October 19, 2023 Class Notes by Yaishna Santchurn

Introduction

That which is within, e.g. fear, jealousy, insecurity, etc. is what holds us back from facing our day. Therefore, we must focus our efforts on our inner world in order to free ourselves.

Dialogue with Dharma (DWD) is a class which helps do just that; it is a course in reflecting on ourselves. 

• Reflection→Personalization→Purification (Dharma)→Realization (Brahma)

DWD is based on the Yaksha Prashna from the Mahabharata, in which Yudhishthira, an icon of balance, is being asked questions by a mighty being, or Yaksha. These questions are not systematic, like those in the Bhagavad Gita or Vishnu Sahasranama; rather, they are questions about living, i.e. understanding nature, people, techniques, conflict, etc. If Yudhishthira answers correctly, his brothers will be brought back to life. Similarly, it is through this reflection and personalization that our responsibilities become meaningful. 

Review:

• Brahmana: thinker
• Ksatriya: leader (i.e. implementer of what the brahmanas have determined is best for society)
• Hierarchy of attributes/qualities
  • Divine
  • Noble
  • Human
  • Ignoble

• Question 11: Brahmana’s human attribute: Liability to death
  • Those who know death is a fact, age and die flowingly.
  • Those who do not know death is a fact, age and die fearfully.
  • The body is always dying, but we are more than the body, so we should be less fearful.
• Question 12: Brahmana’s ignoble attribute: Slander
  • If you don’t know the answer, don’t guess. Ask for help/the answer.
  • Similarly, when we don’t know about someone specifically, don’t guess. Understand them before any judgment is cast. 
• Question 13: Ksatriya’s divine attribute: arrows (against one’s own vices)
  • Chinmaya Mission pledge: Fight against all low tendencies first within and then without.

Discourse

Question 14: What is a ksatriya’s noble attribute? 

Answer: Yajna – performance of sacrificial rites

• Absolute Perspective
  • Yajna = dedication
  • If there’s dedication, then there will be sacrifice.
  • You don’t know what you are sacrificing if you are dedicated.
  • You don’t feel less by your sacrifice; instead, you feel more and that you are the beneficiary of this dedication.
• Relative Perspective
  • A ksatriya, or leader, is active to help others be activated.
  • The best quality of a leader is to help themselves.
  • The next best quality of a leader is to be an example for others through their leadership.
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization. 

Question 15: What is a ksatriya’s human attribute? 

Answer: Fear

• Absolute Perspective
  • Advaita abhayam
    • Advaita = oneness
    • Abhayam = fearlessness
    • The one who feels oneness feels fearlessness, and vice versa.
  • The opposite of advaita abhayam is the human (ordinary) quality of a ksatriya, i.e. they do not feel oneness, so they have a sense of fear.
  • We fear and react towards that which is different.
  • Three fundamental fears and their opposites
    • Death – Existence (Sat)
    • Unknown – Awareness (Cit)
    • Sorrow – Joy (Ananda)
  • What we fear teaches us who we are, what we are comfortable with, and what is one with us.
  • Our creator teaches in both covert (i.e. what we fear) and overt (i.e. our guide, our map) ways.
• Relative Perspective
  • Fear is not a good quality of a leader, but leaders can use fear to become better by fearing adharma
  • When we fear being irresponsible, when we fear doing that which is wrong, this becomes fuel to become a better leader
  • This is an example of a vice being useful by directing us to a value
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization.

Question 16: What is a ksatriya’s ignoble (dishonorable) attribute? 

Answer: Abandoning the afflicted

• Absolute Perspective
  • Ksatriya is derived from ksat trayate: one who has transcended fear and gives the related abhaya dana, i.e helps others to feel the same.
  • One who has not transcended fear has a smallness in their inner world, so there is also a smallness in their interpretation and implementation of what the thinkers have shared.
  • These differences that they feel are implemented as distances.
• Relative Perspective
  • Replace smallness with selfishness
  • If a leader is selfish and does not follow through with their responsibility to lead both themselves and others, then they become a follower, i.e. someone who intentionally needs sympathy.
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization.

Note: The next set of questions are related to the Veda (knowledge, scripture, map)

Course tip: Filter out whatever makes you feel overwhelmed and tune into reflection and personalization. 

Question 17: What is the essential Sama for a yajna? 

Answer: Prana

• Absolute Perspective
  • 1 Veda volumized into 4, one of which is the Sama Veda
  • Sama: to sing
  • This is a form of invoking Bhagavan or Divinity into your life (bringing from within oneself to the outside).
• Relative Perspective
  • Prana, one’s breath sheath, helps one to sing so that this yajna (dedication) can occur.
  • When we are intentional with our breath (our health), then our minds become more quiet. We do not even know we are breathing (healthy), so we can focus on more.
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization.

RAW

Last week’s RAW: Take up one of the chains that is holding you back from facing your day and unbind yourself.

• Vivekji’s Reflection: The breadth of Vivekji’s responsibilities (i.e. teaching, administration, etc.) that he has to tend to is what holds him back. Therefore, Vivekji tends to/clears up that which is physically taking up space first so that he has more space for that which is softer/subtler. 

This week’s RAW: Journal every night about what today meant for you. Document your life. 

Discussion Subjects

1. What causes one to be selfish?
2. “Mind your mind and mind your own business.” – Swami Tejomayananda. What does “mind your mind” look like?