Class Summary for Feb 05, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 10-13

 Summarized by Shailesh Vyas:

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Recap & Initial Q&A 

• We talked about the effect of meditation and deep breathing over lowering the resting heart rate and blood pressure (Although every body is different).
• We also briefly talked about Vipassana.
• We talked about the significance of Ekadashi Vrat. It comes ~24 times in a year which coincides with a study related to cancer cure.
• We discussed a particular video of Swami Sarvapriyananda where he answers the question - How to use Vedanta in practical life?
• Briefly discussed - Why does the universe exist?
• Could it be God got bored ..
• Or Karma of "potential world" were ready to fructify (like potential energy to Kinetic energy).
• We did a recap from the previous class.

Theme/Discussion

• Eternal seed has an effect without a cause/effect relationship.
• e.g. Rope v/s Snake
• When you doze off, you have a dream. Everything in a dream is from the waker's mind - eternal seed.
• This seed is the cause of all three bodies - Causal, subtle, gross.
• Story of Gajendra
• Gajendra was the dutiful elephant who used to offer flowers to Narayana's temple everyday. One day a crocodile catches his feet. Despite trying hard, he couldn't get out. At some point he surrenders and requests the Lord, if I die here, who will offer flowers to you. At this point Lord appears and saves him. This story suggests - How to surrender to the larger cause and go beyond.
• Here the Lord addresses Arjuna as best among the best.
• We discussed a story of a village where no one had a mirror and a man secretly used to see the mirror everyday after showering. One day his wife goes behind him in a room and looks at the reflection of herself in the mirror suspecting her husband's character without realizing its her own reflection.
  
• Similarly we are in such a state with Brahman where we need to realize that we are the reflected consciousness.
• Table for Gunas.
• Tamas.                Rajas.                                Sattva
• Avarana (veil).    Vikshapa (Disturbance).    Awakening
• D'un Manifest.      D'manifest.                        D'transc
• Vegetables.         Animals.                              Human
• All three Gunas are manifestations of the Brahman.
• Example of thoughts - All our thoughts are powered by Brahman and based on your Gunas one chooses his/her actions.
• Brahman is beyond the three states of the world.
• Story of Devas and Yaksha (Kena Upanishad). Maya.
• One time Devas were high in pride after defeating Asuras. God realizes this and takes the form of Yaksha and sits outside Indra's palace. Agni Devta goes out to Yaksha and starts bragging about his powers. However Yaksha suggests if you are so powerful, can you just burn this hay stick? Despite trying hard, Agni Devta couldn't burn that piece of grass. Later Vayu Devta and few others tried and couldn't affect a mere piece of haystack. At this point Indra Devta realizes there is something more to Yaksha. Upon request, Yaksha reveals that the Lord is the true power behind all the Devas. He is the heat in Agni and the true power behind all the Devtas.
• Four lessons -
• The Supreme Lord is the reason behind everything.
• Anything you win or earn, surrender to God. This teaches humility.
• It's all because of him. We are just "Nimit Matra". God tells Arjuna, All this will happen regardless. If not you, then someone else will. Karma has to fructify.
• The Effect of Puja helps you to lower the impact of Karma.
• Subjective Analysis - Start traversing from Tamas -> Rajas -> Saatvik.

Swamiji’s Video and discussions

• Chapter 7 - Verse 10 - Intelligence of Intellect (video - 158)
• Link to Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qreAUR6yf0M
  
• Tree is the effect of the seed. Tree is always there, but its in the subtle form.
• Similarly I am the seed of this wonderful world.
• I am the intelligence in all the intellect. I am the splendor in all the splendid. I am the beauty in the beautiful.
• Where I am not, consciousness is not there.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 11 - The strength of strong (video - 159)
• Link to Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB_bBc12JTA
  
• I am the strength in the strong.
• Strength between Hitler v/s Gandhi.
  
• In a bosom with no self desire, I am in that pure form. Strength is the same, it's my selfiness and attachment that taint my actions because my mind is not pure.
• e.g. Long weekend at home could be lethargic v/s involvement in activities around Chinmaya mission camp.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 11 - The Lord's expression (video - 160)
• Link to Video -
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gL_oYj8ZXs
  
• Story - Two brothers living together in harmony with each other's family. Younger brother feels sick and throws up food. This continues for a few days. His wife suspects it may be that your sister in law is poisoning the food. Next day, based on his wife's request he swapped out the food plate with his brothers. Still end up throwing the food. Next day he goes to the doctor and realizes that it was his mouth that was in bad condition. All along he was poisoning the food himself, but suspecting others.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 13 - Am I looking at the screen or the projection (video - 161)
• Link to Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elAoz-guDas
• Since we are identifying ourselves with three different moods (Gunas), we are not able to identify our true self.
• e.g. When you see a movie, it's just a white screen with a projection. You don't see the white screen. Once you recognize the screen ... with this detail you cannot enjoy or weep on a play. You will wonder if you were paying to watch dots on white screen.
• Unless you are enquiring the essence of it, you are identifying with the play of it.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 13 - Enquire the essence of all things (video - 162)
• Link to Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpDDKDYCXhU
  
• Just before Sanyasa, Swamiji went to Badrinath. He will go a couple of times for a few days. One day, suddenly a foreigner asked Swamiji, can you tell me what that idol is made up of? Person with faith in the Lord never thinks about what the idol is made up of. they see their Lord in it. But now someone has asked, Swamiji cannot miss thinking, what this idol is made of?
• Similarly, unless you are enquiring with the essence of it, you are identifying with this mere play and come to suffer.

• 
  

Ended class

Class Summary for Jan 29, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 10-12

 Summarized by Prasanna Kumar: 

The class started off with our opening prayers and Pranayama & meditation. 

We did a recap from our last class where in verses 7 to 9 from Chapter 7 were discussed.

We discussed about thoughtless and focus less meditation. In this state your awareness  is still present. Like in the example of a Yogi who senses that a snake is about to bite him and takes action while being in the meditative state.

Path to realization 

Many of our friends and family are not on the path to realization. Many times they ask about food / dress but very few of them ask about our spiritual journey. In our conversation with our family and kids in particular we should bring up spirituality. For our kids we need to sow these seeds by bringing them to Balavihar and making it clear that skipping is not a choice. But at the same time we should also know when to stop this spiritual conversation. Don’t overdo this to the extent that they won’t approach us for anything else . At the end of the day we have to realize that  it’s each individual's personal journey and some will take more time  than the other to get on the road to realization. Your Kids need to know that you have their best interest in mind at all times.

Meditation is the final step in the ladder to realization. First step is Karma Yoga and hence the importance of volunteering. So let us not forget the first and last steps in this process. 

We discussed the unexplainable radioactivity that was found at a Rajasthan site. Usual radioactivity resulting from accidents like Hiroshima /3 mile island will only last for few years. So how is that radioactivity still existed after these many years is a mystery.

Gajendra story

In the story of Gajendra , this devote king of elephants goes to the lake every morning to pick lotus flowers and then he offers the flowers to Lord Vishnu. One day as he tries to come out of the lake a crocodile gets hold of his leg and then for days he is fighting it with all his might. He is not able to get out of this hold and finally he gives up his I ness and makes this individual struggle the one about God. The thought now is about Lord and the concern became who will now offer the lotus flowers to Lord Vishnu. From I ness it converted to Sharanagati. I ness made Gajendra be stuck in Maya, and as soon as he surrendered to God and prayed for help, Lord Vishnu appeared and gave him Moksha.

We went over Verses10, 11 & 12

Excerpts of verses 10

Lord Krishna states “Know Me , O Partha as the eternal seed of all beings : I am the intelligence of the intelligent. The splendour of the splendid (things and beings), am I.

Analysis:

Lord is giving instances or definition of himself. One as the ancient seed of all beings. The intelligence and splendor examples goes on to show the relationship between gross perceivable matter and the subtle imperceptible spirit.

Excerpts of verses 11

Of the strong, I am the strength - devoid of desire and attachment and in (all) beings

, I am the desire - unopposed to Dharma , O best among the Bharatas.

Analysis:

Lord is qualifying himself as being in the higher qualities. 

It’s important to note it’s right to act on Desire as long as it not opposed to Dharma.

On the question of acting on one’s  or our desire; it’s ok to act on one’s desire for a new iPhone / Tesla as long as we are not attached. 

 

Excerpts of verses 12

Whatever beings (and objects) that are pure, active and inert , know them to proceed from Me; yet , I am not in them , they are in Me.

Analysis:

Lord or Brahman is immutable, is the purest form and is limitless. Brahman is the eternal seed that has no cause and effect. Cause and effect fades at this higher level of Brahman. Remember a space that is confined in a room within the 4 walls is limited and is a manifestation of supreme but is not the supreme.

Also the three Gunas , Tamasic , Satvic and Rajasic are manifestation of Brahman.

We also reviewed this table that list difference in attachment vs the pure form of love.

 

Attachment.           Vs    Love

Conditional.                    Unconditional 

Dept on return                Independent of return

Destroys                         Develops

Sorrow                            Joy

Loss                                Gain

Limited                            Universal

By learning  to love everyone unconditionally also means that we let our intellect control our conduct and stick to our values

We finally ended the session with closing prayer.

Class Summary for Jan 22, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 7-9

 Summarized by Sridhar V: 

Hari Om,

The class started off with our Omkar routine followed by prayers and Pranayama & meditation.

We did a recap from our last class where in verses 1 to 6 from Chapter 7 were discussed.

 

What is the difference between Ithihasa and Purana?

Puranas are, by definition, the narrations of incidents that occurred in the remote past. The Itihasas (the epics) on the other hand, is by definition, the narratives of incidents that happened during the lifetime of the narrator.

Valmiki composed the Ramayana during the lifetime of Rama. Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, lived during the time of the five Pandava’s and was witness to the events narrated by him in his epic

 

Story No 1: Valmiki and Ramayana’s story

Once Valmiki was visited by the Devarishi (divine sage) Narada. Since Narada was knowledgeable on a great many subjects, Valmiki asked him a question about whether there is any man in the world today who possesses the most illustrious qualities:

And Narada told Valmiki that it's almost impossible for one man to have all these traits, but it turns out there is such a man living today, possessing these good qualities and so many more: the present king of Ayodhya, by the name of Rama. Narada gave a brief description of Rama's characteristics and life story, but Valmiki wanted to know more.

Lord Brahma subsequently getting pleased with Valmiki, gave the boon that he would know the whole life of Rama, that everything Valmiki wrote in his epic poem would be accurate, and that his poem would endure forever. And sure enough, after Brahma disappeared and Valmiki started meditating, he saw entire life of Sri Rama through the palm of his hands and could stop, playback and revisit as he wanted so that he could pen his story.

Story No 2: Brahmastra and Nuclear Bomb

We also discussed the story of how the desert area in Rajasthan area was formed due to Brahmastra being released by Lord Rama and its relevance to the radioactive waves(akin to nuclear bomb) that were found during some construction activity in recent times.

Story No 3: Spacecraft and Hindu Scriptures :

The modern sightings that created our perception of UFOs and spacecrafts look very similar to the Vimanas that can be found in our scriptures.

One study revealed that the 3d printing of certain parts of our scriptures resembled a spacecraft which was tested to be viable even in today’s world.

The verses 7,8 and 9 were chanted and the summary of the shlokas are as below -

Excerpts of verse 7

Analysis:

Lord Krishna says “there is nothing whatsoever higher than me O Dhananjay,  All this is strung on me as clusters of gems on a string. I am the invisible thread that holds all the pearls of a necklace strung together.

There is a point of view from the lower and distinctly different from the point of view from higher.

Just as in clay, there are none of the different shapes and colors of the pots, so too in the pure consciousness there are none of the worlds of objects or feelings. Besides Lord Krishna there is nothing else. This predominantly indicates that we all have a lower nature which is married to our own self but lord is the one that is present in all of us as the common factor and hence everything starts from him and end with him. There is nothing beyond him.

 

Excerpts of verses 8

Analysis:

Lord Krishna states “I am the sapidity in the waters, O sun of Kunti, I am the light in the moon and the sun. I am the syllable OM in all the Vedas, sound in space and virility in men.

Krishna states that he is the SELF that gives each and every things of this world the very existence. In short the SELF is the life of all things.

Excerpts of verses 9

Analysis:

The supreme self can be the thread upon which the pearls consisting of individual plurality are strung together to become the necklace of the harmonious universe.

The higher Prakriti or the principle of consciousness is the womb of all beings and that beyond that there is naught.

That which remains in a substance from its existence to its end ever constantly and without which the thing cannot maintain its identity is called its DHARMA.

 

Subjective Analysis and other topics discussed:

Martin Luther King’s statement on street sweepers: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

Brahman’s meaning:

·       Lord of senses

·       Enlivening Principle

·       Penance in ascetics

Expressions of Brahman is mentioned in these 3 versions:

·       Brahman here means he is the Uttam Purush.

·       The fragrance which arises which the first showers produce.

·       Water by itself doesn’t have any taste but when it mixes with others the taste arises.

The puppet & string theory:

·       Puppets: Lower Prakriti

·       String: Higher Prakriti

·       Puppeteer: Brahman

The visualization and the understanding of the above between a child, an older kid, and an adult is different.

All the senses are experienced by one spirit and this spirit is also the one that feels the emotions.

We also discussed on the types of karma and the attitude with which we should be performing them to get maximum benefits.

Niyata Karma – Our  Obligatory Duties

Kamya Karma -- Desire driven duties

Nishiddha Karma - Forbidden action like killing, drinking etc.

Eg” Story of a woman who was in need of financial help as she was falling short of funds to get her family member treated in a hospital, where in an unknown person comes unexpectedly and offers help without hesitation and expectation that the lady should return the money back to him.

It so happened that this woman had helped this man in the past with a portion of a prize money that she had won in a contest and helped him complete an unfinished task without any expectation which subsequently enabled him to become a successful man setting up a huge empire. He never forgot that gesture and helped this lady when she was in distress.

We also watched Swamiji’s video on Verses 7-9 where in he explains the essence of Brahman and Krishna’s omnipresence in all beings.

We would be moving ahead with Shlokas 10-14 from Chapter 7 next class onwards.

Class Summary for Jan 8, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 1-6

Summarized by Anand Santhanam: 

Summary from previous class:

• We discussed about the differences between the hearing and listening. 
• Hearing with focus is listening. 
• Why are enlightened men so rare. Does that mean, the theory is wrong ? 
• The solution is to do sadhana so that we can identify such men, and eventually become one.
• Should we even be attempting to identify such men? 
• When we do sadhana, we are in the right direction. Krishna says, “believe in the sadhana system. It is a hard path, but you will get there. 
• Discussion on “Animal men” and “tree men”. 
• Animal man is busy in their own nature. 
• Tree men eat all day and do nothing. 
• “Men men” act to improve the life of others. 

• There is a “lower nature” and “higher nature”. 
• For example: Light is the lower nature that comes out of a bulb. 
• The electricity is the higher nature. 
•  Differences between “Prakruthi” and “Purush”. 
• Body lives in prakruthi. Because of the lower prakruti and ignorance, we don’t realize the higher prakruti. 
• What is real ? 
• That which transcends time that does not vanish and gets created is real. 
• Three components that help us identify the “real” is sadhana, abhyasa, and Vairagya. 
• As long as the three are practiced we can ensure that we can identify the higher nature. 
• Maya is the key part of self-unfoldment. 
• Versus 4-6 have a different interpretation. 
• “Para” prakruthi and “apara” prakruti. 
• The latter divides into 8 pieces. 
• The “para” remains the same. The “apara” divides into everything. 

Introduction to Slokas 7 - 9

• Krishna says “There is nothing higher than me, Dhananjaya. All this strung in me, as clusters of gems on a string. I am the sapients in water, light in the moon, syllable OM in the Veda’s, virility in men, sweet fragrance of earth, brilliance in the fire, life in all beings, the austerity in austere

Class Summary for Dec 18, 2022 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 1-6

 Summarized by Shailesh Vyas

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Recap & Initial Q&A 

• We did a recap from the previous class.

Swamiji’s Video and discussions

• Chapter 7 - Verse 1 & 2 - Hearing v/s Listening
• Link to Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X0Ykae2eRM
• Hearing is the function of the ears. Hearing is when you are not involved. Hearing with total involvement is listening.
• E.g. Mental involvement during Gossip v/s Gita talks.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 3 - Why are realized men so rare?
• Link to Video - 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTd67x4a7Go
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFRAvkusAIY
• Why are realized men so rare? Why are there not many Buddha or Sankracharya?
• Rarely do humans put an effort required for realization.
• Many of us have human bodies, but we are either tree men or animal men (slave to our instincts), but very few are man-man. Such satvic people are ready for the next stage of evolution.
• Even if someone puts in the effort, it's the effort of many lives.
• e.g. How much food we have eaten in our lives and only some of it stays as energy. What happened to the rest of it? Mountains of food we have eaten.
• Very few try, and one rare person will come to know my true nature.
• Because it is rare, doesn’t mean it is a false philosophy.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 4 - Know your equipment - The lower nature
• Link to Video -
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llkBzA1oNVA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCMUkzPfcUM
• e.g. Electrical energy -> Light energy
• When one sees the light from the bulb, we rarely realize, its enlivened by the electrical energy.
• Same with the body of matter is powered by life.
• Our body is also just a bundle of matter .. functioning due to the life energy.
• Five named elements are fundamental for our existence.
• When you die it goes back to main fundamentals.
• Eight factors - Five elements + Mind + Intellect + Ego
• Ego is a pseudo self.
• Identifying with the remaining seven is ego.
• Association with BMI. For e.g. someone calls another person fat .. who is fat? You or your body.
• Ego can be diminished by identifying with Atman.
• e.g. Clay v/s Pot - Clay is considered higher. It can take the form of pot or something else. Clay is an absolute form.
• Consciousness is not produced by the brain. It's a separate entity.
• e.g. Movie GoodBye where someone says - Learning Musical notes first is science v/s playing Music first is faith.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 5 - The higher nature
• Link to Video -
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rQWkBG_FWo
• These eight aspects of me (five elements + Mind + Intellect + Ego) constitute my lower nature and I am something higher.
• Touch of higher nature enlivens the remaining eight.
• Lower nature consists of eight things and there is something higher. That touch of life enlivens everything.
• e.g. Electricity and light
• Our body is composed of minerals bundled in skin .. still we are able to think and function due to something higher.
• Consciousness is powering everything including BMI. 
• In some way by even attaching to lower, we are still attaching to consciousness.
• We need to let go of our attachment to lower nature. 
• e.g. Pole vault. At some point the athlete has to let go of the vault to jump the rope.
• Consciousness and existence.
• Consciousness exists outside of the boundary of BMI. Same is true with existence.
• Association with higher ideas
• Individuality disappears when your country is playing a game. We all become Indian. Same with Surabhi events in temples. People forget their personal misery for that period.
• Is there a downside of not associating with the body?
• Shouldn’t you take care of your body?
• It's important to take care of your equipment.
• e.g. Pole vault - Goal is to jump above the rope, but it's important to take care of the pole.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 5 - Know your equipment - Jugu Jugu Jugu
• Link to Video -
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sph6M74yEy0
• Jagat - World of Plurality
• Einstein world of flux operates with the constraints of time and space.
• My lower nature, enlivened by nature is this presentation that you are seeing.
• Me as a vital member of the community.
• One can say … There are no inventions, there are all discoveries.
• e.g. Nobel prize for auto phasing and Ekadashi vrat.
• Now scientists have discovered that one should fast for 24 times a year and coincidently our scripture has recommended Ekadashi fast which comes 24 times a year.
• Chapter 7 - Verse 5 - Search for the higher
• Link to Video -
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-6_KTf6sJg&t=5s
• Realize … I, my higher nature, playing with my lower nature is me, a miserable creature.
• Someone's sorrow and misery are limited to their association to the lower nature.
• The Lord is saying you have freedom to associate with higher nature. If you will associate with lower nature you will have worldly pleasure and misery.
• At this moment we only know our lower nature and are searching for my higher nature.

• 
  

Ended class