Class Summary for Jan 30, 2024 - Chapter-2 Slokas 61 - 64

 Summarized by:  Neelima Turga

The class started with Opening prayers, followed by pranayam, meditation and a quick recap of the last class.

A helpful technique to control the mind - We have no control over the external stimuli that affect our mind. Many times these stimuli cause varied emotions in us.  For example if we are worried about something, even though we try to curb it and continue with our routine, it stays in the back of the mind. One of the techniques recommended to eliminate this constant nagging worry, is to remember the Lord's name or a higher ideal.  Whenever the thought of worry comes up, it should be replaced with the chanting. With constant practice of this technique, the mind can be trained to automatically switch from the worrisome thought to the taking the name of the Lord. This substitution of the lower thought with the higher will help us control our mind.

In the previous class, we had discussed about how a tortoise withdraws it's limbs into its strong shell, that protects it from all external dangers. Such techniques help us and protect us like a shell from all the external stimuli that cause disturbances in our mind. 

The next concept that we discussed was about how we can keep our mind in a balanced state when some adharma is happening around us. Is it okay to keep quiet and not act on it ? For example, Draupadi being humiliated in Duryodhan's court and no one reacts. 

We have to do what is in our power. What we do is very subjective and is dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. However, inaction is not an option.  We discussed a real life example,  where a company was indirectly involved with something that could be unethical or deviating from the principles of the company. Different employees reacted differently to this. Some raised their voice and complained, and few went to the extent of quitting the company altogether. Although it is important to stand up for dharma, one should not act impulsively and take rash decisions.The basic values of Satyam, ahimsa and brahmacharya should always be upheld, and we need to do our part to uphold them. The extent of action again depends on the circumstances.  People in the Grihasta ashrama have many duties and obligations. Keeping that in mind, one should act and stand up for dharma.

Shlokas 61-64 : We chanted the shlokas and saw the translation..

For the first time, Bhagawan implicitly tells Arjuna that he is the Brahman. The best way to detach from the lower objects is by attaching to the higher ideal, or thinking about Bhagawan. For example replacing TV shows with Gurudev's videos. This helps increase the sattva and thereby reduce the rajas and tamas in us.

 The shlokas talk about how the mind goes down a spiral if we yield to our senses. The external objects attract our senses that act through our sense organs, We then develop an attachment to those objects. The attachment in turn leads to a desire to get it. We might get it sometimes, and sometimes we may not.  When we don't get it, we get angry. When we are angry, there is a clouding of judgement. The mind stops thinking properly and this further leads to loss of memory. We lose our viveka or the discrimination between good and bad. This loss of discrimination leads to ruin. This is a vicious cycle. A conscious effort has to be made to get out of this cycle. Karma, bhakti and gyan yoga, sravanam, mananam and nidityasam, chanting the Lord's name and attaching to the higher ideal, are all techniques that we can follow, so we don't fall in this vicious cycle.  

Desires should not be confused with goals. Desires usually come with attachment, hence should be avoided. On the other hand, having goals and working towards them is good and is encouraged, as long as we don't get attached to the result. 

Gurudev's videos : All sense organs have to be well controlled by steadily turning the entire attention to God. If they are non-believers, it should be turned to their goal in life. Everyone should have a goal. Without a goal, a person just survives.We should have a goal to achieve anything or to bring out the best in us. We can gain complete control of the sense organs by focusing our attention on God or a higher ideal or goal. . We should not let the sense organs control us. The sense organs and BMI are our vehicle, which should take us where we want to go, not just take us anywhere they want. We should be the master to our sense organs, not their slave. 

Subjective analysis : Key is to achieve sensory mastery (management) and not suppression. We need to balance our desires and manage them and not just suppress them. We need to be doing our dharma as per the ashrama we are in, and as we go about, learn to gain mastery over our senses. 

The class concluded with closing prayers and a minute of contemplation on the topics discussed.