Summarized by: Neelima Turga
The class started with Om chanting, Pranayama and Meditation.
We then did a brief recap of last class. Some of the points discussed were how Karma, Bhakti and Gyana yoga go together along with meditation. All are important in attaining the spiritual goal. In Kaliyuga we need to practice all three as they strengthen each other. There could be some exceptions, when someone attained moksha by following just one path. For example, the sages in the Himalayas may not have done any Karma Yoga in the current birth, but we do not know what they did in the prior births and how far ahead they are on the spiritual path.
Another point discussed was, with Karma Yoga will PORT reduction automatically happen.? Although this is possible, we don’t know when that could happen. We need to make a conscious effort to reduce this. This will help us get rid of the extra baggage faster. Once on the spiritual path where the lower goals are substituted by higher goals, reduction of PORT could happen to a certain extent automatically. But a conscious effort to reduce will give us more time and energy to progress. It helps plug the energy drains that can happen while in grihastha ashrama. PORT can be a measure for how we are proceeding on the spiritual path. . A journal can be created to keep track of the PORT reduction. This will help identify what is dropped, and what has taken its place.
We then watched three videos of Gurudev on chapter 6.
Verse 4 – How will one know when my mind is under my control. Once I know it's in control, I can give up the obligatory duties and focus on contemplation and quieting the mind more and more. Once there are no more sensual desires and when there is no more indulgence in sense objects, then you can say the mind is under your control. Once all desires are given up, the mind comes into control.
Verse 5 – Lift yourself by yourself. That's the only way. No teacher or guru can do that for you. Having lifted a little high, do not again drop down. Maintain the improvement.
Everyone has to go on their own spiritual path. The Guru can only provide encouragement and guidance, and not take him on the path.
For example, one can look at Tripadvisor where everyone posts their own experience. It can just serve as a guide. But each person has his own unique experience in his travel. Similarly, everyone's journey on the spiritual path is their own. It cannot be compared to others, nor can someone else traverse this path for you.
Without self-effort and will, progress will not happen.
Verse 6 – You are your own friend or relative. You are also your own enemy that will pull you down.
For an individual who has integrated the mind and the intellect, his mind is the greatest friend in this path. The mind and intellect are expected to work in harmony. But there is often conflict between them because of desire or anger. When this conflict arises, the same mind becomes an enemy on the spiritual path. The mind will not let you progress because of all the disturbances it creates.
You are your own friend when you are fully integrated. When you are conflicted, you become your own enemy. If you are in a balanced state of mind, you are able to work efficiently. But if something takes over, you become your own enemy. It could even be one emotion or desire that causes this conflict. Your mind becomes your enemy when you are constantly living either in the past or in the future. It is important to always stay in the present.
Subjective analysis :
One should not be a bhogi, who is always desiring and taking. Yogi is a person who is able to let go more. We need to think if we are always being a bhogi or are giving back as a yogi.
We looked at a comparison of a Bhogi, Yogi, Sanyasi and a Gyani.
- A Bhogi is a person always in desires and cultivating more, and moving in the opposite direction on the spiritual path.
- A yogi is reducing desires, and thereby moving in the right direction. A sanyasi is able to eliminate his desires, and a gnani is completely free of any desire.
- In the gunas also, there is a progression from tamasic/rajasic for Bhogi to completely satvik for a gyani.
- Mind is the most agitated for a bhogi, and becomes progressively calmer and is the calmest for a gyani.
- A bhogi is most dependent on the external world, and a gyani is the least dependent.
- The focus of a bhogi is mostly in the future as he is always desirous for something or the other, but for people progressing on the spiritual path, the focus is more and more, only in the present.
There is a lot of dissipation of energy when a person is constantly dwelling either in the past or the future. The person thus becomes inefficient in whatever he is doing in the present.
