Class Summary for Feb 06, 2024 - Chapter-2 Slokas 65 - 68

Summarized by Sachin Gaikwad

Class started with the opening prayers, Om, Pranayama, and meditation.

Question: Is it safe to do Pranayam right after dinner?

The Anulom Vilom Pranayam version we usually do in class is safe to do after dinner as we only inhale and exhale. We don't do the Kumbhaka version of Anulom Vilom pranayama, which involves holding our breath for some time.

Shlokas 65-68

In these verses, Bhagavan Krishna expounds on Bhakti Yoga and confirms that with faith & God's grace, it is possible to control the mind and senses.

After reading the verses and their translations, we covered Bhakti Yoga and the stairs to enlightenment. Here are the steps:

1. Thinking of GOD

2. Reduction of rajas, tamas, and increase of sattva

3. Likes & dislikes getting destroyed

4. Senses will be under control

5. We will stay away from sensual experiences

6. Mind will be under control

7. We will get clarity of mind

8. This will help get atma darshan

9. This will enable complete faith in God

10. This will finally rid us of all worldly sorrows and hardships and allow us to remain in peace


Detailed discussion on stairs to enlightenment:

Everything (like action and reaction) starts at the thought level, so when we attach the thought towards God, we are making our thoughts saatvic. For example, we should substitute the thought that worries us for the thought of God because, as we already know, worrying doesn't help. Saattvic thoughts reduce vasanas and allow us to stay away from sensual pleasures so we can control our senses easily. As we know, the mind is nothing but a stream of thoughts, so by controlling our senses, we can handle and manage our minds efficiently. When we get clarity in our minds, it will lead to Atma darshan. Atma Darshan enables complete belief in God; it eliminates all the doubts about 'self' and reinforces the faith in God. For a realized person, the worldly sorrows and hardships don't bother them and allow them to remain in self-control and peace.

Detailed discussion on Step 1: Thinking of God 

To think about God, we don't have to make specific time for this; it is enough to remember God when we get a few seconds. For example, when walking or having coffee or tea, just remember the Lord's name. Even Gurudev used to do naama japa while doing mundane tasks. There are so many creative solutions if one wants to do Naama japa. For example, one could also play the Lord's name music while driving or at work at a low volume.

The Lord's name must be a constant background thought as to how a musician uses tambura as a base for his/her music. It is said in Shastras that if we take one step toward the Lord, he takes 10 steps towards us. Remember that the Lord's grace is always on us!


Gurudev's videos:

When the sense organs are not under control, the mind is in agitation, and when the mind is in agitation, the intellect is dull. Intellectual abilities are not possible when the mind is in agitation. When we don't have a steady intellect, how can one make the steady application of intellect, i.e., contemplation? Forget about contemplating the highest reality & spirituality, but contemplation is necessary even to solve our day-to-day problems. Consistent logical thinking is the function of the intellect! The intellect cannot think of all the data and come to the correct conclusion when it is dull. Only when the mind is agitated will the intellect be dull. And the mind cannot be quiet as long as the sense organs are not under our control.

Conclusion

We concluded the class with closing prayers, Om Purnamadah, and with our closed eyes, we recounted what we discussed during the class.

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