Class Summary for Dec 17, 2024 - Chapter-4 Slokas 31-36

Summarized by Yamini :

We continued the discussion on different types of Yagnas.
What is Yagna?
For a novice Yagna might remind them of Havan Kund and the different sacrifices offered into it.
As you dwell more into the spiritual teaching, you start to understand that Yagna is any sacrifice given for a higher goal. Even daily mundane actions can be turned into Yagna. Eg: Aahara Yagna, Praana/ Apana Yagna.

In Praana/ Apana Yagna, you are sacrificing exhalation during inhalation and vice versa.
Geeta Yagna is an example of Gnana Yagna  where we are offering sloka chanting to God.
Gnana yagna is the highest form of all Yagnas. The concept of Geeta gnana yagna comes from sloka 33.

Before that gruhastas were not allowed to learn about Geeta. But Gurudev changed that brought Geeta pravachanam into main stream so it is accessible to everyone.

Karma yoga is also a Yagna, where you are sacrificing results of all actions to Brahman.
Vedas mention more Yagnas than the 12 that were mentioned. Although there are many ways to purify yourself , the ultimate goal is moksha .

Gurudev mentions relates this to a rich man sleeping on a soft silk bed in an A/C room and a beggar sleeping on a bench in the platform. The ultimate goal for both is sleep. Similarly, we may choose any path of spirituality based on our temperament and circumstances, but the ultimate goal is to destroy all ignorance and attain Brahman.

Why is pranayama so important for us:
Praana means breathing , ayama mean discipline.
Introducing holding breath between inhale and exhale is very important for pranayama
We have 5 koshas namely annmaya, pranamaya, manomaya, gnanamaya,and vignanamaya kosha.

Between annamaya and manomaya is pranamaya kosha. Since this is between annamya and manomaya, it effects both physical and mental being. Its been proved even in western medicinal studies how mediation effects the body and mind. Breathing is involuntary, but in meditation we make it voluntary.
Apana , udana, samana  are all the systems we are controlling while doing pooja
In our daily life controlling an impulse to send a mail when you are angry also requires some kind of sadhana. Letting go of that anger and ego is also a Yagna.

Swadhyaya Yagna- Learning of scriptures is also a Yagna because you are sacrificing your ignorance to attain higher knowledge. Same applies to listening to pravachans.
Even the most immoral can turn their ways around and attain moksha.

Anguli mala is an example. He was known for cutting fingers off of travelers and made a garland out of them. When he was looking for the thousandth finger he came across Buddha. Buddha was unfaced when he encountered Angulimala. When he asked Buddha if he knew who he was, Buddha told him all he knew him. By the reaction of Buddha, he changed completely and fell at his feet. He was his disciple for 10 years and then went around into villages to spread the teachings. He was beaten by the villagers initially because they recognized him. But eventually with his persistence , he turned them around to listen to him.

Another story discussed: A guru used to ask his disciple to bring water from the river every day, in a bucket with holes. The bucket used to be empty by the time he reached the ashram, but he kept bringing water everyday following the Guruji’s order. One day he asked the  Guru, the reason behind this. Guru asked the disciple to go the next day without the bucket. While coming back he was able to see all the plants that grew in the path. The water from the bucket was watering all the seedling in his path. There is always a hidden message in a Guru’s ask.

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When we are able to exhaust all vasanas, we will attain moksha. But in reality, the more you are burning your vasanas, you are also accumulating them. The grace of the divine is the only one that can evaporate all the vasanas. If you empty your vasanas, but keep the vessel empty, it is going to fill with dirt. We need to also fill it with good thoughts so it remains pure.
The best way to attain knowledge is through a guru. Even though there are lot of channels to attain knowledge and information, without the proper guidance of a guru, we cannot gain proper understanding.

Yudhistara used to give punishment for a sin based on the varna of the sinner. Brahmana getting the harshest punishment since they have highest knowledge whereas Shudra with the least access to knowledge were always pardoned.
There was also another angle to be understood about punishment. It is said that if you do a mistake and given the harshest punishment is supposed to be also a blessing.

Krishna goes to a poor persons house and blesses him for his cow to die. He goes to a rich persons house and blesses him to have more riches. When asked Krishna says, the cow was hindrance for poor mans wishes to get mentally closer to him. That is why he blessed that the cow to die.

A well known story is about a journalist who had a lot to questions to  Ramana maharshi. When he went there everyone was quietly sitting in his presence. When the reporter also sat in his presence for some time, he felt as though all his questions were answered and felt all his questions weren’t important anymore.

Gurudev’s Videos
There are many different paths to suit temperament of the disciple. Like all roads lead to rome.
Rich person may sleep in ac room in silk bed or another might sleep in bench in rail station, but when they attain sleep they are in the same state of consciousness.
Similarly to attain moksha there maybe different paths, but when you reach the ultimate brahman it does matter what path you followed.
Whether you reach through beach or mountain you can reach LA. Based on your nature and circumstances, you can choose either. Also depends who you are travelling with.
You might choose the road based on if you are going alone or with small children.
What every path you take, all of them are essentially rooted in self-effort.
Going to the temple or church is not enough but putting some effort into listening wil only help.
Offering material things like candles, silver legs and hands cannot bribe God, all gold or silver you offer is already his.

Once a King build a temple and astrologers set a time for the praana prathista.
The King meditated the night before for shiva to come, but Shiva replied that he cannot come because he already accepted to go to elsewhere and mentioned a name.
The King send army to find that person. After searching every village they found a beggar with the name. When asked where the temple was so they can destroy it, the King was taken aback to learn that he was building the murthy in his mind and prayed for the lord to come. This shows mere physical sacrifice is not enough. Only offering your mind and heart is the highest sacrifice.

You cannot learn Vedanta just by asking a teacher. You have to first surrender yourself .
You cant go to guru like you go to a zoo to see a monkey. You take food to guru like you take food to a monkey and wait for him to eat.
You don’t go to doctor just to see him. Just like yo tell him your troubles and he gives a prescription, when you go to guru, prostrate, ask questions and take advice.