Class Summary for Sep 24, 2024 - Chapter-4 Slokas 7-12 continued

Summarized by Bala Dhandapani 

After pranayama and meditation, recap from Sep 17th class was summarized.

Parking Lot question (How do we see God when someone is non-dharmic) was addressed. 

Krishna tries to convince Duryodhana to do the right thing and not go to the war.  Even though he understands that he is not following dharma, Duryodhana is unable to change his mind.  Krishna gives the army to Duryodhana (material needs) and support Pandavas – dharmic side. 

Do not unsettle the mind of the ignorant, be on the righteous side.  The knowledge that we accumulate is for ourselves – do not enforce on others. 

Learn to interact with the world, apply different tactics, one size does not fit all – follow Sama (request), Dhana (material), Bedha (negotiation), Dhanda (weapon).

Class watches videos of Gurudev, slokas 7-12

Summary:

The less evolved is always frightened of the highly evolved one.  In an office if there is a corrupt officer and a honest officer, the corrupt one cannot face the honest one directly.  It is dangerous in this world if you become honest, others want to destroy you.  Lord says whenever the righteous ones are chocked, inorder to make a path for the evolved one, he would project himself in the world again and again.

Story – An Australian went to Japan and stayed with a Zen master for 14 years.  He said, I have been studying in your presence, serving you, learning from you all these years – at the end I realize that all your conclusions are illogical and irrational.   The Zen master says – Logic is only up to intellectual level, truth doesn’t need Logic, Truth doesn’t need logic to prove, no intelligent man will accept this since absolute Truth is beyond intellect. 

If the Lord is there, why is he sending me through the wrong path?  Why can’t he send me in the right path?

The gas in your car does not determine where to go.  It is your responsibility to drive the car and take it to the destination. 

A sinner can’t do sin and a saint cannot do saintly things without a shimmer of life that is essential. 

If you order a Genie to beat you, he will certainly do, similarly if you invoke Narayana he will guide you. 

All the people are searching for fulfillment in the outer world.  More fools are there than intelligent people in the world. 

Higher the mountain to climb, greater will be the effort.

 

Subjective Analysis of Slokas 7-12:   Develop Faith as compared to Belief.  This can be attained through constant Shravanam, Mananam and Nidityasanam. 

Class discussed on the difference between Faith and Belief

Belief is circumstantial and can change, whereas Faith is being Sure.  Faith is beyond belief (absolutely sure) with no doubt in it. 

Stories shared on this topic:

Whole village convened to pray for rain.  Only one small girl brought umbrella with her – since she had Faith that there will be rain after prayers.

In a Buddhist monastery a Sanadhin was thrown out of the window , while he was falling he prayed and said if the vedas are true God will save him.  He lost one eye during the fall.  He asked God why he was not saved completely,  the reply was that he still doubted the vedas by saying “if the vedas are true”.  If he had faith than belief he would have been saved completely. 

 Slokas 13, 14 and 15 were chanted.