Filed under: Adult Scripture Class, Arsha Vedanta Center, Vedic-Senior, YICG
The simplest of things can provide a deep insight into how powerful we can be in the present moment. The other day I tried to conduct a ‘Raisin meditation’ with my students. Each one was given 2 raisins. To start with, the first raisin was eaten the way one would do – automatically.
Quickly pop it in your mouth, maybe bite it once and a speedy swallow. And then look for the next one.Fpr the second raisin it will be different!!
Hold the second raisin by the thumb and index finger. Look at it carefully. Note the creases. Rotate it and continue to look at it. Press it a little and feel the texture and transfer it to the other hand. Repeat the process. Now slowly bring to the mouth and place it on the tongue. Roll it around in the mouth and keep your self in the sensation. Move the raisin to the left, right and under the tongue. Repeat this process. All in slow motion. Now slowly take a bite – very very slowly. Feel the juice slowly coming out and relish it. Now a second bite – in slow motion. Continue this until it has been completely chewed and almost dissolved. Now slowly swallow it. Feel the emptiness in your mouth. Just close your eyes and savor this experience.
One student writes ‘This will help you get through a nervous breakdown’!!!! Om shanti shanti shanti.
Every year truly inspiring speeches are made by our graduating class. And every year I think I should get a copy. This time I persisted, snatching the copies from the speakers!!! And hounding them for the digital versions! That is still a work in progress. Following are excerpts from their talks. I could not get every one’s speeches but will update as I get them. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is my fan club!! The photograph is of the graduating class with the juniors. You can link to it through http://rathiraja.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/p5132435-2.jpg
Vedic Class of 2007:
Niyati Harneja:
Coming to Vedic has had an impact on me. We’ve had many insightful class discussions on so many different things. I noticed I began to look at things differently. Sometimes I would stop and think “What would Arjuna do”? And then I would realize Arjuna doesn’t care what his hair looks like or if red and pink clash. Vedic put things into perspective for me. I realized how trivial and insignificant some of my problems were and I really matured from that… A topic that has stayed with me is Judgment – to be honest I am quick to judge, forming impressions of people that is hard to change. Freeing your mind from judgment is not easy but after that class I have made a conscious effort to try.
Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I’ll be able to forget my years here at Vedic. I have made so many of my closest friends here and I am really grateful for that.
Madhuri Indaram:
Arjuna’s feelings of apprehension and confusion as he faced his family on the other side of the battlefield are very similar to the way I felt about my culture and my Hindu roots before I started studying the Gita with Rathi Aunty at the Vedic classes. Growing up in a moderately traditional Hindu family, I was confused about my place in society. I remember sitting on the playground with my friends in fourth grade, and the topic of religion came up. One of my friends asked me if I were Christian or Jewish, and I had no idea what to answer. I wasn’t sure if I was Hindu, or even for that matter if Hinduism existed outside my house. It is situations like these, and of course more serious ones as we get older, that elicit the importance of knowing your roots and understanding your religion. Vedic class allowed me to ask questions that I had, ranging from Ayurvedic spa treatments to more menaingful ones about the Vedas. The discussions that we had in class every week are by far my most memorable experiences, because one question or comment would inspire many thoughts and comments from other people in the class, and debates and friendly arguments would ensue. Rathi Aunty is an extremely valuable teacher - she embraces our thoughts and comments, and thoroughtly discusses our questions with patience. Through our study of Karma Yoga, I began to more firmly grasp our Vedic tradition, and questions about who I was and what I should believe were answered.
Anjali Raja:
When I entered high school, I moved into the “older” class. This class was very different than what I was used to. We didn’t talk about the greatness of the gods and goddesses. We didn’t talk about how the devas fought the asuras. We talked about the human being itself. I was now being told a different story. This was the story of the wise man. A man, who might not be the best warrior, but a man of samatvam, or equanimity. This wise man was a charioteer, but a he was a charioteer of his emotions. He handles the ups and downs with composure. I wanted to be this wise man. I wanted to face adversity with a level head. I wanted to be a contributor to society, just like him. But then I looked back at my previous heros, Rama and Krishna. And I suddenly had a whole new perspective. The only reason why I abandoned my ideals about them was because I expected everyone else to be like them. I knew that I could not possibly meet a little boy like Krishna, or marry someone like Rama. I had to look inside of myself and realize, that I had to be like them. It is I that must love like Rama, and be brave like Krishna. It is I that must have equanimity like the wise man. I know now, that if I want to find the ideals and fantasies in this world, I must make them a reality in myself.
Vidya Viswanathan:
I won’t stand here and fool you all into thinking that I have really been the best Vedic student. I have missed quite a lot of Saturdays this year, and I basically always run on a clock that is at least 15 minutes late. There is no way I could quote Sanskrit verse right now off the top of my head. But this doesn’t really worry me, or make me feel like I’ve failed in my Vedic experience. Because, when we’re all in college and looking back, maybe we won’t remember exactly what chapter six or chapter 17 says. Maybe we won’t remember any real concept beyond dharma or samatvam. Maybe we won’t remember any actual bit of verse except “Sri bhagavan uvaca.” But what we will remember, what we must take with us, is the perspective Vedic has given us. What we will remember are the discussions that have always pertained to our own lives—whether they are about our treatment of other people, making of judgments, controlling our emotions, our relationships with our friends and family, dealing with stress, our opinions on social issues, global politics, or, at the height of profundity, when to go to Ihop.
Anjali Vora: When I think of Vedic class, certain moments stick out in my mind. I remember things from 10 years ago to today – about judgment, Rathi auntie’s recurring example of the Sun producing an image in buckets of water, meditation and counting how many possible universes there were. There have been many times when a problem arises during the week and I think ‘Man I wish it were Saturday’, because directly or indirectly the class will shed some light on the issue and reveal a new point of view. I have learnt a lot by listening. As you hear everything, subconsciously or consciously, chances are that you will carry the thought into your everyday life.
Vedic Class 
2007 – Gita Vicara
Vijay Gogia, Anjali Raja, Anjali Vora, Niyati Harneja, Vidya Viswanathan, Madhuri Indaram
Everytime I see our wonderful young adults graduate in our Gita Vicara ceremony, I do feel a sense of tremendous hope and optimism. Some of you may have noticed that we Indians tend to be so hard on ourselves, as parents, as Culture keepers, as professionals and as comunity citizens. Where do we begin and when can we say that we have done enough? Can we ever say that, let alone actually feel it?
Letting go of my students, in an emotional sense, happens over many years. There is much I have learnt from them and that has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. I wanted to share some of the treasures I have accumulated over the years from my students, So here goes -
Its ok to sit clumsily on the chair if you ask a question on Hindu Dharma and and a woman’s right to choose.
It’s ok to chew gum and sneak a snack if you can chant perfectly.
It’s ok to dream and look out of the window on a beautiful spring day if you can explain the nature of Bhagavan.
It’s ok to ask me a question to which I confess my complete ignorance.
It’s ok to talk about Hindu Dharma and Racism, Role of the Family and Dietary restrictions and also completely disagree with me.
And finally it is ok to ask me a completely personal question like what’s up with my hair !! Or how my clothes are so behind times!
The name of this blog was inspired by the theme of this class – Equanimity; we have explored this topic in all its grandeur and I am sure we will continue to do so.
My fondest wishes to the Vedic Class of 2007. I hope you join my blog and track Nila’s life. And some occasional news will be absolutely thrilling.
Love Rathi Aunty
I remember this magazine growing up. It used to have a standard yellow cover, always brimming with stimulating articles. They have had a complete makeover, over the last five years. I find the article quality quite superior. Also the sponsoring organization, The Sringeri Matha, has released a five part series on ‘Sakti Darsana’, covering each goddess in depth. I am think ing of doing a series on them during our Navaratri festival season. We could include a workshop that involves storytelling, mantra and yantra, to cover the many aspects of our spiritual heritage.
Do visit www.tattvaloka.com.
A sampling of the June 2006 issue – Maneesha Panchakam, Bhagavatam, Famous Shrines, Puranas, Abodes of Kartikeya, Book Review and a Special Feature on ‘The Upanishads and the Gita”.
An excerpt from the last article:’What is Dharma? Dharma comes from the root dhr, that which supports. In the final analysis, what is it that supports human consciousness? It is not wealth, it is not position, it is not political power. Ultimately it is the divine consciousness that suports our very existence. So Bhagavan Krishna urges us to give up all support and come to him. Speaking as the Divine, he says ‘I free you from all sins. Do not fear – ma suchah. How much love there is in those two words ‘Fear not‘ “.
Rathi Raja
Some interesting thoughts on the connection between body & mind:
Sthiram Sukham Asanam – Sage Patanjali
Stephen Cope in ‘Yoga and the Quest for the True Self’ writes:
Postures, have, in themselves, no magic power. Even the most advanced practice, if it is driven by fear, aggression, perfectionism, will not automatically create transformation. Postures provide a methodical way of training attention, so that movements and areas previously relegated to the ‘basement’ of the primitive brain can be brought into consciousness.
It is the quality of attention we bring to the movement that makes postures qualify as yoga. Yoga actually begins to change the body by reeducating the brain. There is a particular way of moving, characteristic of classical Yoga, that heightens our brain’s capacity to draw areas of the body’s unconscious up into consciousness.
Over the past year we have spoken many times about the link between our body and mind; about emotional flow and its impact on our physiology. I wanted to share some notes from David Simon’s book – the Wisdom of Healing.
” The idea that something as subtle as our attention can influence something as concrete as our physical body may at first be difficult to accept. Yet, our whole concept of what is “real” is changing today. All the current technologies have evolved from one paradoxical idea: that the essential nature of the physical world is that it not ultimately physical: that the atom, for eg, which is the basic unit of matter, can also be seen as a network of information and energy.
A flower, for eg, is made up of information and energy. The energy is the raw electromagnetic, gravitational, and atomic forces that allow the flower to be perceived by our senses: the color, shape, texture, and fragrance are the specific packages of information.
Ayurveda teaches that intelligence is information and energy that is self-referral. That means the ability to learn through experience to reinterpret and influence one’s choices. When, through our intelligence, we make different choices, we change the energy and information that enters our mind and body and by so doing, we TRANSFORM who we are.
Gita Ch. 6 Verse 8 has a beautiful definition of a Yogi – One who transcends Jnana to reach the state of Vijnana, an abiding, assimilated knowledge that is reflected in a life of compassion, giving and love.
One who is content with oneself, in that life. One who is a master of the senses. One who is objective about the different choices in life, that arise from our likes and dislikes. One who handles the ups and downs as an anvil the beating of the hammer. .
Bhagavan is setting the stage for ‘Dhyana Yoga’, a lifestyle based on self reflection, which in turn allows a steadier hand at managing ones desires and emotions. It allows us to work through our emotional drivers.
