Bhagavad Gita Course — Chapter 7

Class Notes October 10, 2017

Madhu Soni

Chapters 2–6 focused on jnana, that which quiets the senses. If one brings jnana into life, one will become more quiet. We then completed Chapter 6 with the vision of someone who can contemplate and reach meditation. This is achieved by first learning the external preparation and then the internal preparation. The external preparation is balance and when we realize this, we’re not subject to pressure from people or circumstances and don’t give into it, for e.g. to stay up late, be tempted to eat something we shouldn’t, or under/over work. The internal preparation is to be clean, simple and inspiring so that we think, speak and act in a simpler way with more transparency. With this preparation comes the process; the external process is to be introverted and one is able to sleep, awaken and focus more easily. The internal process is being, and one is more cheerful and content.

Ask yourself whether with the Vedanta study over the last 40 weeks, you have become simpler and more cheerful; if yes, then you are growing from movement to development!

The hallmarks of someone who lives by contentment are:

1. Equality: one does not assign value to objects or depend on objects for completion; that is only possible if one is already complete. We can put this into practice by trying not to depend on materials. Someone who is trying to free himself of maya is not materialistic and lives by equality.

2. Empathy: this is expressed toward living beings — humans, plants and animals; one who is empathetic accepts all — those who are most virtuous as well as those who are most vicious; this does not mean they are treated the same. Those who have empathy accept and respect every person’s expressions of vasanas; in practice, this may translate into speaking more softly to one and more sternly to another.

A significant challenge for most of us is that we have dependence; our parents, siblings and friends depend on us and we feel that we should depend on them also. Someone with vision does not live in this way; rather, she understands that the vision is unilateral. If someone depends on you, it doesn’t necessitate that you have to depend on him. If someone is frustrated with you, it doesn’t mean you have to reciprocate the same sentiment. We don’t control, for example, if you ask for forgiveness and the other person is not prepared to forgive. When one knows and understands this unilaterality, one stops making excuses.

Cease and desist from making excuses. In the field of Self-development, excuses are illegal. Let us not be dependent on our dependents; that is true respect.

Respect means “to look at”, to look at an entity as is; one has a perfect relationship with all entities, all beings. This reflects a perfect relationship that one has with oneself.

When one becomes quiet enough, the focus becomes vijnana, to become silent.

If jnana is knowledge, vijnana is wisdom. Jnana : Arjuna :: Vijnana : Bhagwan.

Jnana is required to get to vijnana. Section 7.2: “According to Sankaracarya, speculative knowledge is jnana, and actual experience of the perfection is vijnana.”

Knowing that what one is experiencing is going to become more intense, Bhagwan begins Chapter 7 by stating, “Listen”, to draw attention to how one has to apply himself even more. “Listen” can also be interpreted as “feel”. Feel/apply this knowledge, otherwise it’s just theory.

For Self-development to be real, one has to be active; active learning and participation. So, be active to develop enough inward momentum. Any passive audiovisual sharing of the shastra is an alternative but not a substitute.

This is why feeling is being highlighted; in the live presence of a satguru, reality is brought to us.

Whenever you engage in higher physical practice (climbing Mount Everest, running a marathon, preparing for a recital, making a gourmet delicacy), you need a trainer and going through an audiovisual medium is not enough. In the same way, for spiritual growth, we need a guide. Bhagwan therefore says in Chapter 7, listen, i.e. feel what I am sharing with you. What Bhagwan shares is that if one is ready enough, shravanam is enough. If one has a calm body, a quiet mind and a still intellect, all that is needed is shravanam.

Being keenly receptive to the teaching, one can be enlightened within a relatively short period of time. Section 7.1: “…an integrated mind (is) properly tutored to walk the path, implicitly obeying the will of the discriminative intellect. When such a mind is firmly established in full concentration upon the divine nature of the godly potentialities, the seeker evolves double quick.” Section 7.2: “During the very discourse, if the student is mentally fit to walk along with the teacher step by step and follow carefully the logic and significance of his explanations, he can gain glimpses of Realisation during the very hours of his study.”

We should also learn to study, listen and ask better-informed questions.

Four gauges of if you are listening and how it feels if you are a powerful practitioner of shravanam:

1. Open-mindedness to change

2. Readiness to work and exert effort to change

3. Love for one’s Guide and one’s Manual, i.e. for the Satguru and Shastra; anyone you love, you try to emulate. The Guide is trying to take us to the Manual and the Manual is trying to take us to God, so if we love them, we start to become like them.

4. Respect for the Satguru and Shastra; being respectful means that you are ready to be guided

These 4 factors will guide us and lead us to Bhagwan.

Bhagwan says we’re all experiencing 3 J’s:

1. Jiva

2. Jagat

3. Jagadishwara

Prince Arjuna asks Bhagwan who and what is the nature of jiva, the jagat and jagadishwara.

Careful thought tells us that there is only jagadishwara. Using a worldly example, between the wave (jiva), the ocean (jagat) and the water (jagadishwara), the one that is most real or fundamental is the water, i.e. jagadishwara. We know this at a jnana level, but do we feel it at a vijnana level? If we feel this, we will live accordingly. If we understand that there is only jagadishwara, one does not get lost. If we don’t know the cause, we will get swept away.

Section 7.3

Bhagwan talks about how precious it is that which He is teaching to Prince Arjuna.

Whatever we are identified with will drive our utility. What are we driving ourselves toward?

PQ — physical quotient; identify with this body and it’s appearance

IQ — intelligent quotient; boast about test performance

EQ — emotional quotient; based on personality tests

For some, Bhagwan shares that the identification with the BMI is broken and they don’t cling on to how they look, think or feel. Those people know that there’s more to life than meets the eye. They know that there’s more than utility, pleasure, position. They are becoming less stuck and just stronger in viveka and analyzing.

So for all of us, in this development, feel that grace, punya, and vichara.

Bhagwan says 1/1000 people are steady toward Self-development and 1 out of all of those who are steady toward Self-development, i.e. 1 in one million, will be sincere enough to be saved and enlightened; unfortunately, it is that infrequent, but for that 1, it is so precious.

Bhagwan also shares that although we’re steady, what blocks us from being sincere is a lack of guidance and/or a lack of faith. More often than not it is a lack of faith. Lack of guidance is an external factor and lack of faith is an internal factor. Lacking either feels and looks like being distracted (by other people, another purpose, pleasure, desires, friends, circumstances).

Pujya Swami Tejomayananda writes, “Blessed are we, we too are amongst the blessed and rare ones who seek this knowledge and are getting to know about our own true Nature and God. May we not neglect this rare chance given to us. Let us strive ceaselessly ’til we reach the goal.”

Last week’s RAW: Be grateful for what you have. Prefer to be active (shisha, seeker) rather than passive (bhakta, searcher).

Next week’s RAW: Describe 7 modern examples (2010-present) of cause pervading the effect and share on VicharaGurukula.

Hari Om

Additional Class Notes

Archana Oberoi

Hari OM!

Jnana Yagna is an event which evolves into a movement by being a part of the study group (quantity is growing). The evolution from movement is to development by being a part of the vedanta course. (quality is growing).

For self development to be real, one has to be active.(active learning and participation)

Review of chapter 6

One who has reached the vision of contemplation through

1. Preparation:

External preparation: Balance (become deeper, don’t give in to pressure)

Internal preparation: Clean simple inspiring (one becomes simpler)

2. Process:

External: be introvert (one is quieter)

Internal: Being (takes us from contemplation to meditation) (one is more cheerful)

Hallmarks of people who live by contentment

1. equality when it comes to objects, they do not assign objects any subjective value.

2.. Live by empathy with beings, they accept all.

Sadhana: Cease and desist from making excuses.

Chapters 2–6, focusses on Jnana. Jnana makes one quiet, chapters focus on Arjuna (Jiva)

Chapters 7–12, focus on Vignana, Vignana is to become silent, focus on Bhagwan

Chapter 7

Lord Krishna begins the chapter by saying “Listen, feel this knowledge”.

Pujya Guruji “Any audiovisual sharing of this knowledge is an alternative but not a substitute”

Sravannam is enough for enlightenment, for one who is ready. No need for mannanam and niddhidhyasanam.

4 Guages of listening (shravannam):

1. One is open minded; one is there to change.

2. One is ready; ready to work and excert.

3. to have love both for the guide(sadguru) and manual (shashtra).

4. one has respect; means we are ready to be guided.

We are all experiencing Jeeva, Jagat, Jageeshwara.

There is only Jageedeshwara. If we feel this, we will live accordingly.

We find utility, based on what we identify with. Most of us, identify with BMI, but for some that identification is broken. These thinkers are thinking because of anugrah (grace) or punyam or their sheer vichara (strong viveka).

One in a million is going to be sincere enough to be saved. It is very rare and precious.

What blocks us from being sincere?

Lack of guidance (external factor) and/or Lack of faith (internal factor)- being distracted

RAW

Come up with 7 modern examples of the cause pervading the effect.

Archana Krishnan, Cleveland, OH

• Self-Development:
• We must engage in active learning in order to develop the inward momentum required to make self-development a reality in our lives
• We are experiencing: Jeeva, Jagat and Jagadeeshwara
• However, there is only Jagadeeshwara — Maya leads us to become too engaged in Jeeva and Jagat so as to forget our true identity
• For example, there is a wave, an ocean and water
• The wave and ocean’s essence is water but they do not see themselves as such because they are too absorbed in their physical forms
• What I identify with will drive my utility
• We are too focused on IQ, PQ, and EQ so we are constantly driven toward worldliness
• Only 1 in a 1000 seekers are steady with self-development — out of 1000 of those who are steady with self-development, only 1 will be saved
• Essentially, only 1 in a million is ready to be saved
• What blocks the other seekers from being sincere?
• Lack of guidance
• Lack of faith — being distracted
• We must develop a vasana for Viviktha (aloneness), and give up loneliness
• A distraction is only a distraction if you are distracted
• One person’s obstacle is another person’s opportunity.

Chapter 6 — Abhyasa Yoga

• External & Internal preparation is needed in order to out learning into practice
• External preparation: Balance — Become introverted & become deeper
• What will this feel like? One will become quieter
• Internal Preparation: Be — Become simpler
• What does this feel like? One will be more cheerful
• The one who is enlightened, lives by contentment
• Sees equality with objects
• Does not depend on them for completion
• Has empathy
• Accepts all
• Is able to accept people along with their own personal expression of vasanas
• Our biggest challenge: We are dependent on our dependents
• We should learn to live unilaterally — without depending on people or objects
• Ex. Just because someone is angry with us does not mean we need to be angry with them — we can choose to let go
• Chapters 2–6: expound on Jnana (knowledge)
• That which quietens the senses
• Jnana = Noise; Brahman = Silence
• The closer we go to Bhagavan, the quieter we become
• Knowledge is the means to become closer to Bhagavan
• Chapter 7 -12: Vigjnana (Wisdom)

Chapter 7 — Paramahamsa Vigjnana Yoga

• Bhagavan says, “Listen”
• Can be taken to mean “feel this knowledge”
• If one is ready to accept the knowledge, Shravanam alone is enough
• Others need Mananam and Nidhidhyasanam as well in order to be able to accept the knowledge fully
• Bhagavan gives 4 gauges that tell if we are truly listening:
• We are open-minded — we are there to change
• We are ready to exert — willing to work to learn
• We have a love for our guide and the manual — if we love someone, we become more like them
• We are respectful — ready to be guided

Discussion Topic / Discussion Question/ Reflection Question

• RAW: Come up with 7 modern examples of “cause pervading effect.” Vivekji gave the example of the wave, ocean and water.

Aditya Mahadevan: Sidhbari, India

• For spirituality and self-development to be real, one must be active. Or else it remains theoretical. Making excuses and complaining is not allowed on the spiritual path.
• External preparation for meditation with regards to food, sleep, entertainment and work helps us find a sense of balance so that we are no longer pushed around by various external articles, beings and circumstances.
• Internal preparation for meditation with regards to training our mind and our attitude toward meditation helps us find a sense of simplicity about our lives.
• One who has reached the goal of meditation just ‘is’. And in that sense of simply ‘Being’, they experience cheer. Such a wise person treats all with acceptance and respect.

Chapter 7 Notes

• Structure of Bhagavad Gita:
• Chapters 2–6 focus mostly on Jnyana (knowledge) and relate to the Jiva. Having gained this knowledge, the Jiva becomes quiet and independent.
• Chapters 7–12 focus mostly on Vignyana (wisdom) and talk about Bhagavan. Having gained the first-hand experience of the knowledge that “that Truth is I”, one becomes silent.
• Focus of Chapter 7:
• Chapter 7 focuses on the nature of creation and explains that while there is seemingly a Jiva and a Jagat, there really is, only Jagadeeshvara.
• It is this Jagadeeshvara that expresses as the Jiva and the Jagat. The Jiva and the Jagat arise from, exist in and merge back into that Totality.
• It is because that we don’t know the cause (Paramatma) and we get swept away by the effects (the various names and forms).
• We are highly identified with the Body, Mind and Intellect and it is for this reason that we are focused on pampering or stimulating these instruments.
• Once we know that there is more to life than just aimlessly pursuing Pleasure, Possessions and Positions, we begin to turn inward and become a Saadhak.
• The qualities of a Saadhak:
• If one is an uttama adhikari (a highly qualified student), then simple shravanam (listening to a mahavakya) is enough to free one from bondage and lift him/her to independent happiness.
• Mananam and Nidhi-Dhyasanam are required only because we haven’t purified our inner equipment enough to be released from bondage upon simply hearing “Tat tvam asi”.
• The difference between a searcher and a seeker is that a searcher is passive and a seeker is active on his pursuit of independent happiness.
• A seeker must be:
• Open-minded and willing to change
• Ready to work and exert effort to change
• Love the Guru and the Shashtra
• Respect the Guru and the Shashtra enough to accept the guidance
• One in a 1000 individuals is sincere about self-development. Of such Saadhaks, one in a 1000 is steady enough to be freed. The path is not easy. But it is possible for us to be independently happy as long as we are steady and sincere in our pursuit.
• Lack of proper guidance or lack of faith in the teacher / scripture prevent us from progressing. Things can become obstacles on the spiritual path only when we lose sight of the goal.

Reflection: Be Quiet

• We must develop a vasana for quietude. Many tend to believe that to be alone is the same as being lonely. However, they are vastly different. Aloneness is Oneness. Loneliness is duality. We must learn to love our aloneness because it means that we are not limited to just us and the other person(s) in front of us but we can instead be in tune with the totality.