Bhagavad Gita (BG) Class Minutes 05OCT2010, 12OCT2010 Session #13, #14 Session 13 Example: To deal with an adamant

ant child, parents distract it by displacing its focus o Similarly, one should focus on a greater concept to avoid distraction from the senses o Senses cannot be left astray give your mind something to hold on to otherwise senses will run amok Slokas 2.64 and 2.65 o Takes what comes and avoid attachment o This attitude results in relaxation, cheerfulness and peace at all times Sloka 2.67 o If your buddhi does not control your senses, then senses will run amok and create ruin Slide: Why do we feel empty at times? o The less analytical you are about your life, the more enjoyable it becomes Similarity between the gambling places and the software offices o Look at their similarity in terms of architecture and intent Sunlight does not enter the building so that the occupants lose sense of time and never feel late These buildings are designed to address all other needs facilities for exercise, food, bath, etc Sloka 2.68 o Ramakrishna Paramahamsa: Honeybee makes noise only until it starts sucking the honey o Turn your attention inwards and take on the personal journey Vivekachudamani Sloka 51 o Release from bondage and gaining control of senses cannot be outsourced! This is unlike your debts being cleared by your offsprings Individual effort is indispensible Vivekachudamani Sloka 79 o Senses are more deadly than the poison of a black cobra

Session 14 Gita never suggests to run away from worldly actions instead it suggests to be in the thick of action It advices us on how to live with this world and still develop freedom from action The key here is to practice detached attachment Sloka 2.69
na tatra sUryo bhAti na candra-tArakaM naimA vidyuto bhAnti kuto'yam-agniH / tameva bhAntaM anubhAti sarvaM tasya bhAsA sarvam-idaM vibhAti There the sun does not shine, nor the moon nor the stars; these lightnings also do not shine - how then (can) this earthly fire?

Verily, everything shines after Him reflecting His glory. This whole world is illuminated with His light. Mundakopanisad II - ii 10

The above verses literal meaning is not very useful But the one to be reflected on is its subtle meaning of this Vedantic thought Similarly this Slokas literal meaning is not much useful but one should think about its subtle meaning The domain of bliss, knowledge and happiness for a Sthithapragnya is completely different from that of the commons o What is very important for the commons is of no importance to a Sthithapragnya It is very important to understand that these two domains are mutually exclusive o One cannot indulge in both Sloka 2.70 o Even a very broad and deep river like Brahmaputra cannot affect the ocean o Ocean is already full and any amount of inflow does not affect it o Similarly a Muni reaches that stage where nothing could shake him thats real strength o In Sundara Kanda of Ramayana, Hanuman flies over the antahpura (or the royal harem) of Lanka For a moment he asks himself if it is appropriate for him to go there to search for Sita He then tells himself that for one whose senses are under his complete control, nothing could affect him Sloka 2.71 o The day we understand that life has both positives and negatives our tension of outcomes will be gone o Problem with modern management is that it wants and thinks that there could only be positives and no negatives o Engage with this world but engage with nispruha, nirmama and nirahankara Sloka 2.72 o If you could reach the state of a Sthithapragnya and be there till the last breath, that is eternal bliss and freedom An example would be Dr.Venkataswamy of Aravind Eye Hospitals He worked till his last breath exemplifying a true Karma Yogi o If you think, I have to solve the problem then you are stuck! Develop sharanagatha bhava the gift from Visishtadvaita It is a very practical solution Enormous energy will then flow through you the source of energy is the larger consciousness which is all-pervading If you see everything as a prasada of God, then life will be much more cheerful and energetic

End of Sankhya Yoga Mahabharata is a classic replica of our own war that we fight within

In the Yuddha Kanda of Ramayana, Valmiki puts Rama and Ravana on the same pedestal as far as their greatness is concerned o But the difference arises in the goodness o Thus, greatness is important but goodness is even more so.