Newsletter Jan 09, 2008

1) The birth anniversary for Swami Shivananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, was observed on Friday Jan 04, with a chant in the morning meditation, and a song, a biography reading and Prasad after evening Aarati.

2) Swami Yogatmananda visited Cherry Hill, NJ on Jan 05, conducted a worship of Holy Mother and gave a talk to about seventy devotees. He returned to Providence Saturday night. Please click here to the photos.

3) The Monthly Bhagavad Gita class (Vol 2-cont) was conducted at the Sri Satya-Narayana Temple in Middletown CT on Sunday, Jan 06, from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM to about forty-three devotees.

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita class - Jan 04

CH-2: Verses 22-25: What is death? The One all-pervading, ever-free Self, through ignorance gets 'trapped' in finite; becomes, as if multiple because of the multiplicity of the appearances of bodies. The 'trapped' self works through the three bodies; gross (physical), subtle (mental) and causal. That is usually termed as 'soul'. As the gross body, which is very limited in capabilities, very fragile and short-lived, wears out, the soul changes it; the snapping of the connection of the subtle body of that soul with that gross body is what is known as death. The soul, with the causal & subtle body (which contain all the 'wealth' of karma) then connects to another gross body. This is the 'birth' of that person! According to Brihadaranyaka Upanisad, a new gross body is first selected and then the old body is given up. Also, since there is no spatial transfer of the subtle body to the different gross bodies, like the candy being transferred from one box to another, there is always the possibility of one soul using several gross bodies/ several souls sharing one gross body.
Next 3 verses tell that the Self is unaffected by the actions at the appearance-level.
Several questions were asked about the connection between the subtle body and the gross body. More discussion on them will follow in the next class.

Sunday - Transmission of Knowledge - Swami Yogatmananda - Jan 06
Knowledge is that understanding which brings harmony and peace by resolving apparent contradictions. Although common agreement is necessary to accept certain information as knowledge, it does not always happen immediately, as it takes time for people to shed away their firm but erroneous convictions. Again something may be true at a superficial level but may not be at a deeper level and hence a probing inquiry is necessary.
Whether the knowledge is worldly or spiritual, for its meaningful transmission, there are some pre-requisites for the teacher and the student. The teacher should be able to communicate at the studen's level. In Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, we see Sri Ramakrishna's extraordinary teacher-ship. He gives different answers to different people although their question was same, because he could see the level of the questioner and could guide him/her to move forward.
To become a good receptor, mind should be free from all impediments. Import of teacher's words is revealed to the student only when s/he is ready from inside.
In Bhagvad Gita, Sri Krishna explains how the student should approach for receiving knowledge. 1) Pranipaten - by offering salutations i.e. by surrendering one's ego. 2) Pariprasnen - by inquiry - should not be an intellectual curiosity, but it must be the real urge. 3) Sevaya - By serving the teacher, i.e. by making one's capacities available for the work of the teacher. Then inhibition to knowledge is destroyed and a rapport is established. To acquire spiritual knowledge, one has to practice various virtues such as guilelessness, discipline, purity, sincerity etc. By cultivating these virtues, heart becomes receptive for knowledge.

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Jan. 08

The incarnations of God are born perfect world-teachers; their capabilities and powers are beyond ordinary aspirant who is facing an uphill task even in achieving a little bit of progress. So, Sri Ramakrishna warns that behavior/practices of God-incarnations cannot be emulated by others. Because they have to hold the ideal of spiritual goal to various people at various stages of growth, they have to show many special demonstrations.
'Onepointed-ness of mind is absolutely necessary for seeing God' - Sri Ramakrishna tells. All the distractions must be steadfastly and resolutely shunned. That is Yoga - the practicalization of theory. The world is full of various attractions; a lot of people around will be after those and will try to pull a spiritual aspirant also with them; but he/she should be firmly moving on the path shown by the Guru. If one follows the path properly, there will be no difference spiritually between the teacher & the taught, so say the Upanisads. Each has to proceed according to his or her constitution/capacity. Direction is of vital importance; not the speed.
'As one progresses on the path, does one experience any joy?' - was a question asked at the end of the class. Ans.: Yes, as the person progresses, more and more joy manifests in life because the source of all joy comes closer and closer.

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