Newsletter March 21, 2012

Weekly Classes

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

Bhagavad Gita class – March 16, Friday

Ch. 13 Verses 17-19: It has been shown earlier in this chapter that all names and forms are impermanent and that the Self alone is unchanging and permanent. Life has to b e guided by this discernment. Assigning permanent values to impermanent things makes the life full of conflicts and confusion. When the aspirant knows that something is impermanent and acts according to that awareness then s/he does not get bound.   Lord Krishna explains that all knowledge, all that is known, and all that is worth knowing is the unchanging Self, which pervades all existence. The spiritual aspirant often wonders if that Self truly exists.  He may think, “I don’t see the Self; where could it be?” Lord Krishna replies that all perceptions are, in fact, perceptions of the Self, although it may appear counterintuitive to the devotee who, as a result of ignorance, clings to the changing names and forms as if they were unchanging. A wonderful analogy is that of a movie screen: although while one is watching the movie s/he is not aware of the screen, the screen pervades the whole of the movie. In ignorance the unchanging nature of the screen gets superimposed on the changing forms and thus one gets confused about what it changing and what is unchanging. Therefore Lord Krishna tells the devotees that in hearts of all, and in every pulsation of knowledge, the Self is there, vibrating in all names and forms. Lord Krishna emphasizes that God, the Self in all, is so close to us, nearer than anyone or anything in the world. For this reason, devotees should not get disheartened in their quest for God realization. What does one need to realize this Self, and thereby attain to this happiness? One has to cultivate sincere devotion, intense love directed towards God. In the 19th verse, an analysis of our mundane experience is beautifully presented by the Lord. Human beings are a conglomeration of something that is matter and something that is consciousness or “life,” but which is which is very hard to tell. As human beings, we always consider ourselves consciously or unconsciously to be non-matter. Where, then, is life? Consciousness is neither the mind nor the body. The topic will be continued during the next class.

Waves on the Formless Ocean - March 18, Sunday

A person's spiritual unfolding that results from the touch of a Divine human form is a tremendous mystery. Every religion features as its center a person who is regarded as both Divine and human.  Such incarnations of God, or Avataras, generate the feeling of something beyond form.  In names and forms, the play of the Formless is still going on, just like waves of the ocean; even though the ocean can't be "caught," it can still be perceived. We all must confront the puzzle of form and formlessness, even as we consider our own existence, asking, for example, "Am I a form, or am I a formless entity?" God incarnations do not experience this puzzle because of their deep connection with the Formless, the Infinite. For example, Sri Ramakrishna's awareness enabled him to perceive both the divided (waves) and undivided (ocean) at the same time. In seeking the Formless, some people mistakenly think that it is necessary to remove all forms.  Rather than trying to rub out all the waves, however, one can learn to mentally transcend them. Such an abstraction in one's thinking then must become an instrument for Truth.  When we are connected to a Divine form, transcendence of the forms becomes possible; through such a being, one gets a feel for the Formless.  Thus such incarnations come into this world with no karma and are here, through their mercy and compassion, only to pass on the Light of wisdom that illuminates this world. We are craving Infinite Love, and if we do not reach it in this life, another cycle comes.  Once we fulfill our quest for the Formless, we realize that every wave is the Ocean.
(The talk was based on a song written originally by Swami Premeshananda, describing Sri Ramakrishna as a lila-wave due to the compassion-breeze on the ocean of formlessness)

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna – March 20, Tuesday

M commented that "Christ, Chaitanyadeva and Sri Ramakrishna - all three are one and the same." Divine incarnations are many and in various forms but the core is the same. As we change the dresses suitable to the occasions, similarly, the forms are changed as per the circumstances. Body is a mere covering. It will be wrong on our part to restrict the divine that it can incarnate only in one particular form. Through these divine incarnations, one can see God. They serve as a connection between finite human being and infinite God. As Sw. Vivekananda said incarnations are for human understanding of God. It is difficult to grasp the idea that Perfect Brahman dwelling in the small human body. Due to the ignorance we see limitations. If we try to see beyond the limits of body then it is the same Reality.
Sri Ramakrishna once told this to Holy Mother that as soon as people will recognize Him as an incarnation, the divine Mother will not keep His body for too long. He was referring about the same thing to M. It is very difficult to recognize an incarnation in His lifetime. It is seen in almost all God-incarnations’ lives.
Sri Ramakrishna enquired about Dwija - a devotee who had great yearning for God-realization. It is very important but rare quality. If one has developed intense yearning for God then it is a sign that realization of God is not far away.
 M mentioned that he likes God's Lila in the form of human being. On this Master remarked, "that is enough. And you are seeing me." This is a very contemplative remark. Did Master intend to say to M that you love God and you are seeing one too? We all can meditate upon this remark.