2/3/21

By Dwija Ramesh

RECAP:

Reflections/Summary/Key points from previous week’s Class

Recap:

Last week, we studied the nature of attachment. Why? So that we can grow towards acting without it — to be less conditioned and more independent. We went through the Ladder of Fall. Identification with our thoughts requires almost no effort, and so that makes acting without attachment much more difficult. Three things are required in order to evolve from acting this way:

1. Patience — Time
2. Vigilance
3. Awareness

We invoke this knowledge through satsang. The constant remembrance of this information leads us to independent joy. This content that inspires us to lead is most important.

Inputting positive and inspiring media, literature, and music helps us have:

1. Balanced mind; calm and collected
2. Dexterous mind; max output, min time

Discourse:

Today we went over the values of those who are valued or those who are most virtuous. The activity for today was thinking about the dictionary definition of each value and how it relates to Vedanta. After a few people shared their thoughts, Sumanji clarified the importance and practice of each value.

1. Satya — Truth

• If your compromise on your values and what matters to you, you will become disintegrated
• Conviction — Being able to do what you believe
• Having the willpower to pursue your ideals
• What does conviction require?

Having clarity — comes with reflection and careful consideration

• In adversity, our conviction will break unless we inquire deeply and have the knowledge sink in
• The stronger the conviction, the greater the integrity.
• Integrity — No compromise on values
• How to build Integrity?
• Start by making personal promises, you have to be honest with yourself to start building yourself up

2. Brahmacharya — Self Control

• Freedom — not depending on other sources for joy
• Enjoy the world but do not let the world take you over — Swami Chinmayananda
• Not doing what you feel like doing is freedom
• If you like ice cream and decide to over-indulge, afterward you feel much worse, physically and mentally, because you lost your discipline. Not eating that ice cream because you know it isn’t good for you is much more rewarding and feels much better than eating the ice cream in the first place.
• How to practice being free?
• Self-control — think about what you are about to do
• Make a list of what you will and will not do

3. Ahimsa — Non-violence

• Not harming oneself or others through thoughts, words, or actions.
• When our own thoughts are kind and nurturing, our words and actions will be too

How to practice Ahimsa?

• Forgiveness and acceptance of oneself and others

RAW Reflection: Last week’s RAW was to bake treats and give them to others without eating ourselves. No matter whether people are there or not, that should not make a difference in the caliber of our efforts.

This week’s RAW is: Every time you judge yourself or others, make a tally and then compliment somebody for every time that you judged someone.