Summary:

Lesson 111 gives pointers on how to optimize our thinking process which helps the mind see deeper into things.

Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 12, General discussion.

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Summary:

Aim of the Bhagavad Gita: A Two-Fold Approach

Know the Final Reality

What is the aim of the Bhagavad Gita? It is two-fold…

Know the Final Reality: Meaning besides perceptible forms-names, if you look into them, they all collapse into Intelligence, and intelligence collapses into final reality (Brahman). How is Brahman known? As the most obvious presence which needs no proof, “I AM”. Knock-knock. Who's there? “I AM”. This presence in Sanskrit is called “Atma”. Thus you are the final reality.

Bringing You Down To Earth

Bringing You Down To Earth: After actualizing this fact firmly, how do you make life reflect that knowledge through thoughts, decisions, actions? To answer, you need to bring in one more reality, Ishvara. Meaning, this world of forms-names is organized intelligently. IE: All forms are intelligently put together at each assembly. What's more, each form is interconnected having a meaningful relationship. Therefore all-knowledge-power organizes this world and governs the interactions. Meaning, you need to incorporate the fact of all-knowledge-power into your life, because you are constantly surrounded by forms-names. Only then will your interactions with the world change. You start to live responsibly, intelligently.

Importance of Ishvara in Life

Why is bringing Ishvara into life important? Because things don't always go our way. There are Internal & External challenges which we have to deal with. If we don't recognize that everything is governed by an order, then it becomes more difficult to cope with them. One resorts to complaining, criticizing… which only hurts you… as it robs happiness. Hence we need to REFINE our thinking so it's more aligned with the grand order. Just as you need to align your body to food, for the body to function.

Refining Thinking: A Path to Self-Growth

World as a Friend for Self-Growth

See that the world is your friend for self-growth: First see that the world of forms gives you the opportunity to undo disempowering patterns of thinking. The world serves as a mirror (gives clues). Shows which situations throw you off and where you remain composed. Hence it's not about leaving the world for the sake of pursuing spirituality, but about leaving old perspectives about the world.

Acting in Harmony with Dharma

Acting in harmony with the order of Dharma: What is dharma? Universal values which are commonly sensed and accepted by everyone, which forms the basis for our behavior in society. EG: Nobody wants to be cheated, lied to, hurt. We also know others don’t want this. Regardless of where you come from, everybody is endowed with this knowledge. The problem is we struggle to adhere to these universal values. EG: A government official who has the opportunity to accept a bribe in order to receive large amounts of money for his campaign. So simply saying “follow dharma” is insufficient, unless you see the enormous loss you incur by disregarding universal values.

Therefore, the more we don’t act in harmony with dharma, the more guilt, shame and inner conflict builds. And these feelings make you unavailable to yourself and the world. Meaning contentment is denied. Because all mind power is either fixed in the past (trying to deal with the thorns) or the future (trying to ignore the thorns).

Dharma vs. Ethics

What is the difference between Ethics and Dharma?

• Ethics: Absolute values. Rigid black/white. Can become highly critical of the world because you're stuck to black/white. Paradox: The more you want to abide by absolutes, the less likely you'll follow them.
• Dharma: Accounts for the immediate situation. It's also flexible. Not rigid like “ethics”.

Types of Dharma

There are 2 Types:

1. Samanya dharma: Universal ethical values.
2. Svadharma: Personal duties. I have a unique place in this world. EG: Different roles throughout the day. But each role “I’m deliberate in my thinking to avoid hurting”.

Relativity of Dharma

Why can't we make dharma ABSOLUTE? Because the entire world itself is not absolute. It's relative. Nevertheless, the world of forms/laws/orders still adheres to a certain eternal order (samanya dharma).

• EG 1: Driving on the road involves adhering to “Road Rules Dharma”. In the presence of those road rules, the drivers operate the vehicle per his free will. If that free will crosses the boundaries of the road rules, there are consequences. However sometimes crossing the boundary doesn’t lead to negative consequences.
• EG 2: Arjuna was asked to wage war and shed blood (to protect future corruption of society).
• EG 3: Even a court of law recognizes the relativity of dharma. EG: Self-defense.

So living a life of dharma needs lots of discerning (refined thinking). Because it’s not black/white.

Dharma as a Law

Furthermore, the Vedas say “Dharma” is a law. Meaning it can't be disregarded, because it exists just like gravity. Therefore what is intelligent living (refined thinking)? Ask yourself, if the law is there, and I'm oblivious to it (thus disregard it), can I actually circumvent the consequences (just because I don't see it)? No. Understand that because it’s a law, it means every cause  produces an effect. Everything counts!

So following dharma has nothing to do with appearing good, but understanding, “I don't want to be burned by violating it”.

Challenges in Following Dharma

What if I don’t recognize dharma as a LAW? Then if you're following dharma, while seeing others violate it, you'll say “It's very hard for me to follow dharma“. It’ll seem like following it has no value. But if you see dharma as a law, then you won't be tempted to join the compromisers. EG: Everyone around you is overcharging foreigners and insisting it’s the standard local price.

Summary of Dharma

Dharma is relative. It's a law. Can't be bypassed. It's impersonal. There's no one punishing you from above.

Case Studies of Dharma

How do you handle this?

1. You’re working in an advertising company, where 100% honesty is impossible, else no one will buy.
2. Suppose you’re traveling in a foreign land. And the fastest way to get through the hoops is by bribery. In fact, locals expect it from tourists.
3. You find yourself in a job whose role isn’t totally congruent with ethics.

What do we do in the above situations? See if there is an in-between solution. Meaning it’s one step “cleaner”. Requires innovative thinking.

1. Regarding traveling, maybe there's an online application form where you can print the ticket. That way no bribes if buying at a dodgy ticket stand.
2. Schindler's List: He was a member of the Nazi Party. He used his employer position to hire Jews, so they wouldn't be killed.
3. An official from the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) used innovation to overcome bribery where it was the norm. Other officials felt threatened by his honesty. Out of fear of being sent to a lesser paying department, he decided to take bribes also. But the next day, returned the money and asked the business to distribute it as charity. So (1) He retained his job (2) Others didn't feel threatened (3) He adhered to dharmic values.

Conclusion

If you're 100% firm in ethics, you won't move forward at all. Because the earth is a mixture of dharma/adharma. Meaning absolute dharma, unfortunately, gets you to a place where you're paralyzed (can't get through the world), because all around is a mixture of dharma/adharma. EG: You'll never find work, because which company follows 100% ethics?

Negating Effects of Violating Dharma

How to negate the effects of violating dharma (bending to adharma)? Apply prayaścitta-karma. You actively do something good.

• EG: Suppose the only way one can earn for now is doing something that’s not 100% clean. To negate the effects, one can contribute each month to a charity they believe in.

CAUTION: Can’t use prayaścitta-karma as an excuse to increase adharmic acts. Because everything is Ishvara, thus no one can “covertly cheat the system”.

Final Thoughts

The original question was: How to refine our thinking? (Because the quality of thinking is the quality of living). See that the world is your friend for self-growth. Acting in harmony with the order of Dharma.

Brings up the question: Where does the role of Intuition have in helping make thoughtful decisions?

 

Intuition:

What is Intuition?

At times, without processing data consciously, we receive some insight (which seems strong/lucid). This is often called intuition.

What is the Source of Intuition?

There are two sources:

1. Sub-conscious Mind: All events you have gone through are stored in the subconscious mind. In it, many connections are made (related to past events). These connections are beyond conscious knowledge, else unable to operate. At times, the subconscious mind outputs a message to the conscious mind (which we call intuition). Why do we call it intuition? Because we haven't used the conscious cognitive mind to arrive at the message.
2. Our Response?
   1. Ignore: Because we're habituated to using conscious thinking. If it's not conscious, we disregard it.
   2. Listen and Act Upon It.

CAUTION:

Not every connection in the subconscious is based on wisdom. Thus its messages (which we call Intuition) can misguide you. If you always go by this subconscious intuition, then you may become judgmental. EG: “This person doesn't give me good vibes”.

SUMMARY:

Intuition is 50/50 (wise/unwise). Therefore, also apply conscious analysis as a backup.

What About Discoveries Which Came Through Intuitions?

Through sub-conscious intuition is how many discoveries are made. Intuition-originated discovery is based on being involved in the subject matter for years. 

EG: Einstein was surprised upon his own mind discovering the relativity of time/space.

In the science community, these intuitive discoveries are then presented to experts, who ensure Intuition can't be contradicted by logic. Only then is it accepted as Knowledge.

Ishvara

We create our own stories/conclusions in our mind. The very mind which is operated by Ishvara. So wherever the mind is, that’s exactly where Ishvara (all-knowledge-power) is. However, our own narratives make the mind (as though) distant from Ishvara.

Through time, as a person cleans this mind, it gains wider access to Ishvara (because where the mind is, that's where Ishvara is making that mind work the way it does). Meaning the mind can draw from the Lord’s all-knowledge-power. Hence wise people exhibit this kind of intuition.

EG: The movie “Man Who Knew Infinity”. Ramanujan intuitively knew, yet Professor Hardy at Cambridge wanted logic to prove it.

Two Minds Meeting

1. Rational: Logical deduction.
2. Intuition (Ishvara-based): Intuitively understands. EG: Ramanujan, Shakuntala Devi.

Professor told Ramanujan, “You have to train your mind to logically show what you're seeing is right. Can't just say it's all right”.

Conclusion: Some people only go by rational (dismissing intuition), and some only by intuition (and ignore cognitive processes).

SUMMARY:

A pure mind gets attuned to Ishvara, which is expressed as Intuition. Intuition (both sub-conscious and Ishvara-based) is only a by-product of your maturity. It's not meant to be turned into a highlight of life.

 

Revision of 5 sadhanas which constitute Bhakti-Yoga (CH12 of B.Gita):

• Jnana Yoga (V3-5):
  • Removing false notions which make it impossible for buddhi to clearly discern the consciousness principle (caitanyam / ātmā / parā-prakṛti) and the body-mind.
• Upasana Yoga L2 (V6-8):
  • Placing your emotions and buddhi in Ishvara. God is everything, everywhere, all the time.
  • In Upasana Yoga L2 there is a subtle division between myself and Ishvara. EG: Arjuna was a separate witness to viśva-rūpa-īśvara.
  • Whereas jnana-yoga is discovering “Truth of self and Ishvara is not-two. I alone am”.
• Upasana Yoga L1 (V9):
  • Aṣṭānga-yoga is to develop composure and concentration to hold an object in mind for a length of time.
• Karma-Yoga L2 (V10):
  • Bringing Parameśvaraḥ into the picture when going about your daily actions. Making your likes/dislikes subserve to dharma and avoiding adharma as much as possible.
  • Naturally find yourself in situations which demand responses. These responses are in conformity with moral order (dharma). At the same time, you look up to dharma as a form of Ishvara.
• Karma-Yoga L1 (V11):
  • If likes/dislikes are too strong, yet still desire liberation, then continue fulfilling likes/dislikes, but in conformity with dharma. Also look up to dharma as a form of Ishvara.
  • Also, when results come, think of God FIRST (because everything is from Him), then accept the result.

Crux of Upasana-Yoga – Level 2 (Verse 6-8):

We are currently studying Upasana-Yoga Level 2 (Verses 6-8), which involves centering your mind on the fact that all around you, including you (the doer), is governed by all-knowledge-power.

Key Question:

How do I center my mind on Ishvara? What does it involve?

Matching Saṅkalpa and Vikalpa

• What is Saṅkalpa?
  • Your most-wanted intention. Chief goal. Primary desire.
  • EG: Ever-increasing clarity, freedom, a place of no confusion.
• Why is Saṅkalpa Necessary?
  • Because the mind is whimsical (unsettled without a goal). It has wills, wishes, desires, doubts. If you don’t have a goal, then all your mental availability will be occupied by them.
• What is Vikalpa?
  • Secondary, intermediary goals. Subsidiary desires.
  • EG: If the main goal (saṅkalpa) is to cook a meal, then secondary goals (vikalpa) include chopping, washing veggies, cleaning the sink.

Aligning Saṅkalpa and Vikalpa

• What does it mean to say: Saṅkalpa and Vikalpa must match?
  • All secondary goals (vikalpa) become subservient to the primary goal (saṅkalpa).
  • Example
    1. A young man wishes to become a doctor to serve mankind (saṅkalpa). He also has a secondary desire (vikalpa) to become a politician. The secondary goal is also pursued for the sake of serving mankind (sankalpa).
    2. To remain slim: (1) One avoids the cake-shop, (2) Exercises. Both serve the chief aim or sankalpa, which is to remain slim.

Next Steps:

Next session we’ll see what Krishna says about Upasana-Yoga Level 2…

 

Keywords: sankalpa, vikalpa, prayascitta, prayashcitta, punya, papa, atma, para-prakrti, prakriti,

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Credit for help in Bhagavad Gita teaching given to Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya), Paramarthananda & Chinmaya Mission.

Recorded 2 Feb, 2021