For Seekers by Seekers: Recent Episodes
Rajesh
Topics covered: Who am I? What is human life goal? What is this world? Who is God? What is Consciousness? Are both the same? Why Should I Care? How can I improve my daily life even if I don't care about moksha? What are Spiritual Practices worth following? Few Aha moments during the day, in meditation, in scriptural revelations. Tips & Tricks to elevate your personality & transform yourself
Our podcasts are based on Vedanta teachings of Swami Dayananda Saraswati lineage.
Bhagavad Gita Ch 11 v.47-end
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 11 v38-46
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 - 30-38
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 9.15-20
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 11 15-20.
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Includes a segment on raaga/dvesha by Rick.
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Discussion on developing the practice of vishwa roopa darshanam.
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 10 Summary presentation - 2
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 10.19 - 10.28
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 10-18
Good discussion on applying the teachings on a day-to-day basis
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Gita group discussion on Swami Dayananda's talks from 1976.
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 9.11-15
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Gita Satsange Slokas 9.6 to 9.10 date 09242023
In this we discuss - existence of the world, karma theory, reincarnation, concept of Brahman ALONE existing; dissonance of why we see the world existing as we perceive it today and don't see it as Brahman. Discuss some metaphors of wind/space, water/reflection, snake/rope (!), post/ghost etc.
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Slokas 1-5
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Kunti Stuthi concluding slokas
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Kunti Stuti Slokas 11-20 08202023 s
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Kunti Sthuthi 1-10 shlokas
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Gita Satsang Ch 8 Slokas 1-6 06042023
Bhagavan introduces the words - Brahman, Adhyatma, Karma, Adhibhutam, Adidaivam and Adiyagyam
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Gita Ch 8 slokas 7-9 on 06112022
We discuss the three powerful slokas on Brahma Tattva and draw similarities between KY, BY, JY and these slokas
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24 Life Lessons - from Avadhoota Gita by Subbu
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Chapter 7 Review of Gita...continued (3/3)
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We conclude Chapter 7 and discuss elaborately the difference between jnana and vijnana - the title of the chapter.
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Is this world a perfect world?
If there were a creator, why (s)he chose to create an imperfect world?
How to understand creation?
What are the four types of 'devotees' who pray and for what?
Are we in them? Or not?
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Ch 7 Slokas 12 to 15 Gita Satsang 04092023
Learn about what we discuss on rope/snake, mud/pot analogies
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Listen to what it means to be the 'thread' for the garland of pearls.
Listen to what it means by dharma, adharma
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We continue to debate on jnana, vijnana difference.
Then we analyze why mind, ego, intellect are counted separately albeit they are a product of the pancha bhoothas.
We also discuss ego and what is realization.
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This is the concluding part of the revision of Manisha Panchakam by the Gita Satsangis.
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In this episode, listen to discussions on the implications of jnana, vijnana words.
Understand what Gita says who is a jnani and what is vijnana.
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Revision -1 Manisha Panchakam 03052023 Gita Satsang
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We conclude Manisha Panchakam Slokas 4 &5 .
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Tat Tvam Asi
We discuss this.
We digress on the importance of Guru and surrender to Guru.
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Prof VK, (https://www.profvk.com/) who is a former Deputy Director of BITS Pilani speaks to the Gita Satsang, most of who are Bitsians...and several honorary Bitsians, all tied together at the hip in our journey towards Moksha. Prof VK's talk about Gita, Vishnusahasranama, Immanence concept, Kshetrajna, Askhara, his insights into 'yata deepo' sloka from Gita, and the significance of 'chinmudra'....is truly amazing. Enjoy this talk
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Gita Satsang 02052023 Manisha Panchakam Sloka 2
We discuss Brahman; individual Atman and how the Jiva can realize the Brahman & Atman are the one and same and it is our true identity
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The witness in three states of human experience and the witness in all living entities is exactly the same.
Whoever knows the truth that the witness is none other than the Supreme Consciousness, is a wise man - whoever (s)he is - be (s)he a chandala or a learned person....
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Is there a difference in people?
Is 'caste' any factor at all to differentiate people?
Or is differentiation possible at all?
Learn from the interaction of Sankaracharya ("learned Brahmana" with a Chandala ("dog-eater") and how the Chandala corners Sankaracharya with his deep questions about Advaita Vedanta.
And, listen to the insights from the Gita group about these two introductory slokas; don't miss the wonderful chanting by Subbu!
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Ajay compares Ashtanga Yoga with Ch 6 of Gita and explains his understanding.
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We revise Chapter 6 of Gita.
This episode consists of different speakers each speaking for a short duration (about 15-20min).
Youtube video of this episode is also available if you want to watch it with the slides.
https://youtu.be/Ps6rvChnt1M
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In this talk, I present why Sandhyavandanam as a daily practice is an excellent ritual and is in line with the Dhyana as described by Bhagavan in Chapter 6 of Gita. Drawing on talks by Swami Paramarthananda, Veda Bharathi and Swami Omkarananda as well as my personal practice, I talk about the vision of Sandhyavandana ritual and how it helps to realize our true self.
Youtube video with slides here: https://youtu.be/vxykoU8_Vys.
Link to Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xyf2toc96wEO7dWwarfOfwbYMPwnmd2M/view?usp=share_link
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 6.41 - 6.47
This concludes the discussions on Chapter 6.
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This talk will help you prepare for Kailash Yatra.
Shared by Ramesh Kaza who did the yatra in 2019.
Suggest you to watch the Youtube video talk as it has beautiful pictures and a presentation.
https://youtu.be/SX2Ctc6FI-E [Part 1]
https://youtu.be/5yP-_EzoM2g [Part 2]
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 6.35 - 6.40
Spirited discussions around what happens to our effort if we find ourselves in "no man's land" where we neither gained enlightenment nor enjoyed the material comforts of this world.
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 6.30-6.35
Continuing the series on meditation.
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 6-25-6.30
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Bhgavad Gita Ch 6.20 - 6.25
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6.14-6.19
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We discuss slokas 6.6-6.10 of Gita where Bhagavan talks of how to prepare oneself for meditation and what it means to 'uplift oneself by oneself' with some practical examples.
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6.1 - 6.5
Discussions on meditation.
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 5.25 - 5.29
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Based on Swami Paramarthananda's lectures, these summaries were prepared by his students.
In this episode we will render the first 6 chapter summaries of the Bhagavad Gita
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 5 - 20 - 25
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Is what Krishna saying in Ch5 a repeat? Why is he repeating? Are we learning something new?
How to apply the learnings in daily life?
It seems that sometimes, we are pulled between spiritual path and materialistic path.
Sometimes we feel guilty that we are pursuing one and not the other.
Sometimes the pull is intense that we end up neglecting one path.
What is right /wrong thing to do?
What parameters one should use to understand the right thing to do?
If you have had such questions, listen to this episode as the seekers share with each other what worked for them and what did not work for them.
In summary, it is all about keeping the faith in the teachings, and doing as much nishkaama karma as possible; Krishna does not deride us from engaging in kamya-karma: we should only try to minimize it as much as possible.
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 5.10 - 5.15
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5.5 to 5.10
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We talk the essential difference between jnana (sankhya knowledge of who we truly are), karma (work - can be selfish & selfless) and sannyasa (lifestyle).
We also talk of karma yoga (selfless work /duty), jnana karma sannyasa yoga (doing work /duty knowing who we truly are) and karma sannyasa (adopting a lifestyle of a renunciate, compared to a householder).
We also dive deeper into the impact of gunas and ashramas.
We digress a bit to talk about commonality & differences between religions. The biggest difference is in the fact that Sanatana Dharma says YOU are GOD and propounds Advaita....although there is seemingly dwaita - in the external universe and also within our minds.
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In this free flowing discussions, Rajesh Sengamedu presents what is Chaturmasa - the four months of intense climate changes during July - November of each year and how one can change their body, mind constitutions by following certain practices related to food, discipline.
Over 30 people attended this discussions and there were many questions that were answered.
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In this satsang discussions, seekers discuss the last few slokas of Chapter 4 - karma sannyasa yogah.
The importance of guru is stressed again.
Importance of various paths and how all of them are entirely based on action (not inaction) and leave us at the 'mouth of Brahman'.
It is only the jnana that finally gets us moksha.
Importance of sraddha - tatpara - indriya nigrahah is discussed.
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After describing 12 types of yagya (actions that are sacrificial in nature), Bhagavan summarizes that the most important of all yagyas is the yagya of 'burning ignorance through knowledge'.
'Brahmarpanam Brahmahavivi....' SLoka 4.24 says that it is that Infinite Knowledge-Truth-Existence that creates this entire illusion of division. However. it it tough to know this because of our vasanas /wrong channels of thinking. So, different 'actions' - spiritual in nature that involves 'letting go of the benefits /fruits' - also known as 'sacrifice' are prescribed.
11 such actions are prescribed in slokas 4.24 onwards.
Sacrifices to some Devas, Sacrifice to Brahman, Sense control, Self (Object) control, Self-restraint in the fire of Yoga, Pranayama, Donation, Austerities, Yoga /Upasana, Self Study, Pranayama, Regulated diet, etc....are the 12 sacrifices. All these are actions and finally culminate in complete understanding of the Knowledge of Brahman - Aham Brahmasmi!
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In today's discussions we continue the different types of 'sacrifice' - that is done as yagya - an offering to the Lord, by subjugating our 'small' ego and surrendering it to the 'Self'.
Specifically we discuss a lot about Pranayama as a technique.
In all, Bhagawan covers 12 techniques as 'yagya' and in this discussions we cover the last few.
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In this episode, seekers discuss the meaning of the very famous sloka, brahmarpanam brahmahavivi....everything, everyone, everyaction is brahman...and the one that sees this truth attains brahman.
Also talks of sacrifice by karma yogins.....to various gods (ishta devata)
Others offer sacrifice directly to Brahman (non dual, no rupa god)
Few offer the senses in the fire of sense control....
Few others offer the objects that senses get attracted to....to the fire of senses
Some others offer functions of all organs (karma, jnana indriyas) and pancha prana in the fire of yoga of self control, lit by knowledge.
Listen to this as we explore how to enjoy mangoes even when mangoes are not there at times....a practical example
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when mangoes are there, enjoy it as a blessing
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when mangoes are not there, enjoy the frustration as a blessing
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Or, enjoy the mangoes eaten by another as if you were the one who were eating it....
[Remember - it is all Advaita & Saharsrashirsha Purushah- one Self, with many heads, hands, legs.....
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Gita Satsang on May 22rd 2022 covering chapters 4.10-4.17
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Gita Satsang on May 29th 2022. Discussion centered around Ch 4-18
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 3.35 - 3.42
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 3.20 - 3.30
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VP Rajesh's trip to Rishikesh and meeting Swamiji and visiting Neelkanth Mahadev Temple.
Discussion on Bhagavad Gita shlokas from 3.14 to 3.19 on 13th March 2022
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Bhagavad Gita 3.4 - 3.7 02/13/22
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Bhagavad Gita verses 3.1 - 3.3, 02/06/22
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Gita Satsang - group discussion on Atma Bodha
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Gita Satsang - group discussion on Atma Bodha
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Gita Satsang - group discussion on Atma Bodha
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Gita Satsang group discussion on Atma Bodha
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Chapter 11 - Vishwa Rupa Darshana Yogah Chanting 2
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The entire concept of Vedanta has been expressed in this wonderful Guru Stotram.
Can be used as a Nidhidhyasanam practice.
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Chapter 18 - Moksha Sannyasa Yogah Chanting
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Atma Swarupa Kathanam Chanting & Meaning
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Chapter 17 - Sraddha Traya Vibhaga Yogah Chanting
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Chapter 16 - Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yogah Chanting
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Chapter 15 - Purushottama Yogah Chanting
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Chapter 14 - Guna Traya Vibhaga Yogah Chanting
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Chapter 13 Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yogah Chanting
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Chapter 9 - Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yogah Chanting
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Listen to Sarada-ji's experiences on meditation & self-realization.
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Chapter 8 - Akshara Brahma Yogah Chanting
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Here Krishna advises how to control the mind that wavers like a wind.
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This is Chapter 5 Chanting.
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This is the chanting of Chapter 4 where Krishna explains what it means to let go of the fruits of action mentally and be a sannyasi.
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This chapter is for those who are action oriented.
Bhagwan tells how to be action oriented!
Not exactly what we think.
Enjoy the chanting,
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Bhagavan Krishna summarizes the entire philosophy in Chapter 2 to Arjuna.
Just because Arjuna does not get it, Bhagavan takes another 16 more chapters to explain.
So, we will also chant the remaining 16 more chapters:-)
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In this first chapter Arjuna is overcome with pity & is confused about whether to wage war or not against his own cousins, family, friends and people he loves...despite preparing for this moment for fourteen years!
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This is the chanting of Vibhuti Yogah, the description of the divine glories of Brahman
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Atma Bodha Ch 4 - Upadhis
Great human beings can communicate to us in the dreams.
Examples used:
akasha is one but is divided
water is tasteless & takes on taste of anything it is in.
Manisha Panchakam story of Sankaracharya
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Are the sun, space different in the street where Chandala or Brahmin lives?
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Five slokas - each sloka is a mahavakya and the fifth one is the summary
Upadhi - 'adjunct'
- nearby, transfer its attributes, appears to be false
Fireball, blue cloth next to a crystal - examples of upaadhi.
There is a subtle part of five elements - tanmatras.
Universe is created all at once! Like in our dream world.
In a split second.
Which entity is experiencing the world?
- ego appropriates the experience; there is no experiencer!
Ignorance has no cause; but it has the effect - desire....
Ego is a thought!
Reflected consciousness has no instruments to experience?
What happens in pralay?
- anshik pralay - life gets wiped out; new cabinet comes
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Svayam Prakash - self illuminating
knower - known - process of knowing: 3 aspects
Consciousness is all three.
"like Sun"
Examples:
soapnut powder & dirt; world &dream; mother of pearl & silver; Bubbles in water; gold & ornaments
kirti-kanchana-kamini - three desires which bind us.
Example of kataka-nut: use a thorn to remove the thorn - throw them both away.
Tiger in the dream also goes away.
Why do people react the way they do when they have a bad dream and carry forward it to their waking state?
- Identity, vasanas, ignorance,
Vasanas of the waking world projects the dream. In dream we don't create more samskaras or vasanas.
Three examples from Mundakopanishad:
Spider (material & efficient), earth (one, many), nails (sentient creating non-sentient)
Do dreams convey something important?
Do we see the differences from our vantage point today?
Empathy will have powerfulness when we understand 'advaita' - not two;
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Examples in Atmabodha were apt.
Cooking, sun/cloud, light/darkness.
Everything else we do in preparation for cooking is equally important.
All the yogas have a role to play in terms of creating chitta-shuddhi.
Sloka 1 is summary of Sadhana Chatushtaya.
Tapas:
Chaturmasa - food control.
Thinking within - anything to do to restrain in the material world - japa, pranayama, value reflection
Tapas is the attitude with which we do.
Tapas & Yagya - what is the difference?
You deny yourself what you are normally used to - because of a higher knowledge driver /desires - either through restriction or extra effort.
Atma - four amazing derivations of the word
ap - yat apnoti iti atma - that which pervades
ada - that which resolves itself
atti iti atma - that which experiences /chaitanyam
satatam asti - that which exists always is atma
pervader, resolver, experiencer, eternal - atma.
bodha - objective knowledge of the subject.
Without a thought (vritti) in the mind, we cannot have chaitanya jnanam.
Ashtanga yoga steps are dos /don'ts and other preparatory steps - but does not give Atma jnanam till we have knowledge.
avidya - kama - karma are connected.
Only other way to get moksha (other than jnanam) is to roll the akasha like a carpet!
[Svet. U]: Impossible without atma jnanam.
Life is not separate from attaining moksha.....
mukti, moksha, nirvana, kaivalya - four stages
Adi Sankara's five cardinal principles:
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permanent happiness with lasting peace can happen ONLY through moksha
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moksha can ONLY be through spiritual knowledge
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spiritual knowledge (atma jnanam) ONLY through Systematic learning
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Systematic learning is ONLY with a pure mind
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To get pure mind has several paths - charity, iswara dhyanam, pranayama, karma yoga, bhakti etc.
Most of the work to be done is in step 5 - to purify the mind. Most of the humanity is at either step 5 or below step 5 - trying to get to step 5.
Yagya, daana, tapah are never to be given up.
keep saying GITA fast....it comes to TA GI....TYAGI - renouncer of desires.
Who is a tyagi?
vritti vyapti /phala vyapti - mind takes the shape of the object/ what is there has to be illumined by the light source.
phala vyapti is not required for realizing brahman.
Ganga (knowledge), Yamuna (Bhakti) will merge to Saraswati (underground - enveloping both).
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Vivek
Sloka 61 - Having restrained them all....
What the stanza says - no one with excessive force control of sense indriyas can bloom into a flower.
The story of Princess of Kashi....
Once we have the knowledge, things will fall into place...no need to force.
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Vidya
Sloka no 7 - word, prapannam - totally surrender.
sloka no. 20 - na jayate mriyate va....
Soul never takes birth, never dies, all pervading, eternal.
Story of Ganesha visarjan - He comes back year after year! But for a three year old, Visarjan means - gone!
When you think you are 'dying from this body' then you will reach Brahman.
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Syamala
Gita has everything! Powerhouse packed with everything!
Ch 2 is summary of the Gita
2.47 -most heard and relate to it so much more now.
How Krishna chides Arjuna is the same way we behave (like Arjuna).
Confusion comes when we associate with 'small I' but when we associate with 'Big I' then the confusion drops.
Swadharma - swabhava - swaroopa.
Body gives signals.
How Gita differentiates from physical, mental, intellectual dimensions.
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Shantha
2.47 - Karmanyevaadhikarasthe.
As a coach, I observe kids practice KY.
It is a tough message to say 'don't expect results' but use the opportunity when they share something to tell them that 'learning is important'
Criticism from others does not impact when we put 100% effort in it.
Story of pregnant deer stuck in four corners with threats and it delivers the baby
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Ranjani
2.62 &2.63 - Eight steps to a spiritual fall.
Thinks of sense objects -attachment - desire -anger - delusion - loss of memory - destruction of discrimination - falls in life
Attachment not so much to objects but to people has been a personal struggle.
The world determines the emotional state of mind. We lose control.
Reminds me to practice sense control.
Theory is easy and practice is hard. Use these as a constant reflection.
Attachment is not love. Attachment binds you, love sets you free.
Love is unconditional, attachment is full of expectations.
We are already completely detached....
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Rajesh
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Arjuna’s mindset - Pity, despondency, agitated, dejection, eyes full of tears, lost all hope, no sense of purpose, depression, visible signs of depression - seed anti mama gaatrani, mukham cha parishushyati, vepathushcha sharire me, romaharshascha jayate - limbs fail, mouth parched, sweating, quivering, hairs standing on end…
LESSON 1: EMOTIONAL MIND VERY STRONGLY covering his intellect - like a thick black cloud covering the sun. We can recognize signs of DEPRESSION within us too!
His Intellect becomes convoluted. Tries to justify. Puts forth arguments that will justify his point of view - without any sufficient logical base - altering facts, creating opinions to suit one’s emotional turbidity.
Sentiments cloud our understanding. Emotions rule us.
Strong sense of ego - “I” expressed as “How can I kill my relatives?”
SPLIT PERSONALITY SYNDROME.
Perception /Action Sense Organs, Emotional Mind, Intellectual Mind are not aligned together.
LESSON 2: WHEN WE ARE NOT MENTALLY INTEGRATED, our efforts dissipate like clouds in a bright sun.
This is our life too.
Most of us don’t seek right help to our mental wellbeing. Right help can come only from scriptures - not paid psychoanalysis help!
He Finally gives up. Surrenders to a superior intellect - Trust in Krishna’s supremacy.
LESSON 3: Surrender is hard. But when one surrenders, it becomes easy.
Either surrender to a parent, trusted friend or relative, or plainly to your inner conscience.
What is inner conscience?
It is the sense of ‘Big I’ of who we truly are!
Not the sense we have of the ‘small I’ that identifies itself with body, senses, mind or intellect.
How do we know there is a “Big I” within me?
When we ask the question - who am I and analyze with a simple framework - subject is different from objects, then we will truly know who we are!
Heat & Cold, happiness & sadness, praise & criticism, success & failure are all experienced by me - so they are not me! I stand apart from them!
They are all finite - in time, space or relationship.
All these too will pass!
LESSON 4: Even if we don’t trust anyone, trust that inner conscience. Recognize that it is there and ask - what would that inner conscience want me to do now in my depression state?
Why should one trust the inner conscience? Is there any such thing? Why don’t I experience that? If that is happiness, eternal, consciousness - and it is my real nature - why don’t I feel it? Are there any preparations I need to do?
Krishna says, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga are the rungs of the ladder to know & become that sat-chit-ananda: the eternal existence, conscious & bliss nature. Preparing the body, senses is the pre-requisite for karma yoga.
LESSON 5: Like in all knowledge acquisition, we need to prepare. Mind is the biggest obstacle as well as the most important instrument we have to acquire this knowledge about the Big I - our true.
This is life worth living. Anchored to an unchanging goal post - meandering around, using life situations as learning &growing opportunities and overcoming the mental doubts, confusion and expanding our mind to include everything in the sense of I.
Small I becoming the Big I in three steps through karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, jnana yoga.
Hari Om Tat Sat!
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Mukundan
Destination - current location - route - signboards of progress - affirmation of you have reached destination
How the Ch 2 is structured as a 'seekers journey' - the way it is laid out.
Destination is shared.
Shows us where we are in the current location.
Small I -> Big I route Karma Yoga.
Signboards - Gurubhakti /stithapragya
Sloka 1-10: If you can smile at the end of the tantrum - you are enlightened!
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Manu
2.47 -
When we read only the first part, we miss the whole point.
We need to understand that inaction is NOT a choice.
We tend to live either in future or in the past - emotions are tied to future; we imagine things going wrong; causes lots of angst in present. Or we think of past good times and not enjoy the present.
We are in a strange jacket.
Understanding the whole sloka is important: past is dead, future is not yet born and we are wasting our present by living in either.
Not expecting specific outcome does not mean not doing anything.
Actions cannot be tied to results. Breaking that connection makes us focus on the work.
And also taking the responsibility impacts the future.
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Krishna
When in doubt begin at the beginning.
2.11 - asochyan anvashochastvam - you are worrying about something not to worry about
but, pragyavaadamsha bhaashashe - but speaking like wise
panditah nanushochanti - but wise dont worry about.
gatasun agatasun - dead or living - wise don't worry
asu - prana
also, it means sense objects.
asusu ramyate iti asurah.
Gita saaram - remove ignorance; only knowledge can relieve ignorance.
KY - we should do.Incomplete without JY. JY impossible without KY.
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Kishore
Concept of samatvam or equanimity.
Equanimity is a state where mind is not agitated.Centered,calm composed.
Ask - what takes it away from the center?
For example:
Desires, expectations etc take it away and lead to 2KLM3.
Another area is work - stress anxieties
Decisions we need to take
Loss we deal with
If Samatvam were an anchor /higher level goals from where we launch into a new peak.
It is an important pre-requisite.
How to increase the time we are in equipoise?
Understand Self - the highest level of knowledge
Next lower level is karma yoga.
How KY helps in Samatvam?
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If we are able to convert our actions to desireless actions.
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If we were to transcend that all actions are for a higher goal, then attitude changes.
Desires - Slippery slope:
Attachment, desires...and how to be less bound.
No suppression, but let the desires fall off by itself.
convert binding -> non binding desires
Getting to base camp - samatvam is priority; understanding Self is next.
Body gives those indications of not being in equipoise.
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Ashish
2.45 sums up everything in Chapter 2.
Traigunya vishaya vedaah...nistraigunyo bhavorjuna.
In the real sense, we cannot go beyond.....we are kind of warriors like Arjuna
We have to understand the situation and play our roles beautifully & to the best of our abilities.
Nirdwandva - the world is full of pairs of opposites - they will come and go. Just understand we have to be equanimous.
Nityasatvasto - be established on the sattva side.....not possible unless we go to Himalayas?
Again it is a kind of understanding we need to develop.
Niryogakshema atmavaan - we don't have to go collecting things....no need for unnecessary desires. No need to go for the excesses; no need to preserve anything.
Whatever is mentioned will be possible when we are established in Self.
When we come into this world there is a "TO LET" board - Brahman wants to come in; THere is an 'I' who is squatting in the home
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Alpana
Stithapragya - manogathan - all the desires of the mind are renounced. Self does not have any desires.
No desires - no ambition? Not doing anything is an action!
Instinctive actions show that even without desires we act
Fear & attachment are also out of desires.
When people suffer with a pattern - we may want to help; not to get any particular outcome.
When this goes away, there are no dissipation of energies.
When one has given up desires, what is the purpose of life? Stitapragya is happy within self, by self.
One has realized their own swaroopa.
When happiness is from within, then nothing needs to be done to 'derive'happiness.
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Ajay Gupta
Shishyasteham shaadi mam tvam prapannam - Power of Guru
Ashcharyavat....:We are all that Witness consciousness; but we struggle to internalize it.
NSAA:Nityam, Nirvikara, Satyam,Sarvagata, Aprameya, Abokta
Nirdwandva, Nityasatva, niryogakshema
Stitapragya is like an ocean - purnatvam & samatvam - joyfully delightfully restless
Veetaraga bhaya krodha - shama, dama, dwelling on who am I?
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In this GD we discuss the final few slokas and specifically talk of how to apply the learnings of karma yoga, jna-na yoga into our daily life.
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Gita Study Group Aug 29, 2021: Slokas 2.62-2.67 (continuing)
State of calmness - Move from 'what' to 'so what?'
All ads appeal to emotions + senses, not intellect.
Raga - attachment for future
Bhaya - for future
krodha - for present.
VSN - Bhutha Bhavya Bhavat Prabhuh!
Desire is an outcome of attachment.
Dwelling & attachment - we need to work somewhere in between them to manage the 'ladder of downfall'.
Discernment is the power that would let us break the loop.
Langanam parama aushadam - at thought, speech and action levels.
Mind is your servant. Senses are the servants of the servant!
Shadrasa /navarasa to rama rasa.
3-kaama, 4 - krodha leading to jealousy or matsarya or lobha leading to arrogance and 5 - moha is delusion.
Cause & effect: thinking about objects -> attachment -> desires -> 2klm3 -> loss of mind /no knowledge acquisition.
In relationships - expectations not met gives rise to anger. This is also 'attachment'.
Discernment - violent thoughts,
Sravana - manana - nidhidhyasanam needs shama, dama.
Nidhidhyasanam is digesting the food.
How should one think about rituals?
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Modern psychology vs. Gita psychology.
Repression is bad - Freud.
Desire is the root of any ambition as well. Not bad to have ambition - but whose benefit it is for.
Difficult in current times to live a minimalistic life?
More choices means more conflicts.
Is having more choices, desires good or bad?
If we lose sight of the science of enlightenment - we will get involved in the movie!
Modern psychology revolves around the framework of the movie - misses the seer!
Anything that causes emotional turmoil is attachment. This attachment -desire-action creates an endless loop, unless we attach ourselves to a higher desire.
Dwelling results in attachment; distraction results in lower attachment.
Once we give in through the desire, we will be unable to make rational decisions.
Frameworks to improve psychologically: FIR, prarabdha, needs vs wants, higher ideal, pratipaksha bhavana, asking why, write on paper & tear it
Meaning of the word prasada:
Serenity - calmness with the worldly objects; joyfully, delightfully restless - not causing any unhappiness while wanting that higher state.
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Repress, suppress or replace desires?
Pratipaksha bhavana as a tool.
Higher goal replaces lower goal. Takes time.
Desires can’t be willed away but time and pratipakshabhavana will help. This change behaviors - roast the seeds so the sprouting does not happen. This approach works sometime and does not work at times.
Conquest of senses - forcibly or naturally?
Two ends of spectrum: Jain muni’s and Osho! Worst part is not knowing what is the right path to follow !
Are there five enlightened masters you can point me out to? Need for Guru to guide us.
FIR is a good barometer of progress. Daily decision making is good (ROI) with the right knowledge backing us with certainty. Fear goes down. Kishore articulated his ‘basecamp’.
Everyday we are enlightened - we don’t know it. Deep sleep experience is a revelation of enlightenment state. Enlightenment is not effort based, understanding based.
Why did Arjuna not get enlightened?
The person is never enlightened, but we will be free of the person.
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Slokas 2.59-61 Gita, 08082021
How can an established person remain 24x7 as Stithapragya?
What differs between Swami Vivekananda (and likes) and our experience when we talk of Stithapragya experience?
Are we progressing at the right pace?
Can we do something else to accelerate the pace?
- Meditation has been hinted at in these slokas.
Do we also distance ourselves from intellect as well from body, mind?
SP watches TV - can switch off the channel anytime.
Observer views themselves as oneness - their reactions are based on the viewer's perception.
Does Hanuman have a split personality?
krt krityata, jnatavyata, pratavyata - Stithapragya
Grace - importance: Guru, shastra, atma grace.
It is all preparing the mind - when grace will become reality!
IF we can surrender - no need to prepare.
Patience (dhairya) surrender (samarpan) and nirantharatha (regularity - be at it)
What is important in Sadhana Chatushtaya - mumukshutvam, vairagyam, shama-dama-di, vivek in that order.
Surrender is not inaction. When we surrender, there is no stress.
I have given 100% efforts and also know there is little correlation between efforts and results - so leave it to him.
Flip it - surrender & then get the body /mind do it.
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These three words have special meaning. In Gita Ch 17, Krishna explains.
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Listen to three slokas and their meaning from Ch 17 of Gita
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Give up only what we own - that part that we have appropriated for oneself.
When will I be fully established - when all the desires are gone.
krt krityata, jnatavyata, pratavyata - desireless.
Krishna considers man as an actor; he is considering as an experiencer
55 to 58: read them in reverse as a four step process
udveg - not achieving it from raag; attachment; act out of rajoguna; don't get it; sorrowful; give up
How do you know who is a realized person?
We talk of how Gurus are viewed from our 'biased' perspective and how in reality they are different.
24 teachers of Dattatreya - guru need not be one person.
Wind teaches you not to be attached at all!
Swami Tadatmananda's vedic way of questioning - pole in a hole.
How do we interpret - characteristics of stitapragya are practices for seeker
- Example of tortoise, what would jesus do now?, introduce the pause. Root cause analysis: ragah-bhaya-krodha
Stithapragya loses the right to complain.
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The scheme of verses from Sloka 31 till 55 in terms of how Krishna explains the set up: explain sankhya yoga, go through practical way of living - karma yoga and benefits of equanimity mind. Arjuna wants to hear more about KY than rituals.
An aha moment that Sanskrit is a flexible language. Look for Anvaya Gita to learn Sanskrit as well through Gita.
The meaning of the word - samadhao: is where it is absorbed and not the state the mind is as per Patanjali yoga.
Pragya: wisdom beyond intellect. Stitha Pragya : steady in self knowledge / Atma jnanam.
We all go through the phase - I get it; I don’t get it; we also forget it also - we are not yet established.
How is wisdom higher than intellect? Wisdom : one truth! Is wisdom ‘better decision making intellect’? Wisdom leads to discrimination & dispassion. Example of a parent of a tennis player.
Stithi pragya and stithadhi: steady wisdom, strong intellect.
Sankara-cobbler story; mirror example; The idea of ‘who sees?’ Comes when we ask whether how Stithapragya sees himself?
Will a Stithapragya take part in daily activities?
How to bring this attitude into everyday life? Characteristics for enlightened are practices for seekers. He does not have any desires!
Can we Will that desires should go away or they have to drop off, naturally? Suppression not equal to desires going away. Can desires for away completely or is it that we are converting our desires to non-binding?
Three types of desires- Desire to live, desire to know. desire to enjoy, jijivisha, jignasa, bubukshutvam,: Need to convert these into mumukshutvam.
Kid playing and getting hungry - mumukshutvam example.
Attachment - what can I get? Love- what can I give?
Emotional dependence/ independence. Stithapragya has no desire to give also- just happens like the sun shining and not knowing it is shining for others!
Moksha: praptasya prapti, nivritasya nivritti.
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All our activities/ work happen at three levels - body, speech, mind. Listen to the specific practices that Gita suggests us to do for each of these!
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In this episode, we discuss 'cut, wash and clean' - the 'mantra' given by a Guru to an aspiring seeker and what it means.
Why is it to be followed in a 'guru ashrama' and why can't we follow this in our daily life and still call it Karma Yoga?
We discuss the words, kripana and hetu and explore the context of these words.
We dive deeper into practical significance of Karma Yoga: donating, more beneficiaries for our work done, advise in workplace context,
We discuss grace - and how to get it. Vairagyam is the key to unlock grace, not necessarily KY.
We discuss how wisdom at an intellectual level influences our actions.
We also discuss if donating money vs. donating time - a conundrum of which is better?
Action is at three levels - physical, verbal and mental. Even thinking about 'fruits' of action is distracting us from the work we do.
Why is it wrong to think that 'if I had a different role /position, place I would have done better' and why is it our current situation the best do do KY and push forward. We also discuss Arjuna's terrible confusion in mind when he calls Krishna Madhusudhana /Arisudhana and compares how he is doing a hard job of killing his close relatives.
We discuss how many of us do just karma or do karma yoga on a daily basis?
Developing equanimity is the necessary step towards understanding Jnana Yoga - Brahman. [And Vairagyam]
Samathvam buddhi, samarpanam, swadharma, swarupa...?
Personal story of how one overcame the desire of drinking wine by attaching to a higher desire - to meditate.
'What if' and 'if only' concepts.??
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Chapter 17 slokas 7-10 divides people into three categories (mindset) - Sattvic, Rajasic, Tamasic and vividly describes what type of food each mindset prefers.
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2.48.249. 2.50
Samatvam yoga uchyate - equanimous
So, what is work? What is obligatory work?
Does karma refer to any desire driven action?
Is it only obligatory work that is referred as ‘work’ /karma or desire driven action or both?
Is the ‘I feel guilty if I did not do something’ a good test for what our obligatory duty is?
How do you deal with supporting an old parent and also child? We feel conflicted?
Do not avoid; do not seek. What comes naturally for us to do is our work.
Ask oneself in conflicting situations, “Is this the best I could have done?” And do it if the answer is yes. Live with the consequences.
Can human progress happen if we did not have those deep desires /goals and live life as karma yoga attitude?
Is there a “perfect action”? Is guilt attachment?
How does one choose between what ‘I like to do’ and what ‘I must do’?
Move from finite being to an infinite being - that is what Krishna is saying - which takes us beyond the choices - restful awareness.
Conflicting situations - how did Arjuna’s conflict get resolved - to fight or not to fight? Arjuna was also conflicted.
Is intellect colored by desires?
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Gita GD 47
Karmanyevadhikarasthe moved from faith to logic /science. Not having expectations -> so much more /profound; efforts are in our control, not results. Flow is part of KY Being in the present.
Being in the present, not worrying about past or the future - is KY. Should we ignore our past experiences if we have to live in the present?
What if someone brings up what we did in the past if they constantly remind us about that? Should we dwell on it?
Practical techniques: Swami SP’s answer: Karma Yoga way is ‘my bad is getting burnt’ in the Bhakti way - it is an occasion to remember God; Gyan way - it has come as a warning
mind plays Perceiver, [doer, receiver of actions], storehouse of samsara, instrument of meditation Equanimity is also in the mind!
Motto: Serving all sentient beings, knowing them to be God, with one pointedness Serving - KY Serving all sentient beings - BY Knowing them to be God - JY Nischayatmika Buddhi - RY
Is it OK to have goals while doing KY? - We need karma, we need the goal, while doing the action stay focussed on the goal, once completed, let go of the goal. - When we do action, do not do in ‘uninterested manner’ but in ‘disinterested manner’
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With the launch of our book, Wellbeing through food & discipline | The Chaturmasa Diaries, we organized a Q&A session.
Please listen in to the authors sharing their experience of what Chaturmasa is, and the benefits.
If you want to buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Wellbeing-Through-Food-Discipline-Chaturmasa/dp/1639403515
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Understanding the concept of gunas - tapestry of this universe.
Understanding gunateeta concept - beyond the three gunas - is there something? What is it?
How to progress from tamasic to rajasic to sattvic and then beyond?
Importance of food to develop sattvic mind.
Karma kanda, karma yoga, jnana kanda - what is the difference?
Just by jnana kanda, can we achieve life's purpose? Do we need karma kanda? Is it to be frowned upon?
Rituals, puja, charity, yagya, austerities - are they important? Why not go straight to jnana?
What is the meaning of the famous sloka, karmanyevaadikarasthe? How did the meaning change since we first heard it as children?
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What is sin of omission - pratyavaya dosha? What’s the benefit or shortcomings of the material pursuits? Is karma yoga the practice we should follow for avoiding any sin of omission? If so, what result does it give us? Did Gandhiji want independence or he did not? So, was he karma yogi? Is karma yoga not having any wants? No expectations? Is ‘no expectations’ is truly ‘expecting no expectations’😀. Having expectations is ok but accepting results without regrets is the key- which is what perhaps Gandhi did! On a day to day basis, listen to the intellect instead of the mind- so that helps to know ‘right action’ towards the goal of human life. Is moksha = heaven? What is heaven? Are career goals truly goals? Is karma kaanda relevant? Singlepointedness is to be desireless? Is that a goal? Is spiritual path a process of learning / unlearning? Half the life we have spent by ‘identifying’ ourselves - and now, we have to unlearn to follow the spiritual path! Identifying with roles - pitfall of it; is karma kanda same as karma yoga.
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Equipoise, doing likes / dislikes or being balanced, should we buy a lottery ticket?
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We continue our discussions on Swadharma, True Identity, Self Identity and practical tips on how to explore and expand our own sense of self.
The real swadarma is the Aatman - and drop all other things that you are thinking as swadharma
How do we connect Swadharma and Swaroop?
If we don't do our Swadharma, we can ever be at peace. It is going to be restless/guilt. If you follow the path of Swadharma, it will take you to Swaroop. It removes the vikshepa (distractions) and hence it calms your mind and then it takes you to the right path
Sometimes when we chase a goal, we put all efforts into it and when we reach the goal , we feel an emptiness. Then we take on to some other goal. These are the transition points from Swadharma towards Swaroop. All identities are maya till you reach the Swaroop. When you reach he Swaroopa, the emptiness dissolves.
Most of us live someone else's life. We then realize that we have anchored on something else and move the anchor to who we truly are. Sin is many times associated with guilt.. We do things in an avidhya state .. That's all.
We discuss if society is responsible for our problems or are we responsible for our problems. The gist is that do what your heart wants and if the so called society comes in way, you anyway have the freewill to move to another society that allows you to do what your heart wants.. There is always plus and minus to everything. If you think you will be at peace with what your heart wants, then that is your Swadharma.
Seeking any worlds objects is due to Vasanas.. Pleasure is related to Vasanas and Engagement is related to Mano nash..
How do we lesser mortals find our Guru? Guru is more of a concept rather than an individual. We must make the soil of mind, fertile to find the Guru.. The germination will happen at the right time, right place - the seed is already there if one is asking this question!
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May 30 Sl 2.31-40
What is swadharma and how to find our own in the current context?
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What we enjoy doing?
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Samanya dharma (common) and vishesha dharma (special)
Caste system - is not by birth; by natural proclivities (swabhava)
What was Buddha's swadharma - as a prince or a mendicant?
SPji's instruction - do things that come naturally to you; that make you happy & also that makes others happy.
Does the 'intention' determine our swadharma? Like for Buddha? He wanted to protect as well but at a different level.
Krishna is not random - Arjuna was ready to fight, has kshatriya tendencies, and Krishna was only encouraging him to do his swadharma - and not go against his own nature because he will regret it, will keep thinking about it.
Ikigai - Japanese: what u r good at, what u like to do, what the world needs, what can give you money.
Swadharma has to be looked at from the perspective of the roles we play. What is the 'right thing' to do in the context of roles we play?
Job Satisfaction??? Kishore's story of why he left Google.
When do you decide 'internal conflict' is good? between what roles we do and our natural inclination
What is the connection between one's vision of self-identity & swadharma?
Johari Window in psychology
Krishna knew the war was 'dharma yuddha' so wanted to make sure Arjuna fought a righteous war.
Doing what comes naturally to you + lok kalyan is important.
Sometimes the Gita model is 'over-simplified'
Swadharma - Swabhav - Swarup: Swadharma is taking swabhav to swarup.
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May 23 Sl 2.26-30 [Contd]
Expectations met - relationship strengthens;
When not met - relationship weakens
We slowly understand there is nothing called 'unconditional love'; there is always a quid-pro-quo expectations.
When we include others in our sense of identity - then it bothers us.
Mother's love - how inclusive it is with the kid - because mother does not think the kid is any different from herself.
What needs to change in us - we give unconditional love?
Atma is strange, mystery, wonder
True knowledge makes the man realize he is a soul with the body but in his ignorance he thinks he is a body with a soul.
Practical implications of understanding 'who I truly am?'
Definition of sat-chit-anand
Krishna Tattva
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If you want to listen to a healthy debate (part 1) on reincarnation theory - why we should accept, why we can't accept and what is the view of about 20 people who have background in engineering, sciences and trying to make sense of the world with a 'framework' they can apply to solve the mysteries of the universe - this is the group discussion you must listen to. Few things you will enjoy listening in: - Swami Vivekananda said, My own karma is sufficient explanation to the ways of the world. - Discussion In 2.27, theory of reincarnation is reinforced. - How easy it is to let go of attachments? Can we let go of the expectations from our attachments? Is there anything called 'attachment with detachment'? What does it mean? - We will detach immediately if the person we are attached to says, 'I dont give a damn.'- then we will immediately detatch ourself from that person. Why do we do this? Doesn't this indicate - without doubt that we ultimately 'love only ourself' and love others only if it is convenient for us? Hard hitting truth that one has to reflect on deeply. It may not be easy to accept. - We talk of species, neanderthals, homo sapiens and how life evolved and the concept of God - perhaps came only ~5K years ago? Or was it always there? [Short answer: Truth /Reality is always there - even if we have not discovered it; or have discovered it only 5000 years ago!] - We discuss certain challenges in science based logic and talk of subjective realities. - Hear about the benefits one of the participants shared openly - how the knowledge helped her overcome the fear of death, bring in a sense of acceptance but still struggling to figure out how to let go of attachments, and still be attached. Hear about how the theory of Karma helps us to reconcile to the mysteries of universe.
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Ch 2.23 24 25
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Who actually wrote the Gita?
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Why is it fair to suffer if I don't know what I have done to suffer now?
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Discussions on karma - sukha, dukha....consequences
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We continue on discussions on death.
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Is death gory? Painful? For whom?
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Last thought /desire while dying and its impact.
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The melange of prarabda, sanchita and agami karma - how do they work?
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Should I continue to do good when I don't know if I will benefit in this lifetime? What is the logic I should adopt to do good?
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This group discussion centers on the concepts covered in sloka 2.20, 2.21
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There is something else between physical body and 'Soul/Atma' that never dies.
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Demystifies death
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Six stages of existence -
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Why don't we go back to an older birth? Why can't we remember previous births?
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Is our karmas and balancing karmas a most convoluted balance sheet like a family owned business?
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Past does not add value. Memory is just a memory - emotions create a baggage
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We cannot live in the past; nor future; only present.
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Is time a mental construct?
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Is time subjective? How do we reconcile that different species have different life spans?
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Go to no=mind state, we become ageless.
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How do you explain to kids /family members who may be dying - that it is all irrelevant?
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Is it ok to plant 'seeds' in children's mind of our beliefs?
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Do these teachings give emotional succor or are they mere intellectual construct?
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Not born, not dies - organ donation - does it make sense?
-Living in the present is not chronological time - it is living in the dimension of eternality
-Do scriptures talk of euthanasia? Abortion?
-When we die, is it happy event or sad event?
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Gita 4/25 Slokas 2.18, 19
What travels after death? Soul (Atma) does not travel anywhere because no space, time, object constraints.
Is body not important? There are actors, sportspersons who take extreme care of their bodies - how should we interpret it?
What does unknowable mean? Why can't we understand Atma with the usual organs of perception?
Atma is Aprameya:Unknowable through known sense organs of perception because, it is beyond the six ways knowledge happens - pratyaksh (direct), paroksha (inference), anupalabdi (absence), upaman (comparision), arthapatthi (data analysis), shabda (sruti/vedas).
How does Vedas describe Atma
Neti-Neti method, paradoxical statements, inference, silence.
We also discuss what it means when people say 'Atma'. For some it could be body, mind, intellect, ego....
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Gita GD 4/18/2021 2.16, 17
There are a few slokas which were tough for Ganesha when Vyasa was telling, so Ganesha had to think before writing. These are some of those tough slokas.
Atma is 'sat' and rest is 'asat' - Om Tat Sat.
Sat: Not limited by space, time, object limitations.
Asat: Exact opposite of Sat (child of a barren women, flowers in sky...)
Mithya: You can experience it but does not have independent experience, hence limited by space, time, objects.
Reality ALWAYS exist; mithya NEVER existed
Any Experience - REALITY + APPEARANCE.
Need objects, shapes and forms to experience existence (IS'ness)
If we understand 2.16 then fear of death goes away.
Is space really dark? No. It is light everywhere but needs a reflecting medium. Likewise, EXISTENCE needs a medium - mind & body to reflect it.
From a meta physical perspective: A subtler element is present in a grosser element.
Consciousness is more subtler than space - Dhaturuttamah
Consciousness: Space - air - fire - water - earth
When we identify with body, space exists...when we don't space or anything else does not exist.
What is permanent cannot get revealed; but it manifests through a medium.
Undying means, unborn as well! If Consciousness is born, then somebody has to be conscious of Consciousness being born.
God was bored and he created playmates - the world exists because of that!
Understanding this revelation about who we are helps us live our lives in a very different way - improves self-esteem, conquer fear, ability to relate to others better, joyful. However sometimes it is difficult to apply the knowledge in transactional world. Hear the debate amongst the seekers as to how it can be applied - each one sharing their own unique perspective.
For more, check out the blog: https://happilyoga.com/2021/04/20/50664/
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Gita GD Discussions 4/11/2021, Slokas 2.14, 2.15
Millions of experiences are collapsed to five inputs + mind. Perceiving these as good/bad/pleasant/unpleasant is based on mind. We need to develop titiksha. Titiksha - forebearance; strength. Titiksha also is a result of our prarabdh.
Stories about non-retorting snake & mudslinging match with pigs shows the need to understand correctly and acting rightly according to nature. These stories highlight how to understand titiksha correctly.
Thirukkural #301: controlling anger can be done in 3 places: with people who are equal, with people who are powerful, with people who are weaker. It is the third category that is important discipline. Other two are no brainer - we automatically control our anger!
One need not be angry in mind - even if roles demand anger, do the duty (like a policeman) but without being affected.
Discussion on pain, suffering, happiness & sadness:
We can be in pain, but suffering is optional. People suffer when they don't understand Vedantic concept of Atma, identity of one's true Self.
How should one go about pain & suffering? Does suffering have a role? Purpose?
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Acceptance or Prarabda?
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Take action - give tit for tat?
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Delegate to God
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Settle score?
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Is this a case of mistaken identity?
Settling scores does not work. My karma is mine and other's karma is others.
Sama-Dana-Bheda-Danda has to be employed like Rama did.
Maintaining equipoise is the goal. Eventually this is what is going to solve the topical problems:
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yoga, samatvam, stitapragya, stay with one's true nature.
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This state is our nature! Anger, greed and others take away from this state. So, the question is how can we prevent 2KLM3 and related aspects?
How does Sukh lead to Dukh: If sukh can come from an external object then it can also lead to dukh, We want the sukh it to continue, we fear losing it, leads to attachment to that sukh...so best not to be elated with sukh and depressed when dukh.
...It can also make us arrogant, proud...
The same attitude is applicable at body, mind, intellect levels - heat/cold, pleasure/pain, praise/criticism.
Yoga, Karma or Bhakti or Jnana?
Ashtanga yoga comes from the practical side and Upanishads come from theoretical side - both are needed.
Known ->Uknown and Unknown -> Known: Both are valid paths.
4% is theory; 16% is upasana and 80% is dharma: Dharma is what we need to focus on in our daily life!
Other:
Dhira word means intelligence, buddhi, wisdom and one who applies the wisdom of knowledge of Atma to overcome sufferings.
Rudyard Kipling's IF poem seems to be a rough translation of Bhagavad Gita's concepts.
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In this GD, Bhagavan SriKrishna gives the solution to the fundamental problem of humankind.
The various topical problems we have (related to health, wealth, relationships, ups & downs we face) all have a root cause in ignorance. The ignorance is OUR FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM. When the fundamental problem is solved, topical problems automatically resolve!
Srikrishna addresses the 'summary of the solution'
What is the source of grief? How does Bhagavan go about stating it is an 'illegitimate problem' that Arjuna has.
How does Bhagavan connect that the grief is the outcome of Arjuna's ignorance? Why should we not grieve for anyone - living or dead?
How does Bhagavan explain Atma? The soul? What was our reaction when we first heard about who we truly were? Was it incredulous? Or ridiculous?
Why do we fear death when we don't fear everyday? Every new day /new moment already by definition indicates the 'previous day/moment' has died....likewise our body /mind is constantly 'dying' to give rise to new body/mind......If we can accept this without any qualms, why are we fearful of death? Isn't it the same as acquiring a new body?
How is the human mind constructed? How can we have different perspective to the same situation - physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual? Which one should we adopt? Why we are not able to adopt a spiritual attitude?
Do we have freewill? Some beautiful examples related explain that we indeed have freewill.
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In this group discussion, we try to assess Arjuna's mental state and understand the psychological changes that goes on in his mind. We also reflect on our own context in the modern times and find that there are several commonalities:
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We talk a lot when we are confused, in the hope that we arrive at a right solution to the problem.
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We do get confused with what is right, wrong
Few observations we make:
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Duryodhana talks out of fear & insecurity
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Arjuna talks out of delusion
We agreed that we all have to face our problems head-on AND still ask for help.
We also discuss what should be our attitude when we listen to someone going through an emotional turmoil. At what point we have to talk? We should learn from Krishna, who is silent till Arjuna empties his emotions.
We discuss how one's ego intervenes in decisions. Arjuna's emotional outburst seem to have rested on his concerns for himself (although he talks magananimously!) while Bheeshma and Drona would not have hesitated to kill Arjuna as it was their duty being on the Kaurava side. We also discuss how one can expand the sense of ego.
There is discussion on the 'subjective' and 'objective' personalities and how this is important to understand the 'solution' offered by Gita to our problems.
We also talk of 'caste' system and 'intermingling' of castes as an outcome of war and the consequent decline in family values.
Finally, it is clear that Arjuna's problem in the battlefield few thousands of years ago is NO DIFFERENT than our problems of modern times. Therefore, the solution that was offered to him may also be applicable to us!
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Arjuna opens up a floodgate of emotions.
He is anxious for victory in battle and he got into a neurosis - fear of death of his clan & fear of losing.
Arjuna tries hard to get Krishna to acknowledge and we discuss why Krishna ignores him - LISTEN & SILENT are anagrams and Krishna is SILENT and LISTENing. He does not teach as yet.
Arjuna gives many arguments - wants the kingdom, does not want it if his relatives are dead, death of menfolk means womenfolk going astray, causing admixture of classes, letting Dharma - or rightful living go down.
Like Arjuna, as we verbalize our feelings, we will also notice that we will contradict ourselves. This is a big learning for us. Because we are always operating in 'misplaced detachment' or 'wrong vairagyam' - for the wrong reasons.
There is a symbolism of Krishna and Arjuna. Krishna is the Supreme Soul in ourselves and Arjuna is our Ego (Individual Self). When our Ego listens to the Supreme Soul, our actions become aligned with the universe.
We also discuss 'subjective self' and 'objective self': Subjective self is the true self which we are trying to discover but the sad fact is that we are always in the 'objective self' mode where our mind is attached to objects, people, situations, events. This attachment is the one that causes us grief.
Are we insignificant in the entire universe? There are two views - and listen to the contrarian view that the 'universe' is 'contained' in us - so, we are not insignificant.
A lot of discussions got triggered by a new seeker's two questions:
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'WHAT IS YOUR DUTY?'
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HOW DOES ONE BALANCE OUR DAILY LIFE WITH SCRIPTURAL INSIGHTS?
Arjuna duty was to fight for dharma; in our life we need to evaluate our roles to find out what our duties are; our duty is to be human - and to truly understand what being human means. Our dharma, according to Swami Vivekananda is to manifest our own divinity and help others manifest their divinity. Divinity means - the essential intrinsic nature of humans, like heat being intrinsic to fire.
How do we balance doing right by oneself and doing right for the job, parents etc? Are we true to ourself? How do we reconcile? What is religion? Is that even relevant?
The group shares to the new seeker their insights on how these scriptural learnings helped them:
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To know 'who am I?' was a big aha moment for one
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We are able to connect the religion, manifesting divinity and our duty becomes to get rid of who we are not!
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There was a sense of true freedom
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We have experienced fearlessness in our life by understanding this knowledge
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We got rid of our anxiety
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Clarity in the roles & the corresponding right actions, right intentions behind those actions that are required for those roles.
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Learning of the scriptures is experiential and the context becomes clearer - for example, why balance, who balances, what are we balancing - these Q's get answered.
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Freedom from guilt
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The study and seeking is a journey to understand our roles, duties and how might one best perform them. The Gita gives a nice framework - tools to help us figure out how can we go through this life in the right way.
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First 17min: Practice of Gita Chanting before GD
We continue to discuss Arjuna's metamorphosis.
An external calamity impending - the fratricidal war that would wipe out the entire Kuru clan and friends like Yadavas, triggered a chain of thought in Arjuna.
Despite raring to fight the Kauravas for over 14 years - becoming determined to fight a Dharmic war, Arjuna experiences a change of mind. He suddenly exhibits 'pity' which is exactly not pity but some other emotion - perhaps a fear of death, or death of his loved ones garbed as pity. He claims that he sees no good in killing kinsmen, does not desire victory, nor pleasures.
We discuss why this happens?
Is it that he confuses the 'rightful duty' as a warrior to 'my battle to win' and what if 'I don't win' or 'I win, killing all my kinsmen': So, suddenly a duty he was supposed to do, becomes ATTACHED with his sense of identity. Now, the sense of identity as a relative, as a society person confuses his sense of duty as a warrior.
We also discuss that emotional mind decides for us most of the time and then we create logic to justify our decisions. This is what even Arjuna does!
In the modern context, we struggle with a bigger issue, unlike Arjuna. While Arjuna did not have any doubt regarding his abilities, and was only worried about the outcome of the war, we are vexed with both these worries - of our abilities as well as outcomes.
In summary, we acknowledge the relevance of the 'Arjuna disease' even in the modern conext - perhaps after atleast 5500 years after the Mahabharatha war took place.
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Tumultous is the word we would use to describe Chapter 1 of Gita - Arjuna Vishaada Yoga.
Till sloka 28, it is mostly description of the battlefield - the external context that makes a chicken out of Arjuna, the great warrior.
Sloka 1 describes Dhritharashtra, the blind king's mindset. Blinded by his attachment to his 100 sons, he knows that Dharma will win, but hopes for his sons' victory.
External context /situations are presented to us to mature as an individual - so we will ask the question - why me? and Why only me?
Arjuna asked this.
But before we get there, we need to understand the external environment - the context before he rambles through his mind and the confusion to the Bhagawan.
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Namaste!
My name is Rajesh Sengamedu I am a seeker, yoga & meditation practitioner
Bhagavad Gita has inspirations to change our life. I want to share sloka 47 from Gita Chapter 2, to inspire us into action.
**कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 2.47 ||**
A very, very popular, yet most misunderstood verse.
This sloka talks of the reality of roles, rights, responsibilities, results. In this, Bhagavan asks us to remember
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TO DO 1 Thing
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TO NOT DO 3 Things.
BG 2.47: You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.
The universe is interconnected & interdependent entity each performing our roles.
Let us understand this better with the example of movies.
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A hero’s right and responsibility are to do his part the best. No one else can do his role. Only he can and that is what he is supposed to be doing.
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The movie producer is the beneficiary of the hero’s work. And, his right & responsibility is to pay the hero and other actors, director etc.
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A movie succeeds or fails at the box office because of many factors – script, lead actors performance, director’s magic, timing and so many other factors. The hero obviously can’t stake the claim to the success or failure of the movie, because so many factors are involved
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If a movie’s success seems to be dependent on so many factors, can the hero possibly become fatalistic and stop playing his role? Wouldn’t that be crazy?
Bhagavan Krishna is only asking us to do our roles well, remembering the benefits of our work is reaped by someone else. How the final results of our work turn out to be is not in our hands, but that should not make us lethargic or stop doing our jobs!
Hari Om!
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Namaste!
My name is Rajesh Sengamedu I am a seeker, yoga & meditation practitioner
Bhagavad Gita has inspirations to change our life.
Sloka 48 from Chapter 2 is how we can apply the wisdom of yoga in our daily life in every activity /work we do – build a China wall of detachment towards the results of our work while clinging fast /being totally attached to the work we must do!
योगस्थ: कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्यो: समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते || 2.48||
BG 2.48: Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yog.
If you want to understand what ‘attachment to duty/work is’ with ‘detachment to results’ - watch the movie, Schindler’s List. Oskar Schindler, a sharp German businessman creates many businesses, builds factories, spends his entire fortune, bribes Nazi officers in his one focused attempt of saving 850 Jews from going into Auschwitz concentration camp.
He has no clue if his plans will work well or be caught by Nazis but he goes ahead with meticulous plans, and never ever worrying about the outcomes.
Similarly, Bhagavan Krishna asks us to let go of attachment to results and do our duties associated with various roles with an attitude of gaining spiritually – rather than materially. Gaining spiritually is nothing but cultivating a mindset that is not elated at successes or depressed at failures of our efforts.
This mindset – the balance, is called as yoga.
Hari Om!
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Namaste!
Bhagavad Gita has inspirations to change our life.
Do we know in human psychological personality, who is the boss?
Why are human being’s superior to animals?
And importantly, what is our self-identity?
Sloka 42 from Chapter 2 summarizes this very wisdom.
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन: |
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धे: परतस्तु स: || 2.42||
BG 3.42: The senses are superior to the gross body, and superior to the senses is the mind. Beyond the mind is the intellect, and even beyond the intellect is the soul.
You must watch Rang de Basanti to understand the true meaning of this sloka. The movie portrays Aamir Khan and his four friends as cynical, carefree and totally wasted, BUT are inspired after their close friend dies when his fighter plane malfunctions and crashes.
Their sense of ‘self-identity’ shifts, changing their very life!
They become motivated by a higher goal, because of this incident. Leaving their hedonistic lifestyle, they become revolutionaries to take action.
Suddenly, the attitude of eat-sleep-be-merry, don’t care for anyone other than oneself goes away. They are inspired by the idea of ‘get rid of corruption’ just like Mahatma Gandhi, who was inspired by an idea of ‘freedom for India’.
Bhagavan Krishna tells us that there is a gradation to human personality and asks us to evaluate where our self-identity predominantly lies: sensual enjoyment driven life is at the lower end of the human spectrum. We are no different from animals in this aspect. Living the life of emotions, feelings is higher to sensual enjoyment. But that is not all.
Living the life of ideas, rational thoughts, concepts – like Rang de Basanti depicts in the transformation the friends go through is higher than emotionally driven life.
Gita real teaching starts where the movie stops. Beyond the intellect is the soul – Atma, and re-aligning our thoughts, emotions, to that is the best way of living life.
Hari Om!
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Shri. Vivek talks of his relationship with food and in a funny way explains his motivation to do Chaturmasa, the four month seasonal fasting to get in tune with nature. He explains how this helped him change his relationship with food, and find new meaning to his professional work on sustainability and environment. While he does say it is work in progress, the benefits he has achieved in terms of weight loss or exerting mind over matter is truly inspirational. He also talks of how this has become a lifestyle change in him and gives very powerful advice for those who want to try getting back in tune with nature.
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Pleased to present the 'A-ha moments' of about 15 seekers.
Thanks to lockdown, the Gita Study Group undertook the reading of Swami Dayananda's book 'The teaching of the Bhagavad Gita' ISBN 81-7094-395-7 published by Vision Books.
This episode is long - almost two hours but it is worth it if you listen to it.
You will learn how the Gita has transformed several of us from being mere onlookers to actually being converts into the fact that the Gita way of life is THE way.
Enjoy listening in,
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In this episode, I interview my beloved brother, Shri. Mahesh Sengamedu who did his Chaturmasa 2020 fast for the first time along with some of us.
Learn about his dependence on food, enjoyment, addiction and how he worked on getting rid of dependence on food.
Learn also about his spiritual progress as well as his tips for first time Chaturmasis.
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In this episode, I interview Shri. Ajay Gupta, a classmate of mine who did his Chaturmasa fasting for the first time in 2020.
Listen to his journey, his concerns when he started, and expected benefits.
Also listen to the results he has been able to achieve as well as if he would do it again or not.
Hear from him the recommendations for anyone who wants to try it!
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In this episode, we are reviewing and sharing our thoughts on the conclusion of Gita, as per Swami Dayananda's book, The Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita.
Right from the beginning we are discussing few key concepts
- Karma yoga, bhakti yoga and sannyasa.
Following the doubts that Arjuna had in Ch 2 of Gita and also in the final conclusion of Gita, we also discuss 'what does it mean to take sannyasa' and we argue if it is really required or is there an alternate path to realize (get Moksha).
We also talk of intellectual value - subjective & objective as well as habitual value.
We once again go back and discuss what exactly is happiness. And, is sukha, dukha and ananda - are they different.
What are the different types of ananda: priya, moda, pramoda: happy, happier, happiest....
With this last GD we formally conclude our one year of study of the excellent book by Swami Dayananda.
Next week, we will revise the entire book - it will be free flow discussions.
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In this episode, I interview Shri. V P Rajesh, an old friend and classmate who did the seasonal fasting, Chaturmasa, for the first time this year. He will share his experiences, fears & how he overcome, learning and recommendations.
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Just as having a bath daily removes uncleanliness from us, taking a dip in the waters of ‘Gita Ganga’ will give us moksha. Don’t interpret moksha as something esoteric; it’s simple concept - unlimited, unrestricted freedom and happiness, irrespective of our circumstances. Listen to the chanting of Greatness of Gita in Sanskrit and it’s English translation.
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Very insightful discussion today, especially on the guna classification and the personality types:
Trying to understand our natural proclivities
Why we do what we do. How to move the needle, without suppression
What does it mean to worship, work, do charity, do austerities in the context of the three gunas - sattva, rajas, tamas.
Is Rajas bad?
Understanding of mind, importance of a calm mind
Importance of food for calming mind.
Controversial topics like caste system and how it is referenced in Gita.
We also talk about how /why alcohol can be consumed, or dropped completely with a complete understanding of the goal and the need to increase our Sattva guna.
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This is a mindblowing group discussion 'from seekers to seekers' where we discuss:
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What does it mean to have goal orientation and still not be attached to results?
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How can we practice it?
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What is goal orientation & happiness? How are they related?
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Is it wrong to have desires?
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If we don't have desires, then are we just passive, with no motivation to make any change?
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What are the various qualities we need to cultivate to be eternally happy?
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What are the recommended methodologies to cultivate the qualities?
We also introduce the concept of 'painting' vs. 'sculpting' as two paths. Painting is equivalent to 'accruing things, experiences' - one stroke at a time because we think we are 'limited' beings. On the other hand, sculpting is equivalent to 'ridding ourselves of those qualities' that is not our true self - because true self is happiness unlimited.
Enjoy the talk. I am sure you will be glad you listened to this 90 minutes of wisdom from seekers - to you!
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In this free flowing conversations few of the people who participated in Chaturmasa 2020 Fasting talk about their experiences and learnings.
Enjoy listening and be inspired.
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For this week's GD, since we are continuing to mull on 'Tree of Samsara' topic, and bring out a few points to think about:
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How is the tree sustained? What does it mean to do be active in this world with (selfish) desires? What is the relationship with birth & death by being thus active?
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What is the impact of a person's pre-disposition [combination of gunas one has] on the type of work they would do and how does it impact the tree of samsara?
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Does the samsara tree really exist? If it does, where? If it does not, then why do we perceive it to exist?
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What has attachment (sangah) got to do with the tree? Why is 'asangah' concept important to cut down the tree?
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Why does Swamiji talk of removing names & forms from the tree thought to realize that it does not exist, but only awareness exists?
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Is Awareness limited or limitless? Why does it appear limited?
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What is the difference between existence (sat), awareness (chit) and how does one distinguish between living /non-living beings? When a living being 'dies' we call it dead (or in this context, non-living being). So, what is the difference between a living and non-living being?
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Does death happen when Atma escapes from a living being? Can Atma escape at all?
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What exactly happens when a living being dies? How does the concept of subtle body (sukshma sharira) explain death? What is sukshma sharira and sthula sharira (physical, gross body) differences?
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What is kshara (decaying) purusha, akshara (undecaying) purusha and purushottama (the eternal)? How to understand the words - kshara, akshara, purushottama? How can we mix n match to sthula sharira, sukshma sharira and Atma?
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In this I chant Gita Dhyana Sloka written by Sri Madhusudhana Saraswati and also state the meaning. It is customary to sing this before reciting Gita. The vivid description of various people and comparing them to river, waves, crocodiles etc is very interesting - some of the behavioral characteristics do indeed match the description!
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In this episode I chant the intro to Vishnusahasranamam where Yudhistira asks Bheeshma six questions and Bheeshma answers the six questions and then recites Vishnusahasranamam.
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In this short episode, I chant few slokas from Ch 2 and Ch 15 along with their meanings. When one is worried about death, it’s important to remember that death is for the body alone - the subtle body does not die- just goes on to find a new body.
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In Gita, Krishna paints that the tree of samsara - of bondage & attachments - leading to pain & happiness is likened to a peepul tree (aswatha tree) and we discuss what this means for us in our context.
Why does such a tree exist?
Why does God have to create the tree at all?
Why does he have to put us in trouble?
We also go back and forth into karma yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga, values, value of values....
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I gave a talk at City Book Leaders talking to about 40+ people on my book. Here is the video of my Sun talk: https://youtu.be/SgKbLAtIbZU
In case any of you are interested in the slides I put together, here it is: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aQq5Qx2kQVQnUgxzdrI3nt6PlxZcNUpK/view?usp=sharing
This podcast is the audio version of my talk.
Quick timelines in case you want to jump to different sections:
00:00 to 50:40 My Talk
53:30 to 58:30 My Recommendations for a Seeker
58:30 to end: Questions & Answers
In this video, I present five concepts from my book, Happiness beyond Mind.
I share about
1) Definition of happiness & Why we are discontented and keep on searching
2) What is the mistake we all make about our identity
3) Death is just a pit-stop in our journey to completion
4) Psychological construct of a human being according to Vedanta
5) Mind management is key to our 'completion'.
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In today's group discussions, we continue to mull on the 'qualities' that constitute 'jnanam' or essential qualities for truly understanding 'jnanam'.
Moving from a theoretical construct of last week's discussions, we discuss the importance of these qualities, and practical methods to make them part of our life. This is inner transformation and requires work.
We change our way of thinking, aligning thoughts, words, action.
We pause before reacting.
We ask need or want?
We practice patience, giving space to others in their development.
We use these parameters to change ourselves, not measure others.
We discuss what is the impact of desires, anger, greed. Why do they occur? What we can do to overcome them? Why should we overcome them?
We discuss the importance of karma yoga and meditation (dhyana) in building a wholistic personality.
In essence, this hour and half is the 'practical transformation module' for your spiritual growth. Learn from the seekers who practice what they learn and share with others.
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In this episode, I chant 'Phala Sruti' or 'Mangala Sloka' - a customary sloka that is chanted after Vishnusahasranamam is chanted.
I also explain in English the meaning of 'phala sruti': phala means benefit; sruti is singing that benefit.
So, this is a chant + explanation of the benefits of chanting Vishnusahasranamam.
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This episode is all about discussions and personal observations of what each of the seekers see as their path towards 'moksha' - eternal freedom.
We even debate on what is that state of 'moksha'.
We discuss what is 'samsara' and why is it difficult to get out of it.
What is the path the scriptures explain we have?
What is the yogic path?
Is there a danger to start 'assuming' that we are Brahman already - wouldn't that lead to megalomania?
What is the significance of cultivating mental attitudes? What are the right attitudes to cultivate? What to let go? How to do it?
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In this episode we are discussing Ch 17 of Swami Dayananda's book, 'The teaching of the Bhagavad Gita'.
The chapter covers the following topics:
Kshetra, Kshetrajna, Jnanam, Jneyam, Purusha, Prakriti.
Kshetra - the playfield for the Kshetrajna: Body, Mind, Universe
Kshetrajna - the person who is the 'player' of the playfield
Jnanam - The qualities of mind that we must cultivate to reach the goal - jneyam
Jneyam - The end goal - to realize that we are Kshetrajna, and not mistaking ourselves for mind/body
Purusha - Kshetrajna (another name)
Prakriti - Kshetra (another name)
Importantly, the discussions hinge on understanding the several positive qualities of mind (jnanam) we need to cultivate - and the reasons why they are important to cultivate, as well as what is the final outcome of cultivating such qualities.
We also discuss how to 'map' these qualities to yama, niyama of Yogashastra as well as shama-damaadi of Sadhana Chatushtaya.
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In this episode, we discuss several questions from Kishore's presentation on happiness: path to be happy, yoga shastras, sadhana chatushtaya and pratipakshabhavana.
This is a free-flowing discussion.
We also talk about Action in Actionlessness and Actionlessness in Action - two important concepts.
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Ancient Indian wisdom from 3000+ years ago, captured in the Upanishads, The Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutras offer a detailed look into the inner workings of our minds. They provide a trail map to us, seekers, on not just the theory but also the roadmap and practices.
How do we apply this ancient wisdom in our lives? What practices do we follow? Are there some guiding principles that we can fall back on in situations we face daily? What is the relevance of these teachings in today's times?
This video is from a presentation made by Kishore Subramanian during our weekly Gita study group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGlV_1kxUgY
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In this ten minute episode, Kishore talks of what it means to accept the results.
He talks of knowledge, pratipaksha bhavana and depending on scriptures as three steps suited for different types of people.
Karma Yoga teaches us to pick the right actions, perform these actions with the right attitude without the attachment to a specific result. In other words, it urges us to develop an attitude of acceptance towards the results of the action, an attitude of equanimity towards the results. But we also realize that in practice, it is very hard to accept an unfavorable result and not be upset about it. How do we do develop this attitude of acceptance and equanimity?
Enjoy listening.
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In this week's GD, we refresh the key concepts of Karma Yoga (and much more):
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What is the acceptance of results mean? Does it mean not having expectations?
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Is resigning to a situation the same as accepting it?
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Who is the doer? Why do we have to let go of doership?
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What should be our attitude when we do any work, get any results?
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Is Karma yoga a way of reducing our sense of ego? What exactly is ego?
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How important it is to have the right intentions before we do any work?
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What is the interlink between thoughts, words, actions and knowledge, skills, attitude?
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What is the concept of roles we play and what does it mean from a karma yoga perspective?
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Is Karma Yoga the same as devotion? What is 'work is worship mean'?
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If I dislike /like something that is happening in the external world, say in politics, what should I do?
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What determines what we do? What are samskaras? Vasanas? Deep driven desires?
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What is free will? Is free will really 'free' to us? Or are we bound by something? If so, what is it?
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Why it is a MUST to have a karma yoga attitude to reduce our suffering?
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When four people have identical choices, understanding, and intent, will they make the same choice? If not why? If yes, why?
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If all our actions are driven by our deep driven desires, then should we act on the desires? Or should we not?
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What is the difference in doing work based on our duties or based on our likes & dislikes?
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Is Karma Yoga and Meditation & Devotion related?
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In this episode, we revise the first few chapters of Swami Dayananda's book, The Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
We discuss:
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What is the human problem? Can we live with conflicts?
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What is the sorrow of Arjuna?
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Why did Arjuna search for solution? Are we also searching for a solution?
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Is happiness found outside us? Inside our body? If not, then what is happiness?
We also discuss why some (like Duryodhana) are compelled to follow their own way (and not the right way) despite knowing what is the right way.
Some of the specific topics covered:
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Why are we conflicted unlike animals?
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Can humans live with conflicts? Why not?
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How does being aware of oneself (self-consciousness/ self judgement) play in our conflicts, misery, unhappiness?
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Why do we keep wishing to be different than who we are?
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What is pravritti marga and nivritti marga? Can the fundamental problem of 'lacking' be solved by either? If so, which one? If not, why?
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What is the purpose of life?
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What are topical problems and fundamental problem?
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What exactly was Arjuna's conflict? What was his sorrow in the midst of the battlefield?
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How does Arjuna articulate his true problem, arising from the conflict in his mind? What exactly was it?
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Who is a guru? What is the definition of guru?
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In this week's episode, we discuss Bhakti or devotion.
We cover the following broad topics (not in any particular order):
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When does one externalize 'God'? In what form does one externalize it? Is there any specific form?
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Is there anything wrong to not even 'externalize' God? If one does not externalize, then why they don't do it?
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Does Gita recommend externalizing God? And for whom is it applicable?
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Are rituals (like doing puja, going to temples) an act of stupidity?
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Is Krishna confusing us by introducing Karma Yoga (selfless action) when talking about Bhakti Yoga (devotion)? How should we resolve this confusion, if at all there is any?
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Why does Arjuna get confused again? In the initial chapters of Gita, he is confused if Sanyasa is better than karma yoga, and now he is asking if it is better than bhakti-yoga?
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Is having a karma-yoga attitude good enough and can one let go of rituals?
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What IS the purpose of rituals?
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What is the difference between roles & real person? How much of our life is dependent on where our 'identity' is
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What exactly is 'surrender'? Is it being apathetic?
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What is 'love'? [seems trivial a question...as several of us may have seen /experienced what is love. Can we express it in words adequately?]
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What is the ladder of spiritual progress: karma yoga-bhakti yoga-dhyana yoga? Or something else?
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Does one need to let go of all relationships, worldly work, and become a Sannyasi to realize moksha?
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And, what exactly is our definition of moksha? [this Q is to make sure we tie this chapter to the first chapter - Arjuna's problem]
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This episode is my chanting of Chapter 2.
I encourage you to listen to this with a copy of Gita Ch 2 verses ALONG with translation of meaning. You will surely enjoy it.
Krishna summarizes the entire Gita in Chapter 2 to Arjuna's problem statement expressed in Chapter 1 (how can I kill folks I rever & respect?) .
The rest of the chapters 3-17 elaborate the summary of Chapter 2 and then in chapter 18, Krishna again summarizes.
In this chapter 2, the key messages from Krishna:
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Each person in flesh & blood is a manifestation of that Universal Being.
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Universal Being is never born, never dies. It just assumes new bodies just as a person wears fresh clothes to replace soiled ones.
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If something dies then it will be reborn. Whatever is born, will have to die.
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Accept the fact that the body & mind will have to find an end someday or the other.
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Sense organs & mind need to be trained to bear heat/cold, pleasure/pain, praise/criticism. These dualities come because our senses & mind are not trained.
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The Universal Being is the Self in the body and this is said to be unmanifest, unthinkable, unchangeable. Therefore, one ought not to grieve any death or disease, which happen to the body/mind.
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Doing one's duty is very important, knowing this eternal truth about Self, birth & death. Duty basically means, drawing up our roles we play today and do it to perfection (parent, child, friend, employee etc...)
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If we do our duty well, we get pleasures in this world and after death, we get nether-world pleasures.
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Doing our duty with a karma-yoga attitude (giving the best efforts as an offering to the Universal Being, accepting all results as a benevolence from that Being - this is not to be mistaken with expectations. We can expect (must) results, but Krishna is asking us to accept what finally comes out.
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Anyone who follows karma-yoga path is not wasting even a small effort. If one is carried away with power, glory, selfish interests, attachment, ego then they don't get one pointed determination towards subliming death....and keep on taking birth & death in cycles.
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For a person thinking of sense-objects there grows an attachment for the sense objects. From this attachment arises desire, from desire results anger, from anger results delusion, and from delusion results confusion of memory, and from confusion of memory results in destruction of intelligence and from destruction of intelligence, one perishes.
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The entire visible, invisible universe is described in many ways in Vedas. Purushasukta is one of the ways where the entire world is described as a 'self-sacrifice' of that Unmanifested Conscious Being to create a variety of spaces - physical, mental, emotional for us to experience. The physical space includes 'objects' that move /stationary, the mental space includes all the emotions, intelligence, creativity. The sun and moon are personified as eyes and mind of that Being. Enjoy my chanting.
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In this episode we discuss 'Vibhuthi Yogah' - God's divine glories and also discuss the concept of 'Vishwaroopa darshana' - the show and tell of the universal form of Lord to Arjuna.
Both these have relevant spiritual takeaways as well as psychological takeaways for those who are not inclined spiritually.
As discussions progress you will notice we end up talking of not glories but of dharma and karma.
In short, could it be a pictorial visualization for dharma & karma?
Enjoy the talk!
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In Gita Chapter 3, 20-3.25, Krishna explains why he - despite not having need to do any work, is still engaged in work. And he also says why wise men should do their work even if there is no need to: great management lesson: to be like a role model for others.
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In this episode, we mull on the following topics:
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Why is knowledge of Brahman /Awareness known as 'raja vidya' - king of all knowledge (s)?
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Is any 'creation' a name, shape (or a name for a shape)?
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What is the difference between jiva-srishti and ishwara-srishti?
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Why is this knowledge also known as 'raja guhyam' - secret among all secrets? Is it a 'closed' secret or an 'open' secret?
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Does the universe 'exist' in you/me? And, what is the definition of 'you/me? How do we reconcile the 'differences'?
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One other curious question: When the universe is 'not even created' [like the book says, it is just names & shapes], then is there a 'creator'? Can Awareness be called a 'creator' when one realizes that the universe is not created?
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When does one 'not' become a victim of circumstances?
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If one does not understand the secret, should one lament? What is Krishna's solution to those who don't yet understand the secret?
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What is the definition of words -yoga & kshema as used in this chapter?
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Should one do 'yoga' or 'kshema' based on the definition of these words?
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What is the concept of karma-phala-dhata and how does it help to reduce our stress?
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How can the secret be revealed - through work (yoga) or jnana (removing ignorance?
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What is the true meaning of 'tat tvam asi'? Are you ready to own up to your true nature?
We also talk of the importance of karma-yoga, bhakti-yoga, jnana-yoga and ofcourse discuss how Yogasutras differ /concur with Vedanta & Gita
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Hello!
In this episode, all participants meet and share our experiences on Chaturmasa - the seasonal fasting that some of us are doing.
In the second month that just ended a week back, we abstained from eating yoghurt.
We specifically discuss some of the learnings we have had about ourselves, our relationship to food and what we have learnt about how /when we will continue to adopt this in our life, beyond Chaturmasa.
For more details on Chaturmasa and also the written notes of musings, please visit the following links:
https://happilyoga.com/2020/08/28/chaturmasa-2020-month-2-my-musings/
https://happilyoga.com/2020/09/01/chaturmasa-2020-month-2-musings-participant-1/
https://happilyoga.com/2020/09/01/chaturmasa-2020-month-2-musings-participant-2/
https://happilyoga.com/2020/09/01/chaturmasa-2020-month-2-musings-participant-3/
https://happilyoga.com/2020/09/01/chaturmasa-2020-month-2-musings-participant-4/
https://happilyoga.com/2020/09/01/chaturmasa-2020-month-2-musings-participant-5/
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We initially update about the Chaturmasa month 2 progress done by few of the participants.
Then we begin discussing 'who is God?, and understanding that the 'Self' (Atma) is the Brahman.
We discuss if someone else can 'take over' somebody else's karma.
We discuss how people are graded: atheists and theists. And, the four categories in theists - arthi, artharthi, jignasu & jnani.
We mull through the various paths to achieve moksha - karma yoga, raja yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga.
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This is a recording of the regular meditation online practice on Saturdays.
I choose to record this week's meditation recording (on 08292020) as there were a few instructions that are slightly different from earlier recordings.
I hope you can use this as a possible audio guide to doing your meditation practice. My apologies in advance as the audio recording is not that great!
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In this episode I talk about some feedback I received on the chariot analogy I used (from the Upanishad) to represent the human psychology.
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We begin by sharing a few tips on japa practice [thanks to not pressing the record button on time, we lost a few minutes of recording....]
Then we discuss Who is God?
We talk of Upadana karana (material cause) and Nimitta karana (intelligent cause).
If the universe that we see exists today, working intelligently then there must be an intelligent creator behind.
We conclude that 'God Exists' and 'belief about God' is an irrelevant question because we have proof that the universe exists!
Nothing can be created unless and until there is are causes - intelligent & material
We discuss dreams and liken it to the waking state, to gain clues into understanding who is God.
We also talk of what is the purpose of all this?
Why should God create this Universe...
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In this we talk of the futility of seeking happiness in youth, wealth, relationships.
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I answer a few questions posed by a reader of my book, Happiness beyond Mind. He asks me about Soul, Mind, Death...
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We continue our discussions on meditation (or dhyana) and clarifying several questions the participants had.
The power of group discussions!
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In this episode, we share inputs on what meditation truly is.
We discuss what it means to meditate.
We share our thoughts on how helpful the current mindfulness programs are and what purpose they serve.
We discuss what exactly is the 'meditation' technique prescribed in Gita.
We reconcile meditation from Vedanta perspective and also from Yogashastras perspective.
We explore how Aparokshanubhuti integrates the Vedanta and Yogashastras and provides a unified perspective...
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In this episode of 'from seekers to seekers', we discuss:
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What is creation - is it real/ unreal?
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What is Maya? How is it different from real /unreal?
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What is the difference between Ishwara, Jiva, Brahman
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What is prarabda, sanchita, agami karma
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What is our musings (of four of us) from completing one month of Chaturmasa fasting?
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In Chapter 10, upon Arjuna’s request Krishna reveals his glories - this is a very memorable chapter and I loved learning how to chant under my Guru. Here is my rendition - and please pardon my mistakes.
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In this we talk of
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Creation as per Scriptures & what is Maya?
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The various explanations that we can use to understand creation /universe
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Pancha Maha bhuta (space, air, fire, water, earth) and where they came from
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Gross pancha maha bhuta / subtle pancha maha bhuta
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We talk about death - what it means,
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We talk about suffering - why it should happen
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We talk a bit about karma
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We conclude by chanting Nirvanashatakam
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One of the great prakarna granthas written to help understand the Truth in Upanishads is Tattva Bodha, by none other than the Shri.Adishankara Bhagavatpada....
In this episode, 'from seekers to seekers' we discuss few topics on the Tattva Bodha
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Pancha kosha viveka [The five sheaths of a human being - annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vignanamaya, anandamaya]
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Avastha traya viveka [The three states of human experience - jagrat, swapna and sushupti.
We continue to learn Nirvanshatakam under Alpana's guidance.
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In Brhadaranyaka U, while analyzing an important statement my Guru explains that there are two tests before analyzing any situation, event - is there a confusion / doubt and two, is there a utility value in analyzing? I loved this as it can be applied in our day to day life too!
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In this discussion, we discuss:
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We discuss how Chaturmasa food restrictions & the 'sankalpa' some of us have taken, we mapped it to Sadhana Chatushtaya. Like for example, how not eating some food item - is it damah, titikshah or vairagya? We discuss our perspectives.
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We then discuss what is causal body - the discussion goes on for a long time. This is actually a complicated topic, but an important one.
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We discuss dream state, waking state and deep sleep state and try to explore what these states mean and who is the 'experiencer' of these three states,
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Finally, Alpana leads us to practice Nirvanashatakam verse 3.
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In this episode 'from seekers to seekers' we discuss the following:
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Sadhana Chatushtaya (four folded qualifications) - Vivek, Vairagya, Shama-dama-di, Mumukshu
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Meaning of antahkarana
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Vivek - atma /anatma: subject /object distinction
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Vairagya - if we do it forcefully, it will come back with vengeance
Shama - quieting the mind
Dama - reducing external influence
Uparati - to observe more of internally what is happening. introspection.
Titiksha - endurance - is taking the medium path.
Sraddha - faith in scriptures; vedanta does not expect you to have blind faith.
Samadhan - one pointedness focus on the goal - to be focussed on the Brahman
Mumukshutvam - the desire for liberation - different people have different ideas of what liberation means.
We take a good digression into gunas - sattva, rajas, tamas and how they are related to Sadhana Chatushtaya from a practical point of view
- The advantages of waking up early in the day to experience Sattvic energy
The advantages of learning the scriptures with a better knowledge of Sanskrit, Hindi
Power of mantras and some powerful anecdotes of names in Sanskrit which have a beautiful etymological root.
Finally, we practice verse 2 of Nirvanashatakam lead by Alpana's excellent chanting.
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In this episode, we discuss the classic text by Shankaracharya, Tattva Bodha.
Tattva means the TRUTH.
Bodha means KNOWLEDGE.
The first few pages summarize the key qualification to even understand Tattva Bodha. It is known as the four folded qualification [Sadhana Chatushtaya]. The Sadhana Chatushtaya qualification is discussed as - Vivekam (ability to separate real from unreal), Vairagyam (being dispassionate about 'worldly' objects as they are perishable), Shama Damadi (this is the six folded subset known as shama - mind control; dama - sense control; uparamah - prolonged involvement in doing our duties; titiksha - forbearance; sraddha - trust in words of Guru and shastras; and Samadhana - single pointed focus of mind.
We also digress a bit to discuss why Sanskrit words express meanings better than English translation.
The last fifteen minutes we practice group chanting of Nirvanashatakam.
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Following up on the group discussions 'from seekers to seekers', in this GD, we focus on the broad following topics:
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Two lifestyles - Karma yoga lifestyle, Sannyasa yoga lifestyle & Krishna's recommendation for us.
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What is the true meaning of renunciation?
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Does age have any bearing on one's ability to renounce?
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Clues for why the theory of reincarnation is a valid theory
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Anchoring ourselves in our perception that we live from birth to death - by forgetting that our mind survives death.
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What is absolute reality, transactional reality & dream reality?
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Practical applications of understanding of realities, renunciation, death
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Is everyone on the path of self-realization?
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What is detachment, attachment? Is detachment mean apathy, indifference?
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How to understand the concept of 'sarvatmaka bhava'? How can I be happy when my colleague is promoted but not me?
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Should we embrace tough situations in our life?
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Concept of 'one-ness' and how we identify ourselves...
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We also discuss & decide to take a diversion from the book and start learning Tattva Bodha for the next few weeks.
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Enjoyed listening to Kishore sharing his thoughts after his daily meditation practice....
He approaches the 'enlightenment' topic from yoga sutras angle
Talks on the interplay of gunas - Sattva, Rajas, Tamas (S-R-T gunas) and how they can be manipulated (& why).
Explains how samadhi as defined in Patanjali yoga sutras is, and how the ashtanga yoga steps helps.
His emphasis on why & how the mind is the main culprit is very nice - like it is said in the scriptures, mana-eva manushya moksha bandana sadhanam....Only the mind is a human's impediment to either moksha or bandhana (samsara).
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All about clarifying what is Renunciation, Nyasa, Sannyasa.
What it means to wear saffron robes and take sannyasa vs. what it means to mentally let go of likes & dislikes [tyaga].
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We start with a summary of the journey so far in reading the book, The Teachings of the Gita, by Swami Dayananda, up to Chapter 8.
The key emphasis of this summary is understanding and appreciating Karma yoga.
Some of the topics covered are:
Note: The recording is not very clear...but comprehensible.
We discuss who is Absolute I vs. Relative I
We discuss roles we play
We talk of the question - who am I?
We discuss a bit about Nirvanashatakam, a beautiful poem by Adi Sankaracharya, explaining who am I?
We discuss happiness is not in outside objects or within our body, mind but it is YOU
We also discuss the spiritual path: karma yoga - jnana yoga as a continuum, not two separate paths.
Clarifications on the concepts & applications of Karma yoga: likes & dislikes, preparing the mind, notion of doer-ship
We talk of action & actionlessness and clarify our concepts.
Four types of devotion & devotees, work & worship, work is worship, etc.
We also briefly talk about Bhakti-yoga and how that is relevant in the context of the spiritual path.
This episode is discussions from seekers to seekers sharing their learnings, questions in the journey so far.
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In today's discussions 'from seekers to seekers' we discuss the topic of 'action' and 'actionlessness'.
Finding action in actionlessness and being actionlessness in action is difficult.
This is a concept where it expresses the Pure Awareness as the non-doer, non-enjoyer entity.
People misinterpret this and think that they want to drop all actions and take up sanyasa - renunciate. But Krishna says this is not the solution.
When we act without selfish desires, then we are not 'doing' the work and so are not the 'enjoyer'. This is what it means by seeing action in actionlessness and actionless in action - we continue to do actions but the desires for selfish benefit is not there.
And Karma Yoga is the first step to do to 'reduce the impact' of 'selfish desires'.
Karma Yoga is the first qualification, the preparatory step, that one needs to learn to develop the attitude of equanimity and reduce our mental attachment to external world successes.
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This is the recording of the guided meditation practice I led on 5/17/2020.
In this practice, we focus on managing our intellect.
Human mind has four parts - emotional mind, rational mind (intellect) , memory & ego. Concentration (focus) meditation is for the emotional (indecisive) mind which is usually the topic of meditation - but in this we go beyond that to manage our intellect. We end with the serenity prayer by Reinhold Neibur, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer
Here are the instructions of the text I used [not exactly the same text in the guided meditation]:
Today, we will seed our mind / the intellect, with one idea – about acceptance & choices.
Visualize your entire body.
Take a minute to go through the journey from birth till now.
You did not have a choice when you were born.
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Your place /country of birth;
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Your parents
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Your siblings
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Your other family members
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Your sex – male or female
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Color of your eyes or your hair…..
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The first few years of your life,
So many things were pre-determined.
Accept them. It is a choiceless situation.
Acceptance means – not ignoring or hiding or being overly proud or feeling inferior.
It means just saying to yourself – It is a choiceless situation. It is what it is; good or bad; positive or negative.
Fast forward to today. Your present. Your Now!
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You cannot change what has happened from birth till your present.
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It has become a choiceless situation now.
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Apply the same principle of acceptance – accept your past.
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True, you could have made a few choices differently in the past – but that cannot be changed now. So, better to accept.
Any bodily pain, disease that you may be experiencing in your present – it could be a combination of choiceless situations or wrong choices made. It is the effect of a past cause.
If we can change some aspects of our body, we MUST do it.
If we can’t change few other aspects about it, then it becomes a choiceless situation in the present. Just accept it.
Expand your awareness to your mind NOW.
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Your past thoughts created this present future for you.
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Accept your present. It is a gift from the past.
Fast forward and think of your future for a second. Say 10 years or 20 years from now.
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What can you do for your future? Is it a choiceless situation or can we do something about it?
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Recognize that you have choice now, to determine your future.
Appreciate that you have choices only in the present.
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Present does not mean this very second. It means the ‘immediate future’.
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Recognize that the choices you make now will determine your future.
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Recognize that you have the free-will & exercise three broad choices in any situation:
o Do
o Don’t do
o Do it in a specific way
Remember:
1. Accept the past; Accept choiceless circumstances
2. Acting in the present creates the future.
3. Delving on the past does not change the future.
It is only in the present that we have choices.
Ask the higher intelligence for:
The serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference – what can be changed & what cannot be.
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In today's GD 'from seekers to seekers', we discuss the need for a Guru - a spiritual guide.
We share our experiences how a Guru 'mirrors' and helps us to see who we truly are., guiding us in the entire process of knowing who we truly are, and importantly distinguishing it from who we are not.
We also discuss how the knowledge about oneself (Self knowledge) is the highest knowledge and how it satisfies the curiosity of everyone who reaches it - unlike traditional knowledge where there is always something more to learn.....
We finally also discuss and logically understand that the first Guru should have been the Brahman.....
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We compare Vedanta process with the Power of Positive thinking - a famous self help book by Dr Norman Vincent Peale.
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In this episode we present that the creation is similar to our dreams: but the dreamer is Cosmic Consciousness our Brahman,
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In this episode I summarize a conversation with my Guru who clarifies the concept of 'selfish interest' driven 'karma'.
When we do any karma (action), if there is a selfish interest behind it then we have to do it completely for it to give its benefit. The karma can be any work in our daily life, including professional work, or even spiritual work like puja or japa. People do puja (propitiate) Gods because they want something (I need to get a job/ get married /have a kid/ buy a home/ get rid of my illness.....). And when our puja /japa does NOT involve selfish interest, we can drop these anytime. Otherwise, we must do it as prescribed by the Vedas for them to provide us the desired result. If there are any acts of omission, known as pratyavaya dosha in Sanskrit, then the results won't accrue. BUT this is not applicable for unselfish desires and moksha is unselfish.
The person on whose behalf I spoke to my Guru, wanted to drop several japa /puja as her health was not permitting her and also she wanted to know what to do to progress further spiritually. My Guru just asked her to drop them right away and do Nidhidhyasanam....but the underlying explanation was superb.
Selfish Interest as the motive: Do the Work properly as per injunctions
Unselfish interest as the motive: Do your best with Karma yoga attitude
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One of the attributes of that Supreme Consciousnessness is that it is NOT an object., but the ever-knowing subject.
Adrushya - is one of the 1000 names given to that Brahman in Vishnu Sahasranamam. It means that one who cannot be realized completely by anyone.
Drik-Drishya Viveka a famous book that distinguishes between subject & object. Adrushya and Drishya which are opposites basically mean that whatever we see /experience is drushya (drishya) and what remains in this Universe after ALL we experience is Adrushya, which is Brahman.
It is a nice way of explaining that Universe = Consciousness + Matter. Matter is object and Consciousness is subject.
The Consciousness is 'I' or Atma.
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Karma yoga is action + attitude. Our attitude determines how we will respond to the situations. Acceptance of the results of our effort does NOT mean not having expectations- it just means to recognize and focus on efforts and clearly knowing that there are many factors beyond our control in the outcome. This attitude neutralizes our likes/dislikes and over time they have less influence on the choice less work we must do because of the several roles we assume for ourselves.
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Karma is work /activity. Karma yoga is karma + right attitude. I summarize six shortcuts I have learnt here which is karma yoga:
Here is my six step 'shortcut' for Karma Yoga:
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Focus on Actions/ Efforts and not Results
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Actions to be done with Ishwara Samarpana Buddhi (as an offering to God)
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Accept Results with Prasada Buddhi
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Roles: Actions that are tied to our various roles - we have no choice but to do it and we have to do well.
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Selfish actions: We have choice. If possible, Avoid.
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Decision making: Always apply principle of 'larger' good.
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The Sanskrit word for mind is Antah-Karanam, literally meaning internal (antah) instrument (karanam). While another word Manas is asi used this word has a significant meaning attached - instruments are NOT us; we control instruments; instruments need maintenance.
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From B Gita Ch 5, we discuss a Sloka that equates everything as Brahman and reminds us to think that the food we are eating is Brahman and the very act of eating is Brahman - thereby sanctifying the act!
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This episode is a recitation of a poem I wrote inspired by the meditation practice using. Nirvanashatakam as my guide for meditation
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Chapter 15 of Gita has a Sloka that explains the four categories of food living beings can eat - chew, swallow, suck, lick and says that the Awareness - Consciousness principle within us that maintains the body temperature as well as manifests as hunger is Vaishwanarah- a name given to that Brahman Consciousness principle.
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Special Topic: Educating Teens on Karma Yoga Concepts & Understanding Dharma in the context of Accepting people
Today's group discussion topics are: a) How to get teens to understand Karma yoga b) Dharma in the context of accepting people
A) Karma yoga for kids: Key points
It is tough to preach. Kids learn by watching parents. Talking without reference to scriptures helps. Getting them to understand simple concepts like gratitude, association with elderly like grandparents will help. Relating to their day /context is important. This discussion is by 'seekers to seekers' where we discuss the difficulties & challenges parents face & can do to bring about karma yoga attitude in children.
While it is not easy, we discuss our personal experiences as parents of teens.
Some of the ideas we discuss:
- Contextualizing the talk will help.
- We have to be consistent in our messaging as parents.
- Emphasize importance of right efforts with kids
- Encourage questioning by kids themselves? Example instead of asking, What did you learn, ask, What could you have done differently?
- Be equipoised in responding.
- Plant a seed - not expect results immediately.
- Encourage kids to talk about their experiences without regret or guilt? If they feel remorse or guilty then let them know that they have not done the right thing.
- Talk about our personal failures openly and what we learnt.
- Schools are providing academic inputs but not emotional inputs to manage stressful situations - kids should have self esteem, feel happy within themselves.
- Have a dialogue and share expectations; accept the results together.
- Bigger struggle we face as parents is to moderate our own expectations as parents towards kids. Own acceptance took more time as this gets reflected.
- It will never be ideal (ie what we want/expect) and it is just better to accept - connecting back to karma yoga;
- Teach the kids by example, ie, your own behavior; and
- Look for cues in their behavior to spot signs of anxiety, depression and other such mental challenges
B) Dharma in the context of understanding people
Acceptance of people's behaviour is a must. If we cannot change (or don't have the ability or authority to change) someone, then we must willingly accept, even if the other person's behaviour is not 'dharmic'/right. We must accept right behaviour as right. We must accept wrong behaviour as well, knowing that it is wrong, and NOT resigning or convincing ourselves that it must be right because it can't be changed.
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Because of six undesirable qualities in our mind - desires, anger, pride, greed, jealousy, delusion - the grass does not associate itself hence it does not grow where we walk. However, it continues to grow where elephants walk - despite their relative size and weight to humans.
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This is a special podcast where we interview Kishore, an engineer, ex-Googler and a seeker.
His attempt at demystifying Vedanta and presenting Happiness and the quest for it in a 'scientific' /mathematical way is a series of articles.
Here is the first one, called The Happiness Equation
https://medium.com/@k1shores/the-happiness-equation-ec3544e7254d
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We continue on our musings on what is right, what is wrong. Who would decide? How should we decide?
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In this short discussion, we discuss a Q&A about what is ethical living.
How to decide what is right or wrong?
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We start with defining desire and understanding the meaning of happiness = no desires.
We then separate out and understand how to reconcile the difference between the end goal of 'no desires' with 'what to do when we have desires'.
We discuss karma yoga concepts again - the idea of 'prasada buddhi' - of acceptance.
Examples from work life, home life and how to handle conflicts, likes & dislikes are discussed from our personal examples.
In short, this is a good discussion on karma yoga, likes & dislikes, desires...
We are connecting the dots...and articulating with solid personal examples to nail down concepts like: desire, attachment /detachment, work without desire, karma, karma yoga, attitude, Prasada Bhavana, pratipakshabhavana, likes/dislikes (I prefer the Sanskrit word - raga & dwesha - attachment & repulsion, as a rough translation).....
We also talk of a way to measure our progress in the form of a formula FIR - Frequency of incidents, Intensity of incidents, the Recovery period from the incidents that cause mental agitation for us as a clear indicator that we are following karma yoga in our lives.
Note: For non-Hindi language speakers, we have used a word, 'karela' in the discussions - it is a vegetable, bitter-gourd.
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In these lines, Sankara explains that the entire universe is seemingly real, as much as a snake is 'seemingly real' when we mistakenly look at a rope.
The snake 'manifested' on the rope for our mind because we saw it wrongly - likewise the universe 'manifested' and is 'real' for us when we see it incorrectly. This causes us samsara.
The snake appears not because of the rope - but because of our ignorance. Likewise, the world appears not because of Brahman but because of our ignorance.
And, in the concluding verse 4, Sankara says that the person who recites these three slokas everyday will achieve supreme bliss of knowledge to recognize 'real' from 'unreal'.
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Buddhism is based on Hinduism & yoga beliefs. It’s easier to follow but differs in the philosophical conclusion: Buddhism does not seem to accept that there is an enlivening principle beyond body and mind. It concludes that a still body and mind produces ‘emptiness’ or ‘shunyata’ which was not acceptable to me. Advaita Vedanta provides me the most rational explanation that is in concurrence with my personal experience - the existence of a conscious principle!
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In this line Atman is described as complete - nothing to add, nothing to remove to make it complete; it is also the primordial - and the final resting home if incomplete individuals like us. We have three limitations - caused by death, ignorance and sorrow. When we realize Atman, we would overcome all these three and discover these are mental limitations. Also, the Purushottama - first amongst everybody is described here.
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The Brahman / Atman is likened to the light that shines but it is superior to the sun. The sun can illuminate objects but it can never illuminate darkness. But the Atman illuminates not only the knowledge we have, but also the ignorance. We know what we know (eg I speak 4 languages) and we also know what we don’t know (eg there are so many other languages and I don’t know them!). The example of the sun is good to understand....but we have to recognize that it is an example only, because Atman has infinite powers.
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Here Adi Shankara describes the indescribable- as infinite powers, unborn, unchanging, imperishable and also the foremost - serving as the intelligent & material causes of this universe
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Note: My talk starts from time 06:25 after introduction by my company's HR and a colleague who attends my meditation program online.
This is a 30min talk I gave at my company as part of Mindfulness@Work Initiative by our HR. Every Friday, I will be leading a virtual seated yoga, deep breathing & meditation practice to my colleagues (& their family members) during these uncertain and difficult times of Covid 19.
Despite being millionaires (our lungs have ~300million alveoli), we don’t use the ‘wealth’ we have been bestowed by nature.
Our breathing is shallow & we breathe too fast which is inefficient and causes respiratory diseases. This is because of our faulty breathing habits. Stress, type of food we eat, incorrect posture and most importantly, just ‘forgetting’ how to breathe right are the main reasons.
Here are the slides from my #mindfulness at work presentation done to Altran colleagues on Friday.
It will be useful for you to go through them while listening to this talk:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uPfBGhdtJakBswWJ-u1BPZRF5LtEKAXp/view?usp=sharing
It’s important for you to note:
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Peak lung capacity is ~5litres and we normally use ~15% of this capacity!
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We breathe fast and shallow.
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Compare the life spans of different species and the corresponding breaths/minute.
Does it make sense to learn how to breathe deeply and take fewer breaths/minute to improve immunity & not only ward off respiratory diseases but also increase our life span?
Every Friday Altran colleagues will learn how to get more flexible, breathe right & meditate and improve immunity & flexibility - all virtually!
I would love to hear your comments,
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Even the scriptures say that the changeless substratum, the Consciousness/ Awareness can’t be described, cant be perceived. Therefore they use the method of elimination- tell us what it is not, and when we understand all that it is not, then we also understand automatically what it is! This is the ‘Neti, Neti’ method.
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Mind is also matter. Like body.
We relax the body through auto suggestion & attention.
Likewise we pay attention to our mind and watch the river of thoughts flow.
Then we deepen the relaxation with alternate nostril breathing and deep breathing techniques.
When the mind is sufficiently prepared, we then give it a simple task - to ask it to focus on the breath.
Then we end the meditation recognizing the interconnectedness between us and the universe and being grateful for all we have.
This is a recording from my weekly meditation practice of 4/19/2020.
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In this group discussions, 'from seekers by seekers' we discuss what is karma theory.
What does it mean?
What is fate?
Can we change our fate?
What can be changed? What cannot be changed? If something can be changed, how it can be changed in the present age and times?
What we should do?
What is the reason for us to follow karma yoga? What is the impact of our likes and dislikes on the work /action we do? Why should we not be driven by our likes /dislikes? What should we do to neutralize our likes/dislikes?
Should we follow our desires? Why? How? Why not?
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This is the group discussions held on 4/11 'by seekers, for seekers'.
In this episode, we revise the first 6 chapters of the book, The Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Dayananda.
Some interesting topics:
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How some apply the knowledge to resolve their daily concerns, dilemmas
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Discussion on what is right /wrong and a first level intro into what is Dharma
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Trying to understand happiness and debating if happiness means absence of desires
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Does the spiritual path mean we should not pursue any of our desires?
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Few insights that some of us shared wrt certain topics that they loved (why being vegetarian is the right choice, what is the three steps to learn - sravana, manana, nidhidhyasana, concept of I, limitations.
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Following up on our podcast series on Pratah Smaranam, this is the summary of line 2 verse 2: The speech (and by extension, other sense organs) comes out because of the blessings from the Consciousness/Awareness principle; not only just the speech - everything in this universe (nikhila....the Sanskrit word) shines /displays its intrinsic behaviour because of the grace from it.
Nobody or thing can do their functions without the grace of Consciousness - that is the substance of this line in this verse.
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This is the Bhagawad Gita group recording of our discussions.
In this podcast, we discuss what is limitlessness of Awareness means.
We also talk of what remains as constant in Waking State, Dream State and Deep Sleep State.
And, we discuss what is happiness. When does one find happiness? In objects? Experiences? People/Relationships? Or it is in the space in the mind, when the mind is resting /being complete /being fulfilled?
We also discuss with analogies of waves/ocean, space in the pot to explain what is different between wave & ocean and the pot-space and the space outside.
We also discuss death - and discover that with the analogy of waves /ocean that from the standpoint of ocean, birth /death of wave is nothing significant - while from the standpoint of the wave, it is start & end of something.
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In this episode we talk of Adi Shankaracharya’s Pratahsmaranam verse 2, line 1 where Shankara says that mind and speech can’t understand the Atman or Brahman because IT is beyond their comprehension.
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This is a group discussion amongst a bunch of seekers who discuss to understand Bhagavad Gita, by following the book, 'The Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita' by Swami Dayananda.
In this episode, we discuss chapter 5 of the book, entitled, Who am I?
We are ignorant of ourselves because we don't realize that we are the very subject. The subject can NEVER be the same as the objects. What our mind understands /becomes aware is limited, but Awareness understands everything including being aware of the mind itself. That Awareness is limitless, ever-present and is beyond time and space. Awareness is NOT the body, NOT the senses, NOT the mind, NOT the intellect, NOT the ego, NOT the ignorance. It is THAT which is aware of body, senses, mind, intellect, ego, and ignorance.
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Pranayama is known to accentuate what’s in our mind. If we are not disciplined, this practice of breath retention will bring out the negative thoughts to fruition. There are clearly dangers to learning pranayama with breath control without expert coaching. However, Anuloma Viloma pranayama without retaining breath, can be practiced by anyone with positive effect on health & well being.
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In this line, Adi Sankara reminds us that the Atma is beyond the three states of our experience - waking, dream, deep sleep and is an observer of all these three
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In conversation with two Vedanta followers, we explore what Vedanta has to offer in terms of how to interpret the current Corona pandemic situation, sharing our spiritual path & story, practical ways how Vedanta knowledge helped us in our work place, and an overview of spiritual practice (sadhana) each one follows.
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In the second line Sankaracharya explains that the Brahman is Sat Chit Ananda, and is sought by people who have the wisdom to separate reality from unreal, and which is the awareness in waking, dream, sleep state.
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Adi Sankara wrote ‘Pratah Smaranam’ a 3 verse Sloka with 4 lines in each verse that I use as my ‘wake up’ prayer to remind myself daily about who I am. This is explanation of verse 1, line 1
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Humans use just 15% of their lung capacity. Knowing how to breathe right - the yogic 3 part breathing, we can increase the surface area for gaseous exchange by 8x and also flush out stale air from the lungs, making us more refreshed, immune to diseases. In these days of Covid 19 threat, spend ten minutes a day to breathe right and build immunity.
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Yogic tradition says that if we eat twice a day, we are fit to practice asanas and begin contemplation practice; thrice then we are primarily an enjoyer /connoisseur of food and not yet ready for yoga/meditation; if we eat four times a day then we are likely to fall sick or carry some illness; and God forbid if we eat more than four times a day then we are over-eating and maybe ‘stealing’ the food meant for someone else!
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Satchitananda is the name given to the Supreme Consciousness. If we realize the Brahman, then we overcome three limitations of death/ time, ignorance and pain/sorrow. Sat is eternal, implying no death; Chit is knowledge, implying no room for ignorance; Ananda is infinite happiness, implying no room for sorrow. Satchitananda is our nature that is why we can’t accept we are subject to death, ignorance or sorrow!
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Namaste is an Indian tradition. In these days of Corona virus threat people have switched from shaking hands to doing a namaste. Namaste symbolism is simply - I recognize the supreme Brahman in you. It also is a reminder to subjugate our ego to the Brahman. It is a fallacy to think that we are equal to the other person only if we shake hands (and that too firmly!). Namaste is a sublime representation of the very goal of life we must strive for - to become that Brahman!
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Vedanta teachers use two words - Jvatma and Paramatma to denote the ‘soul’ within each living being’s body and the universal consciousness. This can be confusing for a layman as they will immediately assume that there are two entities now - they & Him. But this is not true. With an analogy of a pot, the Upanishads explain: Just as how the space within and without the pot are the same., the jivatma and paramatma re one and the same - just because we are more aware of a grosser entity like body, we use two different words.
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In the West, yoga means asanas/ postures. Period. In the East (India), it can mean anything - Bhakti (devotion), Dhyana (contemplation/ meditation), Raja (Spiritual practices), Pranayama (Breath control) or Karma yoga (doing our duties without expecting a particular outcome). But in this episode we present the definition of yoga as discussed in a book on Vishnu Sahasranamam: it is when we contemplate on the unity of the individual enlivening soul in us with the universal supreme consciousness Brahman!
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Yogic 3 part breathing uses 100% of lung capacity compared to 10% what we normally use. Shifting the breathing style has immense benefits - better immunity, elimination of diseases, calm mind. In this podcast, we explain how to breathe right by dividing the lungs as three portions and exercising the surrounding muscles - diaphragm for the bottom third, inter coastal muscles for the mid section and thoracic muscles for the top third part of your lungs.
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Vedanta uses examples to teach us several esoteric concepts. Just as an ignorant person uses the sandalwood tree directly as firewood whereas a wise person knows the value and sells it in the market, we should recognize the rarity & uniqueness of human life. It can be used both for (1) eat, sleep, procreate or (2) to realize that there is a ‘higher’ potential in us. It’s up to us to figure out how to use the body!
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Theory of reincarnation + theory of karma explains why twins lead totally different lives. The subtle body (emotional mind + rational mind + memory + ego + senses + prana) leave the physical body at death and look for a suitable new body to fructify their vasanas (desires). The theory of karma says that they get a new body (human, animal, plant, insect....) based on their karma - how well they have fine timings their mind. This is the only logical explanation that I have come across!
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Humans are the only species in this universe who are self-conscious. This leads us to, naturally find faults with our own being and / or compare with others. The comparision naturally leads us to make changes - either add or delete something to make us more attractive in line with our expectations. Why can’t we just accept our own selves, with all our warts and all and apply this unique ability to steer towards the goal of human life and the path to follow?
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Sponsoring thought is the first thought occurring in us. This triggers successive thoughts that are entirely based on our mind set. In Japa, we chant a sacred mantra (a chant is a thought) over and over again, letting the mind not to diverge and to stay focussed with one thought. When the sponsoring thought and successive thoughts are the same, the mind’s nature of wandering away is reduced!
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Brtruhari’s Vairagyashatakam describes that everything in this world is coupled with fear: if we have wealth, we are fearful of thieves or taxman; if we have physical beauty, we are afraid of old age; if we enjoy / over eat or drink then we are fearful of disease; if we are well learned then we are fearful of learned opponents who can bring us down.....the only thing that would make us fearless is vairagya - not clinging to enjoyments / not being psychologically dependent on any object, person, situation, circumstance for our happiness.
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B Gita Ch 2 and Kathopanishad explain death as an event when the embodied soul discards the physical body made of five great elements and moves on to find another suitable body to manifest the desires, thoughts, emotions. Death means packing up the subtle body - mind, memories, intellect, Prana and then finding a new body to play our our desires. The new body is governed by the karma we build - can be any body- human again or an animal, reptile, insect, plant or anything else! Caring for our mind and fine tuning the qualities in them is essential to reduce the number of births & deaths we go through. So, rather than treat death as end of life, treat it as an event to move on with the mind - and begin cultivating the mind to carry forward a great morally ethical mind!
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Upanishads say that the entire material world is permeated by Brahman. Because it is so intricately intertwines we miss noticing Brahman. So, Upanishads employ this unique method to say what all is NOT Brahman and then we automatically understand what Brahman is! This is known as ‘sabda pramana’ - proof of the words.
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Subjective & Objective are two words that are grossly misunderstood by many. Science is said to be objective - which means it is all about objects perceived by five sense organs. But spiritual enquiry is said to be subjective - which means it is enquiring into the topic of I, the subject who is experiencing this world. Spiritual scientists apply logic, objective method of enquiry to understand the subject. On course they take help of Upanishads - which is known as ‘sabda Pramana’ or proof about I in words. Anyone who follows the rigorous reasoning of Upanishads will reach the same conclusion about the subject, the Brahman
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Arjuna faced a dilemma: Kill people he loved to win the kingdom or let go of the kingdom and be called a coward, and a person who did not do his rightful duty. His confusion was the result of attachment & emotional dependence on few people he loved. This attachment caused him to grieve the (imaginary) loss of their death, and this deluded his rational mind - he became incapable of taking any decisions. War was just an event but his attachment -grief - depression - delusion was the problem. Likewise, death (or any other event like stock market crash) is just an event. Only if it is death of our loved one, it causes us grief-depression-delusion. So, yes, the same dilemma is applicable to us now and also a few thousands of year later too! So will the solution to this fundamental universal problem be too!
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While this episode is controversial because of the wrong way caste system is implemented in Indian society since age immemorial, our scriptures are very clear: four castes exist because of the differing mental attributes and the preference to the type of work we all have, and NOT determined by birth. The head of the Brahman is imagined as brahmana (brahmin or the knowledge sharer, the shoulders as Kshatriyas (or protectors), the thighs as vysyas or traders and the feet as sudras or people who serve other three.
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We often assume the stress of various roles we play in our life. By giving ourselves permission to not take on the tasks associated with our roles, we are letting our minds free to focus and concentrate. This meditation practice helps you to quickly center yourself, train your mind to concentrate on the breath - which is the essence of our life as well as build awareness of interdependence we all have.
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Just as gold can be made into different ornaments and as soon as each ornament is created (given a shape) by the goldsmith, we give it a shape and name - ear ring, bangle, necklace etc. but all of these are just gold + names + forms. Likewise the entire world is consciousness + names + forms. Take away the gold, name and form does not exist in ornaments. Same with the material universe.
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Purushasukta imagines the entire manifested universe as a giant human body with the moon as the mind, sun as the eyes, ears as directions, navel as space, earth as feet etc. such an imagination is useful for us to not appreciate the mysteries of universe but also be able to meditate on the formless, shapeless, all pervading, all permeating consciousness principle
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If a mere product manufacturer has the intelligence to create a user manual on how to use the product, let’s not forget the fact that the Supreme Intelligence- Brahman, which is the source of our intelligence, must have also thought through this. Yes, the Vedas are the user manual he has created for us to learn and use the universe for our benefit.
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Unlike popular scientific Big Bang Theory, the Purushasukta says that the creation is a cyclical process and not a straight line. There is no Time =t0! Being cyclical it is a continuous process of creation, destruction. This is a powerful logical explanation that explains how anything can be created at all. Creation can NEVER happen out of nothing. So, explaining creation as a cyclical process which takes the basic material from consciousness and brings variety - right from space all the way to smallest microbe is perhaps a logical way of reconciliation.
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When in deep sleep, we don’t recognize the universe - we know nothing. The Purushasukta says that the universe and the individual need to ‘interact’ for the universe to be validated. Else, the universe does NOT exist for us. This connection is presented symbolically in the sacrificial fire analogy as a ‘pouring in’ of the 21 elements we are built up with INTO the supreme sacrifice / yagna/ sacrificial fire that is built by the seven elements - 5 basic elements, cosmic mind and cosmic ego.
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The Brahman offered itself as raw material to create this universe and it was a selfless action. Looking around our immediate nature, we see only selfless actions. It’s only us as humans who have selfish desires & actions because for millions of births we have become conditioned by exercising our mind in wrong directions. This has to be undone.
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Symbolism in idols reveals the mystery and shows us the path. Chinmudra - a hand gesture where index finger and thumb touch and make a circle reveals that we have to focus our efforts at achieving infinite bliss - which is the goal of human life. Listen to this to learn more how!
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For any creation, we need two - material and intelligent causes. If we need to create a pot we need clay (material cause) and potter’s intelligence (intelligent cause). The supreme consciousness is the intelligent cause that uses its special power called Maya and creates the entire universe. The efficient and material causes of creation is the same - the consciousness itself, just like a spider is the efficient and material cause of the web it spins - using its saliva and its innate intelligence to spin the web.
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The supreme consciousness rapidly multiplies itself infusing its mysterious power called maya - the creative ability with itself to create the multifarious variety and the world. Right from space, air, fire, water, earth it also creates the several beings, non living things. Contrasting to His creation, when we wake up from deep sleep we create our world from ignorance - and apply our filters of ego, biases on the world that is created by the Creator.
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The entire manifested universe runs on certain principles - certain natural order. For example gravity works only downwards, or the order of food chain. The order of seasons etc. This natural order is determined by that consciousness and humans are expected NOT to violate this order.
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Poetically Purusha Sukta says that just a quarter of the consciousness manifested as this world with its living and non living beings. The rest is unmanifested. Just as we are much more than this physical (manifested) body; just as we consider our thoughts, mind, intelligence as ‘is’ but not yet manifested in either words or action, the universal consciousness also has an unmanifested part to it which is much much more than the manifested universe.
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Purusha Sukta says that food is intelligence manifested. We need to respect the order of nature - the food chain that nature has designed. When we get away from this natural order and exhibit behavior - like eating meat which is not what we are designed for, then we cause ecological imbalance and disrupt the food chain.
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Continuing my short podcasts on Purusha Sukta: in this podcast we explain how consciousness is the one singular constant ever existing reality in which we are able to experience even time, space and changes in the world we live in.
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Chapter 11 of the Gita and Purusha Sukta express the same concept - universal form of the consciousness in a poetic way to say that whatever & wherever we see - we see infinite bellies, eyes, ears, hands, legs. This is a poetic expression of the multitude that we experience in the universe - another way of saying that the consciousness which underlies everything we experience is the same in all beings. Brings out the aspect that we need to cultivate respect for all beings.
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Just as the underlying material - gold is the same in all ornaments, the underlying consciousness is the same in all we see in this universe. We can change the name & shape of the ornament by making changes to the way it looks & feels but can’t remove the gold from it and continue to say that the ornament exits! Ornaments are nothing but gold + names/forms. Likewise, universe is nothing but consciousness + names and forms as presented in Purusha Sukta.
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Contrary to public view, seat of our mind is in a thumb sized space inside the middle of our physical heart. The brain is like a distribution center but the seat is in the heart. Mind reached out through Nadis to all parts of the body to perceive information & act out.
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We depend on external factors for our happiness. Like a cripple who is dependent on a crutch to walk. This entanglement is samsara and the process by which we become disentangled is moksha path. Moksha is not esoteric, it is simply psychologically being independent of people, events, circumstances for our happiness. It is recognizing that we are happiness.
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Chanting a mantra slow is recommended, however when you are beginning to learn chanting, I recommend you to chant fast, and then after 10-12 min slow down. This helps to shut down external stimuli and focuses your mind on the mantra.
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Prana is like electricity if air is equated to the wire carrying the electricity. Any movement/ action we see in either the external world or our internal body it is an indication of Prana. When the Prana is ‘gone’ the person is dead. Pranayama regulated the Prana in our body and makes it be in tune with external Prana.
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Meditation is a much used, yet misunderstood word. Think of it as a ‘controlled laboratory’ environment to help us change our attitude & behaviors - without the risk of the real environment. This perspective will help one experiment freely to negative behaviors like anger with compassion.
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Our true nature is happiness - without the six negative emotions: desires, anger, jealousy, greed, pride, delusion. We don’t always exhibit our true nature but demonstrate conflicting behaviors. This is actually the source of our unhappiness. And the only way we can become happy is to change something - either our internal true nature or external behavior. Since we can’t change our true nature, we must change our behaviors to be happy!
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Purusha Sukta states that we are all (& also the entire creation) like in a dream sequence of THE CONSCIOUSNESS ENTITY that is eulogized as ‘Purusha’. Just as we create our dream sequences & rules of engagement based on our experiences and rearrange the sequences as per our wish, the Purusha also creates a much longer (~billions of years) of dream sequence, encompassing every possible living being, situation, experience. One of the players in that Purusha’s dream sequence, known as human being goes rogue! Because humans have been endowed with a mind that is able to think, exercise choice & demonstrate free will. Suddenly that human being is ‘lost’ in the Cosmic dream because of its mind. The human starts seeing the different creation, sequences, experiences and forgets its own true nature - as of that CONSCIOUSNESS itself! And, when the spiritual awakening happens to that human, (s)he will laugh off the entire life, just like you laugh off your dream after waking up!!
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Kathopanishad says that our entire problem comes because we identify ourselves as somebody else than who we truly are. When we identify ourselves more closely with our body, we end up taking good care of the body which is not going to be with us beyond a 100 years; with our emotional mind then we are swayed to ups & downs of happiness/ sadness; with our intellect, then we are bothered about praise, criticism we get....but what if we realize we are not our body, senses, mind, intellect?
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Our five sense organs are more powerful than our intellect despite the fact that intellect holds the reins of control to our five sense organs. Like fasting, it is as simple as making a resolution to not feed the sense organs with unnecessary inputs and training them. Over time, the sense organs will acquiesce. For this knowing our goal is important. If health is our goal, then we will automatically exercise restraint on what & how much we eat. Likewise with other sense organs too!
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In Kathopanishad, human psychology is modeled as a chariot drawn by 5 sense organs - hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. The horses are driven by our intellect, the charioteer and the reins to control the horses is our emotional mind. The passenger is YOU, the individual personality/ ego. The passenger determines the destination and takes the help of intellect to go there. The intellect in turn communicates this through the emotional mind to the senses. If the horses, emotional mind decide by themselves where to go, then will YOU reach your goal? The path is strewn with distractions.....We should control our senses (think over-eating as an example), emotional mind (think anger as an example) and direct the intellect to decide correctly about our destination. But what is your goal? Is it comforts or happiness/peace? YOU decide.
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Applying the scientific rigor of experimentation, analysis, evidence and repetition, we can clearly conclude that events can be the same but different people perceive it different. Same person can perceive the event differently at different times. Happiness happens when we change our mind attributes!
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Holistic health is being healthy physically, emotionally, intellectually. Food, exercise, sleep for physics health. Resolving issues and not bottling it up or replacing negative, destructive emotions with positive ones during meditation are for emotional health. Removing ignorance, doubt or misconception about our goals, path to achieve goals and what is right/wrong is intellectual health
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One that eats and procreated is known as living being. There are four different types of birth a living being can take - from a womb, an egg, moisture, seed.
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Everybody will agree that whatever I experience in the outer world is ‘not I’. If i can experience something, it is an object - so not me. Since I also experience my body, mind, memory, intellect - they are surely ‘not me’. The consciousness behind is the real me!
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Sankara now reveals his true identity as that changeless, formless, all powerful, enlivening consciousness that pervades the entire universe yet not attached to it. Human goal is to become that consciousness through spiritual sadhana.
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Sankara claims in this verse that he is neither born nor dies. Consequently, he has no affiliation created by birth - like father, mother, or any sort of relationships. He is beyond them. He does not distinguish between people and sees everyone as himself.
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Sankara says that his identity is not in the good or not good work he does nor the results that accrue from the work he does. His identity is not in the spiritual practices he does. Neither is his identity of an experienced, experiencer or the act of experience.
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Sankara after disowning that he is not the go further clarified that hatred, desire, greed, delusion, pride, jealousy which are six negative qualities of our mind /ego is not I. When we rid ourselves of these six negativity, we become perfect. We become that consciousness, happiness itself which does not have to do any work or respect any ethical rules anymore!
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In Verse 2 of Nirvanashatakam, Sankara says he is not the life force either inside the body or outside, nor the seven types of tissues we are made up of. He says he is not even the five sheaths of human personality, nor the five organs of action
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First verse of Nirvana Shatakam explains we are not the mind, intellect, memory, ego. Neither are we the five sense organs nor the five great elements. We are consciousness itself, that cognizant all these!!
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We define ourselves by many ways - either by roles we play or by characteristics / attributes we assign to ourselves. But, is that truly who we are?
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