Hari om everyone,
We started the class with ch. 2 gitaa chanting and learnt till verse 21.
We concluded our study of chapter 14 of the Geeta this week. As there had been a substantial gap since the last meeting, there was a brief review of the three gunas; one example discussed to demonstrate each guna was that of Ravana and his brothers. Sattvaguna was represented by Vibhishana, Tamoguna by Kumbhakarna and Rajoguna was best represented by Ravana. While we do associate many positive traits with sattvaguna and negative traits with tamoguna, it was emphasized that all humans are a combination of the three gunas and all have their appropriate role in life – Kumbhakarna was a formidable and quite a rajasic warrior on the battlefield once aroused from his slumber for example and in our daily lives, one will need tamas to sleep at night!
We also discussed the goal of transcending the three gunas and attaining liberation (moksha) from the endless cycle of pleasure and pain. It was also emphasized that moksha is attainable to people of all dispositions. We also discussed the type of disposition required to attain higher knowledge and liberation and this is done through living a life of equipoise and equanimity. This would mean an individual who remains the same regardless of praise or blame, who does not care for the differences between a pile of mud or a diamond, or someone who does not have an excessive regard for their loved ones over all others and through this detachment, one can attain knowledge of the Lord and the truth beyond the immediately perceivable material reality. Sattvaguna might permit an individual to prepare themselves for this knowledge but ultimately even sattvaguna must be transcended as the desire to gain knowledge might tie one down to the world of matter which ensnares us.
We discussed how this translates to our real-life - what is equanimity? How do we put that to practice on a day-to-day basis? Does that mean we have to be passive when someone is bullying or do we stand up for ourselves? Later, should we continue feeling the animosity or do we move on? Do we keep the bitterness linger or move forward with a clean slate? These are things that we really need to evaluate ourselves on a constant basis! We will understand the deeper imports as we go through life into adult years.
One of the students said they remember certain words from learning gitaa chanting in younger grades. The explanation and discussion kind of makes sense now! We had a bingo moment!! Exactly!!! We may not be able to apply every word of our discussions today, but they may make more sense at a later stage. These are thoughts that we need to contemplate on a regular basis and keep evaluating ourselves if we are leading a saattvik life.
Keep these thoughts going and we will see you in two weeks. Happy Sankraanti to you all.
Regards,
Raghav and Rashmi.
