May 12, 2022 – Class Notes by Prema Palaniappan
Introduction
Bhagavan Krishna has shared with us ‘mama māyā duratyayā’ which means to free ourselves of our maya is extremely difficult. Yet in a community this feels possible and is possible. We are all walking on a patha, i.e. away from Maya towards Bhagavan. We are all yatris and we are on a yatra.
Review
Step 91 – abhaya (Fearlessness)
We only fear that which is different. We fear ourselves the least as there is no difference between you and you. Every being who is not free or has not reached moksha has 3 fundamental fears which are (i) fear of death, (ii) fear of the unknown and (iii) fear of sorrow. The fact that we fear these shows experientially that we are different from death, the unknown, and sorrow. Opposite of death is Existence (Sat). Opposite of unknown is Awareness (Chit). Opposite of sorrow is joy (Ananda). Our fears are teaching us who we are, which is Sat-Chit- Ananda. The fact that all of us have the same fears shows us that we are all the same finally. Oneness is a fact.
Step 92 – sākṣī (Observer)
Being stuck in our heads and over thinking gives reality to our thoughts when our thoughts are just thoughts. Just like our skin cells are just skin cells. Our thoughts and desires are just thoughts and desires. We should watch them come and watch them go. This trains us for udāsina. Ud means above and asina means to sit. Udāsina means to sit above our thoughts and desires. This is being a Sākṣī.
Step 93 – śaraṇāgati (Surrender)
It is made up of two words. Śaraṇā means solace/refuge; āgati means to come to/to feel. Śaraṇāgati is to feel solace. This is possible if we are with someone who exudes solitude. Charana means feet which is the feet of our trust triangle (triangle of shastra, satguru and Bhagavan). To be at the feet of shastra means to be respectful and to be open.
Discourse
Step 94 – Aum (Support)
If we approach an orthodox priest, Aum is not defined as support. However, the vision of this course is to practice. Aum is a sound, and we chant Aum. The purpose of the sound is silence – We use Aum to not use Aum. This is like us needing a Sadguru to not need a Sadguru. The trust triangle must make us trust ourselves. If we believe in Infinity, that means we do not believe in individuality. Infinity Is! However, our experiences don’t affirm that. So it’s as if Infinity expresses compassion to become Aum. Infinity is silence and Infinity doesn’t have anything to hold on to but then we are lost. Hence, Infinity expresses itself as a sound and as a visual that we can hold on to. That is why we are defining it as support. The most subtle sense we have is hearing. Hearing is facilitated by space and sound. That is why Aum is the most causal support. The first letter in Sanskrit is A and the last letter is M. Aum is made up of the first and last letters indicating that Aum is the foundation for all sounds, communication, and words. Aum is a support that we should start with. That should evolve to listening. This should be internalized to contemplate on Aum. What should we contemplate on? The A in AUM is an icon for the body, U is the mind (we let go of the body and now identify with the mind), the M is the ego. We let go of the mind and identify with the ego. Silence comes after ‘M’. It is called amātra, i.e. the fourth letter which is not a letter. This is where we let go of ego and identify with the Spirit. Aum is incredible.
Step 95 – Sat (Existence)
In our wordbook, the word is Satyam. Satyam and Sat are so close. Sat means existence and Satyam means truth. We will focus on Sat. Sat has many suffixes.
1) Satsanga means Inclusivity. This lead one to Sattva
2) Sattva means Integrity; Tva means like. Therefore, Sattva means to be like Sat.
3) Satya means ideally (to have and live an ideal life)
4) Sat is Infinity
Practice: Satsanga, sattva, satya and finally Sat.
We are in satsanga and developing a lifestyle of sattva. When one has a clear ideal in their life, their actions, words, and thoughts start to follow. Like first responders become the ideal and become the authority. Imagine an ideal in our life is that authority and our words, thoughts, actions can follow. All of us are so lost in indecision… ‘I don’t know what to do’. We need an ideal and matters will become more decisive. Ideals do not change. Hence, if we live by an ideal, we will have less change too. This ideal integrates who we are. Integration is the opposite of separation. Separation is ego. What ideal should I have? The ideal that all of us must have is that we are children of the Earth. We need to be better in quality and quantity.
Step 96 – Cit (Awareness)
This is the same Cit as Chinmaya. Maya means to be filled with. It is therefore actually Chitmaya but because of Sanskrit rules it becomes Chinmaya. Every experience we have ever had is based on 3 factors.
(i) I – For an experience to happen we need an ‘I’. This is Sat. We exist, then anything else.
(ii) Know. Awareness or knowing. If there is no awareness then there is no experience.
(iii) The object
Our fears and experiences are teaching us about our nature. We just don’t know how to connect the dots. We ignore the I, the Know and get lost in the object. I and Know never change and are most stable. It is stability. The object changes which causes us to complain about stress and being busy.
Practice: Contemplate. This is the only way we know and can be established in these higher head spaces. For more advanced seekers, practice must be less about the day and more about contemplation. Everyone may say meditate and do it casually, but they do not know what meditation is. Contemplation requires our whole life to change because we are changing our identity.
Step 97 – Ananda (Joy). The joy that is defined here is one that has no opposite. If there is an opposite, that means it is relative. If there is no opposite, it is Absolute. This is not a ‘dvandva’ like pleasure and pain. Those who don’t know this, try to create joy. Can we create the Absolute? If we go about trying to create the Absolute, all we experience is tiredness. It’s like having our foot on both the accelerator and the brake at the same time. Those who know that we cannot create joy, will stop changing the context. We will stop investing in changing our job or cut out friend circles etc. We can only change the content i.e. make our content silent so that we can be Joy and rediscover what is already there. Experientially, japa can help us to live in this head space. We have zero reason to complain. There is no authority for us to change our context. If I am noisy, I must silence myself with japa.
Summary
Step 94 – Aum (Support); Practice: Contemplate
Step 95 – Sat (Existence); Practice: Satsanga, sattva, satya, and finally, Sat
Step 96 – Cit (Awareness); Practice: Contemplate
Step 97: Ananda (Joy); Practice: Japa
Last Week’s Discussion subject
Identify contradictions in the course, teachings, teacher?
Advaita Vedanta is subjective science. Reaching moksha is only possible if we experience samanvaya. We must use this as a filter when learning Advaita Vedanta from anyone. Samanvaya means consistency and clarity. There needs to be references. We are all distracted and therefore, when we learn Advaita Vedanta, we learn in a diluted way. Simplification is most rational, but diluting is not. If we dilute, it’s like we are changing moksha. During the 4-month summer break, we may want to continue learning Vedanta. We must use this filter upon the teacher to ensure there is consistency clarity, and no dilution
Discussion subject
How have you lived that has made you sorrowful?
Vivekji’s observation: Whatever way we have lived to cause us to be sorrowful, it has been in a way that is not sadhana-oriented. Sadhana means patha or path. The patha takes you to the sadhya, to moksha, to Joy. For us to reflect on this question, we need to do a self-assessment on how we are living
Question:
1) What is the best way to spread Advaita Vedanta to the maximum people?
Ans: (i) the best social media is our lifestyle. If we live in a way of integrity, it will spread. People want to know why, how. (ii) If we can’t do it, we need to support those who are doing it.
Last week’s RAW
- Each morning look in the mirror continuously for 5 minutes and reflect on the purpose of the reflection you see.
Observation: If we did this, we would have nurtured more authenticity and depth; that we are more than our teeth structure, facial hair etc
- Record 3 ‘small- talk’ conversations.
Observation: When we were listening to the small talk we would have been uncomfortable with what is the point of all of this. This shows we want authenticity and depth.
This week’s RAW
- Sit in a quiet place and write “What is Life?” 108 times
- Each day spend 1 hour in your room by yourself. Do not bring anything to occupy your mind (books, food, technology, writing utensils etc).