Class Summary for Jun 17, 2025 - Chapter-6 Slokas 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Summarized by: A K Srinivasan

Class started with opening prayers, followed by a recap of last week’s class.

The theme of preparing for meditation continues in these slokas. 

Slokas 14-15 exhort the practitioner to have a disciplined mind, by controlling the sense organs. The concept of celibacy, loosely translated in English, actually refers to controlling all the sense organs, a state of brahmacharya, to still the agitated mind. Our senses are compared to a pot with 5 holes, the equivalent of our 5 senses, that constantly leak attention. 

The ideal state to be in, in preparation for meditation, is to have a calm, fearless and serene mind, that is focused and in control.  One of the methods suggested to quieten an agitated mind is to do ‘japa’ by taking the name of your favorite deity, so that distractions are vanquished. This will also help in the intellect getting ‘fixed on Me’, the Brahman. 

We can progressively move thru different meditative states, and closer to still mind and focus on the Brahman, as evidenced by the different paths available for practitioners - 

Example of a mother in constant state of awareness of her child’s needs and well-being, is analogous to being in a focused, meditative state. By keeping the mind absorbed in Me, the disciplined yogi can attain nirvana. 

Slokas 16, 17, 18 dwells on the need for moderation in everything we do, to reach the optimal state for successfully reach a meditative state. Eat and sleep in moderation – not too much (Tamasic) or too little (Rajasic)/starving yourself will lead to lack of concentration and energy. The Saatvic state is one of moderate sleep and food intake, and is the preferred state. Food effectively decides your contact with the world, while sleep determines the quality and duration of the contact. So its essential to control both these factors. 
The ideal food intake, per one school of thought, is to eat ½ of what your stomach capacity is, drink water for ¼ of your capacity and leave the rest ¼ empty. 

Yukta is one whose mind is controlled and is fixed on himself and is free from desires
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Class Notes:
• Meditative state – when one is always in meditation
• Satsang – one who has some desires
• Ritualistic – one who has a lot of desires
1. Classes are suspended for the summer and will resume on Tues Sept 9th 2025
2. Summer study: 
a. Everyone review slokas from Chapter 2 till Chapter 6 during this period. This can be completed by reviewing at the rate of 3 slokas/day or 21 slokas/week
b. Explain the following
i. Importance of 3 yogas (Karma, Bhakti, Gnana)
ii. Explain the BMI chart
iii. Explain how energy can be dissipated from us

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