AGC Class Notes from Week 11 — November 21, 2019
Class Notes by Sharmila
One of the greatest sources of our sadness is known as “Kshana”. Kshana means “dependence”, particularly dependence on beings. Kshana creates “KaTa” which means “cut”, it cuts into our well-being and we are unable to think clearly, become irresponsible and it cuts our joy. A way to put an end to this self-harm is “Katha”, which means narration or story, like Mahabharata.Within Mahabharata is Srimad Bhagavad Gita. The Katha we are engaged in is to invoke clarity (Kathyathe). Clarity is expressed as strong knowledge.
Swami Tejomayananda has shared the difference between weak knowledge and strong knowledge as follows: “Weak knowledge is where we know what to do but we are unable to do it. Strong knowledge is where we know what to do and we are able to do it”. Strong knowledge can be expressed as conviction. For our self reflection, we should analyse “What do we have convictions in/towards?”
The last verse we studied focused on speaking. If one speaks well, then one does not need to speak! If they speak well, it means they are also thinking well. The more poorly we communicate, the more we will have to speak and communicate.
In the year 2009, in the overseas Acharyas conference, Vivekji shared that this is the shloka which Vivekji picked to speak about.
Chapter 3, verse 21: “Shreshtaha” means one who is the best and “Aacharati” means their behaviour. “Yat Yat” means whatever/whenever (any and all behaviors of the best person). Behaviors are that which is “seen”. This subtly shows that the more egotistical one is, the more they need to see action, the more they need to see proof/evidence. The less egotistical one is, one believes more and has more faith. We need to understand if we are the one who needs to see behavior or can we be one who hears/listens and has belief and faith.
Whatever the best person does, so will the common people. In any sociological experience, 5% of people become leaders and 95% become followers. So we have “Janaha”(people) and “Sreshtaha” (best person). The way to determine who is the best is — the one who is most independent. Only one who is independent can help others also to be independent. So Vivekji said that, whenever we need to bring auspiciousness in our life, the person who should commence that should be one who is “independent” because they are “Sreshta”. Whatever the best person does becomes the authority/benchmark for people. The best person demonstrates the possibility of being independently joyous. Despite the context, the best can be independently joyous.
In the prior shloka (Chapter 3, verse 20), Bhagavan Krishna tells Arjuna that Raja Janaka who had the most responsibilities was also the most joyous. Once when Raja Janaka was in Satsang and one of his palaces was burning down, he just said “so what, I am in Satsang” !
When people see that even in a rough context it is possible for one to be joyous, then they also start to live like that. Thats is “Loka Sangraha”. In Chapter 3 verse 20, Raja Janaka is described as someone who needs nothing from the world yet gives everything to the world, He is engaged in Loka Sangraha. He acts for the welfare of the world. We should ask ourselves if we are directly engaged in Loka Sangraha. If yes, that would be the best use of our life. Then the people around us will be living that way too!
Swami Tejomayananda has shared that “if everyone around you is smiling there is a good possibility that you are the cause for their smiling and if everyone around is miserable, there is a good possibility that you are the cause of their misery”.
Chapter 2, verse 54: “Sthitha” means Standing/firm/changeless. “Prajna” means knowledge. When knowledge is Sthitha, it is called wisdom. Prince Arjuna asks Bhagavan Krishna to describe to him that person who despite the context perpetually changing, their content does not change.
Samadhi means well and fully placed. So Prince Arjuna is asking Bhagavan Krishna how do those who have their mind well and fully placed (those who are independently joyous) think? How do they speak? and How do they sit and walk?
This becomes the introduction for the rest of this chapter where Bhagavan Krishna describes an enlightened person.
The ideal way to communicate is to understand the person we want to communicate with. When we can intellectually understand one who is enlightened, then we start to follow the same thinking, speaking and acting and that becomes our map. We don’t have to work hard to communicate with ourselves. For someone who is enlightened, they feel every being is them. So they become the best communicators.With their actions they would know how to act with other people in every context, they would know how to speak to everyone in every context and most deeply, they would simply know what others are thinking about and be able to help them with their own thoughts.
Vivekji quoted an incident about a senior member of the Chinmaya Mission who knew Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda well. She had a question on which she had reflected a lot and wanted to ask Gurudev but did not get a chance. When Gurudev was walking from the discourse hall to the car, He looked at her and said “ask me your question”! She did not have that question anymore and He just smiled at her! He knew she had a question and He answered her question without either of them having to open their mouth!
Our communication is not to become richer and more powerful, but it is to relieve others of their stress and anxiety. This is only possible if we are so in tune with our oneness that we can feel that oneness with others.
