Subodha Vedanta Class Notes – March 31, 2024

A much broader and deeper subject than AstroPhysics or any other science is Reality, studying Reality, being intelligent about Reality and that’s what we do in Advaita Vedanta. That’s what we do in our Sunday courses. We study Reality. We know there is a relative reality and an Absolute reality. But how are we supposed to live in this relative, in this Absolute reality? With the relative reality, our relationship should be loving, and being independent will take us to the Absolute. We have had the best icons to teach us. First with Bhagavan Rama who is most loving, and yet most independent. An example was when He took on so much negativity to protect Bhagavati Sita’s name. Then Bhagavan Krshna who allowed His entire family to be corrected. He cared for them, but allowed them to be corrected. Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Tejomayananda were most loving, yet most independent. It is for us to follow the same.

Two weeks ago, our class focused on making sense of detachment and the main thought was that detachment would come naturally to those who are content. If we are becoming more content oriented or content, then detachment will come naturally. If we are very hungry and a tray of desserts is presented, we would want it all, but if we are full and the tray of desserts is presented, theoretically we should not want it or be detached from it. For the one who is Independently Joyous, the notions of tyaga or letting go do not have to happen externally, in a formal way; they are all natural. 

Reviewing some thoughts from the last class about God – 

Therefore, Existence alone is the cause of the Universe. United with its own power (of creation), this Existence is known as God, Ishwara, – the Almighty Lord. You should surrender to Him, the all-pervading One. 

The main thoughts related to this verse – Whoever gave us power, it is natural or right to serve the one who gave us that power. Let us try to feel all the power we have in life – physical power, financial power, emotional power, etc – so to try to serve the one who gave us that power, with that same power. The primary source of this power is God, so the natural, right way to live is to serve God with that same power. 

Another thought from this verse – If we try to find ourselves at the feet of Bhagavan, we will naturally start to feel what Bhagavan feels. Bhagavan is all-pervading, all-potent, all-peaceful. We will also start feeling this Bigness. Shared in a more Jnana oriented way – If we become an instrument, all of that power or Grace from the One who is holding us will flow more fully and naturally. 

That was Chapter 5 on God (according to Vivekji the hardest chapter thus far), and as we have completed our review of Chapter 6 on Faith prior to that, now we will review Chapter 7. 

Verse 1 – Anyone can attain any goal by the right means alone. In order to gain something which is unattained, the means are knowledge and action. 

What Pujya Swami Tejomayananda is sharing in this verse is that if we are clear about the purpose, that will pull the related path. If we are clear about the ends, the means will come. If it relates to SQ or Self Realization, Divinity is in the details. The ends, the means, specificity is needed. We cannot be casual about this. That is why our RAW from last week was Vyashti manana – to only reflect, not just reflect while engaged in another verb or action.

Another thought from this verse relates to Rshi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Chapter 1 is on Purpose; Chapter 2 is on Practice; Chapter 3 is on Power, the power that comes from following Yoga; Chapter 4 is on Peace. Vivekji is sharing this so that we are clear that the purpose of Yoga is not power, but rather Peace. If it were power then that would be the final chapter. In the Bhagavad Gita, the final chapter is on Moksha, Peace. So as we start to be clear about the purpose, it is not about power or success, but Peace. When we are clear about the purpose, that path will become clear as well. 

Verse 2 – If something was unattained due to ignorance, then knowledge alone is the means to gain it. Clear knowledge arises by inquiring through a valid means of knowledge. 

That which is apraapta (we do not have), two verbs are needed then – knowing and acting. We have to know how to get what we do not have, and then have to act in that way to obtain it. However, that which is praapta (we have it), but we do not know it, we have forgotten this, in Sanskrtam – avidya, then only one verb is needed – just knowing, and not acting. We are so stuck on doing that even when the means is knowing, we intellectualize it to think that we still have to do something. We just have to KNOW. We do not have to do. That is the difference between an objective science and a subjective science, and if we understand that, this verse will become clear..

Now new content from the 3rd verse of Chapter 7 which is on In-quiry into the Ends – 

Verse 3: 

shravanam mananam dhyaanam vedaantasyaiva saadhanam

prochyate svaatma-laabhaartham mukhyatastu guroh krpa

Shravana – Active listening, Manana – active reflecting, Dhyaanam – active contemplating of Vedanta –  these are the means. For one to know what is inside of them, the final three means are active listening, active reflecting and active contemplating. This is said to be the way to know, feel the Self. The fourth, but primary way to know the Self is through the Grace of one’s Guide. 

Shravana feels like this is the message. Do we ever listen to the news and feel that this is the message that we need in our life? No, we never feel that. But Shravana is the message, and the message is “I” is Infinite. 

Manana has the specific purpose of feeling that this message is Real. We have a lot of doubts about I being Infinite, but through manana these doubts get purged and we feel the message is real.

Dhyana or Nidhydhyasa feels like the message is real and personal. We have vasanas or habits that are anaatma. They make us feel that the message is real, but it doesn’t apply to us. However, through contemplation we feel that this message applies to us. 

Connecting all this, if we feel that we are holding ourselves back, a reason for this is attachment – attachment to our identity, to our ideas, to our vasanas. That is why the opposite of attachment is passion for others. By being passionate about all beings, animals, plants and stones, Vedanta becomes more powerful.

The fourth factor which Swami Tejomayananda has described as most important – How we can feel God is through Grace and how we can feel Grace is through Guidance. If there is God (there is), inherent to God is Grace, like if there is a Sun, then there are the Sun’s rays. Even if the Moon is in front of the Sun, like in a Solar Eclipse, the Sun’s rays will still be there. And God’s Grace is felt as a Guide who is sharing guidance. It is such guidance that makes us practice and feel that this is not theory, but application.

In the next chapter, Chapter 8, the theme is in-quiry into the means – verse 21 overall.

Verse 1: 

Saadhanam-antarangam kim bahirangam kimucyate

Chitta-shuddhi-samaadhaana-kaarakam saadhanam bahih

Saadhanam-antarangam kim – What are the inner or advanced means? – The student is thinking to themselves as this was stated in Chapter 7 – Antakarana sadhana.

Bahirangam kimucyate – What are the outer or intermediate means? – The student is asking what will help him follow what is stated in Chapter 7. 

Chitta-shuddhi-samaadhaana – That is purity and focus, immersion

Kaarakam saadhanam bahih  – The outer practices are to prepare the mind, with purity and focus. 

Bahikarana or outer disciplines, these train us for the antah karana or inner disciplines, but two very specific qualities are needed, which are Shuddha – a balanced mind, Samaadhaana – a focused mind. If we do not have a balanced mind, if we do not have a focused mind, then active listening, active reflecting and active contemplating are not happening, which means we are not feeling that – I is Infinite. Only the balanced and focused mind can finally become reflective.To be a shishya or disciple, we have to be reflective. 

We will only study the first quarter of Verse 2 and study only three of the many Bahikarana sadhanas or outer practices – yajna, daana and tapa.

Verse 2:

Yajno daanam tapaschaadi

Further reflections from Vivekji – three of the many Bahikarana sadhanas –

Yajna means dedication and when we are dedicated, we start to feel bigger. In Sanskrtam, the word for Infinity is Brahma or Bigness. So yajna or dedication is training in feeling bigger than what we feel now. Pujya Swami Chinmayananda has described this as a cooperative endeavor where when everyone is living for a purpose, it doesn’t matter about the person – whether we like it, we don’t like it, whether it’s comfortable or uncomfortable.

Dana – Swami Tejomayananda has shared that Dana in English is charity, but for us it is contribution. He has shared three statements, all starting with It. See if this describes us –

• It is to give to the needy generously and respectfully. 
• It is to share what we have as a duty as we thank God for showering us with abundance
• It is to take on the responsibility of taking care of the less fortunate and is a meritorious way of distribution of wealth. 

This is an awesome checklist on contribution. In Bhagavad Gita’s Chapter 17, Shri Krishna describes Dana as daatavyam – as one’s responsibility, and not an opportunity. Another reflection Vivekji shared is that since we are Prasada loving culture – Prasada is when a result or Karmaphala comes to us, we share it and what is left, is for us. So who are the actions for? Others. Who are the results for? Others also. And whatever remains, is for us. 

Tapa is renunciation. It is to conserve our experiences and equipments, resources and time, so that one has more effort to burn the ego. Just like a rocket needs a certain amount of escape velocity to get out of the Earth’s gravity, to burn the ego and push the ego into the Spirit, we have to conserve. That is why renunciation leads to Surrender. More practically, tapa is what trains us for Titiksha. Tapa is voluntary discipline and Titiksha is discipline, but not by choice. Vivekji encourages everyone to choose discomfort so we can train ourselves in dvaita. 

We will continue with this chapter next week. 

Discussion: Vivekji shared the names of three icons who are great, loving and independent – Bhagavan Rama, Bhagavan Krshna and our Gurus (Sadguru-Shishya-Parampara). What are practices for us to develop KMF – keep moving forward? Being loving and being independent and continuing to move forward.

Vivekji shared his reflection that when we know that all is changing including this body, why judge it? Do we judge clouds? The clearer one’s purpose, the easier it is to keep moving forward. 

• Bhagavan Rama’s purpose was not Himself. He even went to the jungle based on what the King said, and not what His father said. 
• Bhagavan Krshna taught Rshi Uddhava and so many that He is Bhagavatam, so that many had something to hold on to. 
• Swami Chinmayananda felt that NRI kids wouldn’t know about Sanatana Dharma as parents themselves didn’t know that much. So Gurudev starting Balavihar was his caring for our children 50 years ago. 
• Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, when he gave up leadership (in a secular way) of Chinmaya Mission, he was still healthy – physically and mentally. It was to keep moving forward and help someone else lead. 

RAW from last week:

Vivekji shared that the more we offer intensity, the more we get clarity. Intensity leads to clarity. This map and course is about clarity. We feel the message when we are engaged in active listening. If there is a lack of clarity, then it is possibly because there is a lack of intensity. 

RAW: KMF – Whatever happens in this week, we keep moving forward.