November 30, 2023 Class Notes by Yaishna Santchurn

Introduction

A seeker should be like an eyeball. – Madhusūdana Sarasvatī

• Why? Because our eyes have no tolerance for anything that does not belong to the eye, e.g. dust, fingers, etc.

• A seeker should be that intolerant towards dejection and sorrow.
• The one who does not deal with dvaita (separation) well evolves into the stronger seeker by maturing out of dejection and separation.
• This class makes us reflect on whether we are tolerating dejection and separation. Our aspiration is to not tolerate dejection and separation.

The answers provided in the Yaksha Prashna are quite short–these encourage us to reflect and clarify. 

Review

Answer 27: A father is higher than the sky.

• Our inner world comes before our outer world; therefore, we should invest in our inner world more than our outer world.

Answer 28: The mind is faster than the wind. 

• When one appreciates the power of the mind, then one puts in the effort to understand it.

Answer 29: Worries are more numerous than grass. 

• The mind can either have thoughts or can think
• Thoughts (worries) are not deliberate/directed; they just erupt
• Thinking is deliberate/directed; it is ideated, so when the mind thinks, one does not feel worry.
• When worrying, your thoughts are owning you instead of you owning your thoughts. 

Answer 30: Fish do not close their eyes while sleeping.

• “I am not in them; they are in me.” – Bhagavad Gita
  • Replace space with dependence, i.e. “I don’t depend on them; they depend on me.”
  • Awareness does not depend on thoughts; thoughts depend on awareness.
• The most sacred sound is silence
• Sounds are diversity; silence is unity.

Next week, we will review Questions 21 – 40. 

Discourse

Question 31: What does not move after being born?

Answer: An egg

• Absolute Perspective
  • Infinity (Existence/Awareness/Joy) is uncaused, i.e. our Original Parent.
  • That which is Uncaused is also uncausing.
  • If it has never experienced change, it cannot trigger change.
  • Experiencing diversity does not mean Infinity has changed; instead, we are just tuning into the shallow part of Infinity, i.e. names and forms, instead of the deep part of Infinity, i.e. Existence/Awareness.
• Relative Perspective
  • Live for that which changes less. 
  • Invest in values, which do not change, rather than valuables, which do change.
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization. 

Question 32: What does not have a heart?

Answer: A stone

• Absolute Perspective
  • Infinity = inclusivity
  • Stones are of the nature of Infinity, but, unlike humans, animals and plants, they cannot express awareness. 
• Relative Perspective
  • Our heart = our emotions, our moods, which express as likes and dislikes
  • We should be like a stone, which is beyond likes and dislikes.
  • Everyday, expose yourself to discomfort and make yourself comfortable in that discomfort, e.g. sleeping on the floor
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization.

Question 33: What causes a stream to grow?

Answer: Speed

• Alternative phrasing: What grows due to its speed? A river. 
• Absolute Perspective
  • This answer symbolizes the nature of a seeker.
  • A seeker who needs peace/to be free will evolve faster than one who wants peace/to be free. 
  • Bhakti or devotion is for those who are intentional about freedom.
• Relative Perspective
  • When you lose trust in someone, the quantity of thoughts you have towards that person increases, i.e. overthinking
  • Those thoughts overwhelm and turn into actions. 
  • Speed makes one’s negativity grow.
  • When the mind is trapped in overthinking or negative self talk, try to turn it into productive action. 
  • Social Media Sutra: Distract the mind with reading
    • Keep a light, physical book near your computer so that when you want to distract the mind, read productively. 
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalizatio

Course note: Questions 34 – 37 relate to relationships

Question 34: Who is the friend of a traveler?

Answer: A caravan/companion

• Absolute Perspective
  • The etymology of sarthah is arthena sah: the one who brings meaning into our life
  • If you find yourself tired, frustrated, or confused, check whether you are doing that which is meaningful.
  • No intention = no evolution
  • If you are not 100% intentional about what you are doing, you will not evolve. 
  • This is a yardstick for how vigilant we should be as we speak, think, and act.
• Relative Perspective
  • sarthah – the one who helps you grow
  • Let go of trying to be popular or liked and focus on having higher quality friends
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization.

Question 35: Who is the friend of a householder (i.e. one who is associated with family)?

Answer: A wife

• Absolute Perspective
  • The greatest, stealthlike problem associated with being a householder is attachment.
  • The friend of a householder is the one who supports them in being independent, i.e. not attached.
  • Three stages of life (brahmachari/student, vanaprastha/retired, sanyasi/unconnected) are supported by grhastha/householders.
  • The friend of a householder is the one who supports them to be supportive
• Relative Perspective
  • The friend of a householder is the one who follows dharma, hoping they will, too
  • Vivaha: marriage → UPLIFTMENT which does not necessarily have to come from a spouse!
  • Your friend is the one who encourages you to be independent, generous, and responsible.
• Tactile Narrative: Seeker to engage in reflection and personalization.

Question 36: Who is the friend of one who is ill?

Answer: A physician

• Absolute Perspective
  • Bhavaroga: the disease of becoming (comparison→jealousy→insecurity)
  • Original physician: Bhavesha – the one who can end this bhava; from becoming to Being

Discussion Subject

1. Why are we interested in negativity?

• Vivekji’s Observation: We are extroverts, so the more extreme a happening is, the more interested we are. The more extroverted we are, the more interested in negativity we are. 

RAW

Last week’s RAW: Be actively intentional in living for nature’s forces, nature’s beings, society, family, your guide (pancha maha yajna)

• Vivekji’s Observation: No intention = no evolution

This week’s RAW: Join the Happiness Series each night (Dec 4th to 6th) and intentionally encourage and facilitate three others to join the Happiness Series, too.