Marsha lange has joined the conference.
Cynkay Morningsong has joined the conference.
srini_sadhu: Namaste Marsha and Morningsong!
vish108weshwar has joined the conference.
marsha lange: Jai Ma All
BharatiMa has joined the conference.
srini_sadhu: Welcome Bharati and Vish!
Cynkay Morningsong: Namaste' Good morning
kaliananda_saraswati has joined the conference.
srini_sadhu: Good Morning Kali!
vish108weshwar: good morning starshine, the Earth says hello
kaliananda_saraswati: Namaste dear ones.
vish108weshwar: Namaste Kali, great to see you
kaliananda_saraswati: good morning to you. So nice to see you both.
vish108weshwar: doing well?
srini_sadhu: Same here Kali!
srini_sadhu: I wish to make a proposal
henny_v_i has joined the conference.
henny_v_i: Namaste all, nice to see you again
srini_sadhu: I would like to cover Sutras 12, 13, 14, and 15 today. Sutra 12 is on Japa, Sutra 13 and 14 are about self realization and Sutra 15 is about the Guru. We can spend half our on sutra 12, maybe less. And combine the discussion on Sutras 13, 14, 15 - they are related.
srini_sadhu: Namaste Henny. Nice to see you too!
srini_sadhu: If this is too much, we can do one more discussion next weekend.
srini_sadhu: Please share your opinion on this
henny_v_i: we can see how far we get with your first option
kaliananda_saraswati: i am willing to try.
srini_sadhu: Jai Maa!
Cynkay Morningsong: Sounds good. let's see where we get today and make a decision from there
srini_sadhu: OK, wait and see, it will be
srini_sadhu: I t has been very helpful for me to go over this text with all of you. Thanks to you all and to Maa and Swamiji
vish108weshwar: ready
srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
srini_sadhu: Sutra 12 is about ajapa japa or continuous japa that is going on in the background of our mind
srini_sadhu: It says that if we attain the state of ajapa japa, then we can perceive and understand the principle of equilibrium or the principle of "beyond all qualities" nirguna
srini_sadhu: Three ideas: ajapa, equilibrium, nirguna
srini_sadhu: What does the word equilibrium mean to all of you?
kaliananda_saraswati: balance
henny_v_i: yes, to be stable in all circumstances
Cynkay Morningsong: balance, or a state of harmony
srini_sadhu: Regular daily rhythm
marsha lange: Like when praise and blame are the same. Making no waves in my psyche.
srini_sadhu: Maa said something to ramya once that I want to share
vish108weshwar: the balance of the 3 gunas, perfect harmony
vish108weshwar: the perfect balance of a triangle
srini_sadhu: She said when we have mind, we will always waves. Only thing we can try is keep the undulations of the waves as small as possible
srini_sadhu: A stone is in balance all the time, should we become like rocks?
srini_sadhu:
henny_v_i: No, a rock can get dislodged or break because he won't budge if circumstances ask for it
vish108weshwar: a rock is not very flexible
srini_sadhu: Swamiji and Maa say we should be like water, how do we operationalize that?
Cynkay Morningsong: flowing around the rocks
kaliananda_saraswati: water adapts to the circumstance.
srini_sadhu:
vish108weshwar: in Before Becoming This, Swami says thinking about God, makes thoughts more transparent, which allows us to see and experience pure consciousness, rather than focusing on the world
srini_sadhu: The other goal stated here is to perceive Nirguna
srini_sadhu: Nirguna means without qualities
marsha lange: water always suggests flexibility and merging
srini_sadhu: there is this conflict
vish108weshwar: Maa said: the search for the principle beyond qualities yields the fruit of absorption in the eternal
srini_sadhu: I want to be steady, but something happens, and I lose my steadiness and I have to adapt to the changed circumstances. is that being like water?
srini_sadhu: Like I want to cook food, but some one says come and watch the game with me?
kaliananda_saraswati: in adapting we must also prioritize. The focus must be always on the goal.
henny_v_i: as long as losing steadiness does not mean losing sight of your ideal; to me steadiness has to do with being true to your ideal. Depends on why you want to cook food
vish108weshwar: yes, it is like water, plus, water is always moving towards the ocean. if it gets distracted by a rock, or side stream, it still heads towards the ocean. like that, we want to be like water.
marsha lange: seeking the common level
srini_sadhu: Thanks all! I just wanted to flesh out the idea of balance and equilibrium and what it means to us
vish108weshwar: water adapts to its container, yes, but, it desires to merge with the ocean, that is its goal. like our small self, wants to merge with BIG SELF
srini_sadhu: The sutra says if we keep doing japa all the time, we come into balance, harmony, and go beyond qualities
srini_sadhu: Sometimes we are taught do only one thing at a time
srini_sadhu: This Sutra says do two things: your japa and your karma, and this is possible
srini_sadhu: And when the japa is playing in the background like a tape recorder, you have attained something major.
marsha lange: I like this idea very much. When Shree Maa mentioned it in the Guru and the Goddess I could finally say "I'm not being rude to what was being said around me by chanting the my mantra constantly"
kaliananda_saraswati: This makes me recall when Beloved Mother Shree Maa first visited the temple where Swamiji was performing his 108-day sankalpa. Remember that story?
srini_sadhu: I know that story. How so Kali?
kaliananda_saraswati: Swamiji wanted to perform his daily sadhana and with others in the temple it distracted him
kaliananda_saraswati: he wanted them to go, he was focused on the goal of completing his sankalpa. Do you understand the reference?
srini_sadhu: Yes!
srini_sadhu: Here's a story about Japa
srini_sadhu: A man went to his Guru and said it is hard to remember God, Guru said, just say your mantra when you walk from your bed to the bathroom in the morning. The man followed this and pretty soon he wanted to do it other times and he was saying his japa all the time.
srini_sadhu: What are some easy activities where we can combine work and japa?
marsha lange: Driving you car
Cynkay Morningsong: washing dishes
henny_v_i: cooking and cleaning
kaliananda_saraswati: even now during classes
srini_sadhu: Jai Maa!
BharatiMa: doing repetitious work-cooking cleaning
henny_v_i: but I find it very hard to do japa when I am tired after work or something, the mantra comes knocking but my mind tells it to go away.
srini_sadhu: One habit I have cultivated in the last 4 years by God's grace. As soon as I enter the shower, I say Gange cha Jamune chaiva ... Now it is automatic.
kaliananda_saraswati: what does that mean Srini?
srini_sadhu: It’s the Ganga mantra we say when we offer water in our Puja.
kaliananda_saraswati: ok, thanks
Cynkay Morningsong: I chant that when getting in the shower too... i HAVE SOME OTHERS i CHANT BEFORE GETTING OUT OF BED AS WELL
Cynkay Morningsong: sorry, accident
vish108weshwar: agreed henny, i have same experience. that is why this satsunga is so helpful. Even thinking about God, and having discussions, keeps my mind in the right place for growth towards nirguna
srini_sadhu: Henny, I can connect to what you say.
henny_v_i: I'm glad you recognize this, I was a little afraid to admit it. And satsangha does help!!
srini_sadhu: The other thing is to think about why we get fatigued. If we say the mantra all the time, we won’t talk much and we would be less fatigued.
kaliananda_saraswati: i tend to use Gayatri for must things as i am unsure of mantras and their use
vish108weshwar: i have watched srini's life at the ashram: Maa and Swami keep him totally focused on some aspect of God all the time
vish108weshwar: srini posted 2 nights ago on the club about the power of any name of God which suits you. Any name of God has tremendous power
kaliananda_saraswati: Has anyone realized that the more we (in the world) try to focus on God the more the mind seems to want to play?
kaliananda_saraswati: Thanks Vish, saw that. Quite good actually.
henny_v_i: yes, Kalia, the mind can be like a naughty child asking for trouble
kaliananda_saraswati: that’s right sis.
vish108weshwar: it is the nature of the ego to want to avoid discipline. But like a horse we need to pull the cart, it must be disciplined, gently, but constantly. That is why a routine and special place for prayers and japa, etc. is helpful
srini_sadhu: The practice of ten minutes japa everyday really helped me. Reduced the mind going into the world
marsha lange: Keeps me feeling centered
BharatiMa: yes i liked the japa with pranayam. Quite settling.
srini_sadhu: Thanks all! Could we discuss the next Sutras?
marsha lange: Yes
vish108weshwar: even without japa, it is still centering
henny_v_i: ok
vish108weshwar: ok
kaliananda_saraswati: yes
srini_sadhu: Sutra 13 says, “The intrinsic form of the Supreme soul is eternal liberation.”
srini_sadhu: Maa adds: If you attain self-realization then your births will be continuous, every moment is your birth
srini_sadhu: The main thing I got out of this was a question: What are some obstacles to self-realization – to being with God?
srini_sadhu: Maa's answer: the greatest obstacle is selfishness
Cynkay Morningsong: forgetting that we are always with God and that there is no where else to be
srini_sadhu: Swamiji adds we can combat selfishness with sincerity
BharatiMa: and respect
srini_sadhu: Why is sincerity elusive?
srini_sadhu: elusive?
marsha lange: It implies selflessness?
kaliananda_saraswati: because of attachment to actions. I am the doer.
vish108weshwar: purify the mind with the medicine of mantra. Then, thoughts will become more transparent, and we will see God more than we see the world. The ego attaches itself to the world, and we forget God.
Cynkay Morningsong: because we are caught up in our own trip
henny_v_i: because in order to be sincere, we have to be very clear about where we are, where we want to go and how much we need a guide to take us there?
BharatiMa: ? Even if we act in ego - if the acts are kind and generous then would we not automatically start acting in sincerity?
Cynkay Morningsong: would that depend on our intention behind the kind and generous acts?
vish108weshwar: i do not understand sincerity in the context of this sutra?
marsha lange: I would think so
vish108weshwar: i do not understand sincerity in the context of this discussion / sutra
srini_sadhu: The Sutra states that the intrinsic form of the soul is liberation. There are all undefinable concepts.
srini_sadhu: Liberation is self-realization
srini_sadhu: To make it practical, Maa and Swamiji say: "Stop being selfish, and be sincere and respectful and you will attain that state"
srini_sadhu: From what you all said, being sincere means feeling from the bottom of my heart, I am doing this for you, not for me and doing it respectfully.
BharatiMa: do unto others
vish108weshwar: in the book it says: "that would be the greatest grace, top remember that I am going to get the fruit of my karma".
henny_v_i: that's nicely put, Sriniji, thank you. Very helpful
kaliananda_saraswati: ditto
vish108weshwar: SO, WHAT I SOW, I WILL REAP, SO I HAD BETTER SOW THE RIGHT SEEDS TO GET THE BEST HARVEST.
srini_sadhu: Maa and Swamiji talk a lot about marriage here
srini_sadhu: Show respect to your partner and remember that they are divine and remind of them of their divinity
srini_sadhu: Any other thoughts from your reading the discussion of the duties of a wife and husband?
srini_sadhu:
srini_sadhu: Ok Sutra 14?
henny_v_i: ok
vish108weshwar: marriage is a most powerful sadhana. every statement in the book is sublime and perfect. it takes constant attention to do it perfectly. a perfect example of how to life an ideal life, on every level
srini_sadhu: One thing we can see is how often we are listening and paying attention to what our spouse is saying?
Cynkay Morningsong: like all relationships, marriage is an opportunity to manifest our relationship with God in the world
srini_sadhu: Thanks Morningsong?
srini_sadhu: Ok I am going to Sutra 14: The residence of he who resides in self-realization is advaita, non-duality
srini_sadhu: Abstract for me.
srini_sadhu: The practical thing I got out of this is:
srini_sadhu: Go to a temple often
srini_sadhu: Here you are surrounded by symbols of divinity
srini_sadhu: So it is easier to be absorbed in divine and reach the non-dual state
marsha lange: Nature also does this for me
marsha lange: I should say being in nature does this for me also
srini_sadhu: Speaking of Nature
srini_sadhu: The vedas recommend meditation on the blue sky.
srini_sadhu: AS we keep looking at the sky, we become expansive and this attitude spills over into our relationships
marsha lange: Feeling the wind blowing through the trees, also around and through you. We are all connected.
srini_sadhu: What are other ways to remember that God is everywhere?
vish108weshwar: what can we do this week to help us stay focused more on God/mantra/divinity than the world?
srini_sadhu: Proposals, dear ones?
marsha lange: Take a morning walk.
srini_sadhu: Great! Others?
vish108weshwar: post on the club every day, listen and help others, get away from selfishness
henny_v_i: Look at Maa's picture often
BharatiMa: stop doing and listen when others speak. listen like they are the last words they will be speaking.
Cynkay Morningsong: think... "you are the face of God" whenever you look at someone
vish108weshwar: so, can we all make one sankalpa for the week?
kaliananda_saraswati: start the morning in reverence to Guru or Ishta
srini_sadhu: How about, get out of bed, say a mala of your japa, bow down to your God and Guru and pray To God "Please help me remember you throughout the day"
marsha lange: Be more mindful through out the day by ajapa practice of my personal mantra
vish108weshwar: great srini, i would add one thought: make me remember that what i sow is what is will reap
BharatiMa: srini-i like that
vish108weshwar: will we meet next week? is this the end?
srini_sadhu: Swamiji told me as soon as you hear the alarm, switch it off and say one mala of japa. That's how I got this idea.
kaliananda_saraswati: Thanks Srini. I will join you.
marsha lange: Yes a wonderful way to greet the day
Cynkay Morningsong: me too
srini_sadhu: No end. Hari anant, Hari Katha anant = God is without end, God's stories are without end.
henny_v_i: me too
vish108weshwar: i agree, but, will the discussion go on?
srini_sadhu: Thanks all, this leaves Sutra 15. This is about the Guru.
srini_sadhu: Could we do something. Could each of us post one paragraph of what the Guru means to you and how He or She has changed your lives this week?
marsha lange: Yes
Cynkay Morningsong: on the club?
srini_sadhu: Yes Morningsong.
kaliananda_saraswati: ok
henny_v_i: yes
Cynkay Morningsong: ok
vish108weshwar: i will
srini_sadhu: With that the journey of this small band of sadhakas discussing the Kashyapa Sutras comes to an end, for now
vish108weshwar: thanks for the wonderful discussion all brother and sisters. Have a happy and beautiful Christmas, thank Jesus for coming again and again into our hearts. Jai Jesus Jai Maa
BharatiMa: jai maa-thanks to all my sister and brothers. Love and blessings.
kaliananda_saraswati: Thanks Vish and the same to you and your family.
BharatiMa has left the conference.
marsha lange: Blessings and another great satsang. Jai Ma
marsha lange has left the conference.
srini_sadhu: I thank you for your patience. If there was a lack, an omission, please blame it on my ego.
kaliananda_saraswati: Great class all. Hope that these discussions will continue in the New Year. Jai Maa!
srini_sadhu: If you got something good, be sure it was the Guru.
Cynkay Morningsong: Thank you to all...
kaliananda_saraswati has left the conference.
srini_sadhu: Om Gam Ganapathaye Namaha
Cynkay Morningsong: Namaste'
henny_v_i has left the conference.