keep or take anything which one does not need is also stealing.Wishing you had the same things as someone else. Two things –we are stealing their moment to shine –causing self-harm by not allowing our own unique gifts to flourishworrying about the future or brooding over the past.. .what are you stealing here --- our present.You remain in your comfort zone and don't want to explore – you are stealing away our own possibilities to enjoy the best things in life.We restrict our own potential ,progress, and growth into the world of undiscovered possibilities.
Be content with what you have rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, then the desire for something more does not arise.This sense of contentment forms the basis of the practice of asteya.
Purity (soaucham)
What is purity (soaucham)? Purity or cleanliness is two-fold: Bahya,outer, external cleanliness and antara, inner, internal cleanliness
External cleanliness includes clean body, clean clothes, clean homes, and environment.The benefit of external cleanliness, we are aware of.
Internal cleanliness refers to cleanliness of our mind. Jealousy, anger, hatred etc. are the impurities of our mind.When we interact, the most important is our purity of motive.
How can we achieve this
Keep your surroundings clean, diskspace , room, wear clean clothes, eat healthy, keeping your gut clean has a direct impact on your moods.
Get to minimalistic living. The more things you have more clutter in your room and head too.
Keep your phones away, spend some time in solitude, do some introscpection, spend time on reflection. will definitely improve your mental strength, creativity, empathy, and productivity:
Some form of exercise like pranayama and meditation in later years.
Control over the organs of perception. –
Control over the sense organs determines what we should see, hear, taste, touch, and so on.
If we know that just by seeing or hearing certain things itself our mind will be polluted or agitated with desire, we should not allow ourselves to see or hear them
The body is equated to a chariot where the horses are the senses, the mind is the reins, and the driver or charioteer is the intellect.
Dhí Discrimination
means the intellect or faculty of discrimination.
Every moment in our life, we are at the crossroads of having to decide what to do, or how to do.
It is only with this discriminative faculty that we can choose the right mode of action and adhere to Dharma.
Yaksha Prashnas
Who is the undefeatable enemy of a human being? Anger is the undefeatable enemy of a human being.
Which is the unending (incurable) disease? Greed is the incurable disease.
Who is a noble person? One who is a well-wisher of all is a noble one.
Who is ignoble? A heartless one is ignoble
Knowledge
One must know what is true Knowledge. The Know edge that liberates one from all psychological entanglements is the only real Knowledge," and that is the knowledge of the Self
Just as glasses only make one see better and do not make one read and write, so also studies, going to school only provide for a comfortable life; we must also know the real, final goal of all our learning and effort
Truthfulness
Satya means truthfulness. When we make a promise, we should fulfill it.
Whatever we speak should be true; and what is true, that alone we should speak. Always verify the truth of a statement before saying it.
We discussed on however hard it is and the consequences dire we should strive to remain truthful.
Akrodha - No Anger
Akrodha means no anger. Whatever may happen, there should be no anger in the mind. To discipline someone in anger is one thing, but when anger overwhelms the mind, we become slaves to it
We should have perfect control over anger and also have the discrimination to know when and where to show anger, if necessary.
Yaksha Prashna
What is moha (delusion)? Wrong understanding of Dharma is real delusion.
What is mana(exaggerated self respect)? Exaggerated self-respect is mana.
What is alasya (laziness)? Laziness is not to follow Dharma.
What is soka (grief)? Ignorance (of the Self alone) is grief
We discussed the activity of Dharma Thermostat.
We have asked each student to pick a value that they will set a thermostat on. They will record each time they either succeed in the following the value or failed. Accordingly they will assign numbers. If they reach the number that the thermostat for that value is set, they have mastered that value.
Chapter 19 talks of the following Yaksha Prashnas
What is said as steadiness by rsis? To be steadfast in one's own Dharma is being steady.
What is dhairya (patience)? Control of senses is dhairya (patience).
What is the best bath? To renounce mental impurity is the best bath.
What is danam(charity)? To protect all living being is danam(charity)
Thank you
Hari Om
Sapna ji and Harishji
