Class Summary for May 20, 2025 - Chapter-6 Slokas 1- 6
Summarized by: Neelima Turga
We started the class with opening prayers, pranayama and meditation and then did a recap of previous class
There was a question about how does Karma Yoga cleanse my mind.
Karma is action and yoga is union with the higher. Performing karma detaching from desires and attaching to the higher will help in the purification of the mind. A thought precedes action. Actions that follow a desire are selfish actions. When there is a change in thought – for example thinking of buying something just for your child vs buying for another underprivileged child along with your own child. Once you start thinking less selfishly and in the interest of a larger society, the process of cleansing begins.
Karma is action and yoga is union with the higher. Performing karma detaching from desires and attaching to the higher will help in the purification of the mind. A thought precedes action. Actions that follow a desire are selfish actions. When there is a change in thought – for example thinking of buying something just for your child vs buying for another underprivileged child along with your own child. Once you start thinking less selfishly and in the interest of a larger society, the process of cleansing begins.
Bhagavan advised Arjuna to perform Karma Yoga. Arjuna was a grihastha. Karma Yoga in essence is performing actions without any attachment to the results. When we perform actions in the grihasta ashrama, many a times we are doing actions for ourselves or our family or friends. Due to forced situations and play of vasanas, we may not be able to adhere to this. It can be very hard to stay detached from the results and there is a possibility to slip from the path of Karma Yoga. In such circumstances seva/volunteering can help come us get back on track. Seva helps us stay aligned in this matter.
There are three ways energy gets dissipated – worry about the future, regret about the past and over excitement in the present. Planning and worrying are different. Planning is important, but worrying about the outcome/future is a complete waste of energy. Learn from failures and move on again, without regrets.
To effectively conserve energy in our day to day life and be efficient in what we do, we need to do our Sadhana. An important part of the Sadhana is Nishkaama karma, that’ll help us stay on the path of Karma Yoga. The more we do this, the more we are able to inculcate the principles of Karma yoga in our everyday life,
Shlokas 1-6
Bhagawan is setting the stage about what kinds of actions are required to be done and with what attitude. He is giving us the journey of a yogi to gyani. People who have practiced the right way of action are in the state to receive gyana, and will also continue to act.
You need to go beyond likes, dislikes, desires etc and elevate your mind. Mind can be your friend, but if not trained property can be the worst enemy.
Theme :
Bhagavad Gita helps with mobilizing and harnessing your own internal resources. Ex difference between Africa and Japan. Africa is a much larger country with many natural resources as compared to Japan. But the reason Japan is way advanced is because of the way the resources are optimally used. We all have pretty much the same capabilities and BMI. How well we use it is what makes all the difference.
Shlokas 1-6
Bhagawan is setting the stage about what kinds of actions are required to be done and with what attitude. He is giving us the journey of a yogi to gyani. People who have practiced the right way of action are in the state to receive gyana, and will also continue to act.
You need to go beyond likes, dislikes, desires etc and elevate your mind. Mind can be your friend, but if not trained property can be the worst enemy.
Theme :
Bhagavad Gita helps with mobilizing and harnessing your own internal resources. Ex difference between Africa and Japan. Africa is a much larger country with many natural resources as compared to Japan. But the reason Japan is way advanced is because of the way the resources are optimally used. We all have pretty much the same capabilities and BMI. How well we use it is what makes all the difference.
A yogi/sanyasi will perform the prescribed duty without any desire or attachment.
Renunciation of Sankalpa (transactional/ desire based goals) is needed to become a yogi/sanyansi.
Secret of renunciation – control/moderation is the key. Need to have discipline to grow to the higher.
Understand/recognize the fullness. Many times our emptiness comes from our own thought process. We are unable to recognize the completeness of ourselves and depend on external sources for fulfillment.
A yogi converts all actions into worship.
A Gyani acts with an attitude of renunciation. There is no “My” ness anymore, Everything is surrendered to Bhagavan and everything is Bhagavan.
Renunciation of Sankalpa (transactional/ desire based goals) is needed to become a yogi/sanyansi.
Secret of renunciation – control/moderation is the key. Need to have discipline to grow to the higher.
Understand/recognize the fullness. Many times our emptiness comes from our own thought process. We are unable to recognize the completeness of ourselves and depend on external sources for fulfillment.
A yogi converts all actions into worship.
A Gyani acts with an attitude of renunciation. There is no “My” ness anymore, Everything is surrendered to Bhagavan and everything is Bhagavan.
Reduce dependencies on everything outside of you.
Your BMI has to be used to move towards the higher.
Your BMI can be your friend or your enemy. One needs to use the equipment properly.
There are lot of stimuli in the external world. We need to be mindful of what we can absorb and what has to be rejected. For example the ads that play during a TV show. We normally ignore the ads that are not relevant to us. But if it’s something that can impact us, our mind is immediately stimulated and we will start noticing it. We choose what external stimuli can affect us.
Its impossible for us to not perform action. All actions should be performed as per your ashrama, but with the right attitude.
Its ok to do actions with Sankalpa, Bhagavan is still there with you. But in the context of Karma Yoga, Karma Sanyasa Yoga or Gyana Yoga, it is necessary to act without Sankalpa.
Question for next class – elaborate on how one can detach from the lower and attach to the higher.
We concluded the class with closing prayers.
Your BMI has to be used to move towards the higher.
Your BMI can be your friend or your enemy. One needs to use the equipment properly.
There are lot of stimuli in the external world. We need to be mindful of what we can absorb and what has to be rejected. For example the ads that play during a TV show. We normally ignore the ads that are not relevant to us. But if it’s something that can impact us, our mind is immediately stimulated and we will start noticing it. We choose what external stimuli can affect us.
Its impossible for us to not perform action. All actions should be performed as per your ashrama, but with the right attitude.
Its ok to do actions with Sankalpa, Bhagavan is still there with you. But in the context of Karma Yoga, Karma Sanyasa Yoga or Gyana Yoga, it is necessary to act without Sankalpa.
Question for next class – elaborate on how one can detach from the lower and attach to the higher.
We concluded the class with closing prayers.
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