Newsletter January 13, 2010

Past Events

1) On Thurs. Jan. 07, Swami and three devotees attended the monthly Attleboro-based monthly interfaith meeting, this month conducted at Al-Noor (Muslim) Academy, Mansfield MA, to discuss the topic 'How can we make our group more well-known in the community and share its' fruits?' Eighteen other interfaith leaders/congregation members also attended and participated in the noontime Islamic prayer session with students, teachers and principal.
2)On Sun. Jan. 10, Swami Yogatmananda spoke on 'Breaking the Idols' at 11:00AM at the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of MA, 58 Deerfield St MA.

Synopsis of last week's classes

Friday, Jan. 08 - Bhagavad Gita - Ch. 5 (Verses 11-13)

When we work, we should take up the attitude of a yogi who sees work like a medication that will cure him of attachment, and not of a bhogi-(one who works to get more attached.) The yogi does work because it needs to be done, not because he likes it or dislikes it. Working like a yogi, without attachment and dedicating our actions to God, brings Knowledge and true happiness. While we work, our body and mind are moving and working, but we really are not. It is like when we drive our car somewhere--we arrive at our destination without having to exert any effort; all the work was done by the car. For a beginner, it is difficult to remember while working that "I am not really working, I am not the body or mind." However, in this beginning stage, we can reflect after our work is done, "the work was all from the grace of God, I really did nothing; therefore I surrender all results to God." As we start to practice detachment while working, our life will gradually start to change. We will begin to feel less tired, at great peace and will approach all situations with equanimity. This result can be achieved by monastics and householders alike.

Sunday, Jan. 10 - Vivekananda on Ethics and Morality - Swami Yogatmananda
Although ideas of ethics and morality have been essential part of every human society, their standards vary among different societies. According to Swami Vivekananda, morality and ethics cannot be based on rational/utilitarian grounds because a utilitarian cannot satisfactorily answer the question why a person should not be selfish. Swamiji points out that morality is an expression of oneness; for, morality teaches us to become unselfish. To attain ultimate unselfishness which is Oneness, is the goal of all religions. In his lecture 'The spirit and Influence of Vedanta', Swamiji says - "...This expression of oneness is what we call love and sympathy, and it is the basis of all our ethics and morality. This is summed up in the Vedanta philosophy by the celebrated aphorism, Tat Tvam Asi, "Thou art That". Practice of oneness spontaneously eliminates the mad struggle of superiority and brings morality. Personal liking/disliking or pet-ideas cannot be a ground for morality. Whether an action is moral or immoral, can be judged only by looking at its intention. Hence Mahabharata says that helping others is a moral act while hurting others is an immoral act. While discussing 'Pratyahara and Dharana' in Raja-yoga Swamiji says - "All actions, internal and external, occur when the mind joins itself to certain centers, called the organs. Willingly, or unwillingly it is drawn to join itself to the centers, and that is why people do foolish deeds and feel miserable, which, if the mind were under control, they would not do." Pratyahara is a tool that teaches us how to use our sensory organs as doors (to accept only those things that are beneficial) and not as holes (rejecting that which would otherwise force us to do evil actions). This will help us to lead a conscious life, and we will be ethical and moral in a true sense.

Tuesday, Jan 12 - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Chapter 39)

Sri Ramakrishna has explained the difference between an ignorant and a God-realized person by saying: in the ignorant, the body and the self stick together permanently like the outer shell of a wet coconut and its inner kernel; in a Jnani, they are separated like shell and the kernel in a dry coconut. We keep on searching outside in a vein attempt to find perfection. Sri Ramakrishna's only purpose in life was to impart divine consciousness. He knew that the tremendous intensity which was expressed in his sadhana, was neither possible nor necessary for the ordinary people. So he said: "This is what God ordained for me. You don't have to go that far."
This meant that his devotees could live in the world with their responsibilities but with a spirit of detachment. "You may swim in the black ocean of the world, but your body should not be stained." This is the secret. Girish stated that the Master had to marry. Why did Ramakrishna do this? His answer was that it was a purification rite of the Brahmin class and it was ordained for him to do so. Swami Saradananda stated that he wed to show that a householder could attain the highest heights and thereby showing one need not be a monk to realize the Supreme. Girish wanted to know how to rid himself of woman and gold. The Master answered, 'Pray to God with a yearning heart. One should pray for discrimination. God alone is real; all else is illusory.'

Top