February 16, 2022

Notes by Rishi Nene

Review

1. Dhama –  Control of Senses Examples:-Control dopamine levels (pleasure).

2. Shama – Quietude of Mind Examples:-Change the relationship with the major distractions of life. Have a clean and organized environment.

Story about a genie with infinite wishes –

There was a genie with infinite wishes but if you didn’t keep him busy he would eat you. There was a farmer that was the genie’s master after rubbing a lamp. He tried to keep him busy as much as he could but he couldn’t so then the farmer was going to be eaten. Then the farmer went to his guru and asked him “How will I cope with this genie”, then the guru told him what to do. Later the genie said keep me busy or else I’m going to eat you now. Farmer told him to make a hole for a tree to be planted in it, and told the genie to climb the tree up and down till he told him what to do next.

Lesson –

In this story genie is our mind and our mind always wants to do something. If it is not constructively engaged, it can destroy us. Genie going up and down the pole is a symbolism for japa, by which we can train our mind and keep it absorbed in a higher ideal. Japa also helps us grow the superpower of deep focus!