Newsletter December 21, 2011

Weekly Classes

Bhagavad Gita class – Dec. 16, Friday

Ch. 12 Verses 8-12: As Swami Vivekananda said, a person doesn't travel from error to truth, but from lower truth to higher truth.  It is painstaking work to reach the goal of God realization, but if we follow the means exactly, we are sure to reach our goal! According to Sri Krishna, if an aspirant fixes his mind on Him and is devoted to Him, he will be liberated. However, Lord understands how difficult tying the mind to God can be for us and assures us that we should not despair.  We should practice meditation regularly and, over time, the mind will get tied to God. This, too, can be challenging, and we may get discouraged if our mind is wandering, or if our body becomes fatigued, or if we feel we don’t have enough time to devote to meditation.  God knows this too; Sri Krishna tells in Verse 10 that if we are unable to do meditation, we should start by devoting our work to God.  Doing each action as perfectly as possible, dedicating it to God, will help to discipline our mind and make mediation possible.  Even if it is difficult for us to convert all of our work into worship, then we must make sure that at least some work we do each day is dedicated to God. And if this is also too challenging for us, we should at least offer the results of our completed work to God.  In Verse 12, Lord Krishna lays out a hierarchy of paths towards Realization.  He tells Arjuna that practice with knowledge is superior to mere practice; meditation is superior to knowledge; and renunciation of the fruits of action is superior to meditation. We might assume that meditation would fall at the top of this list, but Lord specifically names the superiority of renunciation of action  Why?  Because this is a practice that can be taken up by any of us, regardless of how much we struggle to control the mind in meditation; liberation is available to and attainable by all of us.

Symposium on the Life & Teachings of Holy Mother - December 18, Sunday

Pat Blake spoke about Holy Mother's demonstration of motherhood: Sarada Devi could not refuse anyone who called her Mother. Her life was dedicated to serving the lives of others. As Divine Mother in human form, she accepts all and loves all. In times of stress, each of us can remember, "I have a Mother."  Holy Mother's life is a gift, but each of us must open that gift by dissolving all that separates us from her.
Olu Haynes explored the ways in which aspects of Holy Mother's life can help us on the spiritual path. Sarada Devi's life reveals the goal of life, brings inspiration, and provides guidelines for living. In particular, Holy Mother's life gives many examples of how to be compassionate toward others. Holy Mother took on the suffering of others; she saw God in everything and was unconditionally loving.
Roshni Darnal spoke about Holy Mother as guru.  Holy Mother expresses many fine qualities that point to her capacity as a teacher, including selflessness, forgiveness, and eagerness to serve. She had keen insight into the different devotees' unique needs and temperaments and gave advice accordingly.  Her love, service, and instruction were all unconditional. She willingly accepted as a student any person with a sincere and earnest yearning for God.
In conclusion, Swami Yogatmananda expressed that Sarada Devi was a motherly guide, whom Sri Ramakrishna regarded as Divine Mother incarnate. Yet, at the same time, out of her compassion, she expressed so many human qualities that people found it very easy to relate to her. The basis of Holy Mother's uniqueness is that even having an externally embroiled life, she could always remember her Divine Nature at will.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna class – Dec. 20, Tuesday

Sri Ramakrishna was explaining two types of Samadhi, on the basis of His own experience. The two types are: Jada Samadhi and Bhava Samadhi. In Jada Samadhi the distinction between 'I' and the world disappears, ignorance vanishes and body becomes action-less. Body does not remain for long time in such state. Action is a result of desires arising out of ignorance. When ignorance is taken over by knowledge, there is no action. In Bhava Samadhi too, the distinction and ignorance disappear but still the body lives for the sole purpose of imparting knowledge. Sri Ramakrishna has experienced Jada Samadhi for 6 months; after that, Divine Mother ordered him to remain in Bhavamukha - to play His role in the Leela - God's play. In Bhava Samadhi one lives in the world but with a constant awareness of the true Self. These ideas cannot be understood well unless one is free from lust and greed. Intense attachment to lust and greed keeps one away from the True Self. Lust and greed appear superficial but when one tries to uproot them, then alone one comes to know how deeply penetrating is their stranglehold. Sri Ramakrishna gives example of one of His beloved disciple - Kedar. He is trying hard to imbibe devotion but has strong attachment to lust and greed. To have the real joy in life there is no other way but to give up lust and greed. Younger kids have no or very little attachment to the world and hence Sri Ramakrishna loved them so dearly. Balram asked an interesting question about Purna - a young disciple of Master - described as Ishvarkoti. "How was it possible for Purna to know all of a sudden that the world is illusory?" This will be discussed in the next class.