Class Summary for Jan 25, 2025 - Chapter-4 Summary / Conclusion

Summarized by:  A K Srinivasan

Gyanakarmasanyasayoga

Essence – The one who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is the wisest person; a perfect performer of all actions

Fundamentals of Vedanta

Identification theory – Like person watching a movie and starts to identify with the characters of the movie; the person starts the movie as a master and exits it as a slave of the character. This is a mistake. Vedanta says this is the same we do in real life as well.

Consciousness aka Brahman or Purusha – it is the I or Ahum in us, the awareness in us. It is sat-chit-anand. It is the only reality. It is bliss absolute. Perfection incarnate. This is the great truth.

Matter aka Maya or Prakurti – anything made of the 5 elements –Panchamahaboota – the whole world and BMI.

Why am I not experiencing bliss now? Because your identification is with the imperfect BMI. So my experience will be the imperfection of BMI with which I identify. 

Problem is with identification. So dis-identify with what you are not (imperfect BMI) and identify with perfect Consciousness.

Detach with what you are not: Attach with what you are

Consciousness is Ananda Swaroopa; matter is jada. Real Consciousness + unreal BMI results in the Jeevatma or ego or ahankara  which goes thru all miseries. The moment Jeevatma is born, Karta, Bhogta, Karma and Karmaphala are born and Samsara happens – repeated birth/death cycle. 

Solution is dis-identification – know thyself, the perfect Consciousness. This is Vedanta. 

Actionless-ness – a property of Consciousness

Actionful-ness – a property of BMI, the instruments of action

The one who sees inaction in action. A Gyani’s identification is with Consciousness or actionless-ness, even when he is physically active. For an ignorant person – even when he doesn’t perform actions, because he identifies with BMI, physically he’s inactive, Akarma – as there is effort involved with akarma, and he remains agyani.

How to practice Karma Sanyasa – renunciation of action is not giving up action; it is by giving up identification with instruments of action - that I am the instrument of action. This is only possible thru self knowledge.

Guru shishya parmapara

Gyana Parampara - I gave this knowledge to Viwaswan, the sun god, who gave to Manu, who gave to Ikshvaku. This is the glory of this knowledge, it came from Bhagawan himself. Bhagawan takes awatars to revive this knowledge. This knowledge has the power to turn Duratmas into Atmas, from sinners to saints. At all levels, if there has to be peace and harmony, this knowledge is foundational. According to the changing times, I manifest myself to revive this knowledge.

How to gain this knowledge – approach the great masters, serve them, with humility, with love and reverence and these masters will in turn bless you with this great knowledge. These masters who are Tatvadarshis and Gyanis, know how to communicate this subtle knowledge

What are the qualifications – mind and senses need to be disciplined and keep this knowledge as their highest aim and willing to give up everything – such people are the fit students to receive. 

What are the disqualifications – who don’t have faith in this knowledge and don’t trust their teacher

Various sadhana are meant to make a person fit for Gyanasadana. The mind has to be purified and concentrated first. Chittashuddhi first. 

Benefits of this knowledge – even a rank sinner can cross over this ocean of sin in this raft of knowledge. This fire of knowledge will extinguish the Jeevatma and all prior karmas attached to this Jeevatma/Jeevabhava. Key – all the other sadhanas destroy sins, but the glory of this Knowledge is that it destroys the sinner. 

This knowledge leads to freedom from Kama,krodha, Ahankara etc, a liberated sage. Brahman alone exists at the culmination of this spiritual journey. 

Swamiji Pravachan

Why should Bhagawan take rebirths?

To revive this knowledge and keeping maya under control. Bhagavan knows his prior births, we don’t. He is reborn to protect sadhu purusha who think about the welfare of others and practice dharma.

On varnas and qualities of minds. 

Discussion on the 3 Gunas we all possess – Satva, Rajas, Tamas. Different humans possess these gunas in different proportions leading to expertise/affinity to specific varnas like Brahman, Kshatriya, Vyshya and Shudra. 

All creation is from Bhagawan, so we worship everything, as the presence of Bhagawan is everywhere

How do we get to be Gyanis?

Whatever you do, do it with devotion and convert it to yagna. Start with food, for example, by being mindful and limiting intake. Have a curious mind, ask your gurujis. 

Prayaschittam – taking a dip at Kumbh, with complete devotion, is a form of prayaschittam, to wash away our sins. Gyanum, however will extinguish not only the sins, but the sinner too. 

Q&A

11th verse  - 

A – you can take many paths, some longer and some not, but I bless them and they’ll finally attain me. 

Q – How is ego and Ahankaram defined/differentiated

A- Ahankaram is an expression of the ego. Because of our identification with BMI, Ahankaram expresses as our ego. Ego is extinguished after attaining Gyanam

Q - When you get Gyanum, what happens to Sanchitakarma, Angigakarma and Prarambhda karma?

A – They all are extinguished at the same time. Example narrated - a person with 3 successive wives, and upon his demise, all three surviving wives become widows at the same time, irrespective of their seniority/order of marriage. 

Q – How do you know what your duty is?

A – We have duties given to us based on our relationships and positions in family, community and society. Do your best. Bhagavatam says don’t think of it as a duty to your relatives – think of it as an offering to the Lord. Krishnaprasadam. Dedicate all activities to the Lord.

 – Gyanayagna is superior to all material offerings.