03/21/2024 Class Notes by Usha Chazhiyat

 Introduction

We are exploring the Mahabharata. There is a tradition to chant a specific verse before one explores the Mahabharata.

With humble adorations to Lord Narayana that is Bhagavan Krishna and to Nara that is Prince Arjuna who are the best of humans as well as to Goddess Saraswati and to Sage Vyasa, one should commence the exposition of this work known as Jaya.

As Vivekji teaches Bhagavad Gita and the Yaksha Prashna, Bivekji is also studying the book ‘mysticism of Mahabharata’. One expert from the book – Sage Vyasa who is the composer of Mahabharatha said, in relation to the four great goals of life 1) dharma – ethical goals, 2) artha – material goals, 3) kama – social goals, 4) moksha – spiritual goals. All that is needed for a person to know is given in the Mahabharata. What is not in the Mahabharata cannot be found anywhere else. 

The Mahabharata knows our life. Since Mahabharata knows our life, it also knows the ways to make our lives successful and meaningful.

Review:

Answer 81: Petitioning for a favor is a poison. In this commentary, the difference between what Dhruva asks for and what Prahlada asks for is explained. Dhruva asks for position; Prahlada doesn’t ask for the highest position, but he asks for Presence. Prahlada doesn’t ask ‘from Bhagavan’ but he asks, ‘for Bhagavan’ and he asks Bhagavan to put a lid on his heart so that no desires come from it. The finite can never make us feel infinite. If you’re going to ask for something, then ask Bhagavan for that something. He is the anna daata (what we want and need is the provider).

Answer 82 : The apt time for a sraddha ceremony is when a brahmana (teacher) is available. Vivekji quotes Swami Brahmananda’s words – “When you facilitate any kind of pravesha (new beginnings) bring a bala (infant) or sadhu (saint/teacher/guide) because neither an infant nor a saint/guide  express ego. That’s how one facilitates nobility”.

Don’t waste time of those who are brahmanas, they have that which is the key to happiness. Whatever purpose they are serving we should serve the same.

Vivekji shared a story when Vivekji interacted with Swamini Vimalananda. Swamini Vimalanda shared that in her early years, she wanted to be very close to Swami Chinmayananda. One day she was coming back from teaching. She walked into the room and there were so many people where Pujya Swami Chinmayananda was  and were very focused on serving Him. She felt that she missed this opportunity to be close to  and serve Him. As she was feeling these thoughts, Swami Chinmayananda said out loud that his real devotees are out in the field serving. Those who are close to him are serving.

Take away :- For our interactions with those who have the key to happiness, don’t waste their time rather serve their purpose.

Discourse 

Question 83: What is the nature of penance? Or What does the practice of burning one’s comfort zone looks like?

Answer 83 : Following one’s responsibility all the way to one’s nature.

Absolute: Every one of us has a single svadharma i.e. we all have one Nature. We all have one purpose and that is to be our ‘one Nature’. Everyone’s dharma is individual, personal, and custom designed. It is by engaging in one’s relative responsibility to reach one’s absolute responsibility is what tapa is.

Shri Krishna shares – Those who follow para dharma are filled with fear and those who follow svadharma are filled with courage.

Relative: When you are clear about the value of what you’re doing, you will grow through that engagement.

Question 84: What is true restraint (the expression of dama – calmness of body/control)?

Answer 84: Real calmess/real control relates to the mind. We connect dama with the body but actually it’s with the mind.

Absolute: From Shrimad Bhagavatam Section 10, Chapter 17:- This describes Bhagavan Krishna’s day routine. This is a chapter that explains how a happy person lives. It flows through 4 Ds.

• Dhyana – Begin the day with dhyana (contemplation). This is to keep the ego in check.
• Dama – Dama is related to the intellect. To keep the intellect in check.
• Dana –Dana means generosity. This is to keep the mind in check.
• Dharma – Dharma is having intention in implementation. This is to keep the breath and body in check.

Relative: The nature of the mind is to doubt. Doubts lead to division. To discipline the mind, chant. When we chant with the mind, the mind doesn’t feel division with people but feels close with people.

Question 85:  What is the highest form of patience? Or What are signs/descriptions of the highest forgiveness?

Answer 85: Endure or accept all dualities.

 Absolute: In Shrimad Bhagavatam there are grades of how devoted one is and the lowest form of division is where you feel advaita in a murti. A higher grade is when one feels Divinity in madhyama (one’s own center). The highest is when one feels Divinity in manava (not just inside but inside out – in humans, plants, animals, stones etc). The gradation is there because as you move through each grade, there is more ego. When there is more ego, it is harder to forgive and endure.

9 Qualities of a student :- Samadhana is one of the qualities which means emergent or focus. Next quality is titiksha which means endurance. For those who are focussed on a purpose, it’s much easier to focus on endurance.

Discussion Subject/Vivekji’s Reflection :

Why do you get annoyed? Vivekji’s reflection is when others don’t understand him but that’s really indicative of him not understanding others.

Dialogue

Question: An infants’ ego expresses very little and as they grow the ego expresses more. Why does this happen? Why can’t we stay the way we are as infants and babies with less to no ego?

Answer: A child’s equipments are not developed enough to have the ego reflect in them. This is like a plant or a stone. Plants also have an ego but do not have the equipment to express the ego. What’s powerful about this, if adults can express ego they can also express humbleness.

For a sadhu, they can express ego, but they express their humbleness instead and that’s why following sadhu is the best.

Question: When Vivekji talks about the framework – maximum happiness for maximum people for maximum time through maximum ways. From your experience as a teacher and also from our shastras, which of these levers should we be focusing on to follow our own dharma when living in the world?

Answer: Vivekji’s reflection is that it is people. If one person gets enlightened, that one will be able to transform the lives of at least a million people.

Question: When people talk about when the Spirit leaves the body, that is an ignorant stand. Can Vivekji expand on that and how should we be thinking about that?

Answer: When Vivekji goes to the mandir and takes tirtha, the priest says akaalamrithyu (may you not have an untimely death). The reason why this is not logical or knowledgeable is because there is not such a thing like untimely death. We are being blessed with something that doesn’t exist. The Spirit is Infinite (JNature is Existence, Awareness, oy). Infinity doesn’t come and go. When the body dies, the antahkarana (which is made up of memory, mind, intellect, ego), which is leaving the gross, subtle, and causal body, is going into another gross body to keep on living and learning. For the Spirit it’s not applicable, it didn’t come, and it didn’t go. That’s why Shri Krishna shared in chapter 2 verse 11  – The wise don’t grieve for the living nor for the dead.

RAW: Decrease your annoyance