Class Summary for Dec 19, 2023 - Chapter-2 Slokas 51 - 53

 Summarized by:  Bala Dhandapani 

The class started off with prayer, pranayama and meditation. 

Summary of Slokas 47-50 from previous class was reviewed.

-          Importance of continuously practicing essence of slokas 47-50 was discussed.  Abhyassa (Continuous practice) on Vairagya (detachment) and Viveka (judgement) is very important. 

-          Focus on the actions and not on the goal (while performing the actions) in our day to day lives.

-          Example:  if a top surgeon is operating on a loved one, the surgeon is going to keep reflecting on the outcome and will not be able to operate properly, perhaps that is the reason as to why surgeons are not allowed to operate on their loved ones. 

-          We should avoid dissipating energy worrying about the future, this will not help us perform our actions efficiently.

Slokas 51, 52 and 53 were chanted.

Sadhakas, the wise who are engaged in Karma Yoga (giving up the results of their actions) abandon the attachments to the fruits of actions that binds ones to the cycle of life and death.  They attain a state beyond all suffering.

When your mind/intellect cross over/transcend delusion/ignorance then you would reach nirvaanam  (dispassion, vairagya) for what is yet to be heard about (from the Vedas).  

The absolute truth is beyond the ritualistic path prescribed in the vedas.  One would obtain Mokasha when one goes beyond the ritualistic path.  Performing rituals will only provide temporary results.

Discussion

Perform actions without being emotionally attached to the results. 

“Detachment is an art of enjoying something while always being open to the possibility of losing it someday” - John Bejo

Enjoy what you are doing is part of the journey.  One would enjoy the amenities of a rental property while living in that place (and not destroy or damage), have a similar mindset while performing an action.  Develop dispassion for temporary pleasures/happiness.

 

True Freedom – When one performs fruit based actions, having an outcome in the mind is not truly free.  If the state of mind is dependent on the outcome, there is no freedom.  Example- when one wants to loose weight and plan to go the gym, enjoy going to the gym and not attached to the result.

 

Believe to achieve, fixing a goal or having an objective is not against Karma Yoga, don’t get attached to the goal.  Example (again a weight loss goal) every day checking weight and getting upset that progress is not made is not wise.  Instead, plan on the activities and execute accordingly and accept the results.  One must always plan, create plan A, have a fall back plan – planB etc. Once established, don’t keep worrying about it, focus on the actions.  Constantly worrying about the result will impact the execution itself. 

Story-  A brilliant student who knows in and out of the subject starts answering in an exam is completely dejected after answering 6 questions and is not able to answer all the 10 questions.  Later realizes that the student failed to read an important statement – answer 5 out of 10 questions (not all the 10 !).  If the student read the information correctly would have answered the 5 without stressing out. 

Story (possibly one of the Beatles person).  In a class when the teacher asked each student what they want to be when they grow up, each one provided their choice such as a doctor, engineer, fireman etc.  Oe kid answered that he wants to be happy, the teacher repeated the question and the kid answered the same that he want to be happy. 

If we focus on the result, we will be a prisoner to the result and leads to disappointment. 

Concentrate on the quality of the process and the end product will turn out to be good as planned (fundamentals of Quality Assurance).

 

Summary of “thought” -  Gurudev’s video (verse 52)

Several thoughts come in our mind from the time we are awake till we sleep.  No one is stranger to thoughts. 

What is a thought – A thought cannot be without an object.  When there are no objects, there cannot be a thought (such as in a deep sleep there are no thoughts since there are no objects).  When you are conscious of an object it becomes a thought. 

Thought = Object + Consciousness

Thought-Object = Consciousness.

Consciousness does not get diverted because of thoughts.

There are 16,000 thoughts in a day.  The 16,000 thoughts represents the16,000 wives of Krishna (the mind).

Thoughts are like a tissue box, one goes out and the next one is ready (from Gurudev’s pravachan)

Karma yoga helps to control the senses and purify the mind.  A purified mind is more conducive to acquire knowledge to attain Moksha.  Example, pickle jar – after using up the pickles, the jar cannot be used for anything else, it has to be cleaned.  Similarly, purify the mind to obtain knowledge to attain Moksha.  Karma yoga is a prerequisite (and essential) for Gyana yoga.

 

Karma yoga in daily life, how does that apply to each one of us……  Motives are very important, know what role you play, give your best and forgo the rest.  Serve all, do as a service to your society, people etc.  Be disciplined, do not waver. 

Maintain complete awareness, only then one can give their best.  Observe your reaction through introspection.  Develop immunity towards reaction from others.  Manage emotional expressions, not eliminate- expressions should not control us.  Let go of the obsessions – the strong vasanas.   

Story -  2 disciples of Valabhacharya went to get diksha.  Both of them recently lost a loved one in their life.  One was composed and another one was sobbing.  Vallabhacharya said he cannot accept the composed person as his disciple, whereas he could accept the sobbing person.  When question on his decision, he said the composed person was like a stone with no emotions, while the sobbing person had emotions that could be Managed and directed it to a higher cause.