November 10, 2022 Class Notes by Bhamin Chhatrapati

Introduction
We recently completed 15 silence retreats; the most recent was for72 hours. In the beginning of the silence retreat Vivekji asked are you happy with your happiness? This sounds strange  but think of it more technically. Our nature is happiness and how much of what we are feeling is less than the philosophical understanding. 

Changing these terms and relating to our course – the Sanskrit word for happiness is sadhya
which is the end (destination) and the purpose of life. Sadhaka (seeker or beginning) is the one who wants to reach the end/sadhya. How to go from beginning to the end? The answer is sadhana (practices) which is what we are learning. These practices will enable us to reach the end or being happiness. 

The last sadhana Acharya Shankara shares living in an “ananya” way. Anya means other and  ananya means singular way. We should live with a singular way or purpose – whether it is family, community, or profession. Christianity teaches “I am a jealous god.” The literal implication for ananya or jealous is to intensify our love for the Divine. This is prioritizing Divinity. Extending this thought, all of us love the Divine but it is “ALSO”. We love the Divine “also” because we do not know Divinity enough. The more we know of the Divine, the more we will love the Divine only. Everything we love is not dependable (ABCs’, relationships etc). The only thing dependable is the Divine. One insight is to love the Divine and the practice for it was: sleep altar. Wherever you sleep, you need to have an altar next to it. 

Discourse

Verse 2, Practice 11: santyadih pariciyatam
Shanti means peace
Adhi means virtues (all that is like peace)
Parichiatam means to cultivate peace in oneself

Absolute perspective
The word Bhagavan is  typically translated as God.
Philosophical understanding: “van” in Bhagavan means one who is bhagya– specific qualities  and specific divine characteristics. In particular, one who has 6 virtues (all virtues in all ways): Aishwarya (Joyous), Dharma (Responsible), Yasha (Revered), Shreya (Virtuous), Vairagya (Independent) & Gyan (Wise). 

Relative Perspective
Basic science teaches us that the cause pervades the effect. For example, we know the wood table (effect) is made up from the tree (cause). Since the tree is flammable, so is the table (cause pervades the effect). In the same way, we are the effect and the cause is Divinity, which is Infinite. In other words, we are Divinity too but we have forgotten it. So, from the relative practice, if we remember that we are the effect of the cause (the cause is all virtues in all ways) then that means our potential is the same. So we are cultivating seeds we already have. 

Tactile perspective: Allow Speak (Sadhana)
Allow others to speak. When one loses patience is when they lose the battle. Allowing others to speak cultivates patience. With patience, all other virtues come naturally. Being impatient does not help anyone (neither you nor someone else). The majority of people want to be heard.
You are actively helping them by allowing them to speak. It is a great expression of seva or help. 

Discussion:
What is the ego & how do you know that is the ego?
Our group shared ego is identification or anything that sees duality or anything that separates ourselves from anything else.
How do you know? When one feels they are better than others or when one gets angry.

Vivkeji’s reflection
Ego is a “sense” of separation. It is a sense because it is similar to experiencing hot or cold. One may feel hot in the same environment that others may feel cold.
Vivekji knows this through experience. The strongest experience  of ego is incompleteness. Even if everything is perfect, one feels imperfect. Next is through education. Why do we feel imperfect / incomplete?  Avidya (lack of knowledge or education). The rishis provide us education on it because they have gone through avidya.

Dialogue:

Question 1: How do you reduce our ego? Is it possible to completely eliminate ego or only reduce it? The higher perspective is to nurture virtues (become Bhagavan). The lower perspective: serve a Master so ego never takes over you.

All that we do should be preparing us for contemplation – how you bathe, work , relationships etc.What does preparation feel like? Mind becomes blanched, focused and reflective.

Summary
RAW from last week was Sleep Altar. When one has an altar next to their bed then it reminds them that their original parent is watching and looking after them.
RAW for this week is to allow others to speak.