Newsletter April 01, 2009

Past Events

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita - March 27
Ch. 4- Verses 1-3: Bhagawad Gita is a scripture which gives us both theory (brahma-vidya) and practice (yoga-shastra), making it a complete science of how to lead our lives. It is applicable to everyone, being impersonal and universal. In Chapter 3, Sri Krishna lays out the theoretical and practical aspects of Karma yoga, the yoga of action. Chapter 4 begins with Sri Krishna assuring Arjuna (and us) that this is not a new, un-chartered, untested path; he has taught this science of Karma Yoga in previous ages too. He taught Vivaswan who was the "first born," who in turn passed it along to other students. Thus we learn that the science of Karma Yoga is eternal, and that it is coming from the divine source; as such, it is necessarily devoid of error. In Verse 2, Lord Krishna explains that this knowledge was corrupted and distorted by humans who wanted to preserve their desire for comfort. And so, as we are told in Verse 3, Krishna has taken a human birth again to share this "supreme secret," this ancient teaching in its original form.

Sunday - Musings on Creation - Swami Yogatmananda - March 29
A question that has always fascinated human mind and has remained as fresh as ever through eternity is - Wherefrom this universe has sprung up? Scientists, mythologies and scriptures try to answer this with various theories (Big bang, evolution, God's work etc.); but the mystery remains like an 'impregnable wall'. In Vedanta creation is always related to one's perception. The world perceived in waking state disappears in dream state and vice versa; but the perceiver doesn't change. Hence Upanisads declare that whatever you are seeing is the manifestation of the Self or Atman. The Self is like a big screen on which the movie of 'I' and 'you' is going on. The screen doesn't undergo any change or become nonexistent when movie ends. Creation being a product of ignorance, every theory of creation is fraught with contradictions/errors. They could not satisfy the rational mind. Although Vedanta refutes creation as an objective reality, it recognizes the need to discuss it for those ignorant people who experience it. It says: 'The One' desired to become 'many'; performed austerities and the universe came into existence.
Oneness of the Self described in Vedanta is not the mathematical number 'one' but the 'One without second' that engulfs all multiplicity. When we experience this, not that we get the 'answer' to the puzzle of creation but the puzzle does not remain anymore. Chuang Tzu - the great Tao teacher says: 'The Pivot of Tao passes through the center where all affirmations and denials converge.'
Nasadiya Suktam of Rigveda beautifully presents this state of spiritual illumination wherein the Truth transcending the creation and immanent in it is directly perceived. 'neither non-being nor being existed. No death, no immortality ..Breathing goes on without wind...'

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - March 31

The Master is singing a song to the divine mother. One of the lines addresses the mind: "May you and I behold her" suggests the 'mind' and 'I' are separate: the Mother is to be held in mind with full concentration and nothing else should be allowed to intrude in this divine communion. He just wants communion with the Supreme. Sri Ramakrishna could hear his organs & joints getting shut while meditating so that nothing else can enter the inner sanctum. Another line says "do not deprive this worthless child of bliss". This is a call to surrender the ego and is possible fully only in advanced seekers. We can all practice it however.
We should all be mindful, vigilant and practice to our fullest capacity to realize God. In the end, however, it is Gods' grace that gives us liberation. We're always striving for more pleasure, more things, a better tomorrow. That tomorrow never comes and all we've done is create bondage and suffering. Sri Ramakrishna says the real joy is going in the right direction, diving within, where the Source of all happiness dwells.
There were some very interesting Q/A on how the divine grace comes.