SELF UNFOLDMENT – SUMMARY OF THE STUDY GROUP DISCUSSION IN JERSEY CITY BALAVIHAR
We don’t like being told what to do or not to do. Our essential nature is freedom. To truly become independent, we need to learn to stand apart from the influence of perceptions, emotions and thoughts; and not let ourselves get caught up in them. (Ref. page 6)
Since the world around us is constantly changing, we are constantly busy trying to find an acceptable balance of favorable factors in our lives. The scriptures explain us that the best way of establishing permanent happiness is to reduce the number of desires entertained by directing our thoughts to a higher ideal. (Ref. page 14)
Religion teaches us a method of creating in ourselves the equipoise to stand up to life’s situations, meeting efficiently the ever changing world of challenges. True religion imparts to us the art of living. (Ref. page 19)
The weak minded try to gain immediate flickers of joy by choosing the path of the pleasant and deny themselves the chance to enjoy lasting happiness later. People of inner strength choose the path of the good. They emerge as mighty personalities, lead fulfilling lives themselves, and inspire others toward a more peaceful and happy life. (Ref. page 27)
We gain the experiences of the world through three kinds of equipment: Body, Mind and Intellect. The divine principle that animates the BMI equipment and causes it to function is the Self. To realize our true nature is to let effulgent flow of energy into the equipment and to let divinity shine forth in our life. (Ref. page 42)
The Sun is ever bright; only the passing of the clouds hide its glory. The Self is ever present; only the Vasanas, the impressions left in our mind from our selfish actions, hide its glory. As clouds pass away, the glory of the Sun is revealed. Similarly, as Vasanas are dissolved, the real nature of the Self is revealed in its resplendent glory. (Ref. page 41)
An ideal is that which propels one to activity. The higher the goal, the greater will be our inspiration. As we serve the world, we discover new resources of energy welling up in us to pour out in tireless activity. Thus it is necessary to have a clear and creative goal in life, so that we may look up to it and draw inspiration from it. The ultimate ideal is to divert our attention from BMI to the divine principle, and dedicate all our activities to it. (Ref. page 52)
Brahmacharya, Ahimsa and Satyam are the three cornerstones upon which our culture is built. “Conserve your energies,” sages advise us. “Don’t allow them to be dissipated through the sense organs.” This attitude of intelligent contact with the world outside is called Brahmacharya. (Ref. page 58)
The principle of Ahimsa is this: “In your mind, don’t injure others”. Let our hearts flow out in love and kindness to all, wishing everyone welfare. (Ref. page 62)
The lives of all great people reveal to us that the basic necessity for the development of a strong will is the ability to live up to one’s intellectual convictions and to act in harmony with them. When we live in the spirit of our intellectual convictions, we live in Satyam or truthfulness. (Ref. page 56)
Our scriptures are but an exposition of this set of triple values. Regular study of the scriptures and reflection on their meaning opens our head and heart to the noble thoughts taught by the wise. Such consistent exposure is sure to strengthen and purify our character, and can generate dynamism in our work. (Ref. page 67)
Leakage of our energy takes place through three main dissipating channels. These are regrets about a dead past, anxieties about an imagined future and feverish excitements in the present. We must focus our entire energy on the activity we’re engaged in – without letting our dynamism be eroded by any of the three main leakages. To focus our energy on what we are doing right now is the highest creative act in the world. (Ref. page 70)
Constant and alert vigilance over our thoughts and actions is the price we have to pay for the greater prize of a happy, accomplished life. Let us never look back for a moment but dynamically march forward, creating a glorious future of magnificent achievements by exercising the unique capacity in our minds – Self Effort. (Page 88, 98)
If we change our thoughts, we change the very timbre of our lives. A change in thoughts can be effected by three methods:
(1) By reducing the quantity of thoughts
(2) By improving the quality of thoughts
(3) By changing the direction of thought flow (Page 110)
Our personality is determined by the texture of our thoughts. The textures are classified by Vedanta into three. This classification is called Gunas. Sattwa represents thoughts that are pure and noble, Rajas represents thoughts that are passionate and agitated, and Tamas represents thoughts that are dull and inactive. (Page 114)
The goal of life is to identify with the inner repository of joy and peace. To learn this, all coverings of false identifications have to be removed. Vedanta classifies the false identifications into FIVE layers called Pancha Koshas. These are Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vignanamaya, and Anandamaya. These correspond to physical body, vital air, mind, intellect and Vasanas respectively. To transcend these layers of identification is to identify with the infinite joy and peace. (Page 132)
It is also convenient to understand these five layers as three bodies for a deeper insight: Gross Body, Subtle Body and Causal Body. Gross Body consisting of the Annamaya and Pranamaya layers; Subtle Body containing Manomaya and Vignanamaya layers; and finally Causal Body containing Anandamaya layer.
Gross Body is physical in nature and Subtle Body is entirely made up of thoughts. We consciously accept ourselves to be different from these when we say “My body, my emotions, my thoughts”. (Page 140)
Causal Body consists of unmanifest vasanas and is the source of “I-ness” and “My-ness”. As an individual cleanses the vasanas, he blends harmoniously with the world around him. This blending is the realization of Self in all beings and is the identification with the one all-pervading consciousness. (Page 140)
This knowledge of Self comes to us from our scriptures, Vedas. The quintessence of Vedas is given in four maha vakyas:
1. Prajnanam Brahma, Consciousness is Brahman [ Rg Veda ]
2. Tat Twam Asi, You are That [ Sama Veda ]
3. Ayam Atma Brahma, This Self is Brahman [ Atharva Veda ]
4. Aham Brahma Asmi, I am Brahman [ Yajur Veda ] (Page 155)
Non apprehension of Self is called ignorance or Avidya. We have already seen that this non-apprehension gives rise to “I-ness, My-ness” at individual level and is the cause of plurality.
Total ignorance of all beings is called Maya, and is the cause of plurality at macro level. By realization of the pure Self, non-dual Brahman, Maya can be destroyed. (Page 170)
A person of Self Realization realizes that “Self in me is the Self everywhere.” In all those that realized Self, the common factor is peace and tranquility not disturbed by any circumstances whatsoever. They are ever ready to give of their fullness and love to others. (Page 179)
To walk on this journey, four qualities need to be cultivated – Viveka or discrimination, Vairagya or detachment, six forms of wealth and mumukshutva or the burning desire for freedom.
The six forms of wealth are: Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha, Sraddha and Samadhana. They correspond to calmness in the mind, discipline of the organs, self-withdrawal, forbearance, Self-confidence and tranquility. We have to work on gaining these as a pre-requisite for Self realization.
The process of gaining the above four qualities is called Sadhana. (Page 192)
The habit of seeing our identity in the pure Self is a new habit. Again and again, we must cut our identification with the non-Self. The process of learning the new habit is called meditation. In meditation, the mind dwells only on one thought, a thought that reminds us of the Lord and our own pure and limitless nature. (Page 198)
Never give up. Strive on. Regularity and sincerity will take you to your goal. Spiritual Unfoldment is reserved for the wise heroes. (Page 210)
As you continue meditation, you will find that your Sadhana will deepen in enthusiasm, broaden in love, and expand to touch new realms of spiritual experience. (Page 218)
Still if times do come when you find yourself empty, exhausted, and once gain in the grips of your lower nature, remember the advice of the sages: Invoke the Lord and rediscover your association with Him. (Page 218)
As you rediscover the truth of your own nature, the pure Self, you gain an unshakeable peace and a never-ending joy. Recognition of the Self is the crowning victory in life. This is Ishwara Darshan, “the vision of God.” (Page 219)