srini_sadhu: Today's Class is on Kashyapa Sutra # 1
srini_sadhu: In this class we would like to cover 6 topics.
srini_sadhu: The way it will be easiest is if I write about a topic
The way it will be easiest is if I write about a topic first.
srini_sadhu: And then open it for discussion. Then we will move on
to the next topic.
srini_sadhu: Is that OK?
henny_v_i: ok
c_morningsong: ok
xiaqi250: OK
bharatima: ok
kaliananda_saraswati: ok
srini_sadhu: We would like to take the discussion in this class and apply it in our lives.
srini_sadhu: We can do this by taking the theme of the class and creating a personal log or diary
n_ramya108: It will be wonderful if we share our learnings through the week with each other.
srini_sadhu: We want to use our group energy to nourish each other and come closer to God.
srini_sadhu: We will talk about the personal log in more concrete terms later.
srini_sadhu: Topics we will cover are: (1) Introduction (2) Sutra # 1 (3) Kinds of Karma (4) Prarabdha karma (5) Project (6) Nitya karma
srini_sadhu: Introduction
srini_sadhu: Kashyapa: One of the Seven rishis
srini_sadhu: Kashyapa shone so brilliantly that He was known as Human Sun.
srini_sadhu: Kashyapa sutras has 15 verses
n_ramya108: These sutras are guidelines for our journey WITH and TO God.
srini_sadhu: Su means excellent
srini_sadhu: Trayate means That which takes away
n_ramya108: Sutra: Takes away all obstructions to Excellence
srini_sadhu: Sutra is an abbreviated outline
n_ramya108: Isn't that Great - An outline that takes away obstructions to Excellence

srini_sadhu: Questions, discussion?
xiaqi250: A sentence on who were the seven rishis?
srini_sadhu: Gautama, Bharadvaja, Viswamitra, Kasyapa, Jamadgni, Vasishta, Atri
xiaqi250: Are they the rishis who are the source of the vedas?
srini_sadhu: Every Cycle of Creation has a different set of 7 Rishis
srini_sadhu: Each of them Contributed to our Body of Knowledge and Wisdom
n_ramya108: These are their names - They were and are enlighted Beings, helping us and all of creation with their wisdom and light! That is my understanding
srini_sadhu: The Vedas are mostly attributed to Vyasa who is not in this list. Vyas was an incarnation of Vishnu
srini_sadhu: Now should we go to the Sutra?
n_ramya108: The first sutra is "Janma Vasat Prarabdha
n_ramya108: Sorry it is Prarabha Vasat Janma
srini_sadhu: Janma means birth
srini_sadhu: Vasat means dependent upon
srini_sadhu: Prarabhda karma - Actions commenced in the past which are coming to fuition now and in the future
srini_sadhu: Birth is dependent on the prarabdha karma is the essence of this Sutra.
n_ramya108: Birth of not only the body, but birth of every moment
srini_sadhu: OK so far?
kaliananda_saraswati: ok
orca999l: Yes
henny_v_i: ok
n_ramya108: What does Karma mean?
srini_sadhu: It means action
n_ramya108: Thanks!
srini_sadhu: But also means consequence of an action
srini_sadhu: There are four types of Karma
srini_sadhu: Samksipta, Varthaman, Prarabdha, Nitya
n_ramya108: Samksipta - Karma which is completed and done with
n_ramya108: Varthaman - Karma which is going on right now
n_ramya108: Prarabdha - Karma which were begun in the past and which will come to fruition in the future
n_ramya108: Nitya - Eternal
srini_sadhu: Let us discuss these 4 powerful concepts!
srini_sadhu: Discussion?
xiaqi250: I'm not sure I understand the difference between varthaman and prarabdha.
srini_sadhu: Varthaman is what action we are doing now
srini_sadhu: Like I am typing a message now.
srini_sadhu: That is my Varthamana
srini_sadhu: Prarabdha is stuff I did in the past
xiaqi250: Does prarabdha include actions begun in the past of my current life, or does it refer to rebirth and actions of past lives only?
srini_sadhu: Like, I chose to come Devi Mandir
n_ramya108: Alan - it includes BOTH - current and all past lives
srini_sadhu: Because I made that choice I get to learn and share with all of you now
orca999l: I've always looked at Karma in a linear fashion. Would Nitya Karma be a cyclic form that surfaces through out all our lives?
srini_sadhu: Prarabdha are the choices we made in the past, both current and past life
bharatima: I see Prarabdha karma as actions begun in the past but have not yet come into fruition yet
xiaqi250: Does some varthamana turn into praarbdha?
henny_v_i: so it is prarabdha karma that gets you closer to God if you choose to come to the Devi Mandir now?
srini_sadhu: Yes Alan
n_ramya108: That's true Bharati and Vish - Swamiij says that Prarabdha is the arrow that leaves the bow of the archer
n_ramya108: Nothing the archer can do except watch and see where it lands
srini_sadhu: Yes Henny!
bharatima: nitya is complete union-when mind is completely settled w/out action-yoga=nitya karma=eternal
kaliananda_saraswati: but past is not necessarily past lives
srini_sadhu: Vartmana are the arrows that you are about to release from the bow.
kaliananda_saraswati: each second that passes is the "past"
orca999l: Thanks Bharatima
srini_sadhu: When we do Nitya Karma, we create no new prarabdha
srini_sadhu: This is the highest state of union
bharatima: nitya is no action
c_morningsong: m: what does it mean to 'do" nitya karma?
bharatima: perfectly still consciousness
srini_sadhu: Nitya Karma can include dhyana (meditation), karma (work), jnana(wisdom) and bhakti (devotion)
n_ramya108: It is action from a place of stillness - being with God inside
srini_sadhu: When we do these perfectly, we are united with God and create no new karma
henny_v_i: Is this meant with 'I am not the doer?"
srini_sadhu: So Samkshipta, Vartmana, Prarabdha, Nitya, is it OK?
srini_sadhu: Henny, that would be one way of thing of it If you are united with your beloved, who is doing the karma?
srini_sadhu: You or God?
henny_v_i: They would be the same
orca999l: If you are perfectly united is there still you & god?
srini_sadhu: I haven't experienced that state
so I would not know.
srini_sadhu: But theoretically, yes
orca999l: Thank you Rangan.
srini_sadhu: Could we discuss Prarabdha and how we it affects our lives
srini_sadhu: Arrow that leaves the bow of the archer
srini_sadhu: Nothing the archer can do about it, except to watch and see where it may land.
srini_sadhu:
When the arrow lands, if we react, we shoot another arrow.
bharatima: when one is perfectly united I would think there is no "you" that is our understanding
srini_sadhu: Reactions of revulsion or desire.
kaliananda_saraswati: Srini, was yes to Henny's response?
srini_sadhu: Yes kali, Yes to henny
kaliananda_saraswati: ok, thanks.
srini_sadhu: So when we experience likes and dislikes as we face events, circumstances, and stimuli, we are reacting and sending new arrows
srini_sadhu: So when we face a circumstance, or event because of prarabdha, what can we do about it?
srini_sadhu: What do you guys think?
chandimaakijai: so when an arrow lands, and the instinct is one of revulsion, then how should one respond ?
srini_sadhu: that is the question Nanda Ma. What should we do?
henny_v_i: perhaps we can at least be aware of the reaction
kaliananda_saraswati: think of what we want to accomplish?
n_ramya108: If we feel revulsion and we express it -- where will it take us?
kaliananda_saraswati: and whether our reaction would help or hinder that accomplishment
bharatima: "stop and put 1 instant of discrimination between stimulus and response, then we could live life perfectly"
orca999l: Try our best to stay in the momment? Don't focus on past or future. Try not to intentionally harm.
srini_sadhu: Thank you Vish/Bharati
n_ramya108: Thanks Marsha - so beautifully put
chandimaakijai: from a practical standpoint, i think that the minute a situation make me feel revulsion, then i have lost control already
srini_sadhu: Breathe and remember our purpose
n_ramya108: I guess that is the moment of discrimination Marsha
chandimaakijai: the only way i can deal reasonably with a repulsive situtation is not get repulsed by it ... if that makes sense
bharatima: nanda "if we must respond we should give a response designed to free ourselves from further troubles. think what we are going to do" DISCRIMINATION
srini_sadhu: Nanda Ma, I think with God and Guru's grace as we do more sadhana and seva, these moments of revulsion become less frequent
n_ramya108: But now when they occur, we try not to add to them by acting on them - is that what you all are saying?
srini_sadhu: For example, we may dislike cleaning the bathroom
srini_sadhu: Someone asks you to do it
srini_sadhu: We feel revulsion
orca999l: I know when I do my morning prayer it helps greatly with my attitude through out the day.
xiaqi250: Are all the fruits of prarabdha karma undesireable by definition? What if something happens to us and we're happy about it? Does that mean it wasn't the result of prarabdha karma?
srini_sadhu: But as we do more sadhana, we reflect on the purpose of our life and hang out with wise souls, we cultivate an attitude of love
bharatima: but when the revulsion comes we need to take a deep breath and be clear aabout what our goal is
chandimaakijai: sure ... sadhana is a catch all remedy .... it is just that the sadhana prepares us to look at a situation objectively and not feel any revulsion or subjective emotion .... my humble two cents
srini_sadhu: And we clean the bathroom with pure joy
n_ramya108: Everything is result of prarabdha karma - we are in touch with Swamiji and Maa, we are able to see Chandi Maa in the altar - all that too is our past samskaras (inclinations)
n_ramya108: My understanding - it is all from Prarabdha - the way to a beautiful future is to make sure that our Present karma is beautiful -
xiaqi250: So prarabdha karma is not necessarily a bad thing? It can lead us to Devi Mandir.
?
n_ramya108: i think the emphasis on "bad" Alan is to warn us to make us more conscious
bharatima: "to remain free from action we must stop and look where the arrow landed before we start shooting off mor arrows
n_ramya108: Yes Alan, exactly - to Mother's Feet! The more we long for it today - the more it will help us in future!
srini_sadhu: So we all have prarabdha - unfinished Karma
chandimaakijai: alan - i remember swamiji's words - "pain is the test, pleasure is the examination"... so long as the positive fruit of prarabdha karma doesnt make us stop our sadhana (things are going well so why pray) then i wud say we should enjoy and be grateful for our prarabha....
srini_sadhu: What does this imply for us
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says, we should try to perform every action as thoroughly and efficiently as possible
xiaqi250: Thanks Nanda.
srini_sadhu: So that we don't have to come back to finish our incomplete work.
bharatima: alan-once we start coming to mandir, we learn about conscious action, performing every action as thoroughly and efficiently as possible so we don't come back to finish incomplete work
xiaqi250: Thanks Bharati/Vish
n_ramya108: We learn that from Swamiji's teachings - in the Mandir, in our house, in our work place
bharatima: nanda goal is UDASA.
bharatima: it symbolizes acceptance, freedom from reaction, complete surrender
bharatima: no new arrows are shot off
srini_sadhu: We would like to discuss how we can take this sutra and practically apply it in our lives this week!
bharatima: dispassionately watch arrows land that were fired in the past w/out firing again
srini_sadhu: How can we cultivate discrimination and remember our goal as we act in our lives
n_ramya108: Morning song? Henny?
srini_sadhu: How does that sound?
henny_v_i: I try to look upon all things happening as if Divine Mother arrranged it like this for me. I try.
n_ramya108: That is so beautiful Henny - sweet acceptance!
henny_v_i: Well, I try, but fail many times...
srini_sadhu: One of the things we can all do as a group is a define a goal for this week
c_morningsong: by remembering that our intention is always to draw closer to Her feet?
bharatima: sr-make the goal and read it each morning to remind us
n_ramya108: We are little babies learning - Mother will hold our hand!
srini_sadhu: Examples of goals: increase peace, will power, stamina ..
kaliananda_saraswati: I always pray for pure devotion to Mother that Her Will be done.
srini_sadhu: Any other ideas?
n_ramya108: Can we discusss possible GOALS that we would like to follow this week?
chandimaakijai: goal - consistent sadhana and offering its fruits to the benefit of the world
n_ramya108: Maa says we should be consious in every act -- i thought this week i will try to be more conscious in my speech
n_ramya108: Thanks Nanda!
xiaqi250: I like the idea of trying/learning to put an instant of discrimination before reacting to circumstances.
bharatima: sr regular sadhana which will lead to more balanced mind/body. this will allow more objectiviity/less indiscriminate firing of arrows. more rest.
n_ramya108: Srini is off line - something with his computer
bharatima: alan-great
n_ramya108: Alan - what goal will help to do that - i thought i would try to practise that in my speech (to the extent possible)
kaliananda_saraswati: I like Alan's goal and would do the same.
henny_v_i: I like Ramya's goal; can I join you, Ramya?
orca999l: I'm with you Ramya.Consious speech is one of my stumbling blocks.
n_ramya108: Kali - how to do it?
n_ramya108: Thanks Henny!!!!! I am sooooo excited - maybe we can email each other and share and help ---- Thank you MARSHA too!!!
c_morningsong: m: I would like to try to bring awareness into all of my actions/ responces so that I am re-acting with the desired effect in mind
henny_v_i: Yes! I'll need all the help I can get

kaliananda_saraswati: by taking time to think on what we are saying
kaliananda_saraswati: and how it will affect us, the other party(ies) and the universe as a whole
n_ramya108: Morning song - sounds like your goal is close to Alans
n_ramya108: Kali - thanks it is so motivatng!
bharatima: we agree with all these goals.
orca999l: It's a deal Ramya. Thank you
n_ramya108: Srini's goal - to conscious of what he eats
n_ramya108: This is what we thought we could do - each person can pick a goal
n_ramya108: All goals are good - but we need one for ourselves to commit to for one week.
bharatima: vish's goal-to remember that every experience is to bring him closer to God, every experience is a chance to see God in everything.
n_ramya108: Thanks Vish!
n_ramya108: Let's maintain a log.
n_ramya108: Entry 1: What is my goal for this week?
bharatima: a log???
n_ramya108: A diary
n_ramya108: Entry 2: What helped me to come closer today?
n_ramya108: Entry 3: What are obstructions?
n_ramya108: Entry 4: What did i learn today - what will i do differently tomorrow?
n_ramya108: Entry 5: How did i implement what i learnt yesterday?
n_ramya108: Each day we try to answer these questions - we can share what we feel comfortable and move step by step, hand in hand to God!

n_ramya108: what do you guys think?
orca999l: Sounds great to me.
c_morningsong: m: sounds good
henny_v_i: this is a very powerful tool, I think. Takes some courage to use

n_ramya108: Its between us and our Divine Mother!
She will help us!
henny_v_i: Jai Maa!
n_ramya108: Maa says that every night we should think of what we did that day and how we could do better and make a plan for next day.
kaliananda_saraswati: I will try, at least to start with, and see how it works
n_ramya108: Thanks Kali!
kaliananda_saraswati: Jai Maa
bharatima: vish-i find that posting every night helps me review my progress every day and posting then is a reflex\ction of my actions
n_ramya108: Thanks Vish!
n_ramya108: We are almost done - so let us summarize
henny_v_i: Your posts are beautiful!
n_ramya108: Swamiji says that the difference between a Yogi, the being of union, and the bhogi, the being of selfish enjoyment, is the moment of discrimination.
n_ramya108:
Yogis ask, “what actions of mine would bring me closer to the goal.”
bharatima: vish we can all post and this can help us stay focused on our goals-our energy will be focused on that process?
n_ramya108: As we cultivate this habit of discrimination, we find that anger, passion, greed, lust, avarice and ignorance all dissolve into discrimination.
n_ramya108: We will send you guys an email with the list of these questions to use as workbook, as much as you like - during this week. You can adapt it to your needs.
n_ramya108: Is it ok? Any other questions?
henny_v_i: thank you!
c_morningsong: m: thank you
orca999l: Thank you
xiaqi250: Thanks!
bharatima: hen-thanks vish
kaliananda_saraswati: Thanks
n_ramya108: Thank you all for coming - really looking forward to learning and practising together!
bharatima: we thank you all for joining us here. what a great beginning. vish and bharati
kaliananda_saraswati: Jai Maa
chandimaakijai: thank you to all
n_ramya108: See you soon - also if we have any questions we can post on yahoo club and we can ask Swamiji for His insights. Thank you!