Class Summary for October 01, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-8 ver 1-6

 Summarized by Sridhar V:

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

We did a recap from our last class where in summary of Chapters 1 to 7 and Chapter 12 were completed previously.

We chanted verses 1 through 6 of Chapter 8 and discussed the explanation & meaning.

Excerpts of verses 1 to 3

Analysis:

Arjuna asks Lord Krishna” What is Brahman? What is adhyatma and what is meant by action/karma? He further questions “What is declared to be adhibhuta and what is adhidaiva meant to be ?

Who and how is adhiyajna here in this body and how at the time of death are you be to  known by the self-controlled?

In summary Lord Krishna hints at the connotation of the terms he had used previously towards the conclusion of Chapter 7 that “there is nothing whatsoever higher than me.

Lord Krishna reiterates that the supreme Brahman is imperishable, and the term Brahman indicates the one changeless and imperishable through various births and deaths of the body and its presence in each and every individual is called the adhyatma.

He further mentions that the creative force that causes human beings and things to spring into existence is called karma-which us merely not only the turnover, but the term karma connotes deeper, subtler more divine.

Excerpts of verses 4,5 and 6

Analysis:

Lord Krishna further says Adhibhuta (or the elements) constitutes the perishable nature and the essence is the Adhidaivata. He clarifies to Arjuna ”O Best of the embodied” I -alone is the Adhiyajna here in the body.

The adhibhuta is the perishable existence-contrast to the imperishable aksara)- The world of prakriti through which the dynamism, vigor and glory of the infinite SELF expresses themselves.

Adhidaiva is the indweller- which means the special faculty that presides over the apparatus of knowledge and activity in all living beings. The deities of the sense organs and of the mind and intellect are called the devatas which are nothing other than the faculty of vision in the eyes, the faculty of hearing in the ears, the power of smell in the nose etc.

Adhiyajna-Lord Kishna says that I alone am the adhiyajana in the body- It’s a blessing from the Lord through which we are able to use our faculties and from it we gain the fruits; like the knowledge of perception etc.

Subjective Analysis and other topics discussed:

By giving these definitions, the Lord is overall suggesting with a subtle undercurrent of the implications, that the eternal self is the real and that all others are delusory superimpositions upon it.

In order to know and realize the self-one needs to know everything and having known the eternal as one’s own real nature, one is free to act or not to act, and to play or not to play in any of the fields of the nor-Self.

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Theme:

Brahman:GOD(Parak)

Adhyatma- Atman(Pratyak)

Karma: Action

Adhibhuta: Matter

Adhidaiva: Individual

Adhiyagna: Spirit

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sun-Sun Rays-Mirror-Reflection of Sun

Vasana:Thought-Desire-Action-Cycle of birth and death.

Action-Perform obligatory duties,avoid prohibitory duties and regulate/balance materialistic duties.

Matter is perishable and in made of 5 elements.

Individual+BMI+Jivatma

Spirit:-Jivatma=Reflection of Atman

Krishna addressed Arjuna as “Best of Embodied”

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The types of karma and the attitude with which we should be performing them to get maximum benefits.

·       Nitya Karma – Daily Obligatory Duties

·       Naimittika Karma --Occasional Obligatory duties

·       Nishiddha Karma - Forbidden action like killing, drinking etc.

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Story No 1: Houdini the magician

This story is often told about Harry Houdini, the master magician whose proudest claim was that he could escape from anything. Houdini agreed to be locked up in the strongest jail cell available, boasting that he would escape from it and break off any locks.

 Harry Houdini once failed to escape from a safe - even though the safe door was unlocked! In fact, the VERY reason he stayed trapped is because all he knew about were locked doors.

 Gist: Don’t overlook the obvious

Story No 2: Abusive Man

There was once an abusive man who knew nothing but to curse and abuse everyone and everything. All were annoyed of him and when he fell sick and was admitted to the hospital during his last days, his wife insisted on getting a ward-boy named Vitthal (Lord’s name) to assist him so that he will keep calling him and repeatedly chanting his name and would attain Moksha and his wrong deeds would get wiped off.

But the man’s vasana’s were so strong and all he knew was cursing that instead of calling him Vittal he would abuse the ward-boy too.

Gist: By merely chanting the name of Lord and not remembering him and not being in a meditative state of ultimate surrender is of no use and won’t give us Moksha.

Story No 3: Man and his handicapped son

There was once a man who had a handicapped son. The young kid was interested in running but couldn’t do so because of his condition. The father pushed his son on a wheelchair and ran the marathon with him as partner. Together they ran many a marathon races until the kid passed away due to his chronic condition.

The father who was running for his son, who longed to be an athlete but had no way to pursue his passion couldn’t run any longer in a marathon as his zeal or passion completely died along with his son and he couldn’t run at all.

In the next class, we would move ahead with verses 7,8,9 and 10 and watch Swamiji’s video of previous verses.

Class Summary for Sep 24, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-1- 7 summary and Intro to Chapter-8

   Summarized by Prarthana :

Opening prayers, pranayama and meditation. 

Brief introduction of all present in the class and class format

Introduction to the study of the Gita, class guidelines

We proceeded to summarize all the previous 7 chapters that we have completed over the past few years. 

Chapter 1 - Vishaada yoga

Arjuna is placed right in the center of the battlefield by Krishna and has a complete mental breakdown of his intent to fight, he calls his actions wrong and states that he would prefer defeat and even death rather than fight his great-grandfather, his guru and his brothers and other family. Krishna listens without saying a word

Chapter 2 - Sankhya / Jnana yoga

Arjuna surrenders to Krishna and says that he does not know what to do. Krishna then begins to address him and tells him that he is giving in to cowardice. He begins with the highest teaching that the atman alone is real and never begins or ends and he should stop lamenting about the mere physical bodies of his family. He proceeds to tell him that his duty is of his actions alone and not the result of his actions. He also describes the qualities of the Sthitaprajna who has the ability to control his senses just like a tortoise can withdraw his limbs into his shell when needed. 

Chapter 3 - Karma Yoga 

Krishna tells Arjuna that the path of right action involves Nishkaama karma where he must act with detachment to his actions. To work in yagna spirit and renounce the thoughts and worries of the future and regrets of the past to the Lord and act in the present 

Chapter 4 - JnanaKarmaSanyasa Yoga

Focus is on renouncing doership. The wise see action in inaction and inaction in action

Chapter 5 - Sanyasa Yoga

Focus on Karma for Chittashuddhi

Do what is needed externally without being internally attached

The ultimate goal is to gain knowledge and not walk away physically

Chapter 6 - Dhyana yoga

Krishna explains the techniques of controlling the mind to sharpen it as an instrument through meditation. The chapter describes the procedure for meditation and the tyes - Saguna, Nirguna and other forms of focus like japa.

Chapter 7- Jnana Vigyana Yoga

Here Krishna describes who to meditate upon. The concepts of Para and Apara Prakruthi are described along with the types of gunas. The types of devotees - Arthyarthi, Jigyarthi, Jnanarthi and Arthi are described. Everything begins and ends with him. 

Chapter 12 - Bhakti Yoga

Here Krishna describes the 36 qualities of a true devotee and how one must reach/ pray to God according to one’s vasana package

We then began with a brief introduction into Chapter 8.

Verses 1 - 4 Brahman Atman & World (Arjuna’s questions)

Verses 5 - 7 As you Think so you Become

Verses 8- 14 How to attain Brahman

Verses 15 - 22 Rebirth and Beyond

Verses 23 - 28 Return, Non-return, Liberation

Class Summary for May 07, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 27- 30

  Summarized by Prasanna Kumar :

Class started with Pranayama, Meditation

We reviewed some key topics from previous discussions -

Instead of calling it three types of Karma, let us call it as three categories of Karma

Sanchita karma - It is our accumulation of past Karmas associated with the Athma but with previous births

Praarabda karma - It is the karmas that have yielded results or those that have fructified from the current birth and our sanchita karma

Agami karma - Good and bad fruits of the karmas that we have done. These are mostly consequences that we will face in this life (future) or in the next life. These are Sanchita karma's that have not yet fructified.

Our duty is to do Sadhana continuously. This is the only way to achieve the ultimate goal of being one with Brahman.  Don’t postpone,  the time to start your  Sadhana is now.

We discussed the importance of having a living will. There are times when a decision need to be taken about DNR ( do not resuscitate ) so it’s always a good idea to have a living will so that there is no confusion or mental agony for some one else to take that decision for us.

 We talked about dualities, and we have to learn to cope up with dualities. E.g Hot or cold. Understand that they are two sides of the same coin. The law of duality means that two exact opposite results derive out of the same thing. The nature teaches us that after every sunrise is a sunset . After day is night. after every spring is autumn and each organism living will one day be dead.

We also talked about extreme examples of dualism, where both may not be desirable  , like a Nobel prize winner who is busy all the time and not available to the family vs a person who is out of work and staying at home all the time. 

Geriatric is formed from the Greek word “geras” and has the same meaning as Sanskrit word “jara” and means related to old age, medical care for older adults.

Just as the waves, the foam and bubbles are no different from the water or H2O that it emanates from, so does the supreme/Brahman  that emanates from the self no different from the self.

Class Summary for April 30, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 27- 30

 Summarized by Anand Santhanam :

Class started with Pranayama, Meditation

We reviewed some key topics from previous discussions -

Three types of Karma,

Sanchita karma - It is our accumulation of past Karmas associated with the Athma but with previous births

Praarabda karma - It is our accumulation of the karmas associated with the current birth and the derivative karmas associated with our sanchita karma

Agami karma - Good and bad fruits of the karmas that we have done. These are mostly consequences that we will face in this life (future) or in the next life. These are Sanchita karma's that have not yet fructified.

Sharanaghati - When we truly surrender, all the karmas are taken care by the god, one way or other. Normally we will have to go through it ourselves without knowing the point of why we are going through. Now with this tatva, we will have the guidance and trust on the god and this will help us go through the fructifications of our own karma

Our duty is to do Sadhana. This is the only way to achieve the Total Sharanaaghati.

The mind is restless and difficult to control, but it can be subdued through practice and detachment. One who has achieved this state of self-control is free from sorrow and can attain a state of tranquility. The yogi who is self-controlled and has dedicated themselves to the practice of meditation, sees the self in all beings and all beings in the self. They remain equal in pleasure and pain, and are steadfast in their devotion to the supreme consciousness.

Kala Shebona Karthavyaha, Ksheenamaayuhu Kshane Kshane

Yamasya Karunaa Nasti Karthavyam Hari Keerthanam

The time to do the Sadhana is now. Yama will not wait for you to do the Hari Keerthanam. So don’t waste time. 

Then we chanted the four slogams (27-30)

Class Summary for April 23, 2023 - Bhagavad Gita Chapter-7: Slokas 23- 26

 Summarized by Bala Dhandapani :  

Class started with Omkar, Prayer, Pranayama and Meditation. 

Salient points from April 16^th class were discussed, specifically from Gurudev’s videos: 

• Incomplete feeling when goes after material pleasure, completeness can be felt when one pursues a spiritual path  
• Discussion on Free Will 
• Sastras give/show direction to attain Brahman, each one need to put the effort and realize directly. 

Discussion on Meditation  

• With practice one can attain “no thought state” during meditation,   
• May get a glimpse of the thoughtless state during meditation, practice to extend the state. 
• Brain is wired to have thoughts, hence it is tough to achieve the no thought state, but doable with practice.  
• For beginners, Gurudev starts off with Introspection.   
• Turiya State is a meditative state that exists throughout in the waking state, dream state and deep sleep state, but we do not realize it.   
• Make meditation as part of Sadhana 
• With Sadhana bad vibes will be removed 
• If one tries, state of Samadhi can be achieved even in this lifetime,  if not – it is a cumulative effort.  All the efforts are not lost, can be achieved in the next birth.  

Types of Karma 

Sanchita karma – Sum of past karmas of jeevatma from previous births 

Prarabdha Karma – karma that we are born with in this birth or those Sanchita karma that have fructified

Agami Karma – Consequences that we face in this life that does not fructify in this life time that will be carried over to the next life.  (future)

When we truly surrender, all the mountains of Karma are wiped out by Bhagavan. 

Bhagavan will support Shraddha and Sankalpa.  

 

Exercise for the class (timing and team to be announced in subsequent classes) 

1. Who are the four types of devotees, does this categorization by the lord promote discrimination?
2. Explain how the lord indicates support to any belief system or follower-ship ?
3. What is Para Prakruthi and Apara Prakruthi ?
4. Explain what is Maya and how we can traverse though it ?