Hari Om!
We began this week by revising Verses 1-5 of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga - right action with the right attitude). Then, we learned the next two verses (6-7).
After this, we discussed last week's RAW (Reflection Adventure of the Week): Think about a time when you compromised. Why did you choose to go from dharma (being responsible) to adharma (being irresponsible)?
This is due to the fading away of our purpose in life, which causes us to lose the vision of how we are supposed to think and behave. We stop finding utility in dharma (being responsible) and start finding utility in adharma (being irresponsible). We compromise when we feel what we are going to get on the outside is greater than what we are going to get on the inside.
We discussed how Duryodhana himself claimed that - "he knows what is dharma, but he has no inkling about doing it. He also knows, full well, what is adharma, but he can't refrain from it!"
How do we keep ourselves from becoming like that? We can practice being responsible by:
1. Being disciplined (e.g. try to not check social media for the first hour after you wake up).
2. Satsang - association with good company (try to associate with those who are responsible and will be a good influence on you).
TLDR: dharmo rakShati rakShitaH - Those who do not compromise will feel Divinity within themselves.
Vedanta is a SUBJECTIVE science, not an objective one. So it is imperative that we practice to experience this ourselves. Hence we encourage everyone to do the RAWs each week :)
Navaraatri has just passed. In celebration of the festival, ALL Bala Vihar students performed Saraswati Puja in the temple. Saraswati is the abode of all knowledge. We performed the pooja to invoke the Grace of the Divine Mother.
She will accept even a leaf, flower, fruit, or water, if it is offered to Her with devotion (BG 9.26).
Your RAW for this week is: write down three little things you are grateful for this week.
Additionally, reflect on the following questions:
1. What are you hoping to gain from your engagement with our Chinmaya community?
2. What are some ways you can see yourselves contributing to this space?
3. What kinds of topics would you like to see us address in discourse or dialogue?
That's all for now! IN-joy your week!
Speaking of discipline and social media, remember the 3 monkeys? Now we have a 4th 😃
Let's contemplate on these thoughts.
Regads,
