We began the class with a recap of previous week's lecture on yagnas. We discussed how gross form wood is sacrificed to make fire . 

 
we discussed the benifits of Ahara - Ekadashi Upwas .
we watched the Gurudev's video of Verse 28 in which the distinction between Prana & Svasa was mentioned . On how the Germans tralated it wrongly as our breath.
Prana - All physiological activities in living organism . The expression of our life through BMI .
Main Prana's(Expressions of life) are Prana , Samana , Apana, Udhanaya, Vyana
Swasa - means Breath .Controlling Swasa or Breath impacts in control our mind.

We then chanted verse 31 to Verse 36

From here the Lord takes it to the next level and starts Gnyan Yoga.

  
Theme :
1. Yagna is letting Go of Lower for Higher
2. Those who perform Yagna & wait for the Result/Prasad will get Moksha
3. All these Yagnas are given in the Vedas & are all in some form of Action (Karma). These are to help us learn detachment & purification of mind .
4. Student --> Physical --> Do Seva
  --> Mind     --> Prepare to surrender to Guru
  --> Intellect -> Ask Questions
5. Teacher gives the knowledge of Jeeva , Jagat , Ishwara.
6. This Knowledge is ultimate Happiness , Not removal of Sorrow.
7. This is the only knowledge that makes the GOD same as the Devotee. This is beyond Logic .
8. This knowledge takes you beyond the worst of sins (Liberates the worst of sinners).
9. Real knowledge should be devoid of Materialistic desires/gains (like Butter Floats).
Even a Jevan Mukth swami cannot get rid of Prarabdha .

We discussed the story of Birbal where when the emperor challenged him to make a line smaller without erasing the line, he drew a bigger line next to it.
Similarly we can dwarf our current problems by realizing the (Larger purpose) that we are Divine.

Class Summary for Jan 10, 2021 - BG - Chapter-4 Slokas 25 - 30

Summarized by: Sree Sekhar Palaparthy

We started the class with our Prayers, Meditation, Pranayama. Did a recap of our previous class which

gave the summary of verses 19-24 of chapter 4. 

Recap

 We reflected back on verse 24 and discussed few aspects in which we could put it into practice.

 not to just recite it before eating, but to be able to live up to it, by not complaining about taste

etc.

 Another perspective was to be grateful and thank everything and everyone involved in getting

the food to plate, by remembering brahman in all of them

Reaction vs Response (Verse 18)

Then we very broadly discussed about how to apply some of the concepts that we learnt so far and put

them into practice, especially when we encounter specific external situations which might affect our

emotions.

 In summary, we discussed that in such situations, one needs to respond more (if possible) than

just react,

 Reactions get triggered during the situation instantly and take control over us. It only adds

agitation at body, mind and intellect level

 If one can respond to the situation (in one’s control) and stand up for dharma, they should

pursue that

 Suppression is also not an option, instead one needs to substitute as we have seen in earlier

chapters. For instance, instead of ignoring the external situations, one should substitute with

actions of higher order – ex: take a break and do meditation and internalize/reflect on the

situation

 Every individual needs to take their own path/use tactics to handle such situations to reduce the

agitations (could be to completely dis-engage, meditate, respond and so on)

After this discussion we recited Verses: 25-30 and went over the details. In previous verses, Lord Krishna introduced the concept of Yagna and in these 6 verses, Krishna extrapolates the idea of Yagna, by providing practical ways of, how one can perform various types of Yagna/ offerings at different levels of spiritual maturity

Theme: 12 types of Yagna or offerings

1. Daiva yagna:

a. This is the common understanding of “yagna” which we all have. (Ex: Ganesh homam,

and so on).

b. The offerings are not just physical materials like flowers and such, but also one’s BMI is

expected to be offered while performing yagna.

c. Here we are choosing one deity as representative of Brahman

2. Brahma Yagna: Sacrificing one’s life for a greater cause (Brahman) – Ex: Gandhi, Buddha

3. Dhama: Controlling one’s sense; Sacrificing the experiences coming from senses

4. Shama: Controlling one’s mind. Sacrificing the experiences coming from external objects

5. Dhravya yagna: Sacrificing wealth, time or any form of one’s own possessions for higher good

cause

6. Tapo Yagna: Disciplining oneself and minimizing energy dissipation

7. Yoga Yagna: This is to practice Ashtanga Yoga, for controlling 5 koshas of one’s self

8. Svadhyaya Yagna: Reading scriptures and sacrificing/offering ignorance

9. Gnana Yagna: Giving spiritual knowledge and offering the ignorance

10. Prana/Apana Yagna: Sacrificing inhalation for exhalation and vice versa

11. Pranayama: Sacrificing breath to HOLD.

a. Inhalation ( Puraka) -> Retention Holding ( Kumbhaka) -> Exhalation ( Rechaka) ->

Retention Holding ( Kumbhaka)

12. Aahara Yagna: Sacrificing intake of food for higher cause (ex: Ekadasi vrat and so on)

We also looked at a perspective of linking all the above 12 in reverse order, to work through our way to

get to higher order

In next class, we will continue to look at the subjective analysis, where we will discuss how to at least

practice 5 yagnas.