HariOm Parents,
Opening prayers.
Recap: Since we were on the topic of Karma Kanda of the vedas, we did a quick exercise to categorize certain activities we do on a regular basis, on special occasions and to the society or world at large under Nisiddha karma, Kamya karma, Nitya karma, Naimittika karma and Niyata karma. Students responded well.
We recalled how our actions or karmas manifest as Sancita karma, Prarabdha karma and Agami karma. And results due to good actions are called Punya (merit) and due to bad actions are called Papa (demerit). The motive behind each action determines if it is good or bad.
Lesson:
We defined and explained the definition of the types of karma as given by Sri Sankaracariya in his text Tattva Bodha.
The accumulated punyas (merits) and paapas (demerits) from previous births come to fruition in due course of time. This store is called Sancita Karma.
The actions that give results in the present body in the form of happiness or misery, and which can be destroyed only by enjoying or suffering them , are called Prarabdha Karmas. The human body is a result when punya is predominant and other forms like animals are the result when paapa is predominant.
The result of actions good or bad performed by a wise man after the dawn of Knowledge are known as Agami karma. The Wise man is not affected by them.
We focused on Prarabdha Karma since that is relevant now.
What is Prarabdha karma? What we get in present life is Prarabdha, in other words we call it destiny. The prarabdha karma determines the form of the body and the type of environment most suitable for it at birth. The human body is obtained as a result of good karmas, when punya is predominant. Animals as well as other bodies result when paapa is predominant. So, let us all be glad we are in a good place!
The varieties of karmas and their manifestations explain the variety and diversity in human life and in nature. Therefore it is important that we take actions to ensure we don't accumulate more paapas or sancita karma.
How do we respond to Prarabdha? We have come into this world to enjoy or suffer as a result of our past actions. How we respond to Prarabdha is Purusarta or self-effort; We have the freedom now to create a better future through self effort. The freedom is to discriminate and act nobly in any situation that we face in the present.
Therefore, Analyze, Detect and Fix to shape your destiny with self effort.
A question was posed to the students to ponder:
Why is Sri Rama considered an ideal for humankind? Students responded well, pointing out his Prarabdha karma, despite being born a Prince, and how he faced all the imponderables that ensued in his life without wavering in his mind, in a dharmic manner.
So, how do we live our life?
The Prescription to live a life as given in our Hindu Scriptures.
The Art Of Living according to Swami Chinmayananda is:
Scriptures provide the Science of Life and the Art of Living. Just as physics, biology, and other sciences are not the exclusive property of any one country, or of people in a particular era or age, but are universally applicable, irrespective of time and age, similarly the science of living, as pronounced by the rsis in Vedanta, visualizes a plan of life to suit all people, at all times, everywhere.
A story from Chandogya Upanishad is narrated here. (Conversation between Rishi Uddalaka and his son Svetaketu.) Message inferred is, though Svetaketu saw nothing inside the seed of a banyan tree but from which grows a huge banyan tree, so also the whole universe has emerged. The Upanishad is explaining That which is not seen by us but present is Brahman, the foundation of the whole universe that exists.
How do we come to experience "That" which is not seen by us or heard by our ears?
It is prescribed in our scriptures. And to live by the prescription is Samskaras.
Adi Sankara says Samskaras are acts performed to implant noble qualities and remove blemishes in our minds.
To understand what Samskaras are, we can look at it as concept and process:
The deep meaning coming from the Upanishad is the concept and how it is encoded in Samskaras is the process. Again, the big, giant companies like Amazon, Google and SpaceX were given as examples to show the companies underlying concepts or objectives and the steps taken to achieve those.
Similarly to become fit to know the Brahman, one has to perform these purificatory acts or rituals throughout the individual's life.
Some of the common Samskaras were mentioned and the students were asked to bring pictures or narrations about their Namakarana, Vidyaramba, Annaprasana etc..
Geeta chanting of verses Ch 2: 56, 57, 58
A short video on Destiny by Swamini Supriyananda was played to students to show that wishful thinking is not enough. One has to put in effort too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfFdgT95S9M&list=PLm6DKuwwu5zp_gmpEGjVmVGiETi6pBA-r&index=28
Closing prayers and Pledge
HariOm,
Rukmani and Partha