Newsletter December 03, 2008

Past Events

Memorial Service for Mumbai massacre - Tues. Dec 02
Swami Yogatmananda and devotees attended an interfaith memorial service conducted at UMASS/Dartmouth in remembrance of the Mumbai killings. Swamiji chanted prayers and spoke. The subject of continuing kindness and consideration to others; not contemplating any form of hatred or revenge was mostly mentioned. Rabbi from Chabad House, Fall River MA (affiliated with Chabad House in India) also spoke.

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita - Nov. 28
Ch. 3 Verse 9 : 'Yajna' is the right activity. It is not a particular action, but an attitude of sacrifice that has to be associated with every action. For we common human beings, the total renunciation of 'I & mine' does not come easily; one needs to practice it gradually. This spractice may take a long time. One needs to take up a graded course, like in the school education. No one gets a Ph. D. immediately; As a small child, the person begins with a pre-kinder-garden and gradually, tenaciously works his/her way up. 'Yajna' provides such a graded course to infuse our works with the divine knowledge. What appeared to be a huge, practically impossible task, when broken into smaller, easy steps, looks (& actually becomes too) quite feasible. All other works, except those done with this Yajna- attitude, cause bondage. So let us do our works - whatever they may be - with this attitude; i.e. with detachment.

Sunday - Thank You - Swami Yogatmananda - Nov. 30
Many cultures and religions celebrate Thanksgiving Day to offer their gratitude to God or nature for various reasons, such as for bountiful harvest or for protection from evil forces etc. The question comes: 'According to Law of Karma, we get what we deserve. Then why should we feel thankful for receiving good things?' Because that makes us humble and noble. Vedanta says that the feeling of gratefulness connects us to the whole universe and helps us realize the ultimate Oneness. Ignorance of our real nature makes us feel that 'I' and 'world' are two separate things. But because of their intrinsic oneness 'I' always interacts with the 'world' and affects and get affected by the world.
Hindus believe that everyone born is indebted to five entities:
1) Celestial divine beings that control different powers of the nature
2) One's parents for giving birth and upbringing
3) The sages who after realizing the Truth distribute their knowledge to us.
4) The society which helps us to grow by giving all support
5) Plants and other species that feed us and make our life comfortable.
To strengthen the feeling of thankfulness to all these, five types of actions in the form of prayers and sacrifices (Yajna) have been prescribed.
Bhagwad gita says that through these practices one's ego is gradually reduced and that person becomes purified. Then comes the understanding that the different entities that s/he worships are none other than the messengers of the One Supreme Being who is beyond the Law of Karma and the sense of indebtedness goes to this Providence. Hiranyagarbha Suktam in Rig-Veda describes this idea. When one gets connected to the Providence, one goes beyond the realm of cause and effect, sees the divinity in and around everything and attains the goal of life.

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Dec. 02

The greatest gift is the gift of Self-Knowledge, for that removes all the wants for ever. The givers of this Self-Knowledge are therefore the greatest givers. Sri Ramakrishna's words were and still are able to convey it. All his disciples and followers could not absorb the Truth in the same manner, so the Master psychologically tailored his words to benefit each person.
Just as Ramakrishna warned Narendra about associating with Girish, we must be careful of our associations. What are the responses a certain person evokes in us? -that is important, not just objectively how a person is. The Master doesn't look down on worldly people, but rather sees all things as Brahman. He sees no difference between high and low. He says of the people who visit him: "all are after worthless 'kalai' pulse". This means all look for that which tastes good and is pleasant to the senses. Very few come with sincere longing for God alone. According to Sri Ramakrishna, one must give up lust and greed to make true progress. Since we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, we may as well make the best use of today. To get detached is difficult, but it can be done.