-4th chapter: verses 34, 35, 36, 37
-18th chapter: verses 64, 67, 72, 73
-The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on June 19, 2020.
-34th verse: “A seeker of spiritual wisdom should approach a wise teacher with humility, do service to him and ask him questions with all sincerity and shraddha. Then the teacher will instruct him with true spiritual knowledge.”
-In terms of inquiry, there are two types of seekers. (1) Those who are humble, straightforward and inquisitive. Once they are convinced of the truth, they become champions of that truth. Swami Vivekananda was such a seeker. (2) Those who ask questions without any seriousness. They pretend to be convinced, but they keep asking the same questions again.
-When we have reverence towards the teacher, and a pure thirst for knowledge, our dedication to the subject is intensified. This leads to natural tendency for further inquiry. This characteristic is demonstrated even in the secular world by great scientists.
-There is famous verse in Vedanta that summarizes the concept of Guru-shishya parampara, long succession of teachers and students: “I bow down to those great masters, succession of great teachers, who expounded Vedantic ideas, and thanks to whose efforts, I am able to study the same ideas today.”
-18th chapter, 67th verse: “Do not teach this spiritual wisdom to those who have no austerity, no devotion, no self-restraint, no humility to do service, and who after listening will belittle you or the wisdom you are imparting”
-Unless we are mentally ready with the right attitude, spiritual instructions will not provide real benefits. Our innate tendencies, from past samskaras, can create a mental block.
-Listening to great ideas is beneficial only if we approach with humility and purity. If a glass is empty and we pour pure milk in it, we get a glass full of pure milk. If the glass already has some dirty water, and we pour pure milk in it, we won’t even drink the resultant mixture. Humility and purity allow us to act like the empty glass and receive the full benefits of instructions.
-An ideal seeker of truth should have the following characteristics: (1) Pure intelligence, which is not cluttered by worldly objects, and which is dedicated to the pursuit of a higher ideal; he should be able to read or listen to ideas and grasp their true meaning (2) Ability to accept what is good for him, and reject what is undesirable.
-Sister Nivedita was an example of an ideal student. The combination of her purity/sincerity and Swamiji’s greatness as a teacher led to her complete transformation.
-35th verse: “Once you get this spiritual wisdom from a wise teacher, you will not be deluded again. By that wisdom, you will experience the spiritual unity of the whole creation”
-18th chapter, 64th verse: “You have listened to Me and My instructions. Now I will teach you the most profound truth of all.”
-18th chapter, 72nd verse: Lord Krishna asks Arjuna after imparting all spiritual instructions. “Have you listened to me carefully, did you follow my instructions, did you understand what I said, are you now free from your delusions and doubts?”
-18th chapter, 73rd verse: Arjuna answers: “Now my delusion is gone. I am totally free from conflicts. I have got back my memory and feel spiritually awakened. I am fully settled in mind and will act according to your instructions”
-36th verse: “If you approach your teacher with this attitude and reach your spiritual goal, then that spiritual knowledge becomes a boat with which you can cross the ocean of worldly life. Even if you have an undesirable past, your dedication will open up your mind, and help you imbibe the teachings completely.”
-37th verse: “As a blazing fire reduces wood into ashes, similarly, the fire of knowledge reduces all karmas into ashes.”
-When sage Suka went to see king Janaka, and entered his city and court, he saw everything made of sugar. This means that sage Suka experienced the unity of the whole creation, seeing God in everything, and everything in God.
-To achieve the highest state of realization, such as that achieved by sage Suka, one needs to practice the following four spiritual disciplines. (1) Discrimination between unreal and the Real (2) Renunciation of what is unreal (3) Self-control: shama, dama, uparati, titiksha, shraddha and samadhana (4) Mumukshutam, or desire for liberation.
-An ancient verse says: “It is better to be like an ant that always moves, even though slowly, and covers a long distance, than to be a fast-moving bird that does not make any effort to move at all”.