Class Notes by Bhargavi

In Sanatana Dharma, pooja is an important facet. This is because when one engages in a pooja, all of the senses are being used (incense, lamp, flowers, etc). The more our senses are used, the more an impression is made on our personality and this further helps us remember the reason behind doing the pooja. In this course, we are using all of our senses (discussion, dialogue), hoping this will create an impression on our personality. This is important and urgent so that we remember that we are a child of Bhagawan. Swami Chinmayananda would explain that the flowers he was offering were the mantras and the murtis were the seekers who he was explaining these mantras to.

Rishi Narada is using sutras on Bhakti to provide more clarity on Bhakti. Synonym for Bhakti is Anuraga- love without “I” ness. We have to get enough clarity to love like this in an uncompromising way all the time in all context.

Sutra 40: It is through God’s grace that one develops Bhakti. The catalyst is having a great personality and having the right role model.

Sutra 41: There is no difference between Bhagawan and a Bhakta. One’s guide is an expression of one’s map which is an expression of divinity. We should therefore try to respect all beings, at the least those who are doing God’s work, hoping the respect will evolve to love and eventually to reverence. Respecting someone can be practiced by listening to them. Loving someone is when we learn from them, and revering is when you start to live like them.

Sutra 42: Bhakti or Anuraga is important and urgent. We should therefore act on it urgently.

Sutra 43: As we are working hard and smart to develop Anuraga, you love more, we should renounce negative people, in the context of spirituality. Rishi Narada urges us to do this always at all costs. In Kaliyuga, where people are predominantly selfish, practicing this verse is easy. One should be “Nityasuddha”, comprehensively pure.

Sutra 44:

Kāma-krodha-moha-smrtibhramsa-buddhināsa-sarvanāsa-kāranatvāt

When one is in the company of those who do not value Anuraga, one develops vices. This ladder of fall is also described in Srimad Bhagavad Gita:

Distracted> Attached> Desirous> Angry> Deluded> Amnesic> Devolved> Annihilated

These eight rungs of the ladder of fall can be summarized as being Incomplete: When one is incomplete, they tend to be drawn to those who are insecure. The only strategy then becomes indulgence. We should therefore unitask to cure the problem of distraction.

Sutra 45:

Tarangāyita apime sangāt-samudrāyanti

These vices described in the previous sutra start off as ripples. These ripples when connected to negative company, become tidal waves, a tsunami. Be honest, be humble that you need help (to work on this vice).  When we are honest and humble, help will come. As help is coming, we have to be careful and never underestimate what negativity can do to you.

One social media sutra that we can abide by is “Distract the mind with reading”. Social media can be overwhelmingly negative and therefore use reading a physical book as a method of distraction, not incessant scrolling.  Another sutra that we can follow is “Distract the body with moving”.

Sutra 46:

Kah-tarati kah-tarati māyām? Yah sangam tyajati

Yo mahānubhāvam sevate, nirmamo bhavati

Who crosses Maya? Three processes are described: 1. Tyaga, 2. Seva and 3. Sadhana

Tyaga/ independent of articles and beings. This makes us more available

We have to serve those who are close to Bhagawan. The one who is holding on to the feet of Bhagawan, becomes free too.

Sadhana is a form of becoming, in the sense, to change our identity starting to feel less like an individual.

Those who have Anuraga for Mayapati, cross over the ocean of Maya.

This Anuraga looks like:

Tyaga makes us available

Seva makes us directed

Sadhana makes me become like those who are in love with Bhagawan.