Bhagavad Gita Course: Chapter 13 (contd)

Class Notes | February 27, 2018

Notes by Deepika Allana, New Delhi, India

The king of Kashi was crossing a short/narrow path. On the other end, King of Ayodhya was coming down the same path the opposite way. King of Kashi sends message saying “because of the prestige of our royalty and lineage, we don’t move for anyone.” King of Ayodhya said it is his prestige to always give way to others.

The world teaches us that prestige is not working with someone and not adapting to others. Our Gita course is a reminder that we should work with others. We should adapt to others. This is a value based course.

What is a value? The way we want others to be.

• This is a most profound statement. We know about the Golden Rule (treat others as you want to be treated).
• This is more accurate — the way we want others to be is how we should be. We are very oriented to having expectations of others.

Chapter 13 beginning — summary of last week

• Kshetra is introduced. This is the V on the BMI chart and all that is below the V.
• All the others on BMI chart is the field. Chetra.
• The word before chetra was prakritri- this is the world.
• Divinity is in the details. When the field is known in a detailed way, I can’t help but feel that I am not the field. That I am different than the field. It is not mishra/mixed. It is black and white. These details that I am not the field, it only becomes real when one is ready to receive this insight- to give value to these teachings.
• Bhagwan Krishna teaches Prince Arjuna, for this jnana to be manifest for you, values are needed. There are 20 values.
• We sampled 8 in our last class. Review of 2 important ones:

>>>Ahimsa — nonviolence (sensitivity). When one is sensitive to sorrow. When it is your own sorrow, you try to grow out of that. When one is sensitive to others sorrow, then one is not so hard on other people.

>>>Shantihi- forgiveness (acceptance) — one is not resisting others or expecting them to change. They are not taking offence in the first place. That is possible when there is oneness.

After Krishna teaches 20 values, he explains that these values are actually jnana (the values are knowledge itself). Makes knowledge authoritative. One who has these values, then simple teaching of tatvamasi is enough.

Chapter sections 13.8–13.11

Knower, knowing, known

In Adi Shankara’s Atma Bhoda, in the first quarter — for the one who is not free (doesn’t have full insight), the knower, the knowing, the known are all different. This is dvaita. Separatist.

When you go through your day, usually –

• 60 percent of our attention goes to the knower (the field)
• 30 percent knowing my experience with the field
• 10 percent is knowing (who am I).
• The knowers nature is sat chit ananda. I have to know the nature of the knower to benefit from this.

As our focus is shifted from twam (Prince Arjuna), and tat (Bhagwan Krishna) to Asi (Oneness), we should understand that:

• In Vedanta: knowing = being
• In an objective science, knowing ≠ being
  (For example, if I know economics, it doesn’t make me economics).

Shlokas 12–17 — describes the knower. Each chapter is coming back to us. There are 6 shlokas that describe the knower and take us to Brahman or are “directed” to Brahman.

• Study the Gita for Braham (independent joy).
• It is not about a form and name, it is about a vision. Lifestyle is secondary.
• The knower is not conditioned by the known.
• The aging and death of our body does not result in fear in us. The restlessness of the mind does not shake our peace.
• When a distinction between the knower and known is there, there is freedom.
• Sat means manifest. Asat- unmanifest. Some of known is manifest (grass), some is unmanifest (UV rays). In both cases, the knower is not subject to manifest/unmanifest or gross/subtle. Knowledge is known. Ignorance is known. I know the presence of a cup, but also know the absence of a cup. Trying to teach us that everything is known.
• You are different. The limitations of the known are not your limitations. The knower is infinite. You don’t have to go anywhere to be the knower. You just have to know you are the knower.
• The more introvert one becomes, the more inward looking one becomes, the closer one become to this knower. Who is the closest to you? You. You know, which means you are the knower. Nothing (no being, circumstance) is closer. This is you.

Brahman, Maya, Jiva

• Brahman and Maya have a relationship. Maya and jiva have a relationship. They are all beginningless. No beginning to brahman, maya or ignorance.
• For example, we are all ignorant to Swahili. Was there a beginning to our ignorance? No.
• Birth is in relation to time. Ignorance came before time. Time studies change. Change can only happen in that which is created. Creation came before time so can’t measure it.
• Braham, Maya and Jiva are all beginningless. Of these 3 only Braham is endless. Maya and jiva will end.
• What is opposite of ignorance? Knowledge. Maya will end with knowledge (vidya). When maya is there, there is jiva. Don’t focus on how it will all begin, focus on how it will end.

We have many questions about Maya but few questions about Moksha- it is a theoretical hypothesis. Instead of focusing on the beginninglessness, focus on how this will end.

Chit and chittabhasa (consciousness appearing as a reflection of consciousness)

All of this began through chit, appearing as chittabhasa (consciousness appearing as the reflection of consciousness, just for fun).

• This reflection forgot to have fun and became serious. When this reflection of consciousness became serious, it started to feel it is separate from chit.
• Whenever there is separation, there is smallness.
• Whenever there is smallness, there is sadness (because my nature is infinite but I don’t feel it).
• Whenever there is sadness, there is stress (b/c I keep trying to reconcile the sadness but can’t).
• Only knowledge can change the identification from the reflection to chit. No action, no thought can do this. Only vidya can neutralize this avidya.

For example, in Canada right now, there is such poor treatment of those from the first nation. When we feel the first nations are separate. But when we have the knowledge that they were there first, my identification with them changes completely. We think we are the first and we are the important one. There is a lot of sadness in Canada because of the lack of knowledge that these were the first few people to live here. When we realize we are guests, or at least brothers/sisters, identification changes.

Chapter Sections 13.12- 13.15

How do we apply the knowledge? Through understanding.

• When I understand this message is real and personal, it works on our identification.
• If don’t have the knowledge, then next step is contemplation. By contemplating on it, it becomes real and personal.
• If not strong enough for contemplation, then next best is insight.
• If can’t do that, then have faith. When have faith in gurushishyaparampara, that faith can carry one to make the message real and personal.
• If can’t do that, then dedication. Dedicating ones’ fruits and actions to these values.
• Finally — love. When one loves Braham, that love can make it real and personal.

What is the relationship between the knower and known?

• Can exist only when 2 entities have the same degree of existence or reality. For example, waking state thirst and waking state water. Can there be a relationship between waking state thirst and dream state water? No, Different reality.
• The knower and the known are mutually exclusive. There cannot be a relationship between the knower and known.
• The known borrows properties from the knower, such as existence. For example, from Atma Bhoda, the ghost on the post example. If there was not post, would there be a ghost?

Jnana makes us quieter. When we are sufficiently quiet, we come to understand what Bhagwan is teaching us, in this powerful complex chapter. The realization in this chapter is that I am not bound. I wasn’t bound, I am not bound, I will not be bound. One doesn’t have to pursue moksha. Moksha is only when there is bandaha. If there is no bandaha, there is no mukti.

Shloka 27:

Swami Tejomayananda — if you have an eye defect and look in the sky, there are multiple moons. But there are not actually multiple moons. When the defect is reconciled, you will see only one moon. There is only one moon.

Acharaya Shankara shares in Vivekachoodamani- the one who doesn’t strive to shift from knowing to knower, they are committing suicide of the opportunity — the environment is there to take us from the limited to the limiting. When you don’t aspire to do it, you are wasting the opportunity.

A human being has the greatest potential to manifest chit — more than an animal. I have the potential to express this awareness. If I waste this opportunity, destroyed the potential of chit, that is the highest adharma.

This person sees and what they see, they love. They love all buddhas. Where there is love, there is service. This chapter teaches us that we are born as individuals, but we should die as infinity. Once I know the difference between the infinite, and the individuality, the infinite cannot touch the individual, and one is free.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

How does knowledge affect identification?

QUESTION AND ANSWER:

Q: We talked about relationship between Knower and Known, with known being supreme position. Entire creation is an illusion. How or what is the relationship of an individual waking up and being self-realized, how does that relate to the ultimate knower.

A: We have individuals who are suffering from maya. They don’t know there nature is the knower. When they are realized, they re-identify with the Truth?– like the reflection of the sun, the water and pot- all of that is broken or transcended and what remains is what was always there (the sun).

Q: Shantihi as acceptance. The idea of not trying to change someone has brought a lot of peace. How do you accept someone but at the same time, push them to be their best. To be a really good friend, I want to push you to be better as well.

A: How to be encouraging of someone is to pray. All of us are connected through ishwara. Our minds are of a similar nature. If you pray for them to understand that there potential is more than they are manifesting. Next is to engage- talk to them about how you know that they can be better. It is not preaching. It is a dialogue. Finally is accepting — you accepting them. You understanding that self development cannot be forced. It is natural. If you don’t criticize them but accept them, you are a role model and they will wonder how you are being so accepting and they will want to be that way too.

RAW LAST WEEK: Practice self-deprecation. The reflection part of this is, when you live lightly, it is easy to let go. When you don’t take yourself so seriously, it is easy to let go of compliments and criticisms. It is easy to accept yourself or others. If don’t do this, then anything anyone says or doesn’t say, I become imbalanced.

RAW THIS WEEK: Leela- the idea that the reflection is there for fun, but we take it seriously and think it is actually who we are. Dramatize all the roles you play in your life. Ex. Sister, professor, driver, etc. Live this Leela- have fun as you take your roles “too seriously.”

ADMIN

Happiness series was recorded. VG team is cutting into individual questions and posting them on the VG YouTube channel. Easy way to share sinatanadharma. We should be ambassadors of sinatanadharma so send to others. Subscribe to the VG YouTube channel so you get all the 50–60 videos that will come.

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Gita Notes 2/27/18 Prakash Balagurunathan

Story:

· Two kings meet with their retinues, Kasha and ayodhya.

o kashi sends message and says they don’t move for anyone (world teaches that this is prestige)

o ayodhya we always give way for others (gita teachers us that we should do this)

· Value is the way that you want others to be

o we should be the same way

· Ksethra is introduced in chapter 13 of gita

o this is the V on BMI and everything under that on chart

· Before this, prakriti is brought in — this is all creation

· Details are studied in great detail because “divinity is in the details”

· When field is known in deep way, we always feel that we are different from the field

o are not the same as the field

· 20 values are shared by krishna:

· 2 important ones:

o ahimsa (non violence/sensitivity) — could be just being sensitive to our own sorrow

· shanti (forgiveness/acceptance) — not trying to change another person or resisting to accept another person –

o highest form is not taking offense to begin with

· if someone has all of the values, then tat twamasi is enough to make someone realized

13.11

· For the one is not free/does not have full insight

o Knower, knowing, known (all different/dvaita)

· In a day, how much effort/attention is given to the known (60%), how much to knowing (30%), how much to knower (10%)

· Knower is joy — the nature of the knower is sat chit ananda

o I have to know the nature of the knower in order to benefit from the nature of my being — otherwise it is still true but it does not help me in anyway

· Focus now shifted to asi — so now understand that knowing is the same being — only true in subjective science — the one who know brahman IS brahman

13.12–17

· Describes the knower in 6 slokas

o so that this knowledge is clear to us

o helping us become brahmacaris

· Brahmacarya: means one who wanders around and wanders in Brahman or one who is directed to brahman

o We should understand the full meaning of this term — vision is key

· Sat vsAsat: manifest vsunmanifest

o But in both cases the knower is not subject to both of these things

§ So everything is known

· Knower is infinite

· The more introvert one becomes, the closer one becomes to this knower (figuratively speaking)

· If there is only the knower — why is there all of this why creation, why bondage

· Brahman and maya and jiva — they are all without a beginning

o when was creation? there is no beginning to this

o but of these three only brahman is endless- the other two can and will end

· Instead of focusing on the beginning less, focus on how we can end maya (our own ignorance)

o Wherever there is smallness there is sadness

o Wherever there is sadness there is stress

o Only knowledge can change our identification from chidabasa to chit

§ Example: lack of knowledge leading to mistreatment of native americans

13.12–13.15

· How do we live this knowledge?

· Applied by understanding — understand that this is real and personal

o If not understanding, then contemplation

o not contemplation, then insight

o not insight, then faith

o not faith, then dedication

o not dedication, then love

· Relationship between knower and the known, there must be same degree of reality in order for this to occur (ex. waking state thirst and water)

· Knower and known are mutually exclusive, there can’t be a relationship between the two

· Known borrows properties from the knower such as existence

· This all leads to the knowledge that “I am not bound”

o don’t have to pursue moksha, because there is no bondage to begin with

· Highlighted by 13.27:

o To know that ksethra is part of this leela, this is truly being a rishi/seer

· Moon example (eye defect makes the person deluded) — just like avidya makes us see smallness

· Vivekachoodamani: The one who doesn’t strive to go from known to knower, they are committing suicide. Waste of opportunity

· Humans have greatest potential to go to highest — highest adharma to not make use of this

· Born as individuals but we should die as infinity

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Bhagavad Gita Class Notes | Date: February 27, 2018
Name: Nina Bhattacharya, Boston, USA

General Class Notes

​ — Chapter 13, continued…​

• For the person who is not free, the
• ​K​nower, the knowing, and the known are all different.
• ​These appear different because we are taking the known too seriously. The known borrows characteristics from the Knower; it’s a reflection of the Self. When take this reflection to be the real thing, though, the thought that we are separate from the Knower — or cit, Consciousness, or Self — emerges.
• Only knowledge (jnana) can change our identification.​

Quick Recap

• Values are the way we want others to be. After all, don’t we expect a lot of others? We, too, should be like that.
• Taking this further, the knowledge that we are not the field, or kshetra, only happens when we are ready to value teachings.
• Bhagavan Sri Krishna lists 20 value, 8 of which we discussed in the previous class. Two to keep in mind are ahimsa (sensitivity) and kshantih (forgiveness = acceptance)
• Basically, Bhagavan is saying, “Sike! These values ARE jnana.”
• Chapter 13 is about the details of the field, or kshetra. Divinity is in the details.​

​13.8 to 13.11​

• To reiterate: For the person who is not free, the
• ​K​nower, the knowing, and the known are all different.
• Slokas 12 to 17 are about the Knower, or Joy.
• Think of the definition of brahmachari — brahmini chariti iti brahmachari — “one who wanders around in brahman.”
• The Knower (brahman) is not conditioned by known (prakriti).
• The more introverted we are, the closer we become to the Knower.
• Brahman, maya, and jiva are all beginning-less; of the three, however, only brahman is endless.
• How will maya end? It will end through vidya. And if maya ends, the jiva also ends.
• Focus on the the end! We have soooo many questions about maya, but very rarely about jiva.
• To bring it back… this whole illusion started with cit, or Consciousness, appearing as cida bhasa, or its reflection for fun (leela). At some point, the reflection forgot this was all for fun and became way too serious; from this the thought that cida bhasa was somehow separate from cit came to be. It felt small! Then sad! Then stressed!
• The known borrows properties from the Knower. Cida bhasa borrows existence-awareness from cit.

​13.​12 to 13.1​5

• How are we to live this knowledge (jnana)?
• ​We are to live this knowledge t
• hrough understanding, which makes the message real and personal.
• ​If understanding is not possible at this juncture, turn to contemplation.
• ​If contemplation is not available to us right now, focus on insight.
• ​I​f insight is not feasible, than aim for faith.
• If faith is not possible, then try dedication.
• And should dedication be beyond our reach, love.
• ​A key realization of this chapter: “I was not bound. I am not bound. I will not be bound.”
• ​There is only the Knower, but avidya makes us forget this. According to Vivekacudamani, if we are not striving for the Knower, it is a suicide of our potential.

Discussion Question: How does knowledge affect identification?

• ​Think of the people we might meet in a new organization. As we develop knowledge or insight about ​people we meet in the organization, we choose to become closer to some individuals and further from others.
• Translating this to higher level, the more we about the known and Knower, we can accurately determine our relationship with them. The more we know about the known, the more we should distance ourselves from it. The more we know about the Knower, we should want to become closer.

​Reflection Adventure of the Week

• The RAW from last week was to practice self-deprecation. As Vivekji observed, “When you live lightly, it is easy to let go.”
• This week’s RAW? Dramatize all roles you play in life.​