Class Summary for Sep 26, 2021 - Kailvalya Upanishad - Introduction

 Summarized by: Meera Chari

• Intro to Hindu scriptures and texts

• 4 vedas and several upanishads classified under them

• Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharvana

• Kaivalya Upanishad is part of the Atharvana Veda, and is considered as a minor upanishad.

10 mukhya / major upanishads that Sankaraacharya wrote his commentary on

1. the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

2. the Chandogya Upanishad

3. the Aitareya Upanishad

4. the Taittiriya Upanishad

5. the Kena Upanishad

6. the Isha Upanishad

7. the Katha Upanishad

8. the Mundaka Upanishad

9. the Prashna Upanishad

10. and the Mandukya Upanishad.

Each Veda has 3 sections -

Mantras - extremely limited poems, prayers to the lord Rituals - vast section Spiritual knowledge = Mystic literature = upanishad (beyond Rituals) = Veda antha

Kaivalya Upanishad

• Discussion about understanding the contemplation format of Kaivalya Upanishad

• Groupings within the 26 verses in Kaivalya Upanishad

Slokas 1 - 3	Basics
Slokas 4 - 7	Paths to Liberation
Slokas 8 - 11	Equanimity
Slokas 12 - 14	Constant behind our 3 states
Slokas 15 - 19	Ultimate Root or Cause
Slokas 20 - 24	Real ME - Identity
Slokas 25 - 26	Fruits of Realization

• Listening / chanting to the verses (from the recording)

• Invocation prayer

Prays for us to be in sync and ready to receive this knowledge. The sense organs tuned to receive the knowledge, and the mind focussed, with blessing with the various devas.

• Verse 1 - Chanting

Meaning - The advanced student is asking the teacher to teach about “Science of reality”

• Verse 2 - Chanting

Meaning

Emphasis on Shraddha, Bhakthi and Dyanam

Teacher responds to the student to learn by experience. The answer is within us. 

It is about Journey into oneself.

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Summarized by: Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Kaivalaya Upnishad -

• - Kaivalya Upanishad is part of Atharva Veda.
• - There are contradictions between Upnishads, so it's important to learn from Guru.
• - Kaivalaya is made up from a word “Kaival” which means “only”. It implies one and only "Brahman”.
  
• - Kaivalya Upanishad is considered as one of the minor Upanishad.
• - Major or Minor doesn't mean more or less important, it means there is more work done by saints (like Adi Sankaracharya) available on major Upanishads.
• - List of Major Upanishads (in no particular order ... copied from internet) -
•     Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
•     Chandogya Upanishad.
•     Taittiriya Upanishad.
•     Aitareya Upanishad.
•     Kena Upanishad.
  
•     Katha Upanishad.
•     Isha Upanishad.
•     Prasana Upanishad
•     Manduka Upanishad
•     Mandukya Upanishad
• - Most Upnishads start with a Q & A format.
• - Kaivalya Upanishad is a conversation between a learned student and his Guru. This conversation assumes basic knowledge like BMI etc, so it starts as a learned conversation.
  
• - Index
• Chapter 1 - 3 - Basics
• Chapter 4 - 7 - Path to Liberation
• Chapter 8 - 11 - Equanimity
• Chapter 12 -14 - Constant behind our 3 states
• Chapter 15 - 19 - Ultimate root or cause
• Chapter 20 -24 - Real me - Identity
• Chapter 25 - 26 - Fruits of Realization.

Invocation -

We are praying to Brahman to make our senses ready.

What is auspicious with our ears, may we hear always o ye Gods;

Worship ones, may with our eyes see always what is auspicious;

May we live the entire length of our allotted life hale and hearty;

Offering our praises unto thee!

Bless us, O Lord Indra, the ancient and the famous;

Bless us, O Pooshan (the Sun), the all knowing;

Bless us, O Vayu, the Lord of swift motion who saves us from all harms;

And bless us, O Brihaspati who protects the spiritual wealth in us!

Theme - 

• - This prayer is to appeal to God to give us the matching frequency/wavelength to understand the teaching.
• - Also to give us the peace within us, so we can focus.
• - The prayer is also to help control my senses.
• - This is also asking for a healthy and strong body (til the destined time), so I can learn and serve.
• - Keep in mind, we are not asking to live forever, this prayer is to keep me healthy enough that I can finish this book.
• - Prayer to Sun, since it is the nourisher of all and everything.
• - Prayer to the wind, since it moves air and removes impurities/diseases.
• - Yatha drishti, tatha Srishti.
• e.g. We discussed Hanuman ji and Eknath ji's story where they end up in a discussion that the flower in Lanka was white or Red. Hanuman ji saw the flower as red instead of white. Rama resolved the conversation by saying when Hanumanji visits Lanka, his Rajas Guna was heavy so he saw flowers colorful. Red represents Rajas guna, White represents Satava guna.

Shloka 1 - 

"Om athasvalayano bhagavantam parameshtinam upasametyovaca”

Translation -

Om, with that let us begin. There was a student named Asvalanyana.

He revered Lord Paramesthi, the creator, and he approached and spoke to him.

Teach me, O revered Sir, the highest “Science of Reality”, said to be the highest secret guarded always by good people by which all sins are soon discarded and supreme self is reached by wise, discarding all sins, can reach the highest ‘Purusa’.

Shloka 2 - 

“tasmai sa hovaca pitamahasca -“

“Sraddha-bhakti-hyanayogad-avaihi"

Translation -

To him, Grandsire Brahma said.

Faith, Devotion and Meditation by combination of these, you may know the goal.

Shrawanam (implies Devotion), Mananam (implies Faith), Nidhidhyasam (implies Meditation)

Discussion -

• - How can we attain Brahman with knowledge? Not by identifying with the body.
• - Brahman vidya = Science of Reality (Ultimate truth).
• - Term secret doesn’t mean this knowledge cannot be shared with others. It means it is the knowledge which will be beyond comprehension until it is given by experienced teacher.
• - Lord Brahma knows both states (before realization and after).
• e.g. If a chef is cooking a sweet dish, he knows both the beginning and the end state.
• - Interesting aspect -
• - Student is asking to teach and the teacher is saying it requires a lot more from you than just teaching. It requires Faith, Devotion, Meditation.
• - This cannot be just taught, its realization journey.
• - Realization requires removal of ignorance (Maya) and Faith, Devotion and Meditation helps in attaining that.

Ended class with Meditation.

Class Summary for June 06, 2021 - BG - Q&A session with Swamiji

Summarized by: Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Initial Q&A -

• Book recommendation for Summer class - Living Vedanta, Vedanta Cintanam by Swami Tejomayananda

Q&A with Swami Shantananda Ji

• Ques - What is free will? How does it relate to God's grace or God's will, our vasanas and prarabdha? Do we really have a free will?

Swamiji's Answer - Yes, we have free will. Animals are not given a choice. Your Prarabhdha takes you to satsang but how/what you do with it is your free will. You can sleep or not participate or you participate and apply it practically in your life.

God's grace is always there. It is like Sunlight, it's always there. BIrth/death/marriage are governed by Prarabhdha, but you have free will. You can change Prarabdha. If you always rely on Prarabdha and do not execute free will then there is no hope, it's laziness to just rely on Prarabdha.

• Ques - Who really owns the actions? Isn't there some doership with this ownership?

Swamiji's Answer - All of it is owned by Ahamkara/ego. 

• Ques - How to practice "Sakshi bhava" in the current world or life?

Swamiji's Answer - Sakshi Bhava should be practiced through meditation, you have to watch your mind/thoughts. Slowly you will be able to watch it on a regular day. Without practice, we recognize ourselves with thoughts.

• Ques - It seems that to fully understand Bhagavad Gita, we should first believe in Prarabdha and Re-birth. Why is it so?

Swamiji's Answer - ReBirth is with Karma theory. That which is born will die and one who has died will be born again. Cycle of birth/re-birth is there.

How each one is born with different parents or male/female, it's not all random. Karma Theory is given to us to understand it. It's like a gravitational force, we have to accept it.

• Ques - What should be the goal of our Jiva aatma in this current life?

Swamiji's Answer - Goal is to realize true nature. Reflected Consciousness is Jivatama. It's like when Original consciousness is reflected in the body/mind, it's called Jivatma and Goal of Jivatma is to realize original consciousness.

• Ques - Why was the Gita started with Arjuna assuming that he is going to win the war and kill all his enemies. In real life we are always not in the same starting position (i.e. going to win).

Swamiji's Answer - It should be the attitude of everyone that he/she will win. Arjun had all the qualifications. In Chapter 13, Arjun single handedly defeated all Kauravas. He collected blessings and missiles from heaven/Shiva/Kuber.

He was fighting a dharmik war. This boosts confidence.

• Ques - What are the ways in current life to burn Sanchit Karma?

Swamiji's Answer - Only through practice of meditation. In the heat of meditation, seeds of vasans are roasted. Surrender is the biggest way. Surrender your ego to the Lord. Sharanagati.

• Ques - Does God really know the future of our world and each one of us? If so, why can't he prevent Bad from happening?

Swamiji's Answer - God is beyond Good/bad, likes/dislikes. If there is a calamity, it's total Karma in play. Historically when anything goes bad, all devatas used to pray to Lord Vishnu, it happens due to total mind. So Prayer helps in such situations. The Lord usually will not interfere. If it's too much, he comes down to balance. 

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham

• Ques - Isn't ego the one choosing?

Swamiji's Answer - Ego is misunderstanding. It is not real. What is real is Atama, everything else is misunderstanding, the more you are giving weightage to ego the more you are mis-identifying yourself. 

• Ques - In the 11th Chapter, Krishna shows Arjuna the entire war. Krishna could see the future, if it is will based how can it see?

Swamiji's Answer - We are the only instrument in his hand, we can't comprehend his true power.

• Ques - Where does free will reside? Intellect? Who empowers it?

Swamiji's Answer - Purushartha should be used for Moksha. It can only be gained if you exercise free will. It resides in intellect and is empowered by the Lord.

• Ques - Isn't Buddhi also governed by Vasanas?

Swamiji's Answer - You are going into a vicious circle. How to choose is your samskara. Choices are not tainted, how you choose is tainted.

God gave Duryodhana a choice, he succumbed to it. He never thought of changing himself. If you say I am helpless it doesn't work.

Post Swamiji's Session Discussion notes 

• There are certain questions that are in a vicious cycle. We need to annihilate them. Its like Chicken and egg. There is no debate about not having an answer.
• Both dvaita and advaita are 95% the same, they differ by less than 5%.
• Stick to Advaita. "I" in BMI is the most subtle. When you deviate more you start rejecting all theories.
• Choices are not tainted but how you choose is tainted. e.g. We miss a turn, turn is always there but your conscience is clouded. Taint is not on a choice, it's on us.
• In Chapter 11, God is saying Everybody is in me, why are you worried who is going to be killed.
• Calamities happen due to collective mind.
• Duroyodhana had a choice between Krishna and the Army. He chose the army instead of Krishna. It was his free will.
• Lord is like a gas in a car. It's on you how you drive and where you drive, ditch v/s good path.
• Water is coming equally to everyone, if your faucet is blocked it's not water's fault.
• We cannot guide others. This is all about your journey.
• Q - Kids will not learn all of this knowledge till 20-25, does it create bondage? Don't worry it's part of their package.

Om tat sat iti Srimad-Bhagavad-Gitaasu Upanisatsu brahma vidyayam yoga saastre Sri Krishnaarjuna samvade Karma Sannyasa yogo naama panchamo'dhyaayah||

Ended class with Meditation and Summary of class.

Class Summary for May 23, 2021 - BG - Chapter-5 Summary

 Summarized by: Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom. Initial Q&A - Chapter 7 Gurudev Video - Free will - You can put effort in any direction. If you put energy towards me. I will be supporting you, then your effort and my will will coincide. e.g. A mom may have multiple kids and let's say one of them is constantly crying even though he has all the toys around him. All he needs is mom's attention, that's the kind of attention you need on God. The best part is your work doesn't get reset, your efforts always stay. Discussion on Free Will? Question for Next class - What is Free will? Are actions driven out of desire? Is free will based on God's grace? Grace is given equally and it depends on where we are investing our efforts. A psychopath could be like that because there was some child abuse. So your current actions are based on multiple factors like past conditioning and experiences. One family may have multiple kids and go through the same abuse and one of them turns out to be different than the other. An alcoholic's son may turn out to be non-alcoholic. Someone mentioned, after observing the entire day he realized that his entire day every action is triggered by something else. It's like a reaction, where is the free will? We also talked about how to react to a situation. Pause -> Shift from reactive to creative -> Shift to witness attitude -> Broaden scope and impact -> Allow choices to emerge from heart space. Chapter 5 - Summary Arjuna asks Krishna if Sanyasa is the ultimate solution, then instead of fighting war with his own family member, why not he just leave for some monastery in Himalaya. That's when Krishna talks about Karma Sanyasa v/s Karma Yoga.  Path of renunciation of action v/s work with devotion. Both path of Karma Sanyasa (renunciation of action) and Karma Yoga (work in devotion) lead to the supreme goal. However Karma Yoga is considered superior. Its preparation of renunciation of bondage. Karma Yogi who neither desire, nor hate anything, one who is free from all dualities and are liberated from bond of materialism should be considered renounced. Karma Yoga is pre-requisite to Karma Sanyasa.  We also talked about an example where lets say a person can eat 8 total Idli and 8th idli gives a feeling of fullness, you cannot eat 8th idli directly, you have to go through first seven. Believe v/s Faith e.g. Rope walker crosses two building on a rope. While returning back he ask people do you "believe" I can do it again, everyone says Yes. Than he ask can you give me your kid for a ride, nobody agrees. This is the difference between Believe v/s Faith. True Freedom - When you are not a doer and experiencer in everything. We talked about the lotus leaf example - where even though a lotus leaf grows in muddy water it's leaves are always un-affected by water. Another example is from one of the Gurudev's video where you don't really get tired when you are driving the car.  Similarly you don't get tired when watching a dance show, because you are experiencer. Another way to look at doer v/s experiencer is -"SakshiBhava" - We need to operate with the mindset Actions are sparring from me, I am not doing anything. A man who has awakened to higher consciousness understands he/she is not doing anything. If a person is not engaged in activity, he/she is not effected by results.  Gurudev talks about an example where if a person is drunk, we tend to ignore his words or actions assuming that he is not in conscious state. Body of 9 doors - We need to operate with mindset that this body is owned by God, you do not own the results. Once you bring the shift in your mindset, nothing changes externally but you stop accumulating new bondage We need to assume we are living in this God given body and its not our own. With this mindset, No new desires will be entertained or No action that will produce attachment for future will be performed.  Perform the right action as though you are being directed by Lord. e.g. Rental apartment - When you live in a rented apartment, you do not do major investment. However when you make a decision to own the same apartment, nothing changes externally but your mindset shift.  Strengthening your conscious mind (by Sadhana), you can overcome your vasanas. e.g. Watching the maze from the top. Brahman is always there, cloud of ignorance is covering it.  In the light of consciousness, you are conscious and asking where is conscious. Oneness - Self in me is self in all. e.g. Body Analogy - One of the Gurudev's example is appropriate in this context - Whenever our leg feels scratching, our hand jus scratch it without asking what will it get in return. It operates with the sense of oneness. Fire of desire is replaced with lamp of knowledge. True happiness cannot be derived from any materialistic objects. We need to attach to higher to detach from lower. A person who can withstand a force of passion and anger (through constant effort) can be truly happy. Make a moderate/balance choices regarding desires. Exercise   We divided our class into four sub groups and assigned one question each. We prepared our subjective analysis and presented it back to our group. Here is the summary of questions and discussion points. Question 1 - What are the three stages in the spiritual process of self evolution? Three stages in the process of evolution - Karma -> Karma Yoga -> Karma Sanyasa  Karma - A person who is still associating himself/herself with BMI and PFT and guided by vasanas. Giving up a sense of doership, experiencer in everything. Renunciating action v/s renunciating sense of doership We cannot renunciate doership if we have desires. e.g. Rocket shed the load to rise higher and change the orbit. We only change when the pain of our current state is higher. Process to rise on path of evolution Shravanam, Mananam, Nidhidhyasam Shravanam allows you to understand the scriptures, but you don't believe it till you internalize it. Mananam allows you to internalize and help clear your doubts. At the end of Mananam you are convinced but still not lived through it. Nidhidhyasam - Meditation helps you to drive it deep and realize it. Question 2 - Explain how a sage goes about his life? He is Jeevan Mukta purush. He sees himself in everyone. e.g. Lotus leaf - Even though it grows in mud water it leaves are un-affected by it. His intellect is occupied in quite contemplation. We talked about Shitaprajna. Sage is the only person who is burning Prarabhda in current life. How he is going to burn is how he is going to live. e.g. Shankaracharya, Swami Chinmayananda. If you try to live a life of a sage or try to burn Prarabhdha in current life, it will also take care of Sanchit Karma. Question 3 - Who attains eternal peace and who becomes bound? One line - Person who does action without a selfish motive and no attachment attains eternal peace. e.g. Being enabler. Steam engine. If you are doing actions with attachment, you will have bondage. A person that is bound is stuck in Raga and Dwesha. Next stage is Ahamkara and Mamkara. As long as you are bound with BMI you are struck.  Question 4 - What is the relationship between desire, fear and anger? Desire becomes the root cause of fear and anger. Desire - contact with the external world.   Ignorance is the root cause of this problem. If desire is obstructed one gets anger. Acquire more knowledge. Unless we get away from desire we cannot get away from fear and anger. If desire gets through intellect, it translates into action. If you are attached to the results of the action, it creates fear and anger. Do not attach to results, Vasanas will be exhausted. Vasanas -> (intellect) -> Actions -> (Attachment to results) -> Fear/Anger Ended class with Meditation and Summary of class.

Class Summary for May 16, 2021 - BG - Chapter-5 Slokas 25-29

 Summarized by: Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Initial Q&A -

• Talked about possible curriculum for the next session - Kaivalya Upnishad or Katho Upanishad. 
• Kaivalya Upanishad - Classified as Shaiva Upnishad. 
• How it relates with Chapter 10 and 11 of Gita.
• Talks about I am in everyone and everyone is in me.
• What can we possibly cover during summer break.
• Tatva Bodha or Atma Bodha
• Kindle Life

Recap of previous class

• We recapped from the previous class. Three realities - Absolute, Relative and Mithya. 
• Talking about examples like mom working in the field also knows back in her mind about sleeping kids.
• Fire of desire to be replaced by lamp of knowledge.
• Example 1 - Buddha is considered as one of the realized souls. Even he used to discipline himself whenever there was a desire developed within him. For e.g. if he ever got a thought that there is less salt in food, he used to discipline himself by asking for salt-less food during daily bhiksha. There were many similar examples like longer meditation or fasting.
• Example 2 - Once a person went along with Gurudev to watch a movie. All along he was worried about Gurudev's well being and whether he is doing everything right or not. Gurudev enjoyed the movie, came back and started talking from where he left. He asked Gurudev how can you be so normal? Gurudev said, the point of watching a movie was to enjoy that moment and not to get carried away with it.
• Example 3 - A person wins a multi-crore lottery. He was a heart patient, so everyone was worried about how we would share this news with him. It may cause a sudden shock and may affect his health. His family goes to the doctor and asks him to share the news. Doctor calls the person and makes sure he shares news with a completely calm environment. Person thanks the doctor and says since you are my doctor and I am alive because of you, I offer you 50% of it. Now hearing this news, the doctor has a heart-attack. 
• Point is, you should not be moved with either good or bad. Equanimity is important.
• Internally you need to be with self. This is the sign of a realized soul.
• We have to do dharma in all our roles. Play each role with the same intensity, knowing it's not permanent.
• Swami Paramarthananda - Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga.
• Raga and Dwesha (Likes and Dislikes)
• Get rid of Ahamkara (ego) and Mamkara (me, me, me)
• They are preventing you from realizing. You will know it by going through Gyan Yoga.
• Three methods that are most critical of all learnings - Sarvanam, Mananam, Nidhidhyasam.

Verse 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 translations - 

Verse 25 - 

Those holy persons whose sins have been purged, whose doubts are annihilated, whose minds are disciplined and who are devoted to the welfare of all beings, attain God and are liberated from material existence.

Verse 26 -

For those sanyasis, who have broken out of anger and lust through constant effort, who have subdued their mind, and are self realized, liberation from material existence is both here and hereafter.

Verse 27 & 28 -

Shutting out all thoughts of external enjoyment, with the gaze fixed on the space between the eyebrows, equalizing the flow of the incoming and outgoing breath in the nostrils, and thus controlling the senses, mind and intellect, the sage who becomes free from desire and fear, always lives in freedom.

Verse 29 -

Having realized Me as the enjoyer of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all the worlds and the selfless Friend of all living beings, My devotee attains peace.

Theme and Discussions -

• Usage of word annihilated in Verse 25 - We always heard about Chicken and Egg or Tree and seed. We asked these questions when we were a kid. We never got a convincing answer. Fast forward today, we are not too worried about it, even though that question is still there and it is not answered yet. Point is, it no longer matters. It's just dissolved.
• Sublimation is similar.
• Even if we don't have an answer about seed and tree, we don't reject entire botany.
• As you progress in your journey, you start realizing on a grand scale of things, it doesn't matter.
• Sometimes it's Okay to not have an answer.
• Such a person sees ONEness in everybody, and behaves the same with everything in the world.
• He finds FREEDOM everywhere.
• FREEDOM - No dependency on external factors.
• e.g. a person in jail was still mentally free.
• He will keep all external contacts outside of self and the mind attention in between the eyebrows; keeping the breathing controlled in pranayama mode; intellect occupied in quiet contemplation.

Gurudev’s video (107, 108, 109, 110, 111) - Verse 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 - 

Video 107 - Is spirituality a dry life - Thoughts are rising (Ch 5, Verse 25)

Where flame has ended, flame represents thoughts. Thoughts cannot rise without your contact with world objects. Thoughts are rising because of the expression of desire, desires are there because of Vasanas. Those who have cleansed the vasanas. Mind is a thought flow. Those who have thoughts have ended, therefore the mind is transcended and you experience brahman. Full Self control at Body/Mind/Intellect, one may ask what is a pleasure in this? Is spirituality a dry life? Great rishis whose vasanas have exhausted, they do glide to a new dimension of consciousness called God Consciousness.

Video 108 - Quiet Vigilant, Alert (Ch 5, Verse 26)

With intellect you cannot perceive such an idea. If vasanas are ended there is no desire there is no disappointment and anger, in that state there is nothing between mind and intellect. Those who are self controlled at the physical level, thought level and contemplating to higher. Such a mind is quiet, vigilant and alert, he experiences "Brahmanirvan" infinite peace and tranquility.

Video 109 - Control at the time of contemplation. The conditions (Ch 5, Verse 27)

When can you say an individual is liberated, conditions are enumerated one by one. Contact with the outer world is kept outside. By contact it means sense organ (touch, hear, smell etc). Eyes turned between the two brows means withdraw attention from outside of the world and try to experience overwhelming peace and tranquility. Not expecting to see anything.

Pranayami would say keep your prana and apana equal. Anything (seeing, hearing, feeling, touching) you take in is Prana and anything you throw out is Apana (even words). These are transactions, I see and I respond.

When your thoughts are quieted, your breathing is subtle.

Video 110 - How to think exclusive on the Lord? Exclusive attention (Ch 5, Verse 28)

A student went to Vivekananda when he was bathing in Ganges. He said think of the lord exclusively without any thought. How can I do that? Vivekanada pushed his head down in water and asked him what were you focussing (or thinking) on while you were in there. What did you want in there? Person said only air to breathe. Like this you have to turn your entire attention to him. 

Icha, Bhayam, Krodh these three are interrelated. If there is no icha or desire, there will not be any fear or anger. He has liberated himself from shackles around the world.

Video 111 - Unmask (Ch 5, Verse 29)

Whenever in Gita, Krishna refers to "I", he doesn't mean that person. When you are sitting in meditation "I" refers to the ultimate reality/true self. True self function through the BMI is the individuality that all of us are calling as "I". Electricity conditioned by, expressing through, masked by bulb. Light is not electricity, electricity is expressed through a bulb. 

This PFT individuality is divine, the Lord expressing through BMI. All Vedanta is saying Unmask yourself.

Subjective analysis - 

Learn to be happy with yourself.

Ended class with Meditation and Summary of class.

Class Summary for May 2, 2021 - BG - Chapter-5 Slokas 19-24

 Summarized by: Sree Sekhar Palaparthy

We started the class with initial prayers, naadi shodana pranayama and brief meditation.

No thought state:

 We looked at a question about how to meditate upon “No thought” state. Meditating is not doing anything but is to get to a state over  time by consistent practice of Sadhana. The silence between the Om is what to focus on

 Thoughts are like series of events in mind and watching them could help breaking the sequence of other thoughts; End of the day introspection i.e., reflection of a day’s activities before going to sleep, definitely helps along with regular Sadhana

 2 approaches to settle down the intense flow of thoughts, before starting the meditation, could be to do

o Japa (chanting a nama and listening to it)

o Pranayama

Handling situations

 We discussed about the current Covid situation and how people are reacting to it,

 First set of people are ready to accept the fact, by doing what can be done, and not worrying more about it

 Second set of people are panicking/fearing about what is to come

o Based on one’s own package/vasanas, lead them to react one way or the other

 Gurudev, even during his last moments was able to share his teachings to the nurse serving him which made her become his follower/disciple. One can reflect upon how Mahatmas and gurus deal with the situation of facing death fearlessly.

Verse 19,20,21,22,23,24 translations:

Sloka 19:

Those whose minds are established in equality of vision conquer the cycle of birth and death in this very life. They possess the flawless qualities of God, and are therefore seated in the Absolute Truth

Sloka 20:

Established in God, having affirm understanding of divine knowledge and not hampered by delusion, they neither rejoice in getting pleasant nor grieve on experiencing the unpleasant

Sloka 21:

Those who are not attached to external sense pleasures realize divine bliss in the self. Being united with God through Yoga, they experience unending happiness

Sloka 22:

The pleasures that arise from contact with the sense objects though appearing as enjoyable to worldly-minded people, are verily a source of misery. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise do not delight in them

Sloka 23:

Those persons are yogis, who before giving up the body are able to check the forces of desire and anger; and they alone are happy

Sloka 24:

Those who are happy within themselves, enjoying the delight of God within, and are illuminated by the inner light, such yogis are united with the Lord and are liberated from material existence

Discussion points:

 Knowledge needs to be lived at a point, as mere knowledge doesn’t help to realize

 Intellect always tries to relate to something, however, realization is even beyond intellect

 We all need to practice detaching  the lower cause and attaching to a higher cause (example: giving up watching TV, and practicing yoga or reading a Bhagavat Gita sloka etc)

 Real happiness doesn’t come from anything which is material, including any objects/persons

 A wise person/realized one would be very sensitive to any desires or attachments, like an eyeball is sensitive to even a small particle in the eye

 One needs to keep the dependency of happiness away from the materialistic objects/persons

 Passion and anger can exist, as long as you are controlling them and not the other way around. To be able to do so, one needs extreme practice (Sadhana)

o As a drunken person, has no control over the car, similarly one who has un-balanced attachments and desires, has no control over his path towards the ultimate goal

 One has to replace a fire of desires with a lamp of knowledge

Gurudev’s video on Sloka 19

 The realized one, or one who knows the absolute reality becomes the absolute reality.

Examples:

o when a river reaches the ocean, the existence of river as an identity ceases and it becomes one with the ocean

o when the dreamer wakes up; he realizes that the dreamer was none other than himself, and in waking state dreamer becomes the waker

Conclusion:

Finally, we ended the class with an example (story) about how a mom working in a field has a part of her consciousness on the baby lying in the cradle at all times; similarly, we need to transact in this world, but always have our consciousness focused on the Brahman (reality)