Newsletter February 03, 2010

Past Events

Synopsis of last week's classes

Friday, Jan. 29 - Symposium on Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 1-3)
Instead of the regular class, there was a symposium on first three chapters of Bhagavad Gita.
Chapter 1: Teresa Guerra noted that Arjuna (and we) can feel that God is on our side and then, the next moment, fall into doubt. Lord Krishna represents discrimination between Arjuna's convictions and his attachments, and is our guide so that our suffering can transform rather than deform us.

Chapter 2, first half: Srikanth Srigiriraju pointed out that Arjuna's initial decision not to fight is based on weakness rather than dispassion, and lack of equanimity makes Arjuna unsuited to life as a mendicant. Lord Krishna points out that the Self cannot slay or be slain, but since Arjuna doesn't always feel this, the battle must be fought out of one's duty or dharma.

Chapter 2, second half: Terry Murphy enjoined us to keep working, which is within our power, but not to be concerned with the results of the work, which are not in our power. Terry finds peace by being in the present moment, which comes from focusing the mind and seeing each part of life as karma yoga.

Chapter 3: Chester Boncek asked whether the paths of knowledge and work are one path or two. He concluded that the battle inside all of us is both mental and physical, and that all of the characters in the Mahabharata are an allegory for the battle inside all of us. When we realize the Self, there is no action and no doer.

Sunday, Jan. 31 - Study as Practice - Swami Tyagananda
There are different purposes for which study is undertaken: curiosity, necessity, entertainment, to kill time and as a part of spiritual practice. For sincere spiritual aspirant two questions are important: 1) Is a study necessary in spiritual life? 2) How important is intellectual understanding for spiritual pursuits?
One may say that most saints and mystics were not scholars; the scriptures themselves mention limitations of scriptural learning; too much learning produces vanity and prejudice. However, study in a proper way is important because -
1) It helps to remove our doubts.
2) It gives us clear understanding of our path and protects us from a hostile environment.
3) It systematizes our thinking. Different ideas, if not connected properly, disturb our mind and hamper the progress.
4) It helps us to separate the essentials from the non-essentials, thus enabling us to see the underlying harmony behind this creation.
5) It makes the mind healthy and strong.
According to Vednata, certain conditions must be fulfilled to have success in spiritual life:
1) A goal-oriented life - Having many goals in life, creates conflict; we have limited time and energy. We must make conscious choices which will take us toward the supreme goal of spiritual enlightenment.
2) Moral and ethical life - Memory becomes stable and strong when intake is pure. Lack of ethical life makes the person bound to the world.
3) Perseverance and regularity
4) Humility
5) Open mind free from prejudice and bias - Accepting or rejecting other's views only after careful study
6) Combining study and experience together - Spiritual life means living the principles. Because of easy accessibility to knowledge in modern times, things are understood mere intellectually without giving sufficient time to put them in practice thus barring the progress.
7) To recognize that we can learn a lot not only from books but from our own experiences, from people around us, etc.
All other varied purposes/goals in life are fulfilled when the study is undertaken as a part of spiritual practice.

Tuesday, Feb. 02 - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Ramakrishna made it clear that our desires got in the way of seeing ultimate truth. To be trapped by desires is like having a disease. To be healthy means to be established in one's own true nature (Swa-stha). Why are we 'ill?' It is because of ignorance. We see I and the world as separate and distinct. The secret is to go beyond this duality and see all as one. There are different paths to do it. The principle is the same but the procedures are different. Each sect thinks they have a monopoly on truth, like 'my watch keeping the correct time'; in actuality they all differ. Though all the different paths have common ideas.
One is truthfulness, a prime austerity. Since God is Truth, this is the most important practice. By doing sadhana of being truthful, the aspirant can be well on his/her way to achieving ultimate reality. Pride is difficult to cast off. Balaram, Sri Ramakrishna mentioned, was one disciple who was free from its stain. Sri Ramakrishna also taught that in addition to truthfulness and elimination of pride, obedience to God and the regarding of other's wives as one's mother are quintessential virtues.

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