Summary from Karthik ji and Anu ji
- Opening prayer Sahana vavatu is Shanthi Mantra
- What is Mantra?
- There are 2 parts: mann (mind or manas) and tra (chanting to clear mind and to cross over)
- Without manas we cannot do anything. Mind collects all the impulses from sense organs (karmendriyas)
- 3 states of consciousness: waking state, dream state and deep sleep state. In deep sleep state there is happiness, continuity of time and existential I.
- To pursue atma gnana, one needs to refine their mind and eventually sublimate mind. It is for this reason one needs tools like meditation.
- Samsara - constant revelation in I, mind & desires
- Mind exists when there is a stream of thoughts. When there are no thoughts there is no mind and this is what happens in deep sleep state.
- How do we know there is consciousness? Because after deep sleep we feel the experiences of happiness and/or blankness. Note that mind is absent in deep sleep state.
- One who is focused on mind will only get the happiness from indriyas. To get to the next stage, mind needs to take a back seat & eventually go away.
- When the indriyas send signals, one's vasanas give rise to thoughts and thoughts lead to bondage. Neo character from movie matrix was cited as an example to break free from bondage.
- 3 gunas
- Tamas - max inertia (eat, sleep)
- Rajas - more creativity, relationship
- Satva - sharing what one possesses to achieve happiness
- Mind is the seat of emotions, so if mind is eliminated, will we still be human? With mind, the emotions are colored by gunas and are conditional. But realized person who has destroyed mind, has unconditional love for all living beings.
- Raagadvesha - likes & dislikes - makes one give out goodness in a constipated manner. Eliminating mind will allow one to have higher thoughts all the time.
- Prasadha buddhi - taking the result as it comes. Having the attitude of prasadha buddhi helps in calming the mind.
- Mind control v/s sublimation - in mind control mind is split into 2 parts: controller and controlled part. Mind control will not work as it takes too much energy and the mind will always come back in much stronger later.
- Thoughts manifest as action, repeated action becomes habit and habits define our behaviour.
- Abhyas & Vairakhya - tools to refine mind
- Anything that comes out of mind is perishable and short lived, not permanent.
Verse 17:
- For one who is satisfied and content with self, there is nothing more to do. All the actions of such person is selfless.
- Indriyas tempt us and we go after those desires.
- Be grateful for all things that come your way and don't take them for granted.
Verse 18:
- In this verse Lord Krishna further elaborates the point in verse 17
- For a satisfied and content person, there is no concept of gains or loss
- Also, there is no notion of dependency or support from anyone or anything