Class Summary for Nov 17, 2024 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-9 ver 7-10 (contd.) and 11-14

 

Compiled by Prasanna Nov 17 2024 PM

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

We did a recap from our last class on the below topics 

Concept of relation less relationship.

Example of Space & Air: Space is independent, Air is dependent on Space. What happens to the Air does not affect Space at all. The air can be hot or cold, Space is not concerned. Air can be moving or still, Space is unconcerned. Air could be polluted or clean, Space is unaffected.

We can also take the example of Film screen and the film that's being played. The film screen is untouched by the violence / comedy that's being played.

In the same way the actions and thoughts of beings do not affect the Substratum, Brahman. The superimposed beings do not affect Brahman at all.

State of deep sleep

According to Vedanta, states of deep sleep represent conditions of consciousness where experiences are suspended, akin to a union with the highest Self/brahman. These states, such as deep sleep, or trance (samadhi), involve a lack of duality perception due to the mind's inactivity. Although the Self remains present in these conditions, it does not display consciousness or awareness. This understanding highlights the nature of deep sleep as a profound state beyond ordinary perception. The individual is closer to Brahman in this state

We then moved on to the following topics

Yuga and Kalpa

A Kalpa consists of 1,000 Mahayugas, making it a significant measure of cosmic time. And there are four Yugas:

• Satya Yuga: The age of truth and righteousness, lasting 1,728,000 years.

• Treta Yuga: The age of virtue, lasting 1,296,000 years.

• Dvapara Yuga: The age of duality, lasting 864,000 years.

• Kali Yuga: The age of darkness and decline, lasting 432,000 years.

During a Kalpa, the process of creation (Srishti) unfolds, guided by the will of Brahma, who manifests the universe and all its inhabitants. This creative process is followed by periods of maintenance and eventual destruction (Pralaya), overseen by the deity Shiva.

 According to Vedic texts, the creation and destruction of the universe is a cyclic process which repeats itself forever. Each cycle starts with the birth and expansion (lifetime) of the universe which equals to 311.04 trillion years followed by its complete annihilation which also prevails for the same duration of 311.04 trillion years.

The cycle of creation and destruction is crucial in Hindu beliefs, teaching the transient nature of life:

• Brahma: The creator, who initiates the cycle of creation.

• Vishnu: The preserver, who maintains cosmic order during the Yugas.

• Shiva: The destroyer, who dissolves the universe at the end of a Kalpa, allowing for regeneration.

Pralaya, or dissolution, marks the end of a Kalpa, after which a new cycle of creation begins, demonstrating the eternal rhythm of existence.

Jeevatma Paramatma

We are just an instrument and the body of ours needs god to direct our actions, just like a pen by itself can’t write and is just an instrument in our hands. The Jivatma is the body of Paramatma: Paramatma is the soul of the Jivatma. The relationship between the Jivatma and Paramatma is similar to the relationship between the light and the source of light, namely, fire or sun. In one way, the light is a part of the fire or sun. 

Gita does indeed ask one to be balanced in one’s actions – that however is not indifference, but detachment. 

Such detachment ensures that our emotions don’t take over our judgement and become the sole basis of our actions. The Gita urges us to recognize that the emotions that come over us are not always our emotions. To the contrary, they frequently are default emotional responses to external stimuli that if we observe with indifference will pass. Detachment is about letting go of attachment for the sake of a possibly improved situation, whereas indifference often implies apathy or a don't care attitude.

Think of ourselves as the uncut diamond and with this knowledge we should not get upset by setbacks and adversity. Just like a diamond only shines after undergoing the painful cuts to become a shiny diamond from an uncut one. It's OK to be sad and down but we are capable of getting up, taking the next step and moving on.

 We watched a couple of videos of Gurudev on verse 11 and 12 and here is the  meaning.:

Gita  9.11: 

avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣhīṁ tanum āśhritam

paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto mama bhūta-maheśhvaram

When I descend in My personal form deluded persons are unable to recognize Me. They do not know the divinity of My personality, as the Supreme Lord of all beings.

Gita 9.12:

moghāśhā mogha-karmāṇo mogha-jñānā vichetasaḥ

rākṣhasīm āsurīṁ chaiva prakṛitiṁ mohinīṁ śhritāḥ

 With futile hopes, futile actions and futile knowledge, the ignorant people with their minds distracted, only adopt the demoniac, monstrous and delusive nature.

Class Summary for Nov 10, 2024 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-9 ver 7-10

Summary by Srii

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

We did a recap from our last class of verses 3,4 and 5 of Chapter 9.

We watched a couple of videos of Gurudev on verse 5 and 6 and discussed the explanation & meaning.

Message and Key Pointers from the videos:

Continuing the strain of His arguments in the previous stanza here He says, “NOR DO THINGS EXIST IN ME,” although “I DWELL NOT IN THEM.” Now here he says that in the Infinite, never has the finite ever risen!

The Self “BRINGS FORTH AND SUPPORTS ALL BEINGS” just as the ocean gives birth to, supports and nourishes all the waves in it. “AND YET,” says Krishna “I, MYSELF NEVER DWELL IN THEM.” Just in the same way the ocean can cry that “I am never the waves.” The mud is the womb of all pots, the sustainer of their shapes, the nourisher of their forms, and yet, none of the pots, nor all the pots put together, can ever define or give a total knowledge of the mud.

Concept of relation less relationship.

Example of Space & Air: Space is in the position of a substratum to Air. The air is superimposed on Space. Space is independent, Air is dependent on Space. What happens to the Air does not affect Space at all. The air can be hot or cold, Space is not concerned. Air can be moving or still, Space is unconcerned. Air could be polluted or clean, Space is unaffected.

In the same way the actions and thoughts of beings does not affect the Substratum, Brahman. The superimposed beings do not affect Brahman at all.

Lord sys O ARJUNA, that the winds curl, swirl and whirl around everywhere in space; the space supports and envelopes them everywhere, and yet, they do not ever limit the space.

 This beautiful example, when meditated upon by any seeker, if he has at least an average amount of intellectual comprehension, will enable him to define, in his own mind, the right relationship that exists between the Self and the non-Self. The Real supports the unreal; the unreal seemingly lives… through its history of misery and sorrows, fleeting joys and passing pleasures… in the Real and yet, the unreal can never condition the Real.

When the wind is moving, the space need never move. None of the qualities of the wind is the quality of the space (Akasha). Compared with the outstretching Infinite space, in which the universes keep on revolving, at a speed measured in light years, the atmospheric disturbances are only up to the height of a few miles off the surface of the globe.

In the infinite vastness of the Real, the arena of disturbances caused by Its flirtations with Its own assumed self-ignorance, is only a negligible area… and even there, the relationship between the false and the Real is the relationship between the fickle breeze and the Infinite space.

We then recited the verses 7 8,9 and 10 :

Subjective Analysis:

The underlying message is about how God is not responsible for actions performed by beings, even though no action can take place without God's presence: 

 

• Verse 7: Explains that God manifests beings again at the beginning of each creation 

When a cosmic cycle ends, all living beings dissolve into Krishna's original material energy, and at the start of a new creation, he again manifests them according to their inherent nature 

• Verse 8: Explains that God generates beings in accordance with their natures 

Krishna emphasizes that he is the presiding power over this material energy, generating diverse forms of life repeatedly through this energy. 

• Verse 10: Explains that God does not directly create life forms, but instead uses His energies and appointed souls to do so 

Explains that the material world operates under Krishna's direction, with various energies and souls performing their roles as per his will, similar to how a government functions through its appointed official

Key Points:

•  Cosmic cycle:The verses allude to the concept of "Kalpa" - a cosmic cycle where creation, preservation, and destruction occur repeatedly.  
• Non-duality: Krishna is portrayed as the ultimate reality behind all manifestations yet remains distinct from them. 
• Divine play:The idea of Krishna "playing" with creation, signifying his creative power while maintaining a detached perspective.

Verses 7-10 essentially explain that Krishna, as the supreme being, is the source of all creation, and at the end of a cosmic cycle, everything merges back into his primordial energy, only to be manifested again during the next cycle of creation; highlighting that he is the underlying force behind the entire universe, overseeing its continuous cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution, without directly engaging in the act of creation himself, but through his divine energy

Class Summary for Oct 20, 2024 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-9 ver 1- 6

Summarized by Rajesh: 

Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga (The Yoga of Royal Knowledge & Royal Secret)

Introduction

• The Royal Secret                  01-03
• Atman - Within and Beyond Universe        04-10
• Deluded Ignore Atman, Wise Worship 11-15
• Pointer to Atman         16-19
• You get What you Want/Pursue 20-28
• Realization PEN to all, Even wicked 29-34

Recap of previous class:

• What is Bhakti?
• Started Chapter 9
• Royal secret/knowledge
• revealing to Arjuna since he is qualified
• knowledge is easy to grasp - follows Dharma and Shraddha
• Krishna says that he’s in everything but everything else isn’t in Him
• Absolute Reality, Relative Reality and Non-Reality
• Maya is the sum total ignorance; Brahman + Maya = Iswara

Shravanam, Mananam and Nidhityasanam are mostly applicable to Jnana Yoga but we need Karma and Bhakti Yoga as well.

V1-6

Theme:

• First qualification for this secret is being FOCUSSED and BALANCED.

Theme continued:

• Inherent contradiction Ch7 V3 vs Ch9 V2 - is it hard or easy?
• Is an IIT entrance exam hard or easy?  Depends on if people are qualified and have prepared for it.  Similarly for this secret knowledge.
• Second contradiction - Aneka roopa Ishwara was ultimate - and now Aroopa Ishwara?  How to reconcile?
• Eka roopa Ishwara- for our simple mind - easy to worship and focus our attention.  Very relatable.  We can see our ishta devata like Hanuman, etc. as God.
• Aneka roopa Ishwara - more evolved minds - tougher to understand, more abstract.  Difficult to comprehend that even mosquitoes can be Ishwara.  We can see God everywhere (all the idols, every living thing, elephants, etc.)
• Aroopa Ishwara- most evolved minds - very difficult to accept.  Rises above good and evil.  Contains both good and evil - seemingly.  A-roopa = without form.  No form, no shape, no color, no thing.
• Eka roopa -> Aneka -> Aroopa, more subtle from left to right
• Ishwara is limiting (Eka roopa and Aneka roopa) while Aroopa Ishwara is unlimited Brahman.  In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna doesn’t ever use the word Brahman (it comes from the Upanishads), he refers to himself as Ishwara.

The class also discussed about Dvaita and Advaita in decent detail.

Gurudev says Religion is a form of self-discipline in Self-Unfoldment.  Spirituality is beyond Religion - it uncovers who we really are.

We watched 2 videos

Video verse 1

• No audience is interested to listen, it is the speaker’s responsibility to keep the attention of the audience.

Video verse 2 

- story about Naseruddin and the Mullah who could predict the future.

Class Summary for Sep 29, 2024 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-9 ver 1- 6

 Summarized by Shailesh Vyas: 

Started with meditation, anulom vilom.

Recap & Initial Q&A 
Bhakti - Krishna never called out Bhakti separately.
Bhakti - Love, devotion, faith
Faith in me (per chapter 8)
e.g. Story of tree and cow - 
Student was told you will get to write an essay on tree. However in exam, question came to write an essay on Cow. He writes Cow has four legs and cow is tied to a tree and than he explains everything about tree.

Similarly, Bhakti is the underlying essence.
Fact that we attend Sunday class is faith (in a way Bhakti).
Bhakti is underlying fabric, but do not compromise on Gyan.

Creation - Misconceived English term. People assume something came from nothing.
Real term is manifest/un-manifest - Nothing is created or destroyed. Energy is transformed from one form to another.
Individual are manifest, and upon death we un-manifest.
Combined manifestation is called ISHWARA.

Absolute Reality - This "is". From the perspective of absolute, all the world does not exit.
Relative Reality - We see each other.
Non Reality - Something that doesn't exist, but we may believe in out of ignorance. e.g. Snake and rope.

Maya - Ignorance we all have. Gross of all ignorance is Maya.
Both non-reality and relative reality are due to ignorance (different level of ignorance).

Chapter 9 (Raja Guhya Yog - Royal Secret) 
Intro
Chapter 1 - 3 - Royal Secret
Chapter 4 - 10 - Atman beyond universe.
Chapter 11 - 15 - Deluded ignore atman, wise worship.
Chapter 16 - 19 - Pointer to Atman.
Chapter 20 -28 - You get what you want/pursue. I have given you free will (purusharth), you have to choose your path.
Chapter 29 - 34 - Realization open to all, even wicked.

Verse 1 
śhrī bhagavān uvācha
idaṁ tu te guhyatamaṁ pravakṣhyāmyanasūyave
jñānaṁ vijñāna-sahitaṁ yaj jñātvā mokṣhyase ’śhubhāt
Translation
O Arjuna, because you are not envious of me, I shall now impart to you this very confidential knowledge and wisdom, upon knowing which you will be released from the miseries of material existence.

Verse 2
rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣhāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam
Translation
This knowledge is the king of sciences and the most profound of all secrets. It purifies those who hear it. It is directly realizable, in accordance with dharma, easy to practice and everlasting in effect.

Verse 3
aśhraddadhānāḥ puruṣhā dharmasyāsya parantapa
aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛityu-samsāra-vartmani
Translation
People who have no faith in this dharma are unable to attain in me, o conqueror of enemies. They repeatedly come back to this world in the cycle of birth and death.

Verse 4
mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ jagad avyakta-mūrtinā
mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni na chāhaṁ teṣhvavasthitaḥ
Translation
This entire cosmic manifestation is pervaded by me in my un-manifest form. All living beings dwell in me, but I do not dwell in them.

Verse 5
na cha mat-sthāni bhūtāni paśhya me yogam aiśhwaram
bhūta-bhṛin na cha bhūta-stho mamātmā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ
Translation
And yet, the living beings do not abide in me. Behold the mystery of my divine energy! Although I am the creator and sustainer of all living beings, I am not influenced by them or by material nature.

Verse 6
yathākāśha-sthito nityaṁ vāyuḥ sarvatra-go mahān
tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni mat-sthānītyupadhāraya
Translation
Know that as the mighty wind blowing everywhere rests always in the sky, likewise all living being always rest in me.

Theme/Discussion
First qualification for this secret knowledge is being ready/beloved/open.
Shravanam - Knowledge from external source (it could be Satsang, Gita or even YouTube video).
Mananam - Internal understanding.
Nidhidhyasanam - Internalization (realization of knowledge).
This knowledge strengthens what you know and also enables to overcome your ignorance. This knowledge is easy to practice and result is guaranteed. It is imperishable.
Shraddha - Intellectual and mind fully focussed. Without Shraddha, one cannot get this knowledge. Shraddha is critical for materialistic achievements too.
Grosser element rest in the subtler. Air/Wind in Space/Sky.
Shraddha v/s Bhakti - Shraddha with Divinity is Bhakti.
Gnana Yoga (Realization) <-> Bhakti Yoga (Single pointed focus)
|                                                               |
Shravanam/Mananam/Nidhidhyasanam.      Karma Yoga (Cleansing of mind)
Even after you get this knowledge, you have to keep practicing it.
While doing Karma Yoga (cleaning of mind), we need to have single pointed focus (Bhakti) to get realization (Gyan Yoga).
Varnas are based on combination of Gunas. This knowledge is applicable to all Varnas and ashrams.
We are breathing while talking. Similarly, we need Bhakti while doing Gyan Yoga.
More you practice, you build intuition. 
No one can measure other person's Nidhidhyasanam, you will know when you practice more.

Ended class

Class Summary for April 28, 2024 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-8 ver 27- 28

 Summarized by Sridhar Vaidyanathan: 

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

We did a recap from our last class of verses 27 and 28 of Chapter 8.

We watched a couple of videos of Gurudev on verses 27 and 28 and discussed the explanation & meaning.

Subjective analysis of verses 27 and 28.

Don’t have any attachments or desires.

Have a giving nature.

Be your own master and don’t surrender to the whims of the world.

We need to be good and intelligent (like Lord Krishna).

Excerpts of verse 27

The ignorant souls who are attached to the world remain entangled in the bodily concept of life. The relentless souls who strive for Yogi or union with God are true Yogis. They recognize themselves to be tiny fragments of God and his eternal grace. They also realize the temporary nature of the materialistic world and the futility of running behind the same. Therefore, instead of chasing sensual pleasures they endeavor to enhance their love for God- Such souls are on the path of light.

On the other hand, they ignorant souls, who are under the influence of Maya- the material energy, recognize themselves as only the body and the material world around them as the source of their pleasure. They continue to live trough the miseries of material existence, being disdainful towards Lord and his eternal opulence. Thus, such souls follow the path of darkness.

 

Excerpts of Verse 28:

 In this verse, Lord Krishna reveals that those yogis who follow the path of light reap rewards beyond what other processes can bestow.

Even though, one may undertake vedic sacrifices,perform pooja’s and engage in charity or accumulate knowledge of the self, without devotion to God ,it is not the path of light.

All of these good deeds can only yield temporary material rewards, However devotion to God leads to liberation from the bondage of the material world. Therefore, the yogis who have realized this truth detach their minds from the material world and attach them to God alone.

By trading this path of light, they attain eternal happiness. This verse emphasizes the importance of devotion and realization in transcending worldly limitations and reaching the Supreme Brahman.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Message and Key Pointers from the videos:

Knowing that these are the 2 paths, the yogi never gets dejected or disappointed in life.

One needs to continue to walk the path of spiritualty despite desires/ vasanas arising in our mind.

A yogi knows that the Lord will give one the exposure in Heaven in order to exhaust those vasanas but every attempt should be made to eliminate them and the pursuit should always be there. The person will be taken through the dark path(moon path) and would return back.

Incase there are no such desires but there are subtle vasanas which still lurk around, one need not worry as Lord will take that person to Heaven and he/she will be well looked after quarantining in the most comfortable place, the person will be sent back again!

One should not be worried about such things,but follow the spiritual path religiously and ignore all the worries associated with the vasanas.

Therefore under all circumstances and al conditions,time & place one should get established in Yoga and be regular in contemplation.

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Hearing all these Arjuna still has a doubt as he is an orthodox Hindu and complains Lord Krishna to be a blasphemer.

Arjuna has a doubt in his mind that Lord Krishna has prescribed him a course to be taken at a high level but forgot to mention about the smaller details which he has always been hearing/studying all through his life.

Lors Kirshna clarifies his doubt that as Arjuna is a learned and qualified person, hence he expects him to follow all the smaller details that he hasn’t mentioned in is higher plan.

Story No 1: King of the village

There was once a village where in anyone can choose to be the KING. As a king that person gets to enjoy all the benefits and luxuries alongside ruling that village for a period of 5 years. At the end of the tenure of 5 years the king would be sent by a boat to a distant island which is inhabited and there is virtually no existence there.

Any king who goes to that island never returns back or no one ever hears about them anymore.

There as this young person who wished to the King to the surprise of everyone since most of the people who wanted to the be king were all elders who had lived their life as such. However this person was very enthusiastic and wanted to be the King.

He became one and ruled the village efficiently and as his tenure was drawing to an end he still seemed very cheerful and happy which again was surprising to all since the earlier kings would be afraid of venturing into the inhabited island.

In order to ensure that the king doesn’t come back or runaway, he was accompanied by 2 boatmen who would ensure that he is shifted to the inhabited island and then would return back.

This young king as usual was accompanied by the boatmen on his journey to the island at the end of his 5 years. When the team reached the island, they saw to their surprise that it was complete with all infrastructure and civilization and was as abundant in resources as their village.

The young king during his tenure had slowly ensured that this island would be made habitable and sent a team of workers who built all the infrastructure and ensured that the island is completely livable by the time the king’s tenure is done with.

Moral of the story: We all should live our life knowing about the ultimate goal and focus on things accordingly rather than waste time in futile things. We all know that one day we are going to die, but how to live is in our hands and we should focus on those things as we live.

Story No 2: Bus Driver and Father of the Church

A Bus Driver and a Father of a Church died around the same time. On the day of judgement, the bus driver is being sentence to heaven and the Father of the Church is being sent to hell. Hearing this the Father was aghast and questioned the Lord the decision to do this. He felt that being a clergyman and doing pious things he automatically would have earned a berth to Heaven as against the bus driver.

The Lord clarified that the Father always only spoke about Hell with this devotees and the entire energy in the church was full of negativity as he would teach them about what happens if bad deeds are done and constantly remind them of hell whereas the bus driver, because of the way he drove all the passengers in the bus were in constant remembrance of the God thinking that they may die anytime.

This was a humorous take on the way we should focus our life only on positive things and positive energy as against things that are negative and would lead us through the dark path.

Hari Om!