Newsletter January 28, 2009

Past Events

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita - Jan. 23
Ch. 3- Verses 26-28: Like Arjuna, who is torn between fighting and not fighting, we face so many internal and external conflicts every day which pull us in many different directions and confuse us. The only way out is to act in an unattached way. Right activity is a means to an end--after we reach the goal, there is no need for action at all. However, illumined souls like Krishna continue to work in order to set an example for others.
In Verse 27, Krishna tells Arjuna that a person deluded by ego feels "I am the doer," whereas the realized person understands the separation between the Self and nature (Prakriti/ 3 gunas). To this person, the Self is like a movie screen onto which is projected all actions. We claim "I am not the doer" when we are guilty of something, but only the egoless person can truly say that they do not act. The actions of a realized soul may look like the actions of any ordinary person; but here is a big, inner difference: his/her actions completely detached.
When we follow their example and cultivate the idea that "I am not the body," we come to realize that we are Peace, Bliss, Consciousness Absolute. This is our goal!

Sunday - Making Progress - Swami Yogatmananda - Jan 25
Different people have different ideas about progress and again these ideas change with time. Is there any common ground for these diverse ideas about progress? The phrase 'change for better' is termed as 'progress'; but the word 'better' presupposes the idea of 'best' or 'the goal'. A common urge seen in human beings is striving for perfection. Anything limited does not satisfy us because any limitation means imperfection. That means consciously or unconsciously we strive for freedom. According to Swami Vivekananda, moving towards perfection is the only criterion for progress. In the world, progress is measured as multiplying the desires and finding the means to fulfill them. But these desires never get fulfilled and we find ourselves 'back to square one'. No one can bring perfection to the world because perfection is always in infinity and to achieve that one has to stop running after worldly things.
The book 'Jonathan Livingstone Seagull' describes struggle on the path towards perfection. Not caring for creature comforts, name and fame, one should doggedly pursue the goal. The beautiful imagery of two birds in the Mundaka Upanisad tells us that our ideal - the real Self, which is blissful, perfect and free is already within us; only we are not aware of that. Through spiritual practices one transcends the limitations of body and mind and experiences the Truth. The progress then culminates there.

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Jan. 27

Vedanta tells, We don't really need anything; we ARE perfect. What is needed is the conviction (Sraddha) that "I am divine. When conviction becomes a reality, then our wants are permanently removed. Sri Ramakrishna brings words through which we can get this ultimate knowledge. There's a method for that 1. By repeated reminders of "I am divine, I am not the mind or body". 2. Contemplation or meditation to focus and still the mind. 3. Understand that Truth is the only thing worth striving for. That understanding or Sraddha makes you verify for yourself that whatever is, Is God alone. The Master was speaking to householder disciple , Tarak, and warned him of the pitfalls of lust and greed, saying once you sink into that whirlpool, it may be impossible to get out.
Tarak's parents didn't want him visiting Ramakrishna. And what if one disobeys one's mother, someone asked. The reply was very pointed. "A mother who says that is no mother. She is the embodiment of avidya".