Subodha Vedanta Class Notes – February 4, 2024

We should internalize that there is power in words. We chant Om Sahana Vavatu meaning – May we be safe. The second facet of this most universal prayer is Sahanau Bhunaktu. Sahanau means – together may we. Bhunaktu is similar to Bhoga, meaning – May we enjoy. May we be safe, may we enjoy. If nothing is intrinsically distracting, we are not distracted. Similarly, whatever we are enjoying, we are choosing to enjoy that. Enjoy is a choice. If we choose not to enjoy, we will not enjoy. And if we want to enjoy, we will enjoy. 

The sense of being entitled is synonymous with taking for granted. Upon more reflection, taking for granted is a practice in ignoring. Zooming into the word ignorance which is used a lot in self-development; when we ignore, we take for granted and feel entitled. We have a habit to ignore. That is why few people are passionate about self-development. They are more interested in other people’s lives and their problems, rather than their own lives and vices. 

We are investing in Subodha Vedanta – Vedanta made easy, to ensure that we are not ignoring or taking for granted or feeling entitled, that we know Vedanta. The best sign that we know Vedanta is that we are more cheerful and more content. This is what Bhagavan Krshna has taught in Bhagavad Gita’s Chapter 2. If we find ourselves to be cranky, reflect on whether we are ignoring, taking for granted, being entitled.

Chapter 1 of Subodha Vedanta has the theme of Invocation. The main thoughts were for us to invoke Grace. Grace has an immeasurable effect on our lives – for us to invoke this Grace. Pujya Swami Tejomayananda has defined Grace as – Bhagavan’s umbrella of Grace is that our mana remains shanta even through difficulties. Everyone will go through difficulties, but if our mind remains quiet, then that is Grace. And the fact that we are here in this virtual gurukula shows that we have Grace. 

Chapter 2 of Subodha Vedanta has the theme of Student. This is similar to Bhagavata where Chapter 0 was Mahima, Chapter 1 was on Sadhaka and Chapter 2 was on Sadhana. We are also flowing through the same, from Mahima to Sadhaka. A Sadhaka means a seeker who is practicing Sadhana. There are lots of definitions of Sadhana – practice, discipline, etc. What Sadhana feels like is that we are becoming the ends. We are becoming cheerful and content. Sadhana has the effect of becoming. We are following the means to the ends. We are only a Sadhaka if we take what happens in a controlled environment and we live this in the uncontrolled environment. Vivekji does not question that everyone has the vision of Vedanta, but that vision has to be infused into our lifestyle. That is when one is a Sadhaka. Another gauge if we are a Sadhaka, engaged in Sadhana is when we slowly, yet steadily begin to forget – forget worldliness,  forget not being invited to parties, forget about what someone didn’t say about us, forget our body identification. When we start to forget that which is to be forgotten, then we know that we are evolving. 

We continue exploring Chapter 2 on Student or Sadhaka. Here is the 5th Verse or 3rd Shloka

vivekaadi-gunairyuktasteevrayaa cha mumukshaya

ayam-evottamah shishyo muktah syaaditi nishchitam

In this verse, Swami Tejomayananda is sharing the qualities that are needed to be a student, the qualities needed for us to engage in Sadhana. When teaching Contemplation, Vivekji has shared that the most surface aspect of who we are is our Nama – our name. Deeper than that is our form, Rupa, and deeper than that is Guna or qualities. Who is a student? No name or form is given. Only qualities are given. What is the deepest aspect of who we are? It is Dhama or our Center. So what are the qualities that are needed for one to be centered or for one to reach the Center? 

This is a quote from Swami Chinmayananda – Popularly, service to the Teacher is considered as something done for the comfort of the Guru, but the Teacher does not want any such seva. To gain at-one-ment with one’s Teacher in one’s own vision of the Truth, is the highest seva. If we love our Trust Triangle, our Guide, we can make them tea or massage their feet, but really what Swami Chinmayananada is sharing is love, is for us to have these qualities so that we can feel the same Oneness that our Guide does. 

Vivekji is going to first share these qualities in a general way so we can rate ourselves. Qualities are what make a student – 

• The Uttama shishya – the best student is one who follows their Guide, their Trust triangle in a mental way. Their Guide does not have to say anything. They are already tuned in with their minds and they commit and follow-through. 
• The Madhyama shishya – the middle student engages in practices not mentally, but verbally. They are guided by a Map or a Guide, and then they follow-through. 
• The Manda shishya – the student who is slow, who engages in Sadhana because they have been verbally told many times. The key here is repetition – repeated verbal guidance. 
• The Adhama shishya – the worst student is one who does the opposite of what they are guided to do. 

Now from a general analysis of a student, we will get into the specific reflections. 

In this verse, Pujya Swami Tejomayananda uses Viveka as the first quality, and Adi means etcetera which includes the Gunas, all of the qualities that make a seeker, Yukta – they have these in them. Vivekji is going to reframe these Gunas for us in the form of Noes & Yeses as learning No is more important than learning Yes. Nine Gunas are being shared here, all in a sequential manner of becoming a Sadhaka –  

1. Vairagya – is the feeling that we are Not this. It is to curtail having dislikes and likes so that we can practice that we are Not this. A No!
2. Viveka – is the quality or the Niyama which is the Do, the Yes. It is developing critical thinking or thinking on our own. It is practicing thinking independently so that we can inquire into reality. However, if one is not a critical thinker, they are unable to use their intellect for inquiring. A Yes!

Recapping before we continue – We are continuing to try to not ignore, not take for granted, not feel entitled that we are Sadhakas, but all of us can be better. How does one become a better seeker? How does one go from being worst, to slow to middle to best? By developing Vairagya, then Viveka. Next in line is the Sampatti – good wealth, unique wealth, inner wealth which no one can take away. Here is what they are – 

3. Dama means having a calm body, but practically, it is NOT reacting. When we think of our body, we have the organs of input and organs of output. Our mouths are the first organ of output. A No!
4. Shama  means quietude of mind. A way we can feel this is how quickly we recover from an agitated mind. If someone provokes us and we get provoked, how quickly we recover from that is Shama. A Yes!
5. Uparama means stillness of intellect. We redirect where we are going. Our default is to be an extrovert, but if we are calm and quiet, we start to turn around. A No!
6. Samadhana means to direct and is also defined as absorption, immersion. Once we turn around, we still have to go in the other direction. A Yes!
7. Titiksha means to endure by practicing voluntary discipline. Swami Tejomayananda has shared that whatever cannot be cured, has to be endured. There are no other options. We are not pushed and pulled even when we are in an uncontrolled environment. We are not deterred, imbalanced when there are light pushes and pulls. A No!
8. Shradha is defined as Faith or holding on or following through. Shradha is when we have not felt a certain teaching or experience, like Independent Joy or the hand of God, but we still follow-through. Even with heavy pulls and pushes in an uncontrolled environment, one is not deterred. Shradha is like an emergency brake. A Yes!
9. Mumukshutva means living for freedom, then all the Yamas (Noes) and Niyamas (Yeses) will come naturally. We will reflect more on this. 

Swami Tejomayanandaji shares that we are the best students when we are in satsanga. 

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Discussion: How do we determine reality? How do we follow-through with this determination?

Vivekji shared – That which is independent is more real. That which is less independent is less real. So independence is that which determines reality. And to follow-through with this – Keep moving. All relationships are infused with conflict. Relationships are from relatives and relatives are relative. So to keep moving. When one stops moving, they have made the relative, absolute. 

RAW: Rate how real we are Living – 1 (awful) or 100 (awesome).