Class Summary for Oct 10, 2023 - Chapter-2 Slokas 11 - 14

 Summarized by: Aishwarya Ramani

When Krishna starts his teaching, the commentary goes on to say how Dhritarashtra gets angry and directs that on to Krishna. He does that at a later point when the war is done, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari blame Krishna for the war by saying he was the Sutredhar, acting behind the scenes.

Chapter 2, sankhya yoga starts here, the Lord steps up to teach Arjuna

Shloka 11-12:

Starts with something tough so can start from final state and then scale back. This is highest knowledge that Krishna is giving

 

This is a critical point in the Bhagavad Gita. Brahma Gyana teachings start here, hence the name of the chapter. In the modern philosophy, this is equivalent to rewiring the mind. Mind has a particular type of wiring based on past birth and vasanas and impressions, our behaviour is based on this wiring. Process now is to rewire the mind to help overcome past impressions so we can know absolute truth and be able to acquire absolute knowledge.

 

These verses provide some pointers towards what the aatma or Brahman is, it has no birth or death, is eternal- nitya

At no point does it not exist. This concept was explained with the analogy of a Sim card and it's relation to a phone. Without simcard, phone doesn’t work. Aatman is analogous to a sim card, BMI is phone (keeps upgrading)

Another example discussed was that of electricity powering the bulb. Electricity powering the appliances can be loosely thought of as Aatman, electrical instruments are instruments are physical creation. Like we have different appliances, we have different living beings, but one powering them is the same.

 

The discussion continued into Gopika Geetham- when you chant, there is silence, that silence is Krishna, Gopis are thoughts. On silence, an example was discussed when a group of meditation teachers observed ISRO scientists at work and noticed that they seemed to be state of meditation as their minds were fully immersed in work.

A question on Nama japa came up during the discussion on how to find silence. Answer discussed was that, Nama japa is stepping stone to meditation. You are getting your senses focused on chanting. After you do that, at some point, you stop your nama japa and go into meditative state.

We discussed that when you are chanting one name, in the beginning you are chanting fast and then eventually slow down, gap between names is silence and that turns into meditation and the mind is focused.

Japa was compared to pool noodles. It works as an aid to teach us to calm the mind.

Another example provided was that of a pole vault. To jump over we need the assistance of the pole, but must let go to complete the jump.

Coming back to the verses, Krishna recognizes the need of the hour, He jolts Arjuna, as he is confused, completely given up and hopeless. We also have to look at the situation, He wanted Arjuna to fight the war, Krishna thought it was necessary. Krishna is Arjuna's friend, but later, Krishana becomes the Guru

We discussed how if someone is in extreme state of shock, people try to console them and they are given shock treatment, some force is a applied, so they can come out of that shock. Krishna through his words, gives a similar "shock treatment" to Arjuna, to snap him out of his state of mind.

 

Notes from Gurudev's video

(Chapter 2- verse 11)

 

There are only 2 types of people in the world, people who have already left, and those of us, not yet gone.

We are not permanent. Gurudev gives the example of the currents of Ganga that have flowed down and new flow is coming.

Where are your great grant father, fathers, grandfathers, they are all gone, you can weep over them, but you are wasting your time.Gurudev reminds us that we are also progressing towards that same end. Just as we pushed our forefathers out, our children are pushing us out.

Gurudev urges us to look at the whole picture, nothing for us to weep over, we are going, new people coming,

This is the flow of life

In time everything must be in constant state of change

Today we are all here tomorrow we are not here

At the end of the video, Gurudev encourages us to live vitally every moment we are living and to be a master of situations

(Chapter 2, verse 13)

This individual body, in dweller in this body, mind and intellect

Individuality which is present in this body. Gurudev compares this body to a hut (i.e. home) in which we are living,

Gurudev calls us temporary tenants of this body. He Talks about how the body is our external individual identity, i.e. to meet Gurudev they have to go to that body, to meet any other individual, they have to go to the individual body. He also talks about how the landlord (i.e. the body) is very strict. Rent has to be paid to the body three times a day, every day

He also talks about how we take care of the body, and the body will send constant reminders if we are not caring for it. However, when the time comes, we are ejected out.

(Chapter 2 verse 14)

Gurudev explains this verse by talking about our experience of joys and sorrows coming from our contact with the world outside. When we are in deep sleep, there is no contact with the world outside. SO long as we are in contact with the outer world, then alone joy and sorrow can come. If it is impossible for the mind to contact the outside world, your experience is wonderful. That is why people drink (consume alcohol)

He explains that by contact with the world outside alone sorrow can come. He gives the example of getting influenced by the beautiful objects when we go window shopping and then feeling sorrow when we cannot possess the object.

He asks the question: Where did it all happen? He explains that the sorrow is a result of our mental contact with the object. In the same way, Gurudev explains, things in the world outside cannot touch us, it is our relationship with it that gives you joys and sorrows.