Newsletter May 16, 2012

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated.)

Bhagavad Gita class – May 11, Friday

Ch 14, Verses 5-6:  

If, in fact, we are truly that One, all pervading Existence, how is it that we become bound in our everyday lives? If we hope to overcome our bondage, we must develop an understanding of wherefrom our bondage arises. We do not have a proper understanding of our bondage until we try to break free; only then can we know by how many things we are bound and to what extent they bind us. In verse five of the fourteenth chapter, Lord Krishna begins to provide an account of the Gunas, the three operating principles or “tendencies” of Prakriti, in order to explain the source of bondage to the spiritual aspirants. Since the Gunas are difficult to explain due to the technicality involved, Sri Ramakrishna told the parable of a rich man and the three robbers so that nature of the Gunas, as well as how they pertain to the spiritual aspirant’s quest to overcome bondage and attain freedom, could easily be understood. (See Chapter 12 of The Gospel of Ramakrishna.) Understanding is always given according to the capacity and constitution of the student. In the Gita it is shown that our mind works in three different ways, corresponding to the three Gunas. Our understanding has three ways of presenting the feeling of bondage. Sometimes we feel calm, poised, enthusiastic but without any excitement, benevolent, forgiving, kind, and serene due to the preponderance of the saatva guna. At other times we feel dissatisfied with our present state and desires arise. These desires in their turn cause actions to spring up. No desire is without impediments, and therefore one has to overcome obstacles and enmity ensues, bringing anger in life,  a feeling of antagonism, and other forms of mental tension. This is all due to a preponderance of rajas in the awareness of the individual. The preponderance of tamas causes laziness, indolence, and feelings of irritation directed at nothing in particular. The Lord explains that these three together are born of nature, or Prakriti, to make it clear that they do not touch our true nature. All three are bondages, and are, therefore, enemies. But, as Sri Ramakrishna’s parable shows us, that saatva frees us but does not accompany us to “our home,” that is our true nature. Saatva must be left behind, but we have to take up saatva as spiritual aspirants since, it is our best guide.

Motherhood  - May 13, Sunday

To talk about the Mother is both easy and difficult, because that which is closest to us can be the most difficult to describe. On Mother's Day, we especially adore the Mother and respect Motherhood.  In the spiritual sense, thoughts of our relationship with our human mothers give rise to thoughts about our relationship to the universe.  Human motherhood parallels our relationship with the Universe in several ways.  The essence of Motherhood is that A (the Mother) is the cause of B (the offspring), and thus the two are intimately connected, and A assumes ownership and sustenance of B.  The primary Motherhood is the One becoming many, which is connected to the concept of Unity in diversity. Thus all are the children of Divine Mother; each is important, and yet each is treated differently according to their needs, just as a human mother treats her children. How does the One become many?  This, like human motherhood, is inexplicable. We only know that the connection with the Source is a very deep one.  Such a connection is also experienced between the guru and disciple.  Many sages have looked upon their teacher as Mother, regardless of the teacher's gender. Scriptures are also called Mother, as the One that is taking care of us and providing solace. Just as a human mother looks out for her children's welfare, the Bhagavad Gita is taking care of her children's longest-term welfare -- making the child immortal by providing knowledge at the deepest level, where we are All-pervading and death does not touch. Just as a human mother, Mother Gita gives to all, but not in the same way to everyone.  God Itself is referred to as Mother in Hinduism, and in Buddhism, Wisdom is called Mother as well.  Each of these aspects of Motherhood is intricately connected with our lives.  As Sri Ramakrishna stated, "Nothing will happen without the Grace of the Divine Mother."  With the Mother's grace, the spiritual path becomes clearer and easier.

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna  - May 15, Tuesday

Sri Ramakrishna’s illness, as everything else in His life, had a purpose: to separate the genuine devotees from miracle- mongers. Sri Ramakrishna says “He who sincerely prays to God will certainly come here”. The words “come here” should not be interpreted narrowly as associating with the personality of Sri Ramakrishna or the time and place in which He lived. “Here” does not mean just the personality of Sri Ramakrishna but the Divine Principle manifested through His personality and represented by His life and teachings. This same Divine Principle is manifested through various other personalities like Jesus Christ, Buddha etc. and can be absorbed by following their life and teachings in any place and time. This is the phenomenon of God incarnating as man (or as St. John says in the Bible: “Word became flesh and dwelt among us”). In fact, a number of people associated with Sri Ramakrishna personally but only thought of Him as an ordinary priest. These people did not truly “come” to Sri Ramakrishna and did not absorb His life and teachings. While some people are bound to the sense objects, Sri Ramakrishna, Himself, was never bound by the temptations of senses. Based on the bondage of the senses and the knowledge of reality people fall into 4 categories: 1) People who are bound due to cravings and desires and have no inkling for freedom; 2) People who intellectually understand that they are bound but are not willing to pay the price for the freedom 3) People who have paid the price of freedom and are on their way to freedom from bondage and 4) People who were never bound, other people look at them to get a glimpse of what true knowledge is.