December 16, 2021 – Class Notes by Siddharth Kashinath
Introduction:
In Shrimad Bhagavatam, Bhagvan Krishna shares an analysis of Bhaktas. Let us analyze what kind of ‘Bhakta’ / devotee we are:
Saamanya Bhakta: Is a devotee who feels Divine Presence in a ‘murti’ or an idol.
Visesha Bhakta: Is a great devotee and feels Divine Presence in others. Not in everyone, but in others, whether it be their guru or one who is selfless.
Uttama Bhakta: Is the greatest devotee who feels Divine Presence in themselves as themself.
The great thing about Shrimad Bhagavatam (and it is peppered throughout our shastras and Upanishads) is that irrespective of how vicious or virtuous we are, we are still called bhaktas. There is just a different intensity in each type of bhakta. What is also lovely with such frameworks is that it shows the consistency and importance of svadhyaya. We all need a reference for where we are so that we can grow up from that reference.
How does one evolve from being a general devotee to being a great devotee to being the greatest devotee? What should one do to move up this ladder?
Reflection is the key to evolving as a bhakta. When we do manana or vichara, whatever teaching or guidance is shared with us makes sense. Mathematically, when we think of infinity, we think of every number – negative, prime, whole numbers, fractions, etc. There is no exclusivity in infinity. Then why do we break that down when it comes to philosophy? Infinity includes me and you. That is how the science of Vedanta has been shared with us – in a vocabulary that encourages reflection. And those who do reflect keep internalizing that this Divinity goes from an idol to another to oneself. Similar to how we evolve in finding happiness in an article to a being to oneself.
Review:
Step 36 – puruṣārtha (purpose). This requires great strength to give up any other purpose in life other than peace. When our only purpose in life is moksha or to attain peace, then all of the other micro purposes we have (planning holidays, cleaning the house) etc. become the means to that end. But, if we are trying to hold on to pleasure and peace or position and peace or possession and peace, then we get neither. We do not get peace, and we are unable to enjoy position, possession or pleasure in an extroverted way since we know that that is not peace. Strength comes from sincerity and sincerity comes from steadiness.
Step 37 – preyas (pleasure). The instinct referred to in relation to this is mental and not physical. The instinct to choose pleasure has been nurtured by intention. So, in order to change one’s instinct, one has to be more intentional (in choosing peace over pleasure).
Step 38 – śreyas(vision). The vision to live life to the maximum potential we have today. Sreyas is always hard in the beginning, but easy in the end. For example, speaking the truth or exercising to stay fit.
Discourse
Step 39 – duḥkha nivṛtti (escaping). Avoiding physical pain and mental sorrow. We have a natural propensity to distance ourselves from discomfort. This behavior manifests itself in everyday occurrences such as postponing responsibilities or deflecting challenges. However, escaping pain does not equate to embracing peace. Pushing our comfort zone is the only way to grow.
Our programming has two basic designs – duhkha nivrtti and sukha prapti. The first is that we are programmed to escape pain – described by sociologists as fight, flight or freeze. This escaping from pain is a physical orientation. We have devolved this to be mental and not physical. We do whatever we can to escape this pain in our minds – pain such as stress, anxiety, fear, jealousy, etc. How do we escape? By watching more, buying more, eating more, talking more. We have all become experts at escaping from our own minds, but this does not last very long (think of how a drug addict would have to increase their dosage in order to get the same high on day 100 compared to day 1). Escaping from one’s mind temporarily is dangerous. So much of society focuses on this aspect by doing the following in an incorrect manner – yoga, pranayama, etc. But the whole purpose of yoga is to transcend the mind and not escape it, i.e. we make an effort to understand it and appreciate our minds and that is pushing one’s comfort zone.
A practical way to do this – do that which is important. If one steadily engages in that which is important, then one also starts to feel important. One’s mind heals and becomes strong. Those who do not do that which is important live in a busy way. Those who are busy contribute very little to society. Doing what is important means that we do not postpone or procrastinate.
Step 40 – sukha prāpti (striving). Regaining the highest, thus no longer seeking gain. Most of the happiness we experience is just an escape from pain. Sukha prapti is a dynamic experiencing of peace. Insights into the futility of pain and insights into the utility of peace are the key to grow out of escaping and into embracing.
Vivekji’s observation of the icon in the Seeker’s Wordbook (empty bird’s nest): That bird was born to leave that nest. Likewise, we were born to leave this body and to be the Spirit.
What is the best way to escape from pain? Sleep. Why there is no experience of pain in sleep is because there are no equipments in sleep. However, the ego is still there. It is just a matter of time before the ego starts to flow through those equipments to create the experience of pain.
Sukha prapti is to go deeper. In our culture, there is a significant difference between saying, “I am happy” and “I am Happiness”. I am happy is an experience, whereas I am Happiness is my Nature. This means we have to go deeper than the ego.
Some practices to go deeper than the ego – what does it mean to live egolessly / let go of the ego? Be the observer, active listening, complaining less, reducing input, selfless work. However, it is critical to have a guide because a guide will hold our hand to follow these practices. These practices will lead us to the deepest way to live.
And how does one know that they’ve reached the highest (or deepest)? It is when we no longer seek gain. In Bhagavad Gita, the sentiment is to act ‘out of fulfillment’ rather than ‘for fulfillment’.
The way to practice sukha prapti is to have a role model(s). Those who show us that it is possible to live happily, to live Happiness. If we are always around people that are miserable, then we will feel that that is natural.
Summary:
Step 39 – duḥkha nivṛtti (escaping) Practice: Steadily engage in that which is important.
Step 40 – sukha prāpti (striving) Practice: Have a role model who can show us it is normal to be Happiness.
Pariksha:
Q11 – What is an ideal visual / icon for a guru?
A – Lighthouse
Q12 – What are the C’s, B’s and A’s that we need to grow out of?
A – Complaining (circumstances), Blaming (beings), Annotating (ourselves)
Q13 – How can we practice Brahmacarya?
A – Direct our senses (and if we do not, our senses will control us).
Q14 – What does ‘muda mangala’ imply?
A – Fun in the fundamentals.
Q15 – What is the saṁskrt word for forgiveness?
A – Kshama
Q16 – What precedes and succeeds Dana?
A – Before – Dakshina (gratitude). After – Daya (grace).
Q17 – How do you know that you are dedicated?
A – You don’t know what you have sacrificed (if you know what you’ve sacrificed, then you’re focused on the sacrifice and not on dedication)
Q18 – How do you know what purpose you are living?
A – Where your resources, time and effort are being directed / invested.
Q19 – What level of Bhakta are you – general, great, greatest?
A – Visesha Bhakta (great devotee)
Q20 – What have you learned about yourself from these parikshas?
A – How sulabha Sanatana Dharma / Vedanta is. Sulabha means accessibility.
Questions:
Question 1:
When people around me become rushed or anxious or irritated, I tend to react or respond in the same way- how to change that?
A – Higher perspective – be compassionate. Be compassionate to absorb all the negativity coming at you from another person. Absorb means to take it in and discard it. Don’t ferment that negativity.
Lower perspective – say nothing. Saying something will only make matters worse. Ideally, walk away from the room. In a situation where you cannot walk away, say nothing. And if someone asks why you’re not saying anything – you must share openly that anything you say will make matters worse, which is a very reasonable statement.
Question 2:
How does one depend less on procrastination? (We tend to feel good when we put something away for long and only address it just before a deadline is approaching)
A – Higher perspective – Have higher expectations of yourself. For those who have little to do, waste a lot of time (i.e. procrastinate) and only towards the end the best in them comes out and they feel good about themselves. But they contribute very little to society. Those who have a lot of work to do (not in a busy way) or contributions to make to society, do the work when it comes and move on to doing other work.
A lateral perspective is to also have higher aspirations for oneself.
Lower perspective – plan more. Look at your plan every day so that it registers in your mind. Planning is anti-procrastination.
Question 3:
Why do we feel like we have to compete?
A – Higher perspective – it is because we only think we are the ego. A fundamental characteristic of ego is separation. When there is a sense of separation, there is competition. Separation = competition. This is the case with any entity. Conversely, we do not compete with ourselves because we do not feel the separation.
Lower perspective – Distraction causes comparison (or competition), which causes jealousy, which causes insecurity. One who is focused only does that which is important. Your focus will only be final if you are doing that which is important. If you’re not doing that which is important, you are going to be distracted.
Those who unitask more are more focused on that which is important. There is no distraction or comparison in their minds. So focus on the fact that you were born to do a certain dharma and abide by it. Instead of focusing on others’ dharmas, we must focus on our collective svadharma, which is to be happy or sukha prapti.
Last week’s RAW:
At least one-third of each meal that you eat should consist of raw foods (fruits, uncooked vegetables, nuts, etc.).
Vivekji’s observation – Yatha anna, tatha mana. As you eat, so you think. If you eat healthy, your thoughts will be healthy.
RAW:
Dec 16 – 22: Go for a 30 minute walk or run by yourself, without use of any electronic device during this time.
Dec 23 – 29: Sleep by 9pm and sleep on the floor using only a makeshift bed / pillow / blanket.
Dec 30 – Jan 6: Pick a food or drink that you consume too often or excessively and fast from it without exception.
Jan 6 – 12: Refrain from looking at yourself in a mirror.