Hari Om! Parents,
We started class with the starting prayers and meditation.
Learned and chanted first and 2nd verse of Shiva Manasa Pooja. We then
talked about what is upasana?
Discussed, upasana , means sitting near. So here sitting near an
object of worship. By doing this we imbibe the qualities of that
object. Since our mind can think only in terms of objects we need an
object, here a symbol for worship too. When we worship our chosen
deity/ symbol we imbibe their qualities. This process helps to purify
our mind and hence be ready for spiritual knowledge.
We then recapped what we had studied last week on the 4 Mahavakyas
based on the 4 vedas.
Talked about a story from the Chhandogya Upanishad to understand that
we are not this limited body and mind. They are required for our
sadhana like the Upadana process. We then need to drop them when we
are finally ready to live by the knowledge.
Story goes that once Brahmaji was teaching the devas and asuras Brahma
Vidya. He asked then to bring a pail of water and look into it. What
do you see?, he asks. Asuras reply that they see their beautiful face.
'That is Brahman' taught Brahmaji. Asuras were very happy that this is
such an easy process. They were content.
Indra, the deva, went back and contemplated for 32 years, about how
the body can be Brahman, as it is subject to death. Shastras says
Brahman is immortal.
He went back and asked Brahmaji for more of the teaching. Brahmaji
then said, after thinking, 'yes, you are on the right track, one who
is pure Happiness is Brahman. Indra again went back and contemplated
for 32 years on this. He came back and said 'I am not pure Happiness,
sometimes if I feel sorrow and asked for more clarification.
Brahmaji was again pleased with Indra and taught more. He said " one
who is asleep and is not dreaming is Brahman". Indra went back and
contemplated for another 32 years. He questioned, how can a sleeper
who is not even aware he is asleep be Brahman. His body and mind are
resolved at that time. Indra went back to Brahmaji and questioned him
about this. Brahmaji was very pleased with Indra's long sadhana and
finally taught him Brahma Vidya, the immortal self behind our body and
mind, about it being total bliss. Indra went back happily and taught
the other devas what he had learned.
Discussed body and mind are only instruments for our sadhana and are
not our true self.
We have the resources in us to understand our true self and abide in
it for peace, security and happiness.
Finally we performed the 16 step pooja on our chosen deity and learned
in length about each step and its inner meaning.
Our next BV class is on April 30th.
Pranams
Uma and Nirmala
