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What is Silence? Group Reflection question: What are tangible measures that you can take to think before you speak? Some of the ways are to slow down. We have a tendency to react so we should slow down. One of the ways to do so is by quietude of mind and japa.  We should have clarity of thought. An example is when Sita heard the deer and Lakshmana right away ran after the deer. He could have waited it out and prevented all that happened.  Always wait things out rather than react. Before you speak, you need to think if it is beneficial for others.  Think whether it is based on satyam, mitam hitam. Is it true, beneficial and measured. Does it hurt others? Is it necessary to speak? Think it out. Listen fully and attentively. Our tendency is when someone else is speaking, even before they are done, we tend to respond and we need to take time and listen to them carefully.  Imagine if Gurudev is sitting on the back seat when you are driving. How will you react? So when you say something, think that Gurudev is watching you and how would you react in that circumstance.  The more we engage in sadhana, all of this gets ingrained. So when you come across situations, you will know how to react. Practice patience and at some point you have to be blunt. In the Applied Gita course we studied, when one speaks, speak based on satya, hitham and priya. Satya means truthful, hitam means useful and priya means beautiful.  When we speak we should speak in a sweet tone with sweet words. Need to be responsive rather than reactive because you need to think so much of what you want to say. Individual reflection question: What is silence? Reflection 1 Silence is golden but the experience is opposite and seeker has not experienced the golden silence. Speech is a powerful medium to connect with others.  Mauna through silence retreats gives inner calm but mental chatter continues. True silence comes when our mind is engaged and absorbed in the work we have undertaken.  Our mind and thought disturbs us even when we are not speaking. When mind is not absorbed, we are attached to the articles, beings and circumstances and we do not listen to the inner voice.  RAW from Bhaja Govindam was not to listen to the news. Silence is hitting the pause button and connecting with the inner voice, and contemplating.  It helps reveal who we are. Ways to practice silence is by slowing the racing thought by japa, satsang and following your dharma. The reason some talk too much is because they want people to like them. They seek external validation. They feel insecure.  Those who are insecure are dislikeable. We are drawn to those who are secure and not to those who are insecure. If you catch yourself talking too much, the deeper reason for that is insecurity. Introduction In theology of Sanatana Dharma, Kamadeva has another name which is Ananga. Kama means desire and Ananga means the one who has no form.  When desire has no form, that means desire can attack us in any instance because desire can manifest in any form. In 2020, the amount of input that we experience is extreme.  There are lots of inputs going in and desire can attack us in any of this input. Living the Gita is about being Happy. When one is happy, one is not subject to desire. Where there is Rama/Joy, there cannot be Kama/desire.  Where there is Shiva, there cannot be Kama. When Shiva’s eyes is closed, it’s if Kama is winning but when Shiva opens his eyes, Kama becomes ananga.  There is no power, no form. Living the Gita is about us becoming Krishna. Krishna means Joy. When you are Joy all you do becomes Gita.  The song Madhurasthtakam tells us that all that Bhagavan Krishna does is madhura or priya. Recap: Question 6: What is efficiency? Simplicity. When your aspiration is simple, meaning they are uniform (ie 1 goal that is to be happy), you become most efficient.  Quote to see Gita being lived is by Helen Keller — ‘Be happy with what you have while working for what you want’. This is most efficient.  I am happy and I will strive and if I get what I strive, it’s good and if I don’t get what I strive for, it doesn’t matter because I am happy. Question 7: What is sacrifice? Dedication. Dedication to longevity. Invest in whatever that is going to last and invest less in that which is not going to last. Prince Arjuna’s Question: Chapter 2, Verse 54: Note; Question 7 and 8, Prince Arjuna is asking about the inner world of one who is the greatest of all time.  In Questions 9, 10 and 11, he asks how such a personality speaks, and sits and walks.  Q7 and Q8 are often interpreted as 1 question ie how does the greatest of all time think? PAQ takes it into 2 question where question 7 is ‘How does one who is greatly evolved think and question 8 is how one who is absolutely evolved think’? One is great and one is the greatest of all time. Question 8: What is Independence? What, O Keshava, is the description of him who has steady Wisdom and who is merged in the Superconscious state? How does one of steady Wisdom speak, how does he sit, how does he walk? This question refers to one who has been absorbed in the spirit. Bhagavan Krishna’s Answer: Chapter 2, Verse 57 He who is everywhere without attachment, on meeting with anything good or bad, who neither rejoices nor hates, his wisdom is fixed. Why doesn’t one who is absolutely involved long or cling or depend? The reason for that is that they know that anything they interact with is dependent already.  So, they know they cannot be fulfilled by depending on that which

What is Independence Part 1 & Review Reflection Question: What are some inner adjustments you can make to become more independent of the articles, beings and circumstances in your life? Group Reflection: Develop quietude of the mind and follow your dharma. These are the key armors against pleasure-seeking. Change is changeless, and if you prepare for it, you’ll be less frustrated with the outcome. We must test/challenge ourselves to practice quietude in an uncontrolled environment. It’s important to go inside, rather than outside. While intellectually, this makes sense, it’s much more difficult to actually practice it. Moving from FOMO to JOMO, smiling more, going with the flow, and listening more and speaking less. Individual Reflection #1: Growing up, I’ve always sought independent joy in the external, but with each fulfilled desire, I would feel more distant from peace and then chase after more desires. Trapped in a cycle of temporary highs and lows. True independence is having faith- no matter what happens, we are all we need in the end. Independence is not about getting and taking, but letting go and living. Swami Vivekananda once shared that “we are all born bound to a certain size of rock. The purpose of a lifetime of the body is to break down the rock until one is free” Individual Reflection #2: Independence is the means to achieving true happiness. Happiness is lost to the three thieves: regrets of the past, anxieties toward the future and unbridled excitement for the present. While it’s obvious that attachment brings sorrow, detachment is not the solution- a sthitaprajna is one who has complete faith in Bhagavan, lives true independence and meets the joys and sorrows of life with equanimity. In Chapter 3 of Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavan describes a shrestha person as being independent from ego. Independence empowers us to give more than what we take. Introduction: Our relationship with Gita is casual. We know the Gita, but do we live the Gita? The vision of the course is to feel free, and to make freedom our default character. Anala means fire, or never enough. Prince Arjuna wanted more and more- he even wanted this war! Bhagavan Krishna is trying to guide Prince Arjuna to alam: enough, or coolness. Review: First 5 questions Prince Arjuna asks, he’s asking as a searcher, not a seeker. He’s confused and overwhelmed. So Bhagavan’s first answers are to sit down, calm down and breathe. Question 1: Philosophical/Historical context: What is going on, and why am I here? Be balanced. Practical interpretation: What is peace? Quietude. Practice quietude by inputting less. Question 2: Philosophical context:: Why would we harm our relatives? This war is an expression of ahimsa. Practical interpretation: What is Sin? Agitation Question 3: Philosophical context: How can we be happy with harming our family?  You will evolve. When you engage in something that’s hard(er), you will evolve (more).  As long as you focus on someone else’s responsibility rather than your own, you will be unhappy. Practical interpretation: What is righteousness? Responsibility. Question 4: Philosophical context: If the Kauravas want to hurt us, why must we reciprocate? You can’t just know your responsibility; you must act on it too. Practical interpretation: What is prioritization? Clarity. Question 5: Philosophical context: Why do I have to harm my teacher (Acharya Bhishma and Acharya Drona)?  They are not the body you are going to harm,, but rather the spirit. You are only harming an entity that’s already dying. Practical interpretation: What is grief? Confusion, when we hold on to names and forms. Starting question 6, Prince Arjuna evolves into a committed seeker. Question 6: Philosophical context: What am I supposed to do? Take charge and put in effort. Live dynamically and actively. Practical interpretation: What is efficiency? Simplicity. When you have many goals in life, you don’t get to any of them. Identify the universal goal. Question 7: Philosophical context: How does an enlightened person think, speak, etc.? They are content. Practical interpretation: What is sacrifice? Dedication. Be dedicated to that which is lasting/long-term Q&A: How do we not give in to pleasure? How do we come back after succumbing to pleasure? 1. Blaming others is a tier 2 complaint. Making excuses is a tier 1 complaint 2. A distraction is a distraction if you are distracted. There are no inherent distractions 3. Assess the cost-benefits of succumbing to a pleasure How can we distinguish between something that gives us pleasure and something that is a distraction? Evaluate how much down time we will allow ourselves to have and establish parameters. In a democracy, what are the right responsibilities to take on? 4 types of karma Nitya karma: regular responsibility Naimittika karma: special responsibility Kamya karma: selfish action Nishiddha karma: immoral action Future RAW: what is your reflection on Question 7? Share in the chat or the Medium site.

What is Sacrifice Introduction All that we need in life is free. All that we don’t need in life is expensive. “The life unexamined is not worth living,” as shared by Socrates.  A life unexamined is worth less. We all wonder how to make life more worthwhile?  Prince Arjuna had the same questions and so we are using him to direct and clarify our questions. Review: The simple answers — because if the answer is simple, you can remember it, and if you can remember it, you can practice it. What is peace? Quietude. What is sin? Agitation. What is righteousness? Responsibilities. What is prioritization? Clarity. What is grief? Confusion. What is efficiency? Simplicity. Actions are in the present and in our control; results are out of the present and out of our control.  If we have complex goals in life, we will become complicated. We get dragged into living for results, becoming more insistent and controlling.  So we must live for the action. Efficiency is simplicity — when the goal is simple, it’s as if the result and the action are built in together, so you’re in the present and in control. Prince Arjuna’s Question: Chapter 2, Verse 54 “What, O Keshava, is the description of him who has steady Wisdom and who is merged in the Superconscious state?  How does one of steady Wisdom speak, how does he sit, how does he walk?” Prince Arjuna asks Lord Krishna to describe someone who has engaged in samadhi.  Samadhi is when the ego is well and fully placed in the spirit. Prince Arjuna asks four questions: the one who is enlightened, who is free, how do they think? How do they speak? How do they sit? How do they walk? Lord Krishna’s Answer: Chapter 2, Verse 55 “When a man completely casts off O Partha, all the desires of the mind and is satisfied in the Self by the Self, then he is said to be the one of steady-Widsom.” If one doesn’t have desires (eshana) then they don’t have vasanas (a blueprint).  If they don’t have vasanas, then they don’t have avidya (confusion). The one who smiles (is enlightened) doesn’t have desires, so they don’t have the limits of a blueprint, which means they have not forgotten they are Happiness.  If one doesn’t have desires, one doesn’t have thoughts either. If you don’t have thoughts, you don’t have actions.  When one doesn’t have a desire, they don’t act for fulfillment, but out of fulfillment. Thoughts and actions become selfless. Those who are enlightened come to know who they are, Brahman or infinity. Our infinite nature is independent joy and that will never change.  Furthermore, those who are enlightened not only know values, but also live virtuously. They live truthfully. What is sacrifice? Sacrifice stems from dedication. When one is dedicated to the deepest part of who we are, they sacrifice what is not deepest.  We dedicate time and effort to that which is important and let go of that which is not.  Sacrifice is opportunity; opportunity to dedicate to that which is higher and sacrifice that which is lower. Reflection: In a time when you had to sacrifice a “lower” desire for a “higher” goal, what were the feelings you experienced? Surreal!  We tend to sacrifice the higher for the lower; but when we are living in a dedicated way, we sacrifice our own wants for the needs of others.  In those moments, we feel physically, mentally, intellectually stronger. Questions: What can you do when a parent/relative passes away and you are not able to attend the ritual in India? You can only do what you can do. There is no need to be agitated by barriers you can’t navigate around. Our loved ones who pass away want us to be happier and to continue to follow our dharma, which is the best ritual. We are superstitious and this prohibits us from practicing, from living the Gita. 2. Is Shruti (revelations) the same as intuition? Not for us. Revelations come to those with a very deep quietude. While many people may have had an apple fall on their head, only Newton was the one who referenced that to laws of the Earth. 3. What does the saying “The more you identify with the Lord of your Heart, the closer you get to Him” mean? Your identification is ego. We identify with where we were born or where we live now. When our ego identifies with the Lord more, we think less about our own bodies, minds, intellects and think more about God’s body, God’s mind, God’s intellect. RAW from Oct 22nd: What are two ways you have been living the Gita? In only seven weeks, we have changed so much! Vivekji’s two ways: knowing about the world less and catching yourself when you’re jealous as an indicator of what you feel is important. RAW for Oct 29th: No more RAWs! They are already built into the book Prince Arjuna’s Questions.

Living the Gita RAWs RAW for Week 1 — Sep 17, 2020Print out Prince Arjuna’s Questions. Read, write, and complete reflections. RAW for Week 2 — Sep 24, 2020Whenever your mind is disturbed — drink a glass of water and feel that it is calming your mind.  If that doesn’t help — wash your hands with soap and then don’t moisturize your hands after. RAW for Week 3— Oct 1, 2020Identify 3 engagements/activities that you are doing that you know to be wrong — you are knowingly doing this and know that it is wrong. RAW for Week 4 — Oct 8, 2020Buy a physical planner ! Have it ready to show/hold it up in class ! RAW for Week 5 — Oct 15, 2020Identify and dissect the saddest/lowest point of your life. RAW for Week 6 — Oct 22, 2020How are you ‘Living the Gita’ — share 2 ways RAW for Week 7 — Oct 29, 2020~No more RAW’s — Please reflect in your ‘Prince Arjuna’s Questions’ book and share your reflections/learning here so we can all grow together. RAM — May 20, 2021Every Thursday for 1 hour, review and reflect on 3 PAQs.

What is Efficiency? Group Reflection question: What are ways in which you can shift your attitude from focusing on the results of your actions to focusing on your action? Recognize that we are not the sole doer of our actions. There are external factors that come into play.  So do your best and leave the rest. This can influence your work and refine the quality of them.  Hence by focusing on the quality and awareness that we put in our work increases. 2nd mindset that is useful is to focus on setting expectations and goals for our own actions and not based on results and usefulness and benefits that help other people and 3rd mindset is like the example of the farmer. Very little of our effort should be focused on quantity. Rather should be on quality.  Quantity is measurable and we can be lost in that which is measurable like popularity, wealth. Quality is immeasurable like faith.  When we focus on quality we simplify what we focus on. When we focus on quantity one becomes future oriented, distracted. Individual reflection question: What is efficiency? Reflection 1 Efficiency is to do something in a streamlined way with a minimum amount of waste. Why does it matter?  This matters because for the goal of self development and being independently joyous; serving the most good for the most time to the best of our ability.  None of us know how long we can do it except that it is finite. We want to benefit from being Happiness as soon as we can. Grow to that Infinite with urgency. How to be efficient? 1) Prioritize — Right vision, right action 2) Simplify — Simplify thing for our BMI so that we do not waste time that is not in our control or not important to our priorities 3) Organize — Do things that lead us to higher thinking, chanting, class, reflection, meditating. Input positive things towards that growth 4) Review — So that as we change and develop, we can adjust and keep improving ‘Act vigorously with right attitude of mind so that you may avoid all internal waste of energy and learn to grow within’ Swami Chinmayananda. None of us are lacking resources. We all lack time. Efficiency in a time level. Seekers if we can move away from resources and shift our efficiency towards time, next will be effort. This is the transition…minute to mind management. Reflection 2 Efficiency at work and personal life meant the ability to do most tasks in a minimum amount of time. Not unitasking. But there is lost productivity when you don’t unitask.  For example, when you scroll through email while watching TV, one has to mark the important emails as unmarked so that you can fully read it again so as to take action.  This meant more work in the end and lost productivity. The most fulfilling aspect of life requires more time and dedicated focus but yields the greatest reward.  Being present in a task before moving on to another leads to best results, full satisfaction and more fulfillment. Continue to unitask. Simple yet difficult yet worthwhile. When we give secularism more importance, we get lost in multitasking. When we give the sacred more importance, we will give importance to Unitask. Introduction Sanatana Dharma is most practical. What’s constantly shared is a framework to evolve. For example Tamas, Rajas, Satva ie Lazy to aggressive to calm. How to become calm? Another framework is Puja, Japa, Dhyana. Puja requires use of Body, speech, mind. Japa requires speech and mind. Dhyana only needs the mind. How do you engage in Dhayna ? Another framework is… Shravana, Manana, Nithidyasana ie listening, reflecting, practicing Another framework — How do you make decisions — 4 tiers to go through (from most authentic to least) 1. Shruti — Revelations. Those with silenced Ego can hear the Creator’s message and can feel the Creator talking to them. Make the decision based on these revelations. 2. Smriti — Interpretation of those revelations like the Bhagavad Gita which is an interpretation of the Upanishad 3. Sadhus — Sadhachara. One who is vigilant, careful, intentional. They tend not to make mistakes. What would the Wise do? Then make the decision accordingly. We should think, speak and act like them 4. Santushta — follow your gut ie do what you feel like The framework we are using is Prince Arjuna’s Question (PAQ). PAQ is a framework for us to evolve; for us to live the Gita. PAQ is simple and simplicity leads to remembrance which leads to practice. Recap: Question 1: What is Peace Quietude. Everyday ,for multiple times a day, close your eyes for a few minutes. Practice quietude. Question 2: What is Sin Sin is agitation. We bring this upon ourselves by superficiality. The more superficial one is the more one is agitated.  Go deeper within for quietude. Like the ocean; deeper in the ocean there is less motion Question 3: What is righteousness Responsibility and it is universal. Responsibilities begins as soon as you know your name.  Sometimes we get lost and think I am not Brahmana or have not studied Vedanta. We are just finding excuses to not do the right thing Question 4: What is prioritization Clarity — when you are clear of your schedule, you know what is the most important and the first thing to do. Question 5: What is grief Forgetfulness. Forgetting your nature, one tends to grieve. This is where Bhagavad Gita begins and ends. Chapter 2, Verse 11. Bhagavan Krishna tells Prince Arjuna that he is grieving for those who don’t need to be grieved for.  You can simplify yourself to 3 layers: the Body, Mind, Intellect. Your body started dying the day you were born. Everything decomposes.  The mind doesn’t die but moves from body to body. The Spirit is not applicable. The Spirit is not affected by birth and death. Therefore you don’t need to grieve.  Those who are wise do not grieve

What is Grief Introduction One of the smears in Canadian history is the residential schools in which 150,000 indigenous children were forced into schools to become like a “typical Canadian”.  Tens of thousands were sexually abused and thousands died in those schools. This was done by force to create “oneness”.  This is an example of wrong intention and wrong implementation. The Canadian government has accepted this wrong and is trying to make amends. The Varna Vibhaghasa (color classification) explained in the Gita by Lord Krishna applies to all humans according to their natural propensity in order to bring out the best in them.  When one is able to express the best from themselves, this naturally leads to Oneness. However, the implementation of this teaching has been distorted over time.  This is an example of right intention but wrong implementation. We too have to accept that the implementation is wrong and work toward correcting it. In this course, we are learning about right intention and right implementation by not just reading or memorizing the Gita but also by acting according to the Gita. Hence the name of this course.. Living the Gita. Review: Peace is quietude of mind; sin is agitation of the mind; righteousness means responsibilities. Prioritization means following responsibilities which will lead to us achieving the purpose of our life or svadharma (which is independent joy).  What we are able to give in terms of time, effort and resources will change as we enter various phases of our lives and we should continually ensure we are giving our maximum in following shreyas.  This is why we should remember and practice perpetual betterment. When we do the minimum, there is a personal agenda due to kama (desire).  When we don’t follow our responsibilities, selfishness creeps in. We should feel honored when given the opportunity to help someone and this will help us to evolve from selfish actions (sakama) to selflessness (nishkama). Prince Arjuna’s Question: Chapter 2, Verse 4: “How, O Madhusudhana, shall I in battle fight with arrows, against Bhishma and Drona, who are fit to be worshipped, O destroyer of enemies?” Prince Arjuna is giving more importance to the context (the physical battle) rather than content.  Bhishma is his Sadhguru (sacred teacher) and Drona is his guru (secular teacher).  He is asking Lord Krishna how can I shoot arrows at my teachers whom I worship.  He addresses Lord Krishna as the destroyer of enemies as he is starting to ask for Lord Krishna’s help to destroy his inner enemies.  In the hierarchy of sacred learning in Sanatana Dharma, the shishya (seeker) is at the bottom, above the seeker is the Sadhguru and higher than the Sadhguru is the shastra(scripture).  Prince Arjuna only sees the Sadhguru and does not expand his vision to follow the shastra. Lord Krishna’s Answer: Chapter 2, Verse 11: “You have grieved for those that should not be grieved for; yet, you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor the dead” This message is the first and final teaching of the Bhagavad Gita and is THE message for life.  Lord Krishna says that the wise do not grieve by being content (Chap 2, verse 55) and by surrendering (Chapter 18, verse 66). The wise do not cry, they do not complain, and they do not criticize. Prince Arjuna is deluded/confused (moha) and it devolves to fear (bhaya) which further leads to sorrow or grief (shoka).  Moha is when we give reality to that which is changing or asat. We can remove moha by focusing on sat (or that which is permanent).  Fear comes from that which is unknown and fear can be removed through cit (awareness).  Finally, sorrow is overcome when we know that we are ananda. Hence, realizing that we aresat-cit-ananda will remove moha-bhaya-shoka and all other vices. What is grief? Grief is the opposite of ananda (joy).Ignorance of our true nature as the infinite Self and identification with our finite personality (body, mind, and intellect) is what subjects us to sorrow.  The feeling of sadness is not warranted because ananda is our nature!  The only way we can live this is by giving specific time and specific effort to understanding and to practice what we are learning. Reflection: How can you honor the legacy of those individuals who have passed away in your life?  We should live more by values than just by sustenance of the body.  We should follow our responsibilities, facilitate others to follow responsibilities, and felicitate those who do follow responsibilities. Questions: Is it ok to be sad or to cry? The first answer is no because your nature is joy and that will never change. If we remember this and still are sad, then we won’t normalize being sad and can come out of it. The second answer is yes as long as the sadness/crying is helping with your development. It should not be normalized since this can then become an escape. This is not the case for those with a mental health matter since there is a difference between the brain and the mind. The issues with the brain must first be addressed and balanced. Then one can address issues with the mind through self-development. 2. How does one convert patience from a value into a virtue? A value is something we know at an intellectual level A virtue is something that you implement and it becomes part of you Two practices to start converting patience into a virtue: 1. Simplify your lifestyle. 2. Ask for forgiveness when you are impatient; the ego can’t handle saying sorry so the next time you won’t repeat that mistake 3. If all is pre-planned, what else can we do but surrender? To be content with doing nothing, one has to be extremely pure of mind Until then, one must continue to act and learn the meaning of true surrender Reflection on RAW from Oct 8th: The RAW was to buy a planner. “Don’t agonize, organize” by Florynce Kennedy.

What is Prioritization Introduction: Are you prioritizing peace (shreyas) over pleasure (preyas)? Bhakta (Rishi) Prahlada still wanted the best for his father. In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7.5.30, he says: punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām We are experiencing the same things over and over, never realizing that there is no meaning in our actions.  What we’ve experienced in our whole life, we’ve already experienced at some point before. And this gets old, fast.  Those who are more proactive try to find more meaning and peace (shreyas) in what they do, rather than indulging in short-term experiences (preyas). Recap: What is Peace: Peace is knowing that your responsibilities are part of the larger puzzle that is life.  You are part of a team- when one team member is weak, the whole team becomes weaker. What is Sin: Sin is a mis-prioritization. How to shake out of mis-prioritization? Engage in what’s most important first.  But the mind’s nature is to doubt and will come up with excuses to not do what you need to do- just do it! What is Righteousness (dharma): What keeps us out of this “heaven” that Bhagavan Krishna describes? Kama (desire).  Wherever there is kama, there is no Rama (joy). One who has desire is not fulfilled, one who has joy is fulfilled.  Wherever there’s kama, there’s drama! The more fulfilled one is, the less serious matters become. Desire takes away from achieving quietude of mind.  Our nature is a still lake, and desire is a rock that’s thrown in the middle of the lake and causes ripples, or thoughts, that move away from the center of the lake. It incites a restlessness in our life. Kama is checked by dharma. The path presented to Arjuna is a personal path for his unique development.  There are no accidents. Your personality type and lifestyle are matched for your development. As soon as you recognize that, you have less desires. Prince Arjuna’s Question: Chapter 1 Verse 39 “Why should not we, who clearly see evil in the destruction of the family-units, learn to turn away from this sin, O Janardana?” All that you know becomes your knowledge, and from that knowledge you operate.  Prince Arjuna asserts that with given what he knows, he should leave the battlefield rather than continue to fight. Prince Arjuna is operating from education, not knowledge.  Education is more surface-level and worldly, while knowledge is deeper and more subjective. Knowledge evolves into vision.  One who is ignorant has less knowledge than one who is wise. Those who are most visionary have the most knowledge. Prince Arjuna worries that he will cause the destruction of his family, but what he doesn’t realize is that the family is already being destroyed by the Kauravas, and this is a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. The difference between the Pandavas and the Kauravas is that while both had weaknesses, the Pandavas admitted that and asked for help. Bhagavan Krishna’s Answer: Chapter 2, Verse 31 “Further, looking at thine own duty thou ought not to waver, for there is nothing higher for a Kshatriya than a righteous war.” Bhagavan Krishna tells Prince Arjuna that what he should be seeing is svadharma.  Dharma is a verb: that which integrates. Svadharma is a noun: that which is. Through dharma one realizes their svadharma.  We all have different dharma, however once we integrate our dharma we will reach our changeless center and be joy.  This circumstance (Kurukshetra War) is the catalyst for Prince Arjuna to feel his svadharma.  We should not compare our circumstances to that of others. Once we realize this, we will not shake. Clarity yields simplicity.  When we stop comparing, we complain less, criticize less and cry less. Every circumstance is a test to see how powerful we can be.  Shreyas (peace) is characterized by maximum happiness for maximum people for maximum time. A Kshatriya is a leader and there are two types of leaders: 1. Those who lead others: 30% sattva (calmness), 60% rajas (aggressiveness), and 10% tamas (laziness) 2. Those who lead themselves: 60% sattva, 30% rajas and 10% tamas Bhagavan Krishna tells Prince Arjuna that he is an ordinary Kshatriya right now, with strong rajas, but Bhagavan is trying to train him to lead himself, and as a result will become better at leading others. Q&A Question 1: When you see someone who’s close to you on a path towards suffering, what should we do? · Pray · Lead by example · Engage in dialogue · Accept that you cannot control them Question 2: What is the correlation between energy levels and managing Shreyas and preyas? · Lack of energy (physical) leads to lack of enthusiasm (mental), so practice resting more Question 3: Can there be a situation where there are two priorities in conflict? · Yes, and the Ramayana is an example of that · There will always be one priority that is more Shreyas than the other, and when we make the decision to prioritize one over the other, commit to that decision and learn from it Question 4: How do we come out of the “hole” of indulgence (preyas) · When one’s intellect is brilliant, they are able to regulate temptation · Out of sight, out of mind · When you find yourself in the hole, look up and realize how lost you are Reflection on RAW from 10/1: We can’t know what activities we engage in are wrong for us, or else we wouldn’t be doing them in the first place. Start to recognize that things are wrong more. RAW for 10/8: Buy a physical planner.

What is Righteousness Introduction Who would you choose as a greater superhero — Batman or Superman? Majority voted for Batman because you cannot become Superman but you can become Batman.  Batman doesn’t have an inherent special power but he thinks and acts in a heroic way.  The character Bruce Wayne has everything in life i.e. pleasure, possession, and position but knows there is more to life than that.  He goes exploring and finds who he really is and as Batman he serves community, society and humanity. Similarly Prince Arjuna has all but he doesn’t feel he has all.  He has the doubts (Moha/Confusion) and seeks Lord Krishna’s help and guidance.  PAQ is Prince Arjuna’s questions and Bhagavan Krishna’s answers.  It is NOT an external text but is our mind/our question and our doubts.  Living the Gita is to be practiced every day and most importantly reflected on. Recap: Question 1: What is Peace Reflection: How can you shift your attitude toward your responsibility; from what you can gain to what you can give.  Each of us is a piece and life is a puzzle. Your responsibilities are all pieces in this grand puzzle.  Fulfillment comes when the puzzle is complete. Peace is fulfillment of our responsibilities.  Be steady in whatever you do. No complaining, criticizing, crying as they make us unsteady. Question 2: What is Sin Reflection: What are the ways one tries to escape responsibilities? We procrastinate.  We tend to do the least important tasks first. When we engage in less important tasks first; there is a weight on our mind of the important tasks which are yet to be done.  This weight keeps increasing causing anxiety, stress. So Prioritize! Prince Arjuna’s Question 3: What is Righteousness Chapter 1, Verse 37: ‘Therefore, we shall not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives; for how can we be happy by killing our own people, O Madhava?’ Prince Arjuna laments on how he can kill his relatives which is a sense of doership.  His perspective is on killing when he should be focused on stopping the Kauravas who are killing.  Prince Arjuna is using his eyes and seeing them as relatives rather than using his intellect and seeing them as terrorists.  If you do not stop harm (external or internal) you are an accomplice and encourage the act.  We feel there is more pleasure in escapism than embracing it. Prince Arjuna thinks about escaping his responsibility and asks Bhagavan Krishan about it. Bhagavan Krishna’s Answer: Chapter 2, Verse 32: ‘Happy indeed are the KSHATRIYAS, O Partha, who are called to fight in such a battle, that comes of itself as an open door to heaven’ Why does anything happen to us? We do not know why things happen to us but we experienced them and carried on. So, keep going with the flow! Bhagavan Krishna is sharing that for everyone who embraces what is happening to them right now, the door to heaven is open for us.  Bhagvan Krishna is emphasizing that by embracing our responsibilities that are righteous, our mind will be quiet and we will feel heaven.  Everything happens to us for our evolution. Every experience we go through, every responsibility is actually our gate to heaven — to quietude of mind! The fight is to establish dharma.  In the world there is a rise in adharma. So the responsible people need to be more responsible.  Being who we are is reestablishing that balance. Think about who you are and your responsibilities. Question: Question 1: How do you manage conflicting responsibilities? If responsibilities lead to heaven, being irresponsible leads to hell.  So what if you follow one responsibility and pulled to another, there is a mix of both? Answer: Choose the responsibility that encourages maximum happiness for maximum people for maximum time. Put it into the decision making process. If one is focused on responsibility towards Divinity, humanity, society, community and family is included in it already. One will be kicked hardest by those who you want to help most. This is the nature of dvaita (duality) where people kick. This happens in Twoness. In Oneness it doesn’t matter and someone’s comment, ignoring you, talking about you. You don’t let it affect you. Best example is Bhagavan Rama who has perpetual conflicting responsibilities. Question 2: Is it right to wait to be asked for help rather than offering/jumping in to help? If someone didn’t ask for help should you help them? Answer: Those who served humanity and society the most did so without being asked.  They felt the need of humanity and society like Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Sivananda did so.  They were kicked down but they got up because they felt the need of the people. Proactive vs reactive towards service. Question 3: My definition of righteousness is different from someone else’s. How do you know your responsibility, especially in conflicting responsibilities? Answer: Associate with those who are wise. The wsie is tuned in to the maximum to Divinity, Humanity, Society, Community. Whatever they did we need to follow suit. The more one engages in getting to know themselves through scriptures, the more you know who you are and what to do. Question 4: When I get in a conflict, stressful situation with kids. How do you handle it? Answer: Purpose of life is to be quiet and happy and not to be externally perfect. Take it easy more, especially with others but have higher expectations of ourself. We should tell kids but in a kind, comfortable way. As we get in seeing everyone all the time. Pick and choose your battles and let go on the lighter ones and focus on the moral ones. To Do: Address the questions and reflections in advance before class. Reflection on RAW from 9/24: Whenever your mind is agitated, drink water. If that doesn’t work, then wash your hands .  We put so much effort into tending to our external self because we are extroverts. We need to put the same

What is Sin Introduction In the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavan Krishna shares an analysis of seekers. All are seekers; the difference is in what they are seeking. There are four types of seekers, from lowest to highest: 4. Arthi: Seekers who seek to escape from pain. 3. Artharthi: Seekers who seek to embrace pleasure, possession, and position. 2. Jignasu: Seekers who seek themselves, want to know who they are. 1. Jnani: Seekers who know themselves. We can distinguish between these types of Seekers through longevity and depth. While escaping pain does not last long — it goes away, but then it comes back — whereas once you know who you are at an absolute level, that never changes. One who seeks knowing themselves is deeper. We are all seekers and we are trying to become longer, deeper Seekers. We are doing this through the perspective of Prince Arjuna through his questions. Review: What is peace? From an absolute perspective, peace is that which is independent.  We need peace. At a relative level, peace is balance or sama, being even. How do we begin to want peace, need peace?  By following our responsibilities! Instead of finding reasons to not be responsible, find ways to be responsible and we will come to experience relative peace. Prince Arjuna’s Question: Chapter 1, Verse 36: “Killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure can be ours, O Janardana? Sin alone will be our gain by killing these felons.” Prince Arjuna refers to family and position as his purpose, succumbing to shallow thinking.  When we only live for our family, that is a justification for short-term thinking because many more are giving to us, not just our families.  Additionally, when the purpose is shallow, such as achieving position, the pull will be shallow too. Bhagavan Krishna’s Answer: Chapter 2, Verse 33: “But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and fame, you shall incur sin.” Lord Krishna emphasizes to Prince Arjuna that these responsibilities are not optional.  Dharma is integration; the body to the mind, the mind to the intellect. When there is a lack of integration or integrity, there is hypocrisy.  These responsibilities make us stronger: physically, mentally, and intellectually. Our individual dharma is that which is leading us to our collective svadharma, to be independently joyous. What is sin? Lord Krishna describes to Prince Arjuna what happens when one is irresponsible: a disturbed mind! When we are responsible, that is peace! Peace is independence and balance. Sin is a mind that is disturbed. Questions: How do you gauge if we are becoming more independently joyous? The mind becomes quieter! A quiet mind is more courageous. 2. How do you balance your responsibilities with that which brings you satisfaction? That which brings satisfaction is usually short-term, while responsibilities lead to quietude and independence, for long-term. Think more long and deep; go from individuality to totality. Our number one responsibility is to the divine 3. What should we do if fulfilling our responsibilities does not make our mind quiet? If you fulfill your responsibilities, you will feel quiet. If you don’t, you didn’t fill them to the best of your ability. When you feel disturbed reflect on why and refine how you approach your responsibilities 4. How do you balance responsibilities? Those that are perceived, those that are actual? There are no hacks to these questions; only you know what your responsibilities are Reflect more on who you are — clarity leads to conviction Learn to say No! — we cannot meet everyone’s expectations 5. What is the difference between the mind and the intellect? Meaningful Mornings explains this further The nature of the mind is to doubt, the nature of the intellect is to decide RAW for Sept 24th: Whenever your mind is disturbed, drink a glass of water and feel like that water is quieting your mind.  If still after that your mind is still disturbed, wash your hands with soap — but no moisturizer after!

What is Peace Introduction In Srimad Bhagavatam, in a dialogue between Bhagavati Lakshmi and Bhagavan Narayana, Bhagavati Lakshmi asks Him, “The whole world bows down and prays to You and says Your name, but their minds are on me.  Why so when it is only You who can give peace?” This is a reminder to us that we have to reorient our purpose to wanting peace to needing peace.  When we live for peace, all else comes with it. For one who is peaceful, no situation is unpleasurable. Bhagavad Gita is the Creator’s song and His teaching. It is in the middle of the Mahabharata which is a historical text of Bharata (India) and like the Ramayana, is relevant even today!  It is our personal history. In the Mahabharata, there are constant ups and downs in terms of joy and sorrow, love and hate, victory and defeat, birth and death; much like our lives today. Bhagavad Gita is known as the fifth Veda and is the authority on self-development or self mastery.  Prince Arjuna has innumerable virtues. His name comes from the word ‘arjavam’ which means straightforward and open.  He has all but when he is put in the challenge of fighting a war against his loved ones, he has a breakdown. He lacks the virtue of peace.  This is our history because we also lose our sense of peace when faced with challenges. Prince Arjuna’s Question: Chapter 1, Verse 32: “For, I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what avail, is dominion to us, O Govinda? Of what avail are pleasures or even life itself?” Despite his intellectual strength, Prince Arjuna has lost his sense of purpose after seeing his relatives, elders, and teachers as the ones he must fight on the battlefield.  He is asking the question because he is trying to escape his responsibility to fight this war without feeling guilty. He is looking to Lord Krishna for validation.  However, Lord Krishna does not enable Prince Arjuna and does not allow him to escape his responsibility.  Prince Arjuna wants peace but Lord Krishna will help him evolve to needing peace by helping him embrace his responsibility. Lord Krishna’s Answer: Chapter 2, Verse 38: “Having made pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat the same, engage in battle for the sake of battle; thus, you shall not incur sin.” Lord Krishna says to engage in battle keeping the body, mind and intellect even. Pleasure and pain occurs at the body level; gain and loss at the mind level; victory and defeat at the intellect level. When we reflect that these ups and downs are what living is or that these opposites will come and go, then we can embrace them which helps us stay even-minded.  The message is to engage in your responsibility regardless of outcome because this leads to a quieter mind.  When we escape our responsibilities, our mind becomes agitated (due to regret and anxiety) which is sin. Sin should not be viewed as some external punishment; it comes from the inside. What is peace? Being freed from mental agitation and anxiety by fulfilling our responsibilities despite the highs and lows of life. Peace is being dharmic which leads to Brahman or infinite joy. Reflection: How can one shift attitude towards responsibilities from what you can gain to what you can give? We have to become deep thinkers and recognize the utility of helping as this is what will bring lasting, independent joy! Deep thinking will develop when we revolve around those who are already deep thinkers. Questions: Are we as good or as eligible as Prince Arjuna? Yes because of our sincerity in pursuing self-development with reading, writing, reflecting, being in satsang, and serving. In terms of context, we have it easier than Prince Arjuna. We aren’t in the middle of a battlefield and don’t have to do what Prince Arjuna has to do. 2. How to move from tasting glimpses of joy to living joy? Keep doing what gives you those glimpses of joy and be consistent We are at most peace when we are doing what is right Have patience because as you keep following your responsibilities this will naturally evolve from tasting joy to living it 3. How do dharma and responsibility relate? Dharma and responsibility are the same Dharma/responsibility is that which integrates When you follow your relative responsibilities, the mind becomes quieter and you are able to tune into your absolute responsibility or Svadharma which is to be peaceful 4. How can there be discussion while Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna are on a battlefield? In a literal sense, Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna are so close to each other that they can communicate quickly without saying too much because they knew each other so well. In a different sense, Rishi Vyasa was able to infer what Prince Arjuna was thinking and what Bhagavan Krishna was saying and then elaborated on their communication RAW (From All Around Development Course): The RAW was to not use any technology in the restroom. If this was difficult, we should realize how hard it is to break habits.  We should make the restroom a true place to rest. RAW for Sept 17th: Print out Prince Arjuna’s Questions. Read, write, and complete reflections from Questions 2 and 3 .