January 25, 2024 Class Notes by Yaishna Santchurn

Introduction

• What do you think of instinctively when you think of Hinduism?
• For Vivekji, it is Yagna
  • Wood (varna) = our prints, cause
  • Fire (guna) = our desires, which are fueled by
  • Oil (karma) = objects
• The fire burns because we keep adding more oil (objects) to the fire (desires)
• This burning expresses as
  • Exhaustion – physical level
  • Frustration – mental level 
  • Dejection – intellectual level
• To put out the fire, we must use water
  • Water = reflection
  • When we reflect, we realize that objects will not change our prints 
• Dialogue with Dharma is a course on reflection, which is the only way to stop the exhaustion, the frustration, and the dejection, i.e. the burning

Review

Pointers for Questions 41-50:

Q41: VALUABLES

• Short-term 

Q42: VALUES

• Long-term 

Q43: MOODS

• Like the phases of the moon, there are the moods of the mind

Q44: CONFUSIONS

• Fog and snow inhibit us from seeing clearly

Q45: SUPPORT

• From the time you took your first breath, the most comprehensive support has been the Earth

Q46: RIGHTNESS

• Right actions, right attitudes, right atma all lead to the right ananda

Q47: LEGACY

• Will what you give last or will it fade away?

Q48: QUIETUDE

• When our mind is quiet, that is like heaven

Q49: INCLUSIVE

• Living for valuables is uncertain; living for values is certain→noble character is the sole basis for happiness

Q50: CUSTOMIZED

• Those who are close to you are there to help you be closer to Divinity

Q51:  The one who nourishes you to mature from IQ to EQ to SQ is your God-given friend 

Discourse

Q52: What is a person’s life support?

Answer: Rain

• Absolute Perspective
  • Rain is an expression of water, or naraha
  • Naraha also means knowledge
  • The one who gives knowledge is narada
  • Knowledge is our life support because it takes away our fear of the unknown
• Relative Perspective
  • Rain/water is super functional
  • Be grateful for water and don’t take it for granted
• Tactile Moment

Q53: What is man’s ultimate refuge?

Answer: Charity/generosity

• Absolute Perspective
  • Generosity is a practice in oneness (advaita)
  • Those who give to another in the same manner that they give to themselves are practicing Oneness
• Relative Perspective
  • 5 Ss of Bhaja Framework
  • Track 1:
    • SING with your words
    • SEEK with your thoughts
    • SUPPORT with your actions
  • Track 2:
    • SUPPORT – give resources
    • SERVE – give time
    • SURRENDER – give effort
• Tactile Moment

Q54: Which is greatest among blessings?

Answer: Uprightness/Integrity

• uttamam = highest/best
• Absolute Perspective
  • In this context, daksyam = capable
  • The best blessing is making one capable
  • Bhagavad Gita Ch 6, Verse 5: Lift yourself by yourself
  • It is through faith that you nurture capability
  • Ability is innate; capability is when you capture, express and release your ability
• Relative Perspective
  • Daksyam = to be responsible and accountable
  • When we are responsible, but not accountable, we deny
  • One who is accountable accepts and shows up
• Tactile Moment

Q55: Which is the most valuable of all possessions?

Answer: Learning

• Absolute Perspective
  • The purpose of a possession is to be peaceful
    • We go on vacations and own body pillows to be happy
  • What helps you the most is learning/insights–this makes you the most peaceful
  • Kung Fu Panda insight: there are no accidents
    • If you have faith in this insight, you will smile more no matter what
    • Insight leads to way more smiling than a vacation or body pillow can
    • This is why meaningful learning is our greatest possession
• Relative Perspective
  • Possessions come and go: vacation can be compromised due to weather; pillow can be taken
  • No one can take away what you have learned, i.e. riding a bike, learning to ski
  • The ornament of an ear is not an earring; it is listening/learning
• Tactile Moment

Q56: Which is the best of all gains?

Answer: Health

Discussion Subject

What can our community implement to raise accountability?

• Vivekji’s Reflection: Use buddy system to encourage follow-through

Dialogue

• “Plan for the future and implement in the present” was shared in Meaningful Mornings. Is there a difference between expectations and having an aspiration/hope? How do you plan for the future without losing your quietude?
  • When you plan, make sure you are quiet, for it to be realistic. If you are agitated and you plan, it will be an imagination.
  • This plan should be infused with hope, which is not a wish or an expectation. Hope is a positivity that is not fixed.
  • When you plan for the future and implement in the present, you keep checking in with the future only to make sure that the present is aligned with the future, but you don’t stay in the future.
    • E.g. Checking flight status screen at airport every now and then (vs. watching it constantly)
• How do I believe that I am capable enough when there is a mental block that I am not good enough?
  • Be around those who are faithful–this will become your norm
  • Svadhyaya: the more you invest in yourself, the more you will know of your capability and feel that it is your responsibility to capture that. If you don’t get to know yourself, you will never know what your ability is, let alone capture it
  • Little steps

RAW

• Last week: Use the phrase “custom-designed” as often as possible
  • Vivekji’s observation: if a matter is custom-designed, you will complain less and will be more responsible and accountable
• This week: Look at photographs of yourself from 2019, i.e. pre-pandemic and reflect on them