Hari OM,

Summary of 11/11/ class.

1. We will now start chapter 13.  before we do so it is important to
re visit the 3 sections of the Bhagawad Geeta.  Chapters 1-6 deal with
all things to do with the individual or the jiva.  Who am I, what is
my role, w hat should I be doing what is right action,  how should I
do it etc are covered.  Chapters 7-12 deal with what we see around
ourselves- the creation, the Jagat. and finally Chapters 13 -18 deal
with the connection between me the two.

2.  With this back ground it is interesting to look at the very first
verse of Chapter 13 where Arjuna asks Lord Krishna for an explanation
into  concepts/terms.  The field and the knower of the field, Matter
and Spirit and Knowledge and that what ought to be know.  It is said
that this verse was not a part of original text. however without this
verse it would be almost impossible to understand the chapter.  The
opening verse sets up all the concepts that the chapter deals with.
And in a sense also summarizes the connection between the Jiva and
Jagat.

3.  Lord Krishna answers the question by saying that "This Body" is
the field and the One who knows it, is the Knower of the field.  The
term This Body is very loaded.  The body here signifies the Body Mind
Intellect the ego  all our emotions, our sense organs and organs of
action,  It also signifies the five elements and the objects of our
senses.  Which in effect means that every thing that we can perceive
and know and see is the field.  Even that which has a potential to
manifest is the field.

4.  Lord Krishna also says that the He himself is the knower of the
field. One way to understand this is that any thing that can be an
object of perception is the field and the Subject that finally
perceives it all is the knower of the field.  When I see some thing
the question to ask is who is seeing, are the eyes seeing,  is the
brain seeing,  who is that is effect is really seeing.  That sentience
(knowling / awareness principle)  that allows me to perceive or do do
any thing,  that is the Knower and every thing else that is an object
is the field.

In the next class we will look at Knowledge and that what ought to be
know.  Knowledge here signifies those values that allow us enable us
to experience that what ought to be know.  there are a total to 20
values that Lord Krishna elaborates.

see you all on Sunday.

Hari Om,

1.  By the end of Chapter 4 Krishna has established the paths of
Action (Ishwar Arpan Budhi) and the path of renunciations (Prasad
Budhi). So now at the beginning of Chapter 5 Arjuna asks the opening
question as to which of the 2 paths is superior.

2.  Krishna responds by saying that both paths leads to the same goal
which is divine reality, however for most of us it the the path of
action that is easier to follow.  This advice is lovingly given
because Krishna understands human nature very well.  As humans we are
predisposed to action and so long as we can act in a way that our
action itself is an offering to the lord as a sacrifice as a selfless
action we will be able to cleanse our minds and prepare ourselves for
the path of renunciation that is sure to follow with the right
knowledge. (Verses 5.1-5.9)

3.  In Chapter 6 lord Krishna gives us the technology to realize the
self knowledge and the is the art of meditation.  Krishna also makes
it clear to us that it is only self effort that can lift us to the
divine.  Just as a hungry person has to eat himself to quell the
hunger and no one else can eat on his  behalf.  Similarly it is
dedicated disciplined SELF effort that is the sure path to spiritual
success.

4.  At this point it is worth while to pause and consider the central
theme  that the first 6 chapters are  centered upon.  It is clear that
the first 6 chapters are centered upon "the individual) or the Jiva.
Philosophy asks very simple 3 questions
Who am I (what is my role, what should I do, how should I do it,
purpose of life etc )  :    These are all answered in the first 6
chapters.
The next Question that any philosophy would ask is What is this
creation this Jagat that I see around my self. :  The next 6 chapters
(chapters 7 to 12) deal with the questions to do with creation.  And
then the next 6 chapters (Chapters 13 to 18) deal with the next
question and that is about the connection or relations between the
Jiva and the Jagat.  In this way the entire Bhagawad Gita lays out the
philosophy that is indicated by the Mahavakya TAT TWAM ASI.  THAT THOU
ART.

5.  To help is think about creation and the basis of all creation lord
Krishna gives many many examples like asking us to focus on the thread
in the pearl necklace.  the most beautiful pearls will not form a
necklace without the thread.  The pots can be of many shapes sizes and
colors but all of them are essentially clay.  Lord Krishna is pushing
us to think of the substratum that upholds everything in the universe
and that Substratum is the lord himself.

6.  Just as space is in everything and everything is in space.
Similarly the lord is in everything and everything is in the Lord. We
know that space or the universe itself is accelerating  changing but
for every change one needs a reference.  What is the reference against
which the space is changing...  The scientific minds STOPS...  This is
where we take help from Philosophy  that substratum against which the
space itself changes is the Lord himself.

Next class we will start Chapter 13 and start exploring the last part
of the Philosophy. The connection the relationship between the Jiva
and the Jagat.

Hari OM,

Carrying forward with the previous class discussion of action and duty.

1. Krishna says that we have only a right to action and action alone,

we cannot be attached to the results while doing the action And not

doing any thing or inaction is not an option.  As humans one thing is

absolutely guaranteed is that we have to act.  We are wired to do

stuff.  It is the attitude of doing that Krishna is teaching us about.

 When Michael Jordan takes the 3 pointer on the last second buzzer all

he is thinking of is the ball and the hoop, everything else the roar

of the crowd, the on rushing defender, the weariness of the long game,

the prize money at the end of the game  all of it is completely out...

 any thought about winning or losing the game cannot enter his mind.

That is the attitude that Krishna is talking about all the time every

time...  (verse 2.47)

2.  All of us have unlimited potential, Krishna is showing us how to

become more efficient in what we do and unleash that potential to

reach unlimited heights.  The philosophy of the Himalayas has now

found a way of manifesting itself in our day to day lives to make us

more efficient and reach our potential.

3.  This attitude is Karma yoga.   How do we we do it. ...  How do we

make sure that what ever we do we do it the best the very best we can

and how do we make sure that we embrace what ever results that may

come out of our actions. As humans act we must and every action will

have an out come, some good some not good. How do we act in a manner

that we are 100% focused on it and do it to the best of our ability

and how do we make sure that we embrace the results no matter what the

results may be.

The 2 part method to this is

a)  when we are doing any thing, think of that action as a our

offering to the lord..  if we do that the quality of the action will

be the best this is Ishwar Arpan Budhi. (attitude of action as if it

is a offering to the lord)

b) the second part of this is that we accept the results as if it is

blessing from the lord.  Like the way we accept prasad in a temple.

With humility with reverence and with a thank you on our lips. We do

not cross compare with others on prasad received,  we are content with

what each one of us has received and embrace it.  This attitude can help

us in embracing the results of our actions and this is called "Prasad

Budhi"

4. Krishna also explain to Arjuna the reasons why this does not work

and give the 8 steps to failure or destruction.  Thoughts abt objects

- attachment - desire - anger - delusion - loss of memory -  loss of

discrimination - man perishes.  What is unique about this thought

process is not the end but the beginning..  It all starts with a

simple thought...  Also the point that needs to be understood here is

that Anger is  nothing other that desire denied.  (verse 2.62 and 63)

5.  So in Chapter 2 Lord Krishna has given Arjuna the importance of

action and has also talked about the importance of divine knowledge.

So at the beginning of Chapter 3 Arjuna who still does not want to

fight asks a question whether as to what is more superior Action or

Knowledge and also says that obviously Knowledge is more superior and

hence why is Krishna asking him to act and fight.

6.  Lord Krishna now unequivocally announces that Action is superior

to knowledge.

7.As humans we must act, however it is that action that is done with

an attitude of sacrifice that action is the most superior.  Sacrifice

is when we do some thing that connects us with some thing higher than

us as individuals.  It is interesting to see as to how many things

that we do in a given day that are truly one of the nature of

sacrifice.  Expanding that type of action should be our on going

endevour.  The word Selfish is bad when some one is selfish about his

own self however that same word selfish dissolves away into selfless

when the attachment of the word goes from one as an individual to

larger and larger contexts like family, community, society, country,

humanity, to creation.  (Verse 3.8 and 9)

8.  Also when we act we must keep in mind that others people who look

up to us will follow our actions.  Even as high school students the

younger siblings as well as children from lower classes look up to the

high schoolers as an example and it is incumbent upon each one of us

to set an good example by what we do and how we do it. (verse 3.21)

9.  Krishna also says that doing OWN duty is the most important thing

even if it is not done 100% correctly.  Trying to do some one else

duty is full of peril. (verse 3.35)

10.  At the beginning of 4th chapter Krishna tells Arjuna that the

knowledge that he is giving him is the same that Lord Krishna had

given to the Sun and Manu and all the rishis of the past.  Arjuna does

not belive this and says that Krishna could not have done so because

the Sun and Manu were born much before Lord Krishna,

11.  To this Krishna starts revealing his true nature...  Krishna

tells Arjuna that though both Arjuna and Kirshna have had many births,

Krishna knows all his past births but Arjuna does not.  Kirshna being

the lord himself wills himself into being born and the objective of

his birth has always being to establish righteousness, protect the

good and destroy evil (verse 4.7)

12. Different people worship the lord in different ways.  The lord

does not prescribe a path,  all that the lord does is to give the

devotee all that the devotee has aspired for.  This leads into a

discussion on what are the different types people and Krishna now

gives Arjuna the caste system.  The cast systems is based on the

attitude (guna) and work (karma) of an individual and NOT based on

birth.  There is no superior or inferiors caste.  All castes are

equally important for the smooth functioning of any community.  In

every organization there is a caste system in play, the Principal, the

teachers, the office staff and the Janitorial staff in a school are

like the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras..  each is

required for the smooth functioning of the school. The present state

of the caste system is not the way it was designed or supposed to

function.  the present system is a concoction of power and greed and

has no meaning for us as Hindus.

See you all on 10/14.

Hari OM,

A) Revisited why Bhagawad Geeta is the book of choice for our study.
1. Knowledge of the Upanishads
2. Narrated by Lord Krishna himself
3. Both the philosophy and the practical means to live the philosophy.
4. Narrated on the battlefield and not in forests and caves,  Relevant
to the battlefield we face in our minds..

B)  Setting the stage.- Chapter 1 :  Arjuna's delusion
1.The Kurukshetra war has not yet started, both armies are facing each
other.  Arjuna the Pandava Prince tells his charioteer Lord Krishna to
take the chariot to the middle of the armies.  He wants to survey
the Kaurava Army.
Lord Krishna does so and says "Behold Arjuna, the vast Kaurava army"
There are the only words that Lord Krishna says in Chapter 1.

2.  These words are very pithy but extremely potent,  Arjuna sees his
cousins, family, teachers, friends and even Bheeshma the Grandsire all
arrayed against him. Arjuna is a brave prince extremely educated and
accomplished but even he breaks down and refuses to fight.  He starts
justifying his refusal to fight based on 3 ideas.
   a) Killing near and dear ones is wrong
   b) Is this his duty or Dharma and
   c) That he will incur grave sin.
Arjuna rambles on showing all the characteristics of a deluded
psychotic person,  some of the physical conditions like hair standing
on end, skin burning, legs becoming weak are signs of extreme nervous
break down.
Krishna says nothing does nothing simply smiles and keeps looking at Arjuna...
This picture is no different from that one of a psychiatric patient in
a doctor's office.  Bhagawad Geeta is the "Krishna Cure" for the
"Arjuna Disease".

3.  Beginning of Chapter 2  Krishna berates Arjuna and tries to
through caustic words shake him out of his delusion.  Arjuna is not
affected and simply refuses to fights puts his mighty Gandiva bow down
and sits down in his chariot in the middle of the battlefield.

4.  Krishna now starts his logical explanation.  He first goes after
the fact that Arjuna does not want to KILL.  Krishna brings out the
theory of reincarnation. explains to Arjuna that just as we change
clothes so to does the soul change bodies from one birth to the next.
The soul is eternal, beginning less, it is not born, and hence does
not die it cannot be killed, so if no one is killed then no one is
doing the killing either.    So why should Arjuna grieve. (verses
11-30)

5. Krishna then goes after the concept of Duty and Sin.  He explains
to Arjuna that the Duty of a Kshatriya is to wage a righteous war.
Not doing ones duty itself is SIN.  Duty is to be done irrespective of
the outcome. When any action is done the outcome is bound to happen.
the outcome may be a success of a failure however while doing the
action one cannot be thinking about the outcome.  One needs to act for
the sake of the action itself.

See you all on 10/7.

Hari Om,

Warm welcome to all the the 10th graders.  Welcome to Yuva Kendra.

And welcome back to our returning Juniors and seniors.

Summary of the 9/16 class discussions...

1.  What makes you come to the sunday class ?
- make my parents happy
- learn abt my culture
- understand my faith
- know myself better.
- understand how to use it in every day life.
- because my friends are here.

All of these (parents, faith, culture, knowing myself, friendship)
point to one common thing that all of us here to connect with
something higher than me. This endevour is nothing other than 'yoga'.
Yoga means to connect with something higher.

2. What are Maneesha aunty's and Vikram uncle's expectations ?.
- show up to class
- bring the book.
- participate / question / challenge.
- and have FUN.

3. Why do we have this sunday class ?
- spiritual health

4. Why is  spiritual health important ?
- guides choices
- moral compass
- sense of right and wrong.
- discrimination (Vivek).

5. Is it just for me as a individual or does it have a bigger implication.
- each one of you is growing up to be successful, to be a leader. What
you do and say matters. You are the future of the families and
communities that you will lead.
- world wide deficit of spiritual health.
- 20th century has been a century of wars.
- Sept 11, 1893. Swami Vivekanand addresses world religion conference
in Chicago as "Brothers and sisters". Message of universal
brotherhood, love , compassions.
- Sept 11 2001. Attack on WTC.
- 108 years.  Missed opportunity to get it right.
- Green revolution Environment consciousness---  Are these new ideas ?
Read our pledge " giving more that we take, producing more than what
we consume.". Spirituality touches everything.

6.  Why Bhagawad Geeta.
- knowledge of the Upanishads  of the Vedas.
- Narrated by the Lord himself on the Battlefield. Not caves and
forests. Relevant setting to what we face everyday.
- our battlefield is in our head.
- Choices are not always black and white...  It is the innumerable
shades of grey that make choices difficult.
- Bhagawad Geeta gives us not just the philosophy but also the
practical aspect of how to practice the philosophy live it to the
fullest. And be successful in all our endeavors.  Not only the science
but also the technology. Physics is not enough, one needs Engineering
to build a motor.
- A philosophy and practice that was given to a warrior prince to lead
his army to victory  in a righteous war.
- Dynamic and relevant in today's day and age  may be most relevant
today given the challenges we face as individuals and people at large.
- Change in Society comes one person at a time...  I can only change
myself ...  Be the change you want to see- Mahatma Gandhi

Next class we will start looking at the first 3 chapters of Bhagavad Geeta.

PLEASE BRING YOUR COPY OF BHAGAWAD GEETA.

See you all on Sunday....

Hari Om.

Something to Remember

I think that this shloka represents the omnipresence of Brahman. This omnipresence is what enables life, much like a screen in a theater allows a movie to be seen. Brahman is all of the things seen, but he is also that which is unseen and which serves as the essential substratum to gross, preceptible elements. 

This notion is important to keep in mind as we go further in today's class with Chapter 11: The Cosmic Form Divine. 

Something to Remember

Geeta Chapter 7 - Verse 5:

"This is the 'lower' Prakriti; different from it, know thou, O mighty-armed, My 'Higher' Prakriti, the very Life-element, by which this world is upheld"

Summary: The earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect, and egoism are actually the lower prakriti; the higher prakriti is the life element.

Therefore, Brahman actually supports everything with his higher prakriti, the life element. He makes everything what they are.

Discuss the importance of this shloka and what it means to you in the comments section below.