by Sudarshan Atmavilas

Class 8: Titiksha = Fortitude

• Life = Series of Moments (Experiences) of this World (of pairs of opposites) at:
  • Physical Level – Heat & Cold
  • Emotional Level – Joy & Sorrow
  • Intellectual Level – Praise & Criticism
• We typically react in 3 ways:
  • Complain – Lose balance
  • Criticize – We & others around us become dejected
  • Cry – Allow ourselves to be overwhelmed
    • Titiksha = Fortitude = Acting without reacting
    • Titiksha = Bearing situation with courage, without 3 C’s
• To build fortitude:
  • Vision & Purpose – When vision is clear (aligned with goal), performance is pulled
  • Steadiness in Effort – Builds self-confidence
  • Knowledge to Persevere – This too shall pass — we can only control our attitude
    • Choose cheerful acceptance — this specific situation was built for you to evolve
• Greater Purpose → Greater Performance → Greater Transcendence of Pairs of Opposites

Class 9: Samatvam = Balance

• In spite of conveniences/comfort, inconsistent peace & discontent
• Outer progress does not correlate with inner contentment
  • Outer progress must be balanced with inner progress
• When we act without understanding (suppression), peace does not last
• When we act with intelligent self-restraint (balance), we can transcend those pairs of opposites / our lower qualities
  • Food is medicine — what I eat literally becomes my body — I should be disciplined with what I put into my body
• Short-term (immediate) joys come quickly & go quickly
  • When we live for short-term happiness, there is no happiness
  • When we live for long-term happiness (tomorrow), we can be happy

Class 10: Religion – Realizing Your Potential

• My religion is not Hinduism — it is Sanatana Dharma = perpetual self-development
  • Must gain knowledge & mix it into my personality (for it to serve me)
• We confront numerous unexpected challenges each day — they help us evolve
  • Environmental stress forces organisms to evolve
  • This is why devas, who have all comforts, don’t evolve
  • Humans, who experience both joys & sorrows, can evolve & transcend both
• Dharmic living = living values = integrating personality = quietening mind = feeling nature
  • Just one value can bring mind to undisturbed state → experience true nature

Reflection Activity

• 1. Identify what topic has resonated with you the most and why?
• 2. What topics/activities would you like to learn about together?