Newsletter February 25, 2009

Past Events

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita - Feb. 20
Ch. 3- Verses 34-35: Last week we saw that although we all strive to reach the same goal (Truth), the appropriate and suitable spiritual path differs for each person. In Verse 34, Krishna warns that senses will have natural attraction-repulsion to/from sense objects, BUT we must not fall prey to attraction and repulsion of sense objects while on the spiritual path. Through the ignorance of our intrinsically divine nature, we perceive a separation between ourselves and the world, and thus we feel repulsions and attractions which bind us. In addition to overcoming attraction and repulsion of the senses, one must beware of attraction for the path of the other. "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence;" one must get rid of the belief that others' work is more conducive to spiritual practice and growth. As Swami Vivekananda wrote, "Each is great in his own place." We must perform our dharma, knowing that our work, what ever it may be, when performed as worship, will act as the vehicle to take us to our goal.

Sunday - Karma and Non-Attachment - Swami Tyagananda - Feb. 22
Doing every work with full concentration and energy is important in Karma Yoga; equally important is to withdraw the mind from it when it is finished. Inability to detach oneself gives rise to stress and anxiety. Swami Vivekananda gives us some tips on detachment in his lecture ' The Secret of Work'.
Help that makes us grow spiritually is the highest form of help; next to it is intellectual help and after that comes physical help. Miseries will come to an end when one has a spiritually strong character. Every work that we do has two effects - external effect in the form of joy or sorrow; internal effect that leaves impression (samskara) - good or bad - on mind. These impressions are like seeds which have the potential to create desires and repeat those actions again. Sum-total of these impressions forms the character of a person. Spiritual life begins with building a morally sound character and for that one needs to strengthen good impressions and weaken bad ones. A person established in good character has control over his/her sense organs. Having a good character alone is not sufficient for spiritual life. The goal of spiritual life is freedom - freedom from both - good and bad tendencies. First bad tendencies should be counteracted with good tendencies; then transcend good tendencies. This world is for our education and not for enjoyment. Work incessantly, but let there be no impression made on mind. This is non-attachment.
There are two ways of practicing non-attachment: 1) Be master of yourself and perform all actions. Identification with body and mind propels us to do selfish actions and makes us slaves. 2) Always take the position of a giver without any expectation. Expectation means bondage. Results of the work do not depend on our expectations. Do work as worship and offer fruits of the work to God.
Work done in this way will not bind us; rather it will liberate us.

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Feb. 24

Through an Incarnation of God, one gets a glimpse of one's divine nature, when we understand that the human form is a 'garb'; inside, there is the divine. Lord Krishna said people didn't realize he was the divine in human form and thus could not get the benefit of God-Incarnation. Manifestation is according to the need, so all Incarnations are not the same. Girish was a believer in God-Incarnations. Narendra said God is beyond words and thoughts. According to the Master, God is beyond the ORDINARY mind. Mind and thought function only because of God. However, a superior faculty or pure mind can see the God. This new faculty is free from attachment to lust and greed and stops seeing multiplicity. Our perceptions to objects are always subject to change. Our senses focus on this and therefore, don't see the Real or unchanging. But by purification, spiritual disciplines, and discriminating on what is real and what is appearance, we will be on the road, just as Girish was.