RAW for April 25: What is the most important part of each of the 4 shanti mantras for you?

• Rg: Intensity (may my effort my intense – may i immerse in the Truth day and night)
• Yajus: Purpose (may my bhāva of ananya bhakti be protected)
• Sama: Deny (may i never deny Brahman; may i never compromise the Truth of Oneness)
• Atharva: Vision (may i recognize Brahman in all ABCs)

• RAW for Year 2, Week 19: Mar 7, 2023-Write a 1 page article on what Holi means to you. What is your upanishadic perspective on Holi.

The festival of colors, Holi, is the most vibrant of all Hindu festivals. It marks the end of winter in India and welcomes the spring season. On this festive day, people play with colors, meet and greet one another and create new beginnings.
Legend has it that once, there was a powerful king named Hiranyakashipu. He was a devil and was hated for his cruelty. He considered himself to be God and wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship him like one. However, his own son, Prahlada, was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and refused to worship his father. Angry with the disobedience of his son, Hiranyakashipu tried killing his son a number of times, but nothing worked. He then asked his evil sister, Holika, for help. Holika possessed a special power of being immune to fire. So, to kill Prahlada, she tricked him into sitting with her on a pyre. But due to her evil intentions, her power became ineffective and she was burned to ashes. On the other hand, Prahlada gained this immunity and was saved. This is why the first day of Holi is celebrated as Holika Dahan and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
In the region of Braj (where Lord Krishna grew up) in Uttar Pradesh, Holi is celebrated until the day of Rangpanchmi as a huge festival, in memory of the devotional love of Krishna and Radha. A local legend is associated with this as well. When Krishna was a baby, he acquired a distinctive blue skin colour after drinking the poisoned breast milk of the she-demon, Putana. Later, when he became young, he would often feel sad about whether the fair-coloured Radha or other girls in the village would ever like him because of his dark colour. Giving in to his desperation, Krishna’s mother asked him to go and colour Radha’s face with any colour he wanted to. So when Krishna applied colour to Radha, they both became a couple, and since then, people have started playing with colours on Holi.
In the first story, when ‘Holika’ realized her mistake and surrendered, she was liberated and became one with Bhagavan Krishna. In the second, when colors are applied, it makes all seem as One with Bhagavn Krishna.
Thus, for me, Holi is all about showing the Diversity in Unity. 

write a page article on Holi means to you as a student of Upanishad Course
Holi is a Utsava / celebration to understand the essence of this Life and to live cheerfully with meaning and purpose .
from the highest/absolute stand point colors are maya / projection / Avidya . GO deeper to move from creation / colors/ jagat to creator / white light/ Jagadishwara to consciousness /colorless/ Sat chit Ananda
Color represent our gunas and shift the gunas from tamas to rajas to satva and go beyond to see the inner light/ awareness which helps us to know and see all the colors .
Its a festival to remind us that one is all and all is one . so be his instrument/Nimita and be sthane /All is as all is
Traditionally its a festival of colors marking the beginning of Spring and ending of winter
Our life will be bright /cheerful /content if we become virtuous by removing the vices
See the strength in others and everyone has their own colors so accept and adapt is the key to be cheerful
Hold on to him to be joyous to dissolve the colors in us and around us to feel the unity / sat / truth which removes the separation /no otherness / distant

RAW for Year 2, Week 19: Mar 7, 2023
Write a 1 page article on what Holi means to you. What is your upanishadic perspective on Holi?

Why is Holi relevant to our study of the Upanishads? It is a fun and beautiful expression of the core teaching of the Upanishad – Oneness. This fact and teaching is expressed through the three stories which underlie the celebration of Holi. First is the story of Radha and Krishna, where Krishna asks Radha to color His face as She wishes, because He (as if) is worried that She will not like Him because of his dark complexion. But no matter how many different colors we can put on our skin, our Self remains unchanged. The teaching here is: deeper than this name/form/diversity is Unity/Awareness. It’s lovely to see people from all walks of life playing Holi colors together, because this is the true spirit of the festival – to break down our artificial divisions and hierarchies and to celebrate our underlying Unity. Second is the story of Rishi Prahlada and Holika, where Holika sits in a fire with Rishi Prahlada and holds Him tight, so that He will be burned by the fire. Instead, her fire-resistant power is transferred to Rishi Prahlada so He is saved and she is burned. The teaching her is: with single pointed devotion to Truth, no negativity can burn us. Ananya-bhakti = mumukshutvam is essential for spiritual progress. Third is the story of Bhagavan Shiva and Kamadeva, where Shiva burns Kamadeva who tries to distract Him from contemplation. In order realize Truth, we must burn all our other desires in life – pleasures, possessions, positions. So long as we crave anything other than Truth, we will remain stuck in the cycle of separation-smallness-sadness. Again, we have a vivid example of the importance of Ananya-bhakti. Through these three stories, the festival of Holi reminds us of the truth of Oneness and the necessity of exclusive devotion to this truth if we hope to realize it and benefit by it.

RAW for Year 2, Week 17: Feb 21, 2023 Count how many papa-s / demerits you incur this week-
Counting them made me more aware of all the demerits i engaged in the past week. The seemingly trivial ones started to stare right in the face and became more magnified. In a way this was good as it made me more aware of any procrastination, any indulgence, any negative thought i was harboring. It was as if a magnifying glass was put on and each flaw became much more significant.
The awareness, helped me steer away from it.

List out the Upanishad quoted by Guruji in the course
For lesson 19

RAW for Year 2, Week 13: Jan 24, 2023-Quantify how many people do you trust and what makes you think that you trust them.

I trust fully in the Trust Triangle.
If i have to choose a person, i trust my Guru completely, because he is guiding me in the right path to the knowledge of the Divinity.

RAW for Year 2, Week 13: Jan 24, 2023-Quantify how many people do you trust and what makes you think that you trust them.

• RAW for Year 2, Week 13: Jan 24, 2023-Quantify how many people do you trust and what makes you think that you trust them.

• If trust in a person is the same as faith in that person (reliable, dependable), then in day to day life, there are many whom i interact with of that kind.
• But if i have to quantify the really close ones and rare situations that i totally have to trust them, then my first go to is my Narayana. I pray that all will be well when i approach and ask of a favor and then i give it to Him. Believe it or not, 100% times this has been successful.
• Then again i have utmost trust in my Gurus.

feel that every being you interact is  reflection of you
   This raw brings more  the interconnectedness as every being is extension of me .  i can able to see the best in  them and  it brings out the best ( love and care ) in me  as well.  

RAW for Year 2, Week 12: Jan 17, 2023-Feel that every Being you interact with is a reflection of you.
   During my reflection walks in Silence Retreat, i felt like the bird on a tree, the twig on the road, the water flowing through the drains etc. i thought i might have been these in my earlier births and some memory was bringing that awareness to me. This brought them closer to me and reduced a sense of separation. So looking at people and thinking of them as my reflection helped reduce separation and in fact i had more empathy for all whom i interacted with – my mind did not compare them or compete with them.
   Hopefully continuing this, my vasanas can be reduced and help in purifying my mind. 

• RAM for Winter break 2022 –For the next 5 weeks, look and listen to Guruji’s discourses on Kathopanishad. Things i learned according to CM’s plan:

Day 01: Upanishad, Study of Upanishad and Meaning of Invocation prayer
Day 02: Qualities of an Ideal student, knowing where to accept, when to question and inquire
Day 03: Only Dharma is permanent – righteousness alone should be the controlling and regulating factor in our life
Day 04: 6 waves of sorrow we suffer
Day 05: Attitude behind rituals
Day 06: Vedanta alone is valid means to Knowledge
Day 07: A Guru is a must- Grace of the Guru who has the power to dispel doubts, teach and Enlighten is needed to gain Knowledge
Day 08: Temporary nature of things-pleasure remains for the time being but bondage is Permanent
Day 09: Need to develop an ability to objectively Introspect
Day 10: Tug of war between Good Vs Pleasant (Shreyas Vs Preyas)
Day 11: Finding a Guru to reveal spiritual knowledge is the greatest wonder
Day 12: Reflecting on why i am unable to live a spiritual life even when i know its
Day 13: Reflect on how i can rise above Joys and sorrows
Day 14: Going beyond time, space and objects (kAla, deSa, vastu ca)
Day 15: Manifest and unmanifest forms of Bhagavan (Vyaktam, Avyaktam ca)
Day 16: Atma is neither a Cause nor an Effect
Day 17: There is neither Sin nor Merit (Papa or Punya)
Day 18: Know IT– that which remains with everything, yet is Untouched
Day 19: Choose That and That (SELF– Atma Tattva) alone- IT manifests as Gurukripa, Shastrakripa and Iswarakripa and IS revealed
Day 20: Purity of mind is Key for Knowledge
Day 21: Jeeva and Paramatma are like shadow and Sunlight
Day 22: Metaphor of a
Day 23: This human body and life – my greatest Asset– do not let it become a liability
Day 24: Higher and subtler means more Pervasive
Day 25: The Power of Totality
Day 26: Get single-pointed (EkAgratha)
Day 27: Practical Meditation
Day 28: Spirituality is razor‘s edge path
Day 29: The glory of Knowledge
Day 30: Turn my gaze to my Self (inward looking)
Day 31: Withdraw the mind fully
Day 32: Become fearless
Day 33: Who is ‘I‘?
Day 34: Here, there and everywhere
Day 35: Be the rain falling in the Ocean
Day 36: Rule like the King
Day 37: Proof of the Self
Day 38: Not victim of actions
Day 39: In what light is dream seen?
Day 40: There is no Peace in finite things
Day 41: Even the luminaries shine after IT
Day 42: Rhythmic perfect flow
Day 43: Human life is BEST– do not wait for other worlds
Day 44: Listen, Reflect and Meditate
Day 45: Ignorance then NEVER returns
Day 46: Cut the knots of the heart (Hrdayagranthi)
Day 47: Remove the covering and Know.
Day 48: Practice, practice till i’m THAT

OM Namo NARAYANAYA!

summarize lesson 17 into three points
Remember him to remove the vasanas – to lead/know our nature
desire him only to dissolve all the desires – to loosen
dedicate all our action to him to destroy the result of action- to destroy
purpose= effort= reward /rejoice

• RAW for Year 2, Week 10: Nov 15, 2022-Summarize all of Lesson 17 into 3 points as covered over 3 weeks.

1. Avidya (ego, causal-forgetting who i am), Kama (desire, intellect’s (subtle) desires) and Karma (action, by the body, gross) are the Hridaya granthis that are to be broken – so as not to feel the separation from Atma
2. Karmaphalas bind only one who has jIva-bhAva – he is a kartA and bhoktA. When jIva-bhAva ends, the foundation of karma and karmaphala are totally destroyed and he rediscovers Atman
3. Such a jnAni goes beyond all three karmas – sancita, prArabhda and AgAmi – he is liberated and Bhagavan’s will functions through them.

RAW for Year 2 -Week 9: Visualize having a meeting with someone who is enlightened & rate yourself on how they will judge you on how you are using the opportunity you have as a human.

• Meeting with Swami Vivekanandaji – Geetha, you are close to 65% although you rate yourself as >85%. I’ll give you the reasons:

1. You forget the magic spell of your ego, which sometimes acts through your koshas – catch it before it hits your Vijnanamaya Kosha. You will realize you are not your anger, not your sense of accomplishment(doer) or sense of regret.
2. Keep working at it whenever possible seriously so there is no returning back to this samsara – so you are NOT your ego.

visualize having a meeting with someone who is enlightened and how they judge you and how you are using the opportunity
this Raw made me to engage in talking with Gurudev more than what i usually do . being in the presence of the pinnacle , i do feel very peaceful /very small /overwhelmed with gratitude . i am very thankful for the all challenges in my life sometimes back to back which made me move closer to him . i know all these hits for me is to go back to my home and find the comfort from within myself.Thanks Gurudev for giving inner strength to go through all the experience and making each day to better myself . i have no one else to hold on to and i am sure your grace and blessings will be there always and all times.
once vivekji mentioned in our class, the purpose of the each breath is to fight against ego and to make the equipment quieter so that bhagavan will rest in our heart always . from that acute /right angle perspective , i have to work a lot. i am asking for your help to remove the impurities in me and as you have mentioned in your high roaring voice ( ur picture will come to the mind :)),i am keeping my goal so high to achieve so that i can strive / aspire to live this goal till my last breath
thanks for your guidance , support through Gurusishya parampara for helping me to live this Life carefully and to the fullest .
thanks for keep inspiring us through your words to increase our stamina to walk on this path to reach our destination /abode of peace / rediscover my nature/ to reach you

RAW for Year 2 -Week 9: Visualize having a meeting with someone who is enlightened & how they will judge you on how you are using the opportunity you have as a human.

Enlightened One to me:

I know you are trying and you are doing better than ever before and grown beautifully!(They are being too compassionate!)

….

You are still holding on to your heartaches from childhood, the world being unfair to you and memories feeling insufficient and not loved. The impressions might have been strong as a child back then. You are able to recognize that you have to let go of these negative tendencies which is good. You are still attached. Don’t cling on to the expectation – to be included by your parents and your sibling. You think that this is it, and if you don’t get that expectation fulfilled you are doomed! Why that deservership? One rule for others and one for you?…

– Let it go…. Remember that this is NOT the only life time and Don’t miss this point. This is only a learning. Few other things…

You tend to be lazy. don’t let the vision and purpose out of sight. Prioritize every moment!
You don’t appreciate what you have. Use all that you have.
You are not as kind to mother earth. You know you can try harder, but you don’t.

You canNOT stand in the way to reach your purpose. No time to waste anymore. Don’t look back at all. Just give it ALL to Bhagavan and gain your focus on HIM ALONE.

RAW for Year 2, Week 8: Nov 1, 2022-Feel that Bhagavan is resting in your body.

• In Silence Retreat, we felt like we were sleeping on the lap of our Bhagavan
• In contrast, Bhagavan resting in my body seems even better, as it tells me not to go through turbulences – feeling balanced in all circumstances, never too elated never too distressed, be aware of what goes in thru all senses, etc – as it might disturb my Narayana! It has been a wonderful experience. Much gratitude.

• RAW for Year 2, Week 7: Oct 25, 2022-Learn something new about your sense organs

Am noticing how all the sense organs feed their data to the mind. Found that touch, smell and taste don’t bother as much as what sight and hearing did. Eyes and ears provoke thoughts which makes me act in this world as words – speech and art.
About art i wasn’t concerned much as it was harmless but words, i had to put them through a filter (intellect as Vichara) sometimes. This i found is connected to my EGO as i had to apologize sometimes. In all this i found an underlying quietude in ‘Observing’ and cheer in ‘Surrendering’ to my Narayana.

Learn something new about your sense organs.

i started a new love ( deeper love )for smilie and poems , poetry / sanskrit words /ancient tamil words. i am injoying the chariot and horses ,bow and arrow ,lightening dipa in dia clay container . It takes me to the deeper meaning and helps me in reflecting more . some of the Sanskrit words i do injoy is vibuhu/ Manisha( independence) . i do have friends with this names , when i call them i enjoy more by adding more sweetness in the voice :))) Dharayan, sasvatam,( conviction, ever fresh ) lipyate( untainted) ,Nirvana ( blown out into infinity)sodum( withstanding all pressures) Suhr(large hearted ) ,Tusyanti( content)Vikampena( fearless) , paviram, uttamam, param , santam, Anvayavatirekha , dhataram list goes on . i do name our garden and things in our houses to keep remembering him to connect with him in deeper way

secondly i develop new interest /love to paint . The hands love to engage in creating the most captivating verses of Bhagavat gita to me into pictures which i can see the verses in art form to reflect . The whole body injoys and gets absorbed while creating each piece .it helps me to move from creation -creator- consciousness