Newsletter June 25, 2008

Past Events

1) Swami Yogatmananda conducted monthly class on Bhagavad Gita (Ch 5 cont) from 10:30 - 11:30 AM at the Sri Satyanarayana Temple located at 10 Training Hill Rd Middletown CT. The next class on Gita will resume Sun. Sept 14th.

2) Devotional Music Concert - Sun. June 22
After the Sunday Service from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, there was a 'Devotional music concert': bhajans in Hindi and Bengali, performed by Ms Gopa Rani Raha (from Freemont CA) accompanied on Tabla by Chris Pereji. About fifty persons attended.

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - BHAGAWAD-GITA - June 20

CH-2 (Verses 69-72):The difference between one established in wisdom and an ordinary person lies in internal perception. To the ignorant one, names and forms seem real, like children looking at animal crackers. To the enlightened being, lines of demarcation are not real. Lord Krishna says the difference between the ignorant and the sage is as stark as day and night. The person of knowledge knows that God alone is real. He or she is also not affected by attraction and repulsion. The "I" or ego is there, but at the relative level. One established in Truth is not exited, elated or depressed. All their joy comes from within and like an ocean they are ever filled and forever fulfilled; the rivers of sense-perceptions keep pouring into them too, but that does not increase or decrease their level of perfect contentment.
The ignorant say, "this belongs to me, let me hold on to it". This causes restlessness and worry. No peace is thus possible for such a person. Wanting more compounds the worry. Investing a huge amount of good karma, we have bought a human body. It is important to use it wisely, striving to attain the highest rather than the fleeting.

Sunday - Cognition and Recognition - Swami Yogatmananda - June 22
Perception and cognition are two different things. Perception occurs when sense organs send the information to the brain and brain becomes aware of that thing. Cognition occurs when perception is matched with the previous experiences stored in memory and known/categorized accordingly. Recognition means cognizing same thing again with deeper analysis. Vedanta does not divide life as secular and spiritual. Spiritual practice is to make one's life conforming to this truth through the penetrative analysis of one's experiences/cognitions. According to Vedanta, every cognition is recognition. Sameness of the Self is the cause of every cognition. Tantra scriptures call this Pryatyabhijna. Upanisads mention four Great Statements (Mahavakya). A student desirous of Self-knowledge, listens from the teacher : 'Thou art That' (The Supreme Self). S/he ponders over the nature of 'I', removes the time & space-specific dimensions of one's personality and recognizes that 'I am That'. Further purification of the cognition reveals that 'consciousness 'here' and consciousness of the whole Universe is same'. The ultimate recognition comes when all differences get dissolved and the student knows that 'Consciousness alone is Brahman (the all pervading reality)'. As the same ocean is pulsating through all waves, similarly the same consciousness is pulsating in and through all beings. Each of us is God. How to recognize that? Chhandogya Upanisad tells three steps: 1) By purifying the intake, mind becomes pure. We should take only those things which make us calm and reminds us our divinity. 2) Pure mind makes the memory firm and clear. Then one can see oneself separate from body/mind. 3) Holding onto this memory that 'I am That', all bondages originating from false perceptions of limited 'I' go away - all knots of the heart are cut asunder, all contradictions get resolved and liberation comes. This is a special liberation where the limited 'I' completely merges with the Supreme Self once for all.

Tuesday - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Class- June 24

Sri Ramakrishna knew the questions bothering the devotees even though they struggled for proper words to articulate these. Ramakrishna inquired with Atul: "What's wrong? Don't you have the grit, that intense restlessness for God?"
Atul want to know how he can keep his mind fixed on God. Sri Ramakrishna tells him what is in all the Scriptures. You must practice. Practice calling on God's name everyday and by doing so, this will increase your longing for Him. Follow the instructions given to you by your guru. This is yoga. It is a science and if followed in the proper manner, it has to work. Be relentlessly persevering for a long time. An attitude of worship must be there in the spiritual practices. If we have intense longing, it brings about a sense of urgency. Then all these practices are enhanced and intensified.
Minds that are tainted by worldly pursuits are difficult to reach and are like a cup with garlic-solution in it. You can wash it many times, but the smell remains.
'What if we have spent quite a few years doing sadhana and nothing has happened?' - A question was asked after the class. Reply: First ask yourself the question: have I done everything that was to be done? I may be a devotee for many years; but did I actually practice my devotions with all sincerity and unbroken regularity? It is not possible that we are following the right, well-tested track and yet not getting at the destination.