Hari om everyone,
Here's the synopsis for today's class. We started the class with meditation. Since we have already finished learning Geeta chapter 4, from today, we will be practicing by chanting the whole chapter.
The Kyun Kyun (QQ - Quirky Question) of the day was - I have read so many books that you show me any book and I can tell how many pages it takes to complete reading that book! I am amazing, aren't I?! How about you?
Some were wondering, but a couple of students had the answer - ONE page! To 'complete' reading a book, all I need to do is read the last page. Until then, the reading is not complete :)
We continued The Geeta review. We had discussed Arjuna's sorrow at the beginning of the battle. He was deluded, confused, and sorrowful to even think that he had to fight with his dearest grandfather and guru. He was rambling and prattling about the situation. He even went on to justify his line of thoughts and almost patted his own back that he realized well in time, so now he won't be fighting the war.
But in his heart, he knew better. He finally asked Krishna, 'I have no idea what I should do. Please guide me...' Krishna started speaking only after Arjuna asked for advice! Krishna didn't stop Arjuna when he was prattling. He let him ramble and only when asked, he spoke. (Something we all can learn from).
In this chapter (chapter 2), Krishna gives the highest knowledge about the Self. It is very potent and teaches everything that we need to know about aatma-vidyaa (knowledge of the Self). But obviously, Arjuna didn't understand in its entirety. So the rest of the chapters are elaborations, based on Arjuna's questions.
Here, Krishna said that One needs to understand that he is not the limited little person he presumes himself to be, but he is the same paramaatmaa that exists in everyone!
If I am that great paramaatmaa, how come I don't feel it?! What should I do to change myself into being that paramaatmaa?!
Well, let's see this analogy... We have all watched the movie Lion King, rt? In that, Simba had run away and was living with a meerkat (Timon) and a warthog (Pumbaa). Though he was a lion, he was eating grubs and bugs like his friends - Timon and Pumbaa. He did not behave anything like a lion, though he looked like one! One fine day, Rafique (the monkey) gave him a visit. He whacked Simba on the head and reminded him that he is a Lion, really!!
Here, did Simba have to do anything to 'become' a Lion?
NO! He already WAS a Lion.
All he needed to do was, shift the attention from thinking he was a nobody to thinking he was the King of the jungle! He already had the muscle power needed for it. That small shift in his attitude made ALL the difference!
(We can find and apply Vedaanta from a cartoon movie, even!)
Similarly, Arjuna had forgotten his true nature and was grieving for something that should not be grieved for. (This body is not permanent. Truly, beings are eternal in nature). Krishna had to give the entire Bhagavadgeeta to wake him up to his calling, to make him realize that he is not this Body, Mind, Intellect!
This little personality we have can be referred to as the 'little i' and the consciousness in us can be referred to as the 'big I'. Through the mirror of Geeta, we can learn to identify our true nature as the 'big I'. This picture depicts it beautifully -
Let's use this mirror to see our true Self!
Wishing you all a wonderful winter break and time with families.
Happy New Year to everyone! We will see you next year (on Jan 7th).
Regards,
Rashmi and Sirisha.
Rashmi and Sirisha.
