Class Summary for Oct 31, 2023 - Chapter-2 Slokas 23 - 25

  Summarized by: Sachin Gaikwad

The class started with prayer, pranayama, and meditation. 

Previous class summary:

One of the participants summarized the previous class discussion. In summary, we also reiterated the Atma's nature, i.e., 'Akartha' is a non-doer of any action, and 'Abhoktha' is not a experencer of any activity.

We expanded on a few examples:

• Movie screen - Atma is like a movie screen, a substratum on which the whole movie gets played, but the screen itself doesn't get impacted
• Electricity - Atma is like electricity needed to run any electrical equipment. Irrespective of what kind of equipment, such as a bulb or a fan or TV, electricity is still required to run the equipment.  

Note on the current conflicts in the world:

In the previous class, there was a question regarding the current conflicts in the world. Maniji shared a response from Akalka-ji (Brahmacharini @ Chinmaya Ramdoot). The gist was that we don't have any control over external conflicts, but we can control our thoughts. We should strive to keep our thoughts in Satvic mode and purify our thoughts through prayers, reflection, and meditation. We also should pray for the welfare of other people. 

But one might wonder how will one person's meditation or prayer help on a large scale? Maniji had heard from a Swamiji saying that we are not aware of the ratio of positive energy and negative energy in the world. Every person's prayer will add to the positivity that can tilt the scale of energies, so instead of worrying about the contribution, it is better to contribute. To give an analogy, in the modern world, if each person thinks what my single vote will achieve? Then, no one would end up voting, and the will of the people will not be realized. Instead, as a responsible and model citizen, if everyone thinks voting is their duty and just votes, all the tallied votes would drive the desired outcome.

Tiny drops, aka votes or prayers, are going to create a considerable force and tilt the positive energy of the world. Based on Ashaji's suggestion, we decided to sing the 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah' prayer at the end of the class.

Shlokas 23-25

The class chanted Verses /Shlokas 23-25 and reviewed the translations. 

Verses 23-25 continue to point towards further qualities of Atma:

• Weapons, fire, water, and wind cannot impact the Atma.
• The soul is immutable, everlasting, and primordial.
• Knowing the nature of the soul, one should not grieve for the body.

In the theme, i.e., elaboration on these verses:

• We discussed how a few scientists used a Vacuum Glass coffin and many ultrasound kinds of high-tech equipment in the enclosure on a person who was about to pass away and couldn't find any evidence of when the soul departed from the body. This experiment further testifies that the soul is the subtlest object that even scientific equipment couldn't capture its existence.
• These verses highlight that knowing the true nature of the soul helps in warding off our ignorance. The knowledge that the soul is immortal and our body is just a temporary thing helps us live with Vairagya.

Subjective analysis of Shlokas 23-25:

Practice VAIRAGYA in day-to-day life by letting go of small attachments like coffee, sweets, etc. Fasting is an excellent exercise to help Vairagya as food is one of the things we/our body is most attached to.

• For the practice of Varigya, we have to leave something we are attached to. For example, if a person doesn't like bitter gourd in the first place, the person can't say that I'm distancing myself from bitter gourd, so I'm practicing Varigya. Instead, pick something you are attached to, like coffee or sweets.
• By practicing Varigya, we make our minds strong and reduce our obsessions. It doesn't mean we have to leave every desire of ours; instead, our scriptures recommend moderation. 
• Refrain from overwhelming yourself by thinking that practicing Varigya is an impossible feat. Instead, start small and enforce it with regular practice. Practice is the key. Maniji gave the example of how he gradually reduced eating food on Ekadasi fasting. Now, most of the time, he completes the Ekadasi fasting with just water throughout the day.
• Pick something that we are attached to, like coffee or sweets, and begin by reducing the quantities in the beginning and then letting it go for good. Don't give in to the cravings. The most challenging organ to control is the tongue, so by controlling the tongue, we are managing the mind. 

A participant's question on practicing Vairagya

Does practicing Vairagya become more easier with age? We see that older people have more detached feelings than younger people. As we grow, our attachments change, and should we aspire to give up and speed up and practice detachment now?

In general, age could play a role, but more than age, it is what one has practiced throughout life. Attachments come from Vasanas; Vasanas are behavioral tendencies or karmic imprint that influences the present behavior of a person. 

• Use the 'Substitute and Sublimation' technique explained in Swamiji's 'Path to Self-Unfoldment.' Instead of giving up entirely at one shot, reduce the activity. E.g., Instead of binge-watching the series for 3 hours, reduce it to 1 hour and replace it with a habit of reading a book. One should be careful not to get attached to the Substitute as well. 

Attachment to our kids 

We continued on the Vairagya topic further. Nobody says we should not love our kids; we must fulfill our responsibilities and duties towards them, but we shouldn't get attached and depend on our kids for happiness. Attachments come with expectations, and expectations make attachments stronger. Empty nesters become depressed due to attachments. One should realize that our kids are souls on their own journey and advancing toward the ultimate goal. As parents, it is our responsibility to facilitate and provide the best within our capabilities and avoid getting attached. 

We are going to learn a lot of techniques in the future classes that are going to help us practice vairagya.

Conclusion

We concluded the class with closing prayers:

• 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah' prayer
• Om Purnamadah