Newsletter April 07, 2010

Past Events

Brown Student Hindu Group - Mon. Apr. 05
Swami met with the Brown Hindu Student Group on campus from 8:00PM - 9:00PM to discuss current concerns.

Synopsis of last week's classes

Friday, Apr. 02 - Bhagavad Gita (Ch. 6, Verses 10-13)
We have been seeing that bringing the mind under control is most essential in spiritual life. If our mind gets drawn toward something other than God, we must draw it back and not let it get entangled. The meditation procedure etc, explained in Verses 10-13 must be taken up as a part of meditative, goal-oriented life. Otherwise only meditation for some time does not help much. We should practice Yoga for self-purification in a "secluded place," We are accustomed to being with other people and crave for the company and accolades or at least recognition from them. One has to counter that to become Yogi. We must also practice meditation in a clean place (make it clean if it is not already, says Sankara). (V. 11). A proper seat is one which will allow us to sit comfortably for long periods of time. On this seat we should bring the mind under control by concentrating on the object of meditation--the Self (V. 12). It can be helpful to focus on a form, a mantra, or a holy person who embody the Purity of the Self. We mustn't let ourselves get disturbed by external distractions. Finally, we should keep our head, neck, and backbone in a straight, vertical line, with our eyes fixed on tip of our nose. (V. 13). This will allow our thoughts to flow, will prevent physical discomfort when sitting for long periods, and will eliminate any visual distractions.

Sunday, April 04 - The Message of Easter - Swami Tyagananda
Resurrection of Jesus on the third day after the crucifixion is annually celebrated on Easter Sunday. According to Apostle Paul, the entire Christian faith and the hope for a life after our own death hinges upon this event. Similar themes/events are found in other religions like Judaism, Islam and countries like ancient Egypt, Greece and Babylon. What makes the idea of resurrection so compelling is the stark reality of death and the aspiration to conquer it. The story of Exodus describes the historical march of people from the slavery of the Pharaoh of Egypt to the promised land of freedom. Although we may enjoy political and social freedom, yet we are bound by death, old age, illness, etc. Metaphorically the Pharaoh is our ego that keeps us enslaved. If we follow Jesus, he will take us out from this bondage. The story of exile of Jews to Babylon narrates the trauma of being uprooted from the homeland. Metaphorically the exile can be seen as the intense feeling of alienation from our true home - God. Spiritual life begins with the profound dissatisfaction of earthly life as it happened in case of Arjuna as describe in Bhagavad Gita. Jesus is the exemplar who will help us to get out of this exile. The third story, the priestly story unlike the other two stories, is not based on history but on tradition and describes the sacrifice to overcome sin and guilt and to obtain forgiveness. Jesus, the son of God sacrificed himself to forgive our sins. From Vedantic standpoint, death can only happen to a body, mind and ego and resurrection means living in the true Self or Atman. By crucifying the little ego, one resurrects in the divine, the life eternal.

Tuesday, Apr. 06 - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

The world in which we live is one of contradictions. Happiness is relative to misery. What's right from one standpoint is not necessarily right from another. In this world, we can't find the answer that can truly satisfy us. Sri Ramakrishna's words show us that seeking "right" in this world is wrong because they are both relative. It is only by going beyond duality that true joy, peace, and oneness is to be found. In that quest, there is no room for compromise. One needs to renounce what is unreal and lock on to what is real. God alone is real, all else is illusory. Whether is a householder or a monastic, it makes no difference; if that person wishes to make true progress, s/he must detach and renounce. After Trailokya finished singing, there was more talk about Sri Ramakrishna changing his mind about worldly life. At that point, the Master informed all present that if one tastes even a drop of the Bliss of God, s/he doesn't enjoy the world any longer. It's beyond our understanding at the moment, but something that has to be experienced, so let us be vigilant, do sadhana, and by dint of divine grace, we can attain the highest someday.

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