Hari om everyone,
Here's this week's synopsis. After meditation, we chanted the 5th chapter of The Bhagavadgeeta.
Quirky Question (QQ) of the Day: I'm not alive, but I grow when fed; I don't have lungs, but I need air. What am I?
We had some interesting answers: balloon (well, it grows and needs air, but at some point, it will explode and stop growing or needing air).
Some had the correct answer: Fire
We will connect this with our lesson a little later.
We continued our discussion on actions and how we can perform our deeds with a higher goal. We have already established that no one can remain without doing deeds. If they are desire-driven, it destroys us. But if performed in yajna spirit, they uplift us.
But how do we do this? By dropping self-driven interests and by offering the fruits of our actions to the Lord. This is called Ishwara-arpaNa buddhi.
What does that mean? It means I do not get attached to the results of my actions. I will do my duties willingly, but accept any outcome from those actions. I shall not insist on getting the outcome of my liking alone! Sometimes, I may not even know what is good for me, but in hindsight, I understand much later that things happened for the best.
We discussed a few real-life scenarios for this -
When I had an invitation for a sleepover, I studied at home.
As a result, I was able to take a difficult exam.
But I still didn't get the outcome I would have liked.
I went to a college that was probably not my top choice.
I made the best of friends for life in that college and made a great career path from there!
Studying was my duty, but the outcome was not in my hands. I didn't get my first option for college, but I springboarded for a great life from where I went.
At the time of joining a specific college, one wouldn't know about my future outcome. Instead of being disheartened, it is better to do what is needed and accept the result without regrets.
Why do we have to work like this? Important people become role models to those around. And, each one of us is important in one way or the other. Even a little worm will not offer itself to become food for a bird. It will want to go back to its life.
Parents are role models to their children. Leaders are role models to a community. Whatever noble people do, others follow. Hence, each one of us has to do our dharma to our best possible knowledge.
The answer to our Quirky Question was Fire. Just as fire needs air to keep burning, our actions (karma) need to be done with the right mindset to grow and have an impact. In Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna teaches that we should perform our duties without worrying about the results, much like how fire keeps burning without thinking about what happens next. When we act selflessly, just like fire, our efforts will naturally grow and create positive outcomes.
We ended the class with some engaging discussions and Unique Statement Review. Due to Akhanda Ramayan chanting in the auditorium, we finished the class with pledge and ending prayers in the classroom itself.
Best wishes to everyone for the Gita chanting yajna this weekend. See you all in the next class.
Until then, here's something to ponder.
Regards,
Rashmi.
Rashmi.
