Class Summary for Mar 19, 2024 - Chapter-3 Slokas 1 - 7 continued; and Slokas 8 - 13

 Summarized by Rajesh

Last class summary

  • The path of karma can clear our Vasanas (but with the right attitude)
  • We need to act
  • Right action in the direction of Dharma is punyam and wrong action away from Dharma is papam
  • We spoke about the path of knowledge and action


Swamiji’s Videos


Verse 3

  • If everyone’s tastes are different, imagine the varieties of emotional states that people have
  • Jnanayoga - intelectual, rational, logical, step-by-step, for people that need explanation
  • Karmayoga - to those of those are restless at the body level, dynamic people, service for society
  • Gurudev applies this to the Gunas but we need to realize that we are in different Gunas during different times, so both paths must be taken


Verse 4

  • State of actionlessness - by retiring from all your activities, you cannot reach the state indicated by the word actionlessness.  Inactivity <> actionlessness.
  • Escapists from the world cannot realize religion
  • We cannot give up this world, since it doesn’t it belong to us
  • The only things that we can give up are our attachments


Verse 5

  • All living things have no choice but to respond to external stimuli
  • Our own Vasanas (tendencies) will make us act, we are helpless


Subjective Analysis

Act -> Learn -> Know -> Be Free

Action -> Right Attitude -> Contemplation -> Liberation



Verses 8-13 - chanting and review


You should thus perform your prescribed Vedic duties, since action is superior to inaction.  By ceasing activity, even your bodily maintenance will not be possible /08/


Work must be done as a yajna (sacrifice) to the Supreme Lord (free from attachment); otherwise, work causes bondage in this material world.  Therefore, O sun of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties, without being attached to the results, for the satisfaction of God /09/


In the beginning of creation, Brahma created humankind along with duties, and said, “Prosper in the performance of these Yajnas (sacrifices), for they shall bestow upon you all you wish to achieve /10/


By your sacrifices the celestial gods will be pleased, and by cooperation between humans and the celestial gods, prosperity will reign for all /11/


The celestial gods, being satisfied by the performance of sacrifice, will grant you all the desired necessities of life.  But those who enjoy what is given to them, without making offerings in return, are verily thieves /12/


The spiritually-minded, who eat food that is first offered in sacrifice, are released from all kinds of sin.  Others, who cook food for their own enjoyment, verily eat only sin /13/


Yagna

KUND

Field of activity


AHUTI

Talent, Ability

What you’re sacrificing

FIRE SHOOTS UP

Profit kindled

Any sort of result

PRASAD

Profit distributed

Not being selfish, sharing with everyone/ecosystem


DUTY -> PEACE:  If we perform actions as a duty, we will be at peace.

RIGHT -> FIGHT:  If we perform actions as a right, there will be fights and chaos.


Theme:

  • Prescribed Vedic duties are based on our dharma.  How we perform them makes it Saatvik, Raajasik or Tamasik (obligatory, desire driven, prohibited)
  • Nithya karma has to be performed, if not even your body will get impacted
  • Naimitikka karma has to be performed based on circumstance or situation
  • Action without right attitude will result in bondage.  Action with devotion = Yagna spirit will free from bondage.
  • Harmonious living with the right attitude is the way to sustain the world according the Creator (as per the Vedas)
  • The world and this body is God’s gift to us, what we do with it is our gift to him
  • A grateful and thankful attitude is very critical

As we do self-analysis at the end of the night, we will improve ourselves.

Don’t feel indispensable.  If we feel this way, then we are extremely attached.

Noise in our minds is distorting the divine music that’s playing inside us.


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