Summary from Kavita ji
Hari Om.
Started note taking at 9:42am.
Reviewed Bhagavad- Gita: Chapter 2- Sankhya Yogah: Shloka 47
• When we perform and act, there are expectations derived for results
• Karma is immediate but also part of collection of Karma not visible to us; hence, we should accept it with sense of humility and prasad and rather focus on the act of performing
• We should live in the present not the past or future
o an example from Swami Chinmaya was given of a farmer who plowed the fields and sowed the seeds
o another example of painting and cooking was given that children enjoy the art of painting/drawing rather than worrying that their art is not the same as the original reference art
• What is expectation?
o It is a desire, idea, or belief. It can also be a specific result.
o It is product of mind; one thought that becomes a flow of thoughts
o Expection of thought becomes reality of thoughts
o Children unlike adults don't hold on to thoughts; they take things as they come
o We need to develop attitude of accepting things in life as they come
o Do the best you can and accept the outcome/fruits of the action as they have so many factors. We also should control our own negative vibes.
• Compass is our sense of self honesty
• To do any spiritual or secular, you must do 3 things:
o Icha – desire
o Gyana – knowledge
o Kriya – to do or perform
• Usually, parents impose their desires to their children. Each child/individual has his/her own vasanas and desires, we should observe them without judgement and guide them so that they blossom into adults
• The last pada means let not the inaction be motive or the intent. Lord Krishna further explains in Chapter 3- Karma yogah: shloka 5 which notes that we are forced to do karma (activity) with our 3 vasanas – tamas, rajas, and sattva. We cannot be inactive even for a second.
Reviewed Chapter 3 – Karma yogah: shloka 1-3
• Shloka 1- Arjuna asks a question as continuation from chapter 2. In chapter 2, Lord Krishna noted that path of knowledge is superior to path of action; hence, why should Arjuna kill his cousins?
• Shloka 2- Arjuna is a yogi himself. Arjuna is confused and wants to know the definite path to attain the highest.
• Shloka 3- Lord Krishna notes there are 2 paths: the path of knowledge is for sankhyans and the path of action is for yogis
o Both paths are hard but the 2nd path is for the unprepared. It is to purify oneself by doing karma yogah.
o Gyana is to take out unnecessary attachments/desires
o Study of the shastras notes that I am not this body, mind or intellect. I am something more – the true self/atman. One can only achieve this through one's own experience.
o Everyone does karma but one has to strive to convert karma into karma yogah by performing activity without complaining and having the right attitude.
o All yogah – Gyana yogah, Bhakti yogah, and Karma yogah will flow and become one to achieve the highest.
We ended the class with Keshavji showing yoga asana for abdomen organs (kidney, pancreas, and liver) and it is good to practice for pre-diabetes or diabetic patients.
Ended class at 11 am.