Newsletter June 20, 2012

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

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

Bhagavad Gita class – June 15, Friday

Ch 14, verses 16-20

Vedanta offers spiritual aspirants a critique of experience that harmoniously and comprehensively explains the various facets of our life—our perceptions, moods and emotions, and actions are properly understood by the philosophy of the three gunas. The spiritual aspirant must strive to cultivate the mood of sattva to suppress and eventually overcome rajas & tamas which are harmful.. The essence of true religion begins to manifest in our lives when our true, unchanging, eternal, all-pervasive nature is felt, and our inability to fully manifest our true nature is also felt. The means of liberation is the cultivation of the sattva guna. If the sattva guna is becoming more and more predominant in our lives, we will experience a greater feeling of inner calmness; the tendencies to go after sense enjoyments will reduce; we will experience a greater sense of compassion and benevolence; tamas and rajas will be suppressed; and spiritual evolution is on its way. Lord explains that people who cultivate the sattva guna go upwards spiritually, those who cultivate the rajas guna dwell in the middle spheres of existence, and those who possess a predominantly tamas guna sink into the lower spheres. The Lord encourages spiritual aspirants to become more and more sattvica so that you have the means to cut asunder the bondages of rajas and tamas. Lord Krishna exhorts all devotees to strive for that state in which one is free from all the gunas. When we achieve that state, we will see that we never had any bondage, since the one separated from God is completely annihilated. We cling to the fictitious distinctions of ‘I & mine’ and build the basis of our lives upon these. If someone is trying to break through that, people laugh and say ‘that fellow is impractical’. Actually, living a life based on reality is practical. Living a life based on fantasy is not practical. Sensible life is based on truth. That is why one goes beyond the gunas, attains his true nature, which is God Himself. The result of becoming one with God is that you attain immortality. After hearing all of this from the Lord, Arjuna wants to know how the life of person who is freed from the gunas gets transformed. Lord Krishna describes the characteristics of one who has been freed from the gunas so that we may identify the gap between that example and ourselves and thereby bring about the required changes in our perception, understanding, and lifestyle. It is an illuminating exercise to compare our lives to that of Ramakrishna’s; the more pinchingly we feel that gap, the more clearly we will see the changes that we need to implement in our own lives. The illumined soul neither seeks nor avoids the vicissitudes of life, although they come just the same. It is difficult to see the divine in the human form, but we must strive to feel the gap between the divine and ourselves, shape our life on those lines, and thus become liberated.

Do You Have a Question?  - June 17, Sunday

Having a question is an important step in gaining knowledge.  A spiritual question springs up from a very sincere, deep desire to experience Truth and to change one's life accordingly.  The answers given to a spiritual question depend on the state of the asker.  It is important that our questions reflect our true aspiration to find God; then we will receive meaningful answers. Answers evolve and emerge when one has the proper "receptacle" to receive them.  Answers that are only intellectual do not go deep and touch the heart.

During the discourse, several questions were asked, and responses given; the following are just a few.  How can we cultivate an attitude of appreciation and thankfulness in all circumstances?  Often analyzing a question helps point to its answer.  The question suggests that the need to appreciate is there, but how to do it? If we see the presence of the Divine in every person/thing, then we can appreciate everything. The test comes as to whether we are appreciating our likes and dislikes or truly appreciating the Divine.  The focus should be on seeing the one Reality appearing in the contrasting forms.  What do sages say about what it is to be awakened to the Self?  It is the fulfillment of all that one is seeking; a sense of perfection, total freedom, complete bliss. There is nothing more than that.  It is said that feeling is more important than intellect. How does one get to the point that the intellectual ideas inspire devotion?  First, note that when any idea is really inspiring one puts it into action. There must be a translation from thought into action and experience; for this, assiduously following one's spiritual discipline is necessary.  What is the perspective of Hindu scripture on evolution and design theory?  The scriptures, for example the Aitareya Upanishad, accept both perspectives; it can be seen that the whole of existence is a design, and within that, evolution occurs.

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna  - June 19, Tuesday

The gift of spiritual wisdom is the greatest gift and the donor of the same is the greatest donor. Everybody is looking for total fulfillment which can be obtained from spiritual wisdom alone. Sri Ramakrishna is giving us that spiritual wisdom through His conversations with the devotees.
Conversation is going on with Pundit Shashadhar about Aadyashakti - the Primordial Power. One question is commonly asked : If God- the bliss absolute has become this universe then why is there so much of misery and sufferings? Simple answer to this question can be given, as some conflict is required to keep the play of this Universe going. Nevertheless, to understand the principle of Oneness an e.g. of spider and the spider web is given. As the spider creates its own web without any external material, similarly God has created this universe. He is the material and the efficient cause of this creation. That Primordial Power alone has become all. As per the Samkhya philosophy there are two principles. Purusha - the inactive and Prakruti - the active. These two principles are eternally existing in the universe continuing this play. According to Vedanta philosophy the  Brahman and His Shakti are the same. There is absolute oneness.
The search for total fulfillment will not be complete till we reach that ultimate oneness. Words are like a ladder, which helps to climb to the meaning. One must think deeply about these words, meditate upon them. It is a very long process. Sri Ramakrishna says Brahman cannot be explained in words. The meaning of the words can't be understood by turbulent mind. Hence calming down of the mind is essential to see the Truth which is always present there. It is difficult to get the idea of formless; hence, help of God with form is taken to understand the infinite and formless. One has to perform the duties of his/ her life till this realization comes. After that duties drop automatically.
This was the last class of this season. Next class will be in Sept after the summer break.