Newsletter June 17, 2009

Past Events

Annual General Meeting was conducted on Sunday June 14th, immediately after the Sunday Service Lecture, from 6:00 - 6:30PM, Pran Popat presided; Board members read respective reports. Swamis Tyagananda and Yogatmananda spoke. To see the report of the activities and the summery of accounts for year 2008 - please click here.

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita - June 12

Ch. 4 Verses 19-20: In verse 18, we cleared up the misunderstanding about working and not working, and we saw how attachment to the work gets us entangled in it, and there is then no end to work - like a circular road; the cycle of ignorance->desires->work-> can only be broken by work done with dedication and detachment . In Verse 19, Lord Krishna explains that works of one who's realized the truth are not originated or motivated by desire. There are different levels of "desire," first, it is weak ripple; it has no power to propel one to act; then one thinks more & more about it and this strengthens the initial small ripple; it then becomes an unstoppable passion that propels you to plan the action. The unattached person's works are "burned by the fire of knowledge." This means that these actions will not create any bondage. The wise call such a person "truly learned" - as he has known the essence of everything. This Knowledge automatically brings in 'permanent' satisfaction, true self-reliance. This person, although seemingly engaged in various works, really is not doing anything.

Sunday - Growing Old, Being Young - Swami Tyagananda - June 14
The idea of growth implies taking into our stride the inevitable anxiety and stress that come at different stages of life. Generally speaking certain kinds of anxieties associated with certain stages of life are: youth - guilt and condemnation; middle age - emptiness and meaninglessness; old age - fear of death. The unresolved anxieties accumulate over time making the old age the most miserable stage of life. For a truly fulfilling life we need to bring together the energy of youth and experience of old age. Being old is not a function of age but of body and mind. According to Vedanta, human personality is three-fold: 1) Physical body 2) Mind - the seat of ego, thoughts, emotions etc. 3) Atman or The Spirit.
All problems in life are connected with body and mind only. In deep sleep we unconsciously get dissociated with body and mind and experience profound joy and peace. According to Vedanta we can consciously remove that false identity by knowing who we really are or in other words by identifying oneself with the Atman. With genuine humility and strong determination we need to relearn that we are the Spirit. Upanisads say, Atman is 'the oldest' and yet 'new' at every moment. Body cannot be made free from aging, nor mind from waxing and waning. Then how to remain young? 1) Give up false identity with body and mind; without being concern with age and appearance, take good care of body and mind for they are our instruments to realize the ultimate goal. 2) Try to live in the present moment. 3) Keep mind fresh and ready to learn new things. Have the courage to live according to what you believe to be true.

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - June 16

No separate "I" remains when knowledge dawns. This disappearance of the ego is the sign of God realization. Functioning thru the body and mind is one thing. IDENTIFYING with mind and body is another. This identification is where we run into trouble.
Sri Ramakrishna could use his body as an instrument and not be attached to it. He could pick it up and put it back like we use a spoon or a pen. Girish's going to theater for his work was not a hindrance to his spiritual understanding of Sri Ramakrishna as God incarnate. People tend to create a division in actions as secular (e.g. doing a business or a job) and spiritual (e.g. praying, worshiping etc). But no activity is, in itself secular or spiritual; it is the attitude behind the action that makes it so. Any activity can be converted into worship if the awareness behind it is spiritual.

Sri Ramakrishna told Narendra he didn't like arguing. Once you realize the Truth, there is no need for argument or questioning.

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