Wednesday, January 22, 2020
We started the class with 'Guru Stotram' and recap of Chapter 10 - The Mechanism of Action
Man's Vasanas (tendencies) drive his attitude and actions, and define his individuality. When the habits remain unfulfilled, they create discontentment and unhappiness.
Unlike other living creatures, man is gifted with the unique ability to exercise self-control and choose his actions.
Our scriptures provide guidance on how to control our mind and help overcome our Vasanas, unhappiness; and realize our inner divine nature.
This is similar to Camphor being lit in front of God. When the camphor burns away, we experience the Lord and His divinity..Man's self-effort (Purushartha) will help him channel his desires, thoughts and actions in the right path.
Chapter 11: The Law of Karma
Continuing with the discussion on Vasanas that influence man's desires and actions, we got introduced to the 'Law of Karma'. It is not just based on past experiences in life and destiny that unfolds (The law of Destiny) , but is a law that covers the past, present and future...
Man's past actions or karma drive his present status. If a man has had pure and noble thoughts and experiences since his birth, he will exhibit good nature, if he has had vicious experiences, he will assume those qualities. He has no control on the past that has gone by and greatly influenced his present...
However, man is gifted with the capacity to choose how he responds in the present, to be able to carve out his future. This is called self-effort or 'purusartha'. Choosing the path of good (shreyas) in present, and exercising it with self-effort will make his future better than his present. 'What' one meets in life is destiny and 'how' he meets it, is self-effort
The combination of self-effort and destiny, and its effect is explained through the example of a log of wood.
When a log of wood flows in water, it moves at the same speed as water which is 2 mph. If a motor is fitted to the log of wood that has a speed of 10 mph, movement of the log will now depend on its direction and the flow of river. When directed downstream log will move at 12 mph and when directed upstream log will move at 8 mph.
Law of Karma does not mean we do not have a choice. It means that man can make a conscious and honest effort to respond to present situations and modify his future for good. Here again, our scriptures help with the formula for right living..
Chapter 12: The Play of Mind
Religion is often misconstrued as a set of belies and superstitions but it provides a technique of practical living.
For eg: Religion suggests not to cut nails after sunset. Come to think of it, using sharp blades in the absence of light can hurt someone :)
Man's reaction to his life experiences are based on the quality and texture of his mind, and intellect equipment.
To a scientist, the world is a place of discovered and undiscovered, to a peasant the world insignificant with nothing spectacular, to a poet, the same world is a scenic place. All objects remaining the same, man's inner equipment drives his reaction.
The world is perceived differently by each person, similar to pattern changes in a kaleidoscope based on individual vision. Our religious gurus have suggested 'Master the mind and you master the world' to experience the world in its true form.
Still man wishes to see some quotient of external beauty in this world. To address this, there are three groups of people serving the mankind - Economists that provide wealth and prosperity to people, Politicians that help people co-exist and Scientists that design things for man to use and enjoy.
Even with all this abundance bestowed on man, he is constantly thinking of his sufferings and sorrows.
Religion gives us three eternal values to help man tame his thoughts and feelings and view the world with positivity - Brahmacharya (self-control), Ahimsa (non-injury) and Satyam (truthfulness)
Chapter 13: Fundamentals of Living
Continuing with three eternal values that enable to master his mind, and thereby master the world, we discussed them in detail...
Brahmarcharya (self-control) at the physical level means exercising self-control and not over-indulge. 'Enjoy the world, but not let the world enjoy you' . We discussed the concept of Suppression vs. Sublimation. Rather than total denial of enjoyments, we should experience them in moderation..
Ahimsa (non-injury) is at the mental level. However, note that the operation performed by a surgeon to save someone's life is not cruel, it is done with a good and noble intent.
Satyam (truthfulness) is at the intellectual level. Man should live up to his ideals and conviction at all times, than give into temptations.
Blog post contributed by SP
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