Notes by Saadhvi Mamidi

Recap:

• People always tell us to “be happy,” but how do we do this?
• We must remember that happiness is our nature, and we must just be.
• Just being is difficult for us because of the many folds of our personalities. We’re constantly becoming, not being.
• To go from becoming to being, we must engage in selfless action.

RAW Reflection from Week 2:

• Last week, Sumanji asked us to sit and close our eyes for 15 minutes every day.
• He asked us to notice how many thoughts come to our mind while we do this
• I realized that a countless number of thoughts came to mind — moving my body, agenda for the day, thinking about what I had just in

Even when I was engaged in a task as simple as sitting, I couldn’t live in the present, I was constantly stuck in the past or future

With the guidance of the Guru and with further reflection, I hope to be able to live in the present

Discourse:

• Our body needs food for sustenance, similarly our mind needs the 5 senses for sustenance
  
• How do we consume the world?
  • our mind takes in sense objects
  • sense objects perceived through the senses and mind gives them attention

• The only way our mind doesn’t consume is
  • our instruments don’t function (ex: being blind)
  • mind is inattentive (ex: engaged in a movie and not realizing what else is going on

• How do we control our mind and engage in right action?
  • reining in senses with the mind itself (example: when we sleep) → very difficult task
  • engaging our mind with purpose (guide for our mind and reigns it in)
    • Ex: doing homework with the purpose of learning — less distracted
    • let go of the outcome, shift attention from outcome to the act — begins with responsibilities

• Work is compromised when we focus on the outcome

*3 U’s — Utilize a Planner (make your purpose clear), Uni-task Routine (mind is more focused on the task at hand), Undertake More (ability to take on more is natural)*

Activity

Write about each of these topics for 5 minutes each

1. Write about the time you acted without attachment to a reward/outcome? How did you feel?

I talked about engaging in helping my parents with planting outside my home. I wasn’t especially attached to this act or outcome, I was just helping to help my parents. I felt carefree and was just living in the moment. I didn’t have to worry about the future or if I was doing everything “right.”

2. Write about a time when you acted with selfish attachment. What happened? Why? How did you feel?

Apologized to someone just to clear my conscience → I felt guilty, and in turn I was the one that was hurt. I wasn’t being genuine, and this inner turmoil affected me.

3. What one place in your life can you act without expectation of a reward/outcome? How can I approach this situation differently?

Doing school assignments for the purpose of learning and expanding my knowledge, not for a good grade or a sense of self worth. I can start taking my time on HW, not rushing through it just to complete it

Sumanji: When we have selfish attachment, our energy is dissipated in this mental space. One place where we can act without expectation of a reward/outcome is in our home by engaging in our responsibilities, such as chores.