Summarized by: Bala Dhandapani
The class started with Pranayama, meditation and prayers.
Recent event regarding inauguration of Ramanuja Charya’s statue – Equality statue and its relevance on Moksha was discussed. Specifically, Ramanuja Charya’s teaching was that anyone who does Dhyanam and Sanyasa Yoga will attain Moksha (the person does not have to be a male and does not have to be from a higher varna as believed prior to Ramanuja Charya).
Quick recap of Chapter 5 (True Renunciation – Karma Sanyasa Yoga):
Following points were revisited.
- Different between Material knowledge and Spiritual Knowledge -
Material knowledge is acquired while one lives through Spiritual knowledge
- Five steps to Brahman
Karma, Karma yoga, Upasana, Upasana Yoga and Gyana Yoga.
- Difference between Karma Yoga and Karma sanyasa yoga
Karma Yoga- perform your duty without being attached to the fruits of the action
Karma sanyasa Yoga – giving up desires and the doer ship.
- 12 yagnas and 5 key ones
After the recap of Chapter 5, Chapter 6 Dhyana Yoga was introduced
Chapter 6 – The Yoga of Meditation -Dhyana Yoga
Chapter 6 can be roughly split into the following sections
- Verses 1-9 discusses how a person raises from being a Yogi to a Gnani
- Verses 10-15 discusses how to prepare oneself for meditation
- Verses 16-18 discusses the prerequisite’s for meditation
- Verses 19-24 discusses how to control one’s mind (or calm one’s mind)
- Verses 25-28 – How does Meditation lead to Realization
- Verses 29-32 – Test for realization
- Verses 33-36 – recognize that mind is difficult to control – obstacles to perform meditation
- Verses 37-42 – What if one is unsuccessful to attain Moksha after practicing Dhyana yoga (is one doomed ??)
- Verses 43-47 – Yogi attains Moksha – the goal – Vedantic Meditation (knowledge churning – turning into inwards)
Video of Gurudev on Chapter 6 introduction was viewed by the class
- Student (Vidyarthi, Vidya - knowledge, arthi – beggar) comes to a teacher for learning, Knowledge cannot be passed on (not like a tea cup), teacher puts teachings in a right way and gets into the student’s ears.
- Heaving heard from the Guru, the student’s mind has to re-evaluate based on what was heard, assimilate the knowledge and get the mind ready to obtain the knowledge.
Slokas 1,2 and 3
Summary:
-One who merely abandons their duties and yajnas are not true sanyasis. Those who perform their duties without desiring the results of their actions are true sanyasis
-for one to become a yogi one has to renounce wordly desires (Sanyasa)
-For one who wants to advance in yoga, action is the means. For one who has advanced in yoga, renouncing the action/tranquility in meditation is the means.
Note: this is a recap/reiteration from Chapter 5 – verses 22-29
Slokas 4, 5 and 6
Summary
-One is advanced in yoga after renouncing all desires and is not attached to sense objects or actions.
-you should raise/elevate yourself by yourself through the power of your mind and not let others sink you down. You (mind) are your own best friend and your worst enemy
-For those who have conquered their mind, it is their friend. If not conquered, mind behaves like your enemy
Theme of the above verses is how to elevate from a Yogi to a Gnani. Attitude in the action, elevating from Karma yoga to Karma Sanyasa yoga to Jnana yoga makes a Yogi to Gnani
Bhagawad Gita helps with the mobilization of our internal resources and harnessing the resources. Example between Africa and Japan was illustrated. Japan is an advanced, small country, with limited resources and face natural calamities, by harnessing the limited resources they became a super power. Whereas, Africa is an underdeveloped continent even though it is large in size with large resources. They remain underdeveloped since the resources are not harnessed appropriately.
No comments:
Post a Comment