Class Summary for Mar 18, 2025 - Chapter-5 - Slokas 16-18

Summarized by: Bala Dhandapani

Chapter 5, True Renunciation

After pranayama and meditation, recap from March 11th  class was summarized.

Karma Yoga – perform your action, accept the results as Prasadha Buddhi

Karma Sanyasa Yoga – even the action becomes a Prasadha Buddhi. 

One always need to be in a Meditative state not only while performing meditation. 

Class watched the following video’s of Gurudev

Sloka 16

Summary:  On a cloudy day one may think that there is no Sun and it is dark.  How do we see the cloud, not with a torch light or by lighting a matchstick, we see the cloud through the light from the Sun.  Similarly, ignorance is also manifested through the consciousness.  Sun (consciousness) is still revealed – not as a direct experience.  Through nidityasanam one can remove the cloud of ignorance, ie when the clouds/thoughts are quietened.

Gurudev’s quote:  Names and forms are nothing but a ripple upon the Infinite Self

Sloka 17

When one enters a mirrored hall, one sees the same self in every mirror, when a dog enters a mirrored hall, thinks that there are several dogs in the hall and gets hurts jumping on each mirror.     

One’s lifestyle and relationship changes when one understands that the self in me is the self in everyone, this will lead to infinite pure love.

Realization will be achieved only by your own sadhana (took kit), any amount of books we read or classes we attend are part of our Shravanam part.  Bhakthi is the underlying factor in all.

 Sloka 18

If one accidently bite ones own tongue or if your finger accidentally touches your eyes, one would not punish one’s own fingers, but when someone else’s fingers accidently touches your eyes the reaction could be different and one would normally want to punish the other person.  A person of perfection sees the self in him as the self in all.  A wise man who has the knowledge is not arrogant anymore.  He is the same towards a Brahmana, elephant, dog or a dog eater (ultimate tamasic person).  Wise people are sama darshina, respects all as equal and has no hatred towards anyone since the person sees his own self everywhere and with everyone. 

Following stores and instances were shared by the class

When Swami Shantanandaji was visiting Taiwan, he was going in a cab.  The driver stopped the cab when he saw a roadkill dog, he took the dog and carefully put it in the trunk.  Swamiji was very appreciative of the cab driver thinking that the person was very nice, taking a dead animal from the road.

Swamiji mentioned this to his visitors, later realized that the person was doing this for a free meal !!!!.

A dog took a roti from a Maharaj and was running away.  The Maharaj (a Sama darshini) was running after the dog, he said wait wait will add ghee and give you the roti !!!.  He was not upset at the dog.

A monk was killed by an elephant, he asks God why he was killed when he was treating everyone the same and why he was not protected from the mad elephant.  The Lord said he warned the monk through the mahout to move away from the mad elephant, but the monk did not take the hint. 

One has to do what you have to do in a transactional world. 

Note:  Theme for sloka 16, 17 and 18 was discussed in the March 11th class, please refer to the corresponding blog

Subjective Analysis:  Even thoughts flowing during meditation contributes to Reflection. 

Slokas 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 were chanted in the class.  These slokas are a continuation of how an equipoised person behaves and transacts in the world. 

Theme will be discussed in the next class.