October 27, 2022 Class Notes by Theos Stamoulis
Introduction
A student had once shared that her idea of God was broken after a few weeks of being in a course like this. The response given was “Good! You’re fortunate to be in a community in a context where your notion of God can be built more strongly, in a more real way.” If a few weeks of class can break down someone’s idea of God, then that idea was probably not that stable, not that real. That is the practice that we are engaged in. Part of our practice is to unlearn the notions and identities we have. And so we must learn right thinking and right identification. We have to reorient ourselves to unlearn and relearn how to be happy. We have to unlearn that others can make us happy. We have to learn that we are already happy. When we come across challenges, we tend to escape, complain, and ask “why me?” That all has to be unlearned. What has to be learned is that challenges have come into my life for a reason. A reason to make me stronger.
Acharya Shankara is an icon of selflessness. There’s a story that a Ritualist once asked Acharya Shankara for his body. The Ritualist needed it for a ritual, and Acharya Shankara agreed. “You can take my body,” he responded. Now the continuation of this story is the fact that Achayra Shankara’s life has been documented and that he was saved by Bhagavan Narayana.
Maybe selflessness can be replaced with fearlessness? Achayra Shankara is an icon of fearlessness, and through Sadhana Panchakam, he is trying to guide us to be the same way. A synonym for selflessness is fearlessness. There is nothing to gain and nothing to lose. That’s the expression of fearlessness.
A significant portion of this class include those who are serving their communities. If you are serving in the right way, then you should be feeling more secure. If you’re feeling more insecure, and you’re serving, then you’re doing this in the wrong way.
Review (8 Practices)
A review of our verses and practices:
- Study the Veda perpetually > Read inspiring.
- Engage in your responsibilities diligently > Delete ‘but.’
- Dedicate the right actions and attitudes to the Divine > Chant Samarpayami
(“I offer all”) - Renounce the desires of the mind > Guide gratitude.
- Completely clean the accumulation of negativity > Speak positively.
- In pleasure, there’s a defect; be aware of this > Review disturbances.
- Strive to need the Self > Review quietude.
- Break free from your home (that holds you back) > Smile (in) mirrors.
Are you practicing these beyond the 1 hour of this course each week?
Dialogue
Verse 2/ Practice 9. sangah satsu vidhiyatam
Commune with those who live by inclusivity. And go out of your way to be with those who are inclusive.
From an absolute perspective: In Acharya Shankara’s text Moha Mudgara, one of the verses talks about how satsang leads to independence. The finality of this verse is that when one experiences satsang, one becomes free from ego, free from sorrow. If being free from the ego is the last step, then the first step is satsang.
Why is it needed to be around those who are inclusive? Why is it needed for us to be around those who are inclusive? Even more beautiful and powerful is the idea of being around those who are humble or egoless. It is because they show us through their life that it’s possible for us to be the same way. What’s difficult about this path is that we don’t have faith in this path. But when you have a relationship with someone who is following this path, you start to have faith in yourself that you can follow this path too.
Many times this week in different courses I had shared the value of a Sadhguru is not about the ‘what?’. It’s about the ‘how?’ You don’t need a Sadhguru to teach you that discipline is important. A grade two teacher will teach you that. A Sadhguru is able to live like that in all facets of life since they’re practicing that, they can make this practical for us.
From a relative perspective, seeking the company of those who are inclusive is a form of role modeling. If you want to be more inclusive, being in satsang is the most obvious secret. As you associate, so you think. As you think, so you develop. If you associate with those who live by -isms, racism, sexism, etc… you will think like that and develop into that also.
From a tactile perspective, prepare experience. This really means “Prepare for Satsang.” Imagine that Satsang is an immersive experience where you are actively listening and actively thinking. You have to prepare for that experience. The more you respect that experience, the more you will receive from that experience.
Discussion
What Article, Being or Circumstance has challenged you the most to be better?
Reflection Adventure of the Week (RAW)/Sadhana:
Prepare Experience or Prepare for Satsang