Newsletter Feb 28, 2007

Synopsis of Last Week Classes

Friday - Raja Yoga Class - Feb 23

Aphorisms: 4: 13-16
Although the things are composed of the three gunas, they are fused together, giving the perception of a single whole; like a cake made of flour, butter and sugar is seen/treated as a single thing.
Raja Yoga is neither idealism nor realism; i.e. it does not say that mind alone is real and the external objects are hallucinations nor does it say (like most neurologists feel) that it is only the matter that creates the hallucination of mind. Patanjali states that both of them are real on the phenomenal level. Matter is perceived in a particular way because of the instrument of perception which is mind. He gives the argument in the 15th aphorism that since the same object elicits different desires/response in different persons and also because it is seen differently, shows that the object is different from the instrument of perception. The difference in the feelings 'I know x' and 'I do not know x' is the difference in the 'color' that the object puts on the mind. As Vivekananda has put it in the commentary of the next aphorism 'the whole gist of this theory is that the universe is both mental and material'.

Sunday - Honesty and Authenticity - Swami Tyagananda - Feb 25
Honesty and authenticity are two qualities essential for inner peace and fulfillment in life. Consciously or unconsciously we pretend to be what we are 'actually not' and create a divide between inner and outer life. Sri Ramakrishna taught honesty by living a perfectly undivided life. Another way honesty manifest is - holding onto values in life. To the extent we are willing to sacrifice for the cherished ideal; to that extent we become truthful. Honesty also manifests as fearlessness. By holding onto the path of Dharma, one becomes fearless. In Vedanta highest enlightenment has been equated with fearlessness.
Honesty leads to authenticity. An undivided life is an authentic life. One cannot lead a spiritual life by repressing inner tendencies because it creates a division between spiritual life and worldly pursuits and even if that person is sincere, authenticity is lost. One has to be brutally honest with oneself to find out inner motives because self-deception is a great danger in spiritual life. This constant inward awareness is mentioned in various religions like 'guarding the heart' in Christianity, 'mindfulness' in Buddhism, 'practice of discrimination (Viveka)' in Vedanta etc. If we don't practice this, spiritual life remains only on the intellectual level, without bringing any inner transformation. Develop a healthy ego as child or servant of God - an identity that reminds us our connection with God. To lead an authentic life, develop virtues like perseverance, purity, will power etc. To be successful in spiritual life, one has to be honest and authentic, because at the time of death what counts is inner transformation, everything else will go away.