Newsletter June 24, 2009

Past Events

1) On Sunday June 21, Swami Yogatmananda conducted the monthly Bhagavada Gita class at Sri Satyanarayana Temple, 11 Training Hill Rd Middletown CT from 11:00 AM - 12:00 noon. This was the last class of the session; it will resume on September 13th.
2) After the evening service, on Sunday June 21, at 6:00 PM, Laurie, Dean & Mark performed 'Electro-acoustic Meditative music', with wind-controlled synthesizer, hammered dulcimer and electric guitar to about thirty-five music admirers. Please Click here to see the photos.

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita - June 19

Ch. 4 Verses 20-21: To make our life right we must first change our awareness and bring it in synch with the Truth. Sri Krishna has explained to Arjuna that all suffering springs from the fact that our consciousness does not conform to the truth; to change it to conform to the truth is spiritual life.
In Verse 20 Sri Krishna explains that if we work without attachment, our lives will change: we will perform all actions without effort and feel truly relaxed because we know we are not actually doing anything at all. Krishna continues to explain the characteristics of a person who works without attachment in Verse 21. This person is free from all desires. Furthermore, because this person doesn't associate "I" with the body and mind, he/she has control over all bodies and minds. This person has no care for possessions, because he knows that nothing truly belongs to him. This person does what is necessary to maintain his body, but doesn't get identified with it. Because there is no attachment, this person does not incur any karma. This can be seen in the life of Swami Vivekananda - who did tremendous work but was not entangled in it.

Sunday - Churning the Ocean - Swami Yogatmananda - June 21
Stories from Mythologies are allegorical presentations of psychological phenomena. The story of 'Samudra-Manthana' (Churning the Ocean) from Hindu Mythology portrays inner struggle of a human mind - a psychological warfare between the spiritual tendencies (deva-s=angels) and animal tendencies (asura-s =demons). Once the angels became egotistic and arrogant because of their victory over the demons and were soon vanquished by the demons. The angels then realized the cause of their downfall and sought refuge in Lord Vishnu who advised them to churn the ocean to get the ambrosia (amrita) hidden deep down with the help of demons because the angels had become too weak to do the things on their own. The ocean is a symbol of mind and by churning (purifying) it, the Truth = our immortal nature manifests. As a churning tool they used mountain Mandara (symbolizes meditation) rested on the back of a huge tortoise who was none other than Lord Vishnu himself. Mind becomes purified when the object of meditation is God. As the story goes, many nice things came out and also came out the dreadful poison which was consumed by Lord Shiva who represents equanimity. Pursue your goal with calm and controlled mind and do not give it up if you are confronted with dreadful things. Finally the pot filled with nectar (amrita) came out and by God's grace angels were able to secure it from the demons.
Indian philosophy does not make a permanent division between good and evil; good and evil are not only relative but are complimentary to each other. God is identical with the Truth and is beyond good and evil. Spiritual practices help us to control mind and attain our intrinsic divinity which is the goal of religion.

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - June 23

As one comes closer to truth, our ideas get clarified. Sri Ramakrishna asked, what the need for reasoning is if one sees God. Direct perception nullifies all the arguments a person may have. Although reasoning is a good servant, it does not make a good master. For Sri Ramakrishna, samadhi was his natural, spontaneous state. In order for him to return to the external world he would often have to hear a song. He would also carry a desire with him and use it as a tool to come down from Samadhi. Samadhi is a far cry for ordinary humans - even the meditation is so difficult. They have to struggle to overcome the following obstacles: 1. the mind wanders. 2.the mind doesn't focus. 3 the mind gets tired and falls asleep. 4. mind gets stuck at a certain place and goes not higher. The Master is like the actor playing the part of human being, while being really divine.

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