srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha
BharatiMa: Jai Maa
srini_sadhu: Swamiji sent His blessings for a good class
srini_sadhu: This class is about the first sutra in the Kashyapa Sutras
srini_sadhu: In this class we would like to cover 5 topics.
srini_sadhu: The way it will be easiest is if I write about a topic first.
srini_sadhu: And then open it for discussion.
srini_sadhu: Then we will move on to the next topic.
srini_sadhu: Is that OK?
Janitri Rybacki: yes
Tara Boyce: sounds good
BharatiMa: terrific
Jan Newman: I thought Swamiji was teaching over the webcam and
discussing the Sanskrit. was that something else?
srini_sadhu: That was something else Jan
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.
Ramya: Jan - those are Cosmic Puja classes Swamiji will have next class tomorrow evening 6.30 PM PST
srini_sadhu: 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
Ram Prasana: hey srini joined in for the kashyapa sutras class
srini_sadhu: Namaste Prasana!
Ram Prasana: Jai Ma
srini_sadhu: Any questions so far
srini_sadhu: Topics we will cover are: (1) Introduction (2) Sutra # 1
(3) Kinds of Karma (4) Prarabdha karma (5) Project (6) Nitya karma
Ramya: Prasanna, Usha - We just started the discussion on Kashyapa Sutras - We will cover 5 topics today
srini_sadhu: The first is the introduction
srini_sadhu: Ok Let us discuss the wise Kashyapa
srini_sadhu: Kashyapa: One of the Seven rishis
BharatiMa: there are 2 jans-whcih one
srini_sadhu: Kashyapa shone so brilliantly that He was known as Human Sun.
srini_sadhu: Kashyapa sutras consists of 15 verses
srini_sadhu: These are Guidelines for our journey with and to God.
srini_sadhu: Su means excellent
Trayate means That which takes away
srini_sadhu: Sutra: Takes away all obstructions to Excellence
srini_sadhu: (2) Sutra # 1: Prarabdha Vasat Janma
srini_sadhu: Janma means birth
Vasat means bound, dependent upon
Jan Newman: So if su is excellance and tra means takes away I presume that this is the same tra and Mantra and that usually translates and protects the mind. how does this compare?
srini_sadhu: Prarabdha karma - Actions commenced in the past which are coming to fruition now and in the future
Ramya: Jan- Mantra is translated as Takes away the Mind
Sarada Devi: like the arrow
Ramya: "Man" is Mind and "Trayate" is takes away
srini_sadhu: The Sutra says Birth is dependent on the prarabdha karma
srini_sadhu: Yes, Usha!
Ramya: We are protected because we are in a still mind - Jan, is that ok?
srini_sadhu: Discussion?
Sarada Devi: It seems karma is something that CAN be altered ???
ty_maa: can we put an end to prarabdha karma in this life?
Ramya: What is karma?
Jan Newman: What is the difference between bandha and vasat?
BharatiMa: how can we alter past karma?
srini_sadhu: I think they are the same thing. But I need to do more research Jan
Tara Boyce: i have heard that being around great beings such as Maa and Swami can help you complete your prarabdha karma, but that we often pick up the old tendencies that create more prarabdha karma
srini_sadhu: OK great questions, let us describe the types of Karma and then we will get more clarity
Ram Prasana: I have the same question as ty_maa... can we practice methods to adopt prarabdha karma ?
srini_sadhu: There are 4 types of Karma
ty_maa: can we change the karmic roadmap through spiritual practice?
Ram Prasana: I meant remove prarabdha karma ...
srini_sadhu: Samksipta, Varthaman, Prarabdha, Nitya
srini_sadhu: Kumari (Ty-Maa) and Prasana these are great questions and we will get to them in a while
srini_sadhu: Samksipta - Karma which is completed and done with
Sarada Devi: no more seeds
srini_sadhu: We did an action in the past, we received the fruit and the transaction is complete nothing more is left to be done
srini_sadhu: Yes, Usha
srini_sadhu: Vartmana Karma is present karma
srini_sadhu: What are we doing now
srini_sadhu: Typing messages on messenger and sharing
ty_maa: how can we spiritualize our karma?
Sarada Devi: the two last ones must interact
srini_sadhu: Prarabdha is an action we took in the past for which we have not received a fruit
srini_sadhu: Some call it fate or destiny
srini_sadhu: Now the great question is can we alter our prarabdha?
srini_sadhu: What does everyone think?
Ramya: But it is our own past actions - in this or previous lives.
Tara Boyce: yes! with the grace!
ty_maa: spiritual seekers and those doing sadhana are beyond karma?
Sarada Devi: yes - but it does not come cheap
Jan Newman: By present actions
Janitri Rybacki: yes, i believe that we can change the praradhba karma
by loving God, Mother, chanting, mantras, and making life a service...
Ram Prasana: I have generally heard that u can deal with other types of karma except Prarabdha... one has to undergo fruits of prarabdha...
ty_maa: love for God.
Ramya: If prarabdha is karma we have done in past - how can we alter it? We have to face the consequences, is it not?
ty_maa: the Guru can do anything.
Janitri Rybacki: i believe that this karma can be changed by
Mother...if our actions merit it
ty_maa: but, the Guru makes us work hard?
BharatiMa: but what can we do?
ty_maa: pray.
BharatiMa: what else?
Tara Boyce: sadhana
Jan Newman: I don't believe that we are talking about the Guru's karma, only our own so it is our own actions and intentions that change this.
srini_sadhu: The arrow we shot in the past (prarabdha) is going to land. But Sadhana and other good things helps us to face/accept the arrow with an altered attitude
ty_maa: love God. do good actions. be a good devotee. learn from our teachers.
srini_sadhu: It is like an anesthetic
Ramya: That altered attitude - attitude of acceptance is the Grace of God and Guru - my understanding.
BharatiMa: does the way we react to the arrow landing make a
difference?
Nanda Krishnamurthi: if prarabdha karma = Hot oven , then Sadhan = Oven Mitt
srini_sadhu: The arrow lands, touches our skin, but we don’t feel the pain if we are doing sadhana
BharatiMa: we feel the pain. so, how do we react?
srini_sadhu: Great question Vish?Bharathi! What does everyone think?
ty_maa: Swamiji told us the story the other night in CP class about the drowning man who was gasping for air. when we have that kind of desire for God, then we may realize Her.
Ram Prasana: I think in reality when one is going thru a hard time in life that is generally prarabdha... its the most lousy of the four types of karma and hard to overcome... this is what I feel at the moment
Sarada Devi: cultivate compassion, hold on to Mother
Janitri Rybacki: i still believe that Mother can relieve this
karma...Her Grace alone is the rain when the karma seems scorching...
srini_sadhu: Beautiful!
BharatiMa: even realized beings have 5 element bodies have to react to the influences of the realtive. do they react differently than we do? If so, how do they react?
Ramya: Thanks Janitri - that is so beautiful and full of hope!
Ramya: I think God's Grace can help to ameliorate our karma - but what about us? How can we help or hurt our future - that is the question Bharati is asking?
ty_maa: is Karma accelerated for a spiritual seeker?
Jan Newman: Compassion is the key. We are undertaking this hardship for our own and others' benefit and to relieve ours and others suffering
srini_sadhu: As an example, we face a circumstance because of our prarabdha.
srini_sadhu: We feel pain or happiness, what should we do then?
ty_maa: we can spiritualize our karma and not make new karma.
BharatiMa: good. How do we do that?
srini_sadhu: Like win a lottery or lose our bank balance
Sarada Devi: be not attached to either - sadhana
ty_maa: one great teacher once said that we only need 10% of our mind to do the work in the world and 75% to think of God.
ty_maa: sorry, 90%.
BharatiMa: if we are not attached are more arrows still fired? will there still be more karma ti experience?
srini_sadhu: When it lands and hits its mark,
We can react and send off another arrow

Or

srini_sadhu: Stop and look at where we landed before we start shooting off arrows again
Sarada Devi: endless cycle without intervention of grace
ty_maa: spiritualizing everyday life by serving God in man.
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says Put one instant of discrimination between the stimulus and the response, then we could live life perfectly.
BharatiMa: what do others think we should do? react quickly and without discrimination? or pause and reflect before acting?
ty_maa: discriminate between the real (God) and the unreal (world).
Ramya: Swamiji explains "Grace" or "Kripa" as "Kri" to do and "pa" to Get -- So we get Grace by making effort.
Sarada Devi: work at being awake - sadhana again
Ram Prasana: I think sadhana can bring us to a stage where we do not react...
ty_maa: God is everywhere. God and God alone.
BharatiMa: now about discriminate as to how we will react? what action we will perform next?
ty_maa: We can do our work as worship.
BharatiMa: tell me how you react when someone is mean to you?
srini_sadhu: I think three things help cultivate discrimination:
sadhana, contemplation and swadhyaya, and satsang with wise souls
Ramya: Bharatimaa - i feel bad and sad
Ram Prasana: bharatima... accept them as God...
srini_sadhu: I generally feel anger Vish/Bharathi
Janitri Rybacki: what is swadhyaya? thank you...
ty_maa: repeat the holy mantra. that spiritualizes the experience.
srini_sadhu: Swadhyaya is scriptural study
Ram Prasana: in the sense that understand that they are not the doers and God is doign through them... its all god's will
ty_maa: yes! it's all God.
BharatiMa: if you accept them as god, you still have to react to them. so how to react? what actions should you perform to further your goal towards God?
srini_sadhu: This constant remembrance at every breath and moment is true discrimnation, how do we cultivate it?
Ram Prasana: u should not react
ty_maa: japam and daily meditation. prayer.
Sarada Devi: japa japa japa
BharatiMa: but we alwys react. that is nature of life. cause and effect. i need to know what to do so that i do not create more karma?
srini_sadhu: Vish/Bharathi, some say when we feel anger we should not react and we should breathe, chant a mantra, or walk away
ty_maa: reading of the holy books on a daily basis. puja.
srini_sadhu: This way we will create less new prarabdha
Ramya: Maa says we should be conscious every moment - if we are conscious every momen - we will not react.
Sarada Devi: the great question how do i stay awake?
ty_maa: daily sadhana will keep us centered and focused. no doubts.
BharatiMa: if i stop and take a breath, then pause, and see and feel God in that person, then i still have to react. it is the primary question: how to stay awake and stay in the moment
ty_maa: japam, japam, japam keeps us in the presence of God.
Ram Prasana: bharatima... one way is that as u do sadhana u will see that happen urself...
Ramya: Maa says be conscious every moment.
srini_sadhu: The other thing to do is everyday reflect on whether we used discrimination or not in various situations before we go to bed
Sarada Devi: always and everywhere!
Ramya: If we are conscious we remember God and invite God's Grace, we do not react to situations.
srini_sadhu: Do you guys maintain a spiritual diary?
BharatiMa: so if i am conscious, then i will react in a more balanced way, and produce less drastic, and more positive karma by my actions?
forall10q: yes
srini_sadhu: How does it help you forall10q?
forall10q: very much!
BharatiMa: how does it help others?
srini_sadhu: Could you share, I would love to learn from you!
Ram Prasana: srini, what is a spiritual diary about...
Ramya: My learning so far - To create a beautiful future, make a conscious present.
srini_sadhu: Something like how many hours of sdhana you did, what are things you did wrong, how you can correct it, and so on
forall10q: yes, that is what i do
Ramya: How to be conscious in the present? Do sadhana, keep spiritual diary.
srini_sadhu: Maa says to write a diary everynight
Ramya: forall10q - i also really want to do this.
Sarada Devi: yes
Ramya: Maa says that everyday we can make a goal - what we want to do that day and at night reflect on what we did right, what mistakes and make a plan for the next day.
Sarada Devi: sankalpa
Ramya: Making a concrete goal will help us be focussed, alert and not react to situations
Ramya: What do you guys think? is it ok so far?
Janitri Rybacki: yes, this is very good and helpful
Sarada Devi: nice connection
Ramya: Thanks Janitiri
BharatiMa: i think if Maa says we should keep a spiritual diary it must produce good results.
srini_sadhu: We would be very happy if all of us could do little project this week that will help us cultivate discrimination!
forall10q: it is the only diary i have been able to keep
Ramya: If we have to cultivate discrimination we have to work at it and keeping a personal log is one tool to help us!
Ramya: We can each think of one goal we want to focus on this week
srini_sadhu: For example, I am trying to be more conscious of what I eat.
Ramya: Secret, secret - he eats too many sweets
BharatiMa: if we each take a sankalpa to do this for 1 week, we can share our process on the club and review next class? what does everyone think?
Janitri Rybacki: absolutely!
forall10q: ok
Ramya: The goal can be anything we want to work on in our life -- being more conscious of eating, doing more sadhana, sitting in asana longer...
Ramya: any more ideas on possible goals?
srini_sadhu: Building stamina
Ramya: I am keeping my goal as being more conscious in my speech.
srini_sadhu: Smile at everyone
forall10q: for me - touching Mother Earth
Ramya: Thanks forall10q - is the goal helping Mother Earth in some way every day?
forall10q: yes - connecting
Ramya: That's beautiful!
srini_sadhu: The second item in the diary could be 2. What helped you in your goal?
BharatiMa: vish: i want to pause and reflect before i respond to someone who is confrontational.
Ramya: That's a really good goal Vish! Thanks for sharing!
srini_sadhu: 3. What are obstructions?
srini_sadhu: 4. Learning from today - What you will do differently
tomorrow?
srini_sadhu: 5. How did yesterday's learning help today?
Ramya: We can send you this list by email. Do you feel like joining us - make a little goal and practise discrimination all week?
Janitri Rybacki: yes,
Ramya: Thanks Janitri - are you thinking about your goal?
Ram Prasana: yes
Janitri Rybacki: yes, a cleaner environment (clean office, house, car)
BharatiMa: vish: we have a great opportunity to help and support each
other in this spiritual practice. could we talk about this on the club? and share stories there?
srini_sadhu: Yes!
Ramya: Thanks Janitiri - you goal is so tangible - it is great. Swamiji says we should be able to measure it and see it - And you will really see it, right!
srini_sadhu: We have a few minutes left, could we summarize?
Ramya: ok
Sarada Devi: and it needs to be doable so force can collect
srini_sadhu: We are all bound by unfinished karma: prarabdha.
Ramya: Yes - Usha. Also it is personal - we each have to choose according to our circumstance and capacity.
srini_sadhu: Maa says we can make friends with Prarabdha
Sarada Devi: love and compassion
srini_sadhu: How? we should try to perform every action as thoroughly and efficiently as possible
srini_sadhu: so we don't have to come back to finish our incomplete work.
Sarada Devi: YES
srini_sadhu: The difference between the Yogi, the being of union, and the bhogi, the being of selfish enjoyment, is the moment of discrimination.
srini_sadhu: Yogis ask, “what actions of mine would bring me closer to the goal.”
srini_sadhu: As we cultivate this habit of discrimination, we find that anger, passion, greed, lust, avarice and ignorance all dissolve into discrimination.
Ramya: Our making our personal diaries -- logs - will help us to develop this discrimination
srini_sadhu: We hope you enjoyed this discussion!
Ramya: My prayers to God, to help us in this journey together to Divine Light and Love!
Sarada Devi: thank you everyone
Janitri Rybacki: soooo very much...thank U Ramya and Srini and every1 else!
forall10q: Thank you!
Jan Newman: Thanks
srini_sadhu: I pray for our continued friendship and love
Ramya: See you all next week! Looking forward to learning through the week! Jai Maa!