Hari Om Parents
On Sept 22, we started our class with regular prayers and spent the first half discussing the symbolism of Lord Ganesha
- We gain most knowledge by listening to teachers, television, radio, and parents. So gaining knowledge depends on being able to hear and listen intently. THis is what is the summary of how symbolism was discussed in class. Ganesha''s big ears symbolize that ability to listen.
- When your parents are trying to tell you something, how many times have you not said I know I know say no more? The information gained should be analyzed. Ganesha's elephant head symbolizes intellectual capacity and ability to reason, analyze, understand, and never forget
- Ganesha's trunk can pick up a very heavy object like a big log, or a very tiny object like a needle. It symbolizes the capacity of the mind to tackle and discriminate against any kind of situation, big or small, difficult or simple.
- Once the information is heard, analyzed, and discriminated, it becomes wisdom which is represented by the pot belly of Ganesha
- Such a wise-one rides on a tiny mouse which has the capacity to bring about large destruction. The mouse represents our mind which can destroy a whole person by thinking negative thoughts and harboring ill-will for oneself and others.
- A person, who listens intently, analyzes, discriminates, and stores the wisdom like Ganesha can keep the mind under control. It all starts with good listening!
Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah
We started with our first lesson of our syllabus which starts with the end of the Kurukshetra battle where Yudhishtra is sad due to the repercussions of the war. Their loss of near and dear ones takes a toll on him raising many questions in mind about life. Upon the advise of Lord Krishna he goes to Bhishma Pitamah who is then on the bed of arrows waiting to choose the time of his death. Lord Krishna wanted the world to know that Bhishma was a treasure house of knowledge. Bhishma answers all of Yudhishtra's questions patiently. He concludes that he had advised dull and wicked minded Duryodhana, where there is Krishna there is Dharma, and where there is Dharma there is victory. Therefore he should with the help of Lord Krishna make peace with Pandavas; this is the best time to make peace. In spite of him telling him again and again, he would not listen to him and that costed the lives of many soldiers including his own life.
Laws of Karma
- Mahabharata says Just as among thousands of cows, a calf finds its mother, so also action that is done, finds its actor and follows him/her. This is what is the first law of Karma - The performer of an action alone gets the result.
- Flowers or fruits, without anyone's push, never transgress their time; at the right time they bloom and fruits emerge. The second law of Karma therefore is - Result of an action always comes at the right time
What is Right Action was discussed with the help of a story.
A king who had 3 lingering questions in his mind was looking for answers which he believed would help him make rules that would make everyone happy in his kingdom.
He was puzzled as to when is the right time to start the work? Who is the most important person? And what is the most important work?
He could not find anyone who could give him the answers so he sets out to find them himself. The king in disguise while walking comes across an old man who seemed busy planting some flowers in the yard. Finding out about his wisdom, he asks him the 3 questions to which the old man seemed to have thrown a deaf ear. Frustrated by that, King requests the old man to sit and finishes his work. Right about then a man wounded and covered in blood asks for help from the king and old man. They take him inside and take care of him throughout the night. Next day the king again asks the 3 questions to the old man. Again around the same time the wounded man comes out and apologizes to the king and reveals that he was hurt by the King's soldiers because he was about to kill the king who had in the past rendered justice that was not in his favor. Then the old man opens his mouth and answers all his 3 questions.
- When is the right time to start work? "Now" is the right time to do the work because the present moment alone is in our control; you can do something only in the present!
- Who is the most important person? the person in front of you, with whom you are talking to, is the most important person.
- What is the most important work? To use our body to serve others is the most important work.
All the wisdom that is taught through innumerable scriptures maybe summed up in half a verse: To do good to others is righteousness, Dharma, and to harm anyone is sinful
Lesson concluded with yet another question from Yudhishtra on what one should do if he desires to have a good life. To that Bhishma says
"One must give up ten karmas: three of body, four of speech, and three of the mind."
Regards
Sapna ji and Vyjayanti ji.
