3rd chapter: verses 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
-The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 27, 2020.
-We are living in difficult times with the health crisis from Coronavirus. Vedanta teaches that we have an inherent, inner power that helps us confront such a challenge, and transcend the fear of the unknown.
-26th verse: One should not try to disturb the natural understanding of the average person. For the average person, the sense of purpose helps him organize his actions. All of his actions are crystallizations of his vāsanās and saṃskāras. If we tell such a person to work without a sense of purpose, his mind will go blank.
-When we perform our actions as yajña, for the good of the world, we get spiritual contentment. However, this is the highest ideal and one should not start this process suddenly – rather, every person should evolve gradually.
-Our actions are not determined by our will. Rather, they are guided by Prakṛti – forces of nature and our mental constitution. Even if we want to do something, sometimes we are not able to, as Prakṛti drives us in another direction.
-One should start by feeding the mind with spiritual food and generate healthy saṃskāras. Gradually, this will make the mind ready for higher spiritual practices. Unless we are spiritually ready, we cannot understand the true meaning of scriptures.
-Seven disciplines for a spiritual seeker are prescribed. (1) Discrimination between unreal and the Real - viveka (2) Renunciation of what is unreal - (3) Self control: śama, dama, uparati, titikṣā, śraddhā, samādhāna (4) Desire for freedom - mumukṣutvam (5) Hearing - śravaṇa (6) Reflection - manana (7) Meditation - nididhyāsana.
-Pandemics can create mental problems in people, as they worry about being infected, and wrongfully think that the crisis is a permanent one. However, human civilization has always bounced back from calamities. “nitya-anitya-vastu-viveka” gives one a correct understanding of what is Real and what is unreal (is a passing phase).
-27th verse: Guṇas of Prakṛti perform all actions. However, people get deluded and forget this reality. Deluded they think “I am the doer”.
- Prakṛti has two meanings: (1) External nature of the phenomenal world (2) Human consciousness. If we think of ourselves as the evolute of Prakṛti, then we deny ourselves of our true spiritual dimension.
- Prakṛti as human nature expresses itself through three guṇas. Tamo-guṇa is the lowest and manifests in the form of inertia, inaction, ignorance and laziness. Rajo-guṇa is higher, and manifests in the form of action and enthusiasm. Sattva-guṇa is the highest level and manifests in the form of spiritual common sense and actions restrained by spiritual wisdom. Natural evolution of human consciousness is from Tamo-guṇa to Rajo-guṇa to Sattva-guṇa.
-All actions are prompted by one of these guṇas or a combination of these guṇas. The way we view life depends on the impressions stored in cittam or karmāśaya, based on the karma-vṛtti-saṃskāra-cakram. Individual jīvas carry them from life to life. People forget this and think “I am the doer”.
-When we interpret ourselves as the doer, we interpret momentary setbacks as if they are permanent.
-30th verse: This verse provides an opposite view to 27th verse by contrasting the view of the ignorant person with the view of the enlightened. “Renounce all actions and dedicate them to Me, with mind completely focused on Me. Be free from selfishness and go ahead doing your duties”.
-The enlightened person identifies with his higher dimension – that he is not the physical body, that he is the Ātman. Identifying himself beyond nature, he can watch as a witness. In a state of contentment, he acts. Tragedies don’t unsettle him.
-28th verse: One who knows the reality of life as a whole, and that there is something within him that is the witness of nature and transcends nature – such a person is called “Tattva-vit”. He has an insight into the nature of guṇas and is able to take life’s tragedies in stride.
-29th verse: Such a person of perfect knowledge (“Tattva-vit”), whose actions and words are mature and who has a settled view – he should not try to unsettle the views of the average person (related to 26th verse).
-31st verse: Those who practice this truth with great śraddhā, they can live in the world confronting problems, while staying fully contented and happy within. They live their whole life as an offering for the good of others. By doing so, they work for their own good.
-Ritm is the central principle of inherent harmony that exists in nature, at a cosmic level and at an inner level. When we direct our actions without disturbing Ritm, we can enjoy life. We can live life doing good to others – such a life is called yajña.
-Live in close proximity to nature. Contented within, make your presence a source of contentment for others.