For Seekers by Seekers

For Seekers by Seekers

By RajeshReligion & SpiritualitySpirituality
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For Seekers by Seekers episodes

  • Ask Us Anything about Chaturmasa, food, discipline - Q&A

    With the launch of our book, Wellbeing through food & discipline | The Chaturmasa Diaries, we organized a Q&A session.

    Please listen in to the authors sharing their experience of what Chaturmasa is, and the benefits.


    If you want to buy the book: 

    https://www.amazon.com/Wellbeing-Through-Food-Discipline-Chaturmasa/dp/1639403515

    46 min
  • Gita GD 27 June 2021 - Slokas 2.45, 46, 47

    Understanding the concept of gunas - tapestry of this universe.

    Understanding gunateeta concept - beyond the three gunas - is there something? What is it?

    How to progress from tamasic to rajasic to sattvic and then beyond?

    Importance of food to develop sattvic mind.

    Karma kanda, karma yoga, jnana kanda - what is the difference?

    Just by jnana kanda, can we achieve life's purpose? Do we need karma kanda? Is it to be frowned upon?

    Rituals, puja, charity, yagya, austerities - are they important? Why not go straight to jnana?

    What is the meaning of the famous sloka, karmanyevaadikarasthe? How did the meaning change since we first heard it as children?

    1 hr 30 min
  • Gita Group Discussions 20 June Ch 2.41 42 43 44
    What is sin of omission - pratyavaya dosha? What’s the benefit or shortcomings of the material pursuits? Is karma yoga the practice we should follow for avoiding any sin of omission? If so, what result does it give us? Did Gandhiji want independence or he did not? So, was he karma yogi? Is karma yoga not having any wants? No expectations? Is ‘no expectations’ is truly ‘expecting no expectations’😀. Having expectations is ok but accepting results without regrets is the key- which is what perhaps Gandhi did! On a day to day basis, listen to the intellect instead of the mind- so that helps to know ‘right action’ towards the goal of human life. Is moksha = heaven? What is heaven? Are career goals truly goals? Is karma kaanda relevant? Singlepointedness is to be desireless? Is that a goal? Is spiritual path a process of learning / unlearning? Half the life we have spent by ‘identifying’ ourselves - and now, we have to unlearn to follow the spiritual path! Identifying with roles - pitfall of it; is karma kanda same as karma yoga.
    1 hr 33 min
  • Bhagavad Gita GD, Sloka 2.31-40 Swadharma

    We continue our discussions on Swadharma, True Identity, Self Identity and practical tips on how to explore and expand our own sense of self.

    The real swadarma is the Aatman - and drop all other things that you are thinking as swadharma

    How do we connect Swadharma and Swaroop?

    If we don't do our Swadharma, we can ever be at peace. It is going to be restless/guilt. If you follow the path of Swadharma, it will take you to Swaroop. It removes the vikshepa (distractions) and hence it calms your mind and then it takes you to the right path

    Sometimes when we chase a goal, we put all efforts into it and when we reach the goal , we feel an emptiness. Then we take on to some other goal. These are the transition points from Swadharma towards Swaroop.  All identities are maya till you reach the Swaroop. When you reach he Swaroopa, the emptiness dissolves.

    Most of us live someone else's life. We then realize that we have anchored on something else and move the anchor to who we truly are. Sin is many times associated with guilt.. We do things in an avidhya state .. That's all. 

    We discuss if society is responsible for our problems or are we responsible for our problems. The gist is that do what your heart wants and if the so called society comes in way, you anyway have the freewill to move to another society that allows you to do what your heart wants.. There is always plus and minus to everything. If you think you will be at peace with what your heart wants, then that is your Swadharma. 

    Seeking any worlds objects is due to Vasanas..   Pleasure is related to Vasanas and Engagement is related to Mano nash.. 

    How do we lesser mortals find our Guru?  Guru is more of a concept rather than an individual. We must make the soil of mind, fertile to find the Guru.. The germination will happen at the right time, right place - the seed is already there if one is asking this question!

    1 hr 29 min
  • Gita Group Discussions: How to find one's natural proclivities? How does this influence one's life? What is connection between Swabhava -Swadharma - Swarupa? Gita Slokas 2.31-40

    May 30 Sl 2.31-40

    ---


    What is swadharma and how to find our own in the current context?


    - What we enjoy doing?

    - Samanya dharma (common) and vishesha dharma (special)


    Caste system - is not by birth; by natural proclivities (swabhava)


    What was Buddha's swadharma - as a prince or a mendicant? 


    SPji's instruction - do things that come naturally to you; that make you happy & also that makes others happy.


    Does the 'intention' determine our swadharma? Like for Buddha? He wanted to protect as well but at a different level.


    Krishna is not random - Arjuna was ready to fight, has kshatriya tendencies, and Krishna was only encouraging him to do his swadharma - and not go against his own nature because he will regret it, will keep thinking about it.


    Ikigai - Japanese: what u r good at, what u like to do, what the world needs, what can give you money. 


    Swadharma has to be looked at from the perspective of the roles we play. What is the 'right thing' to do in the context of roles we play?


    Job Satisfaction??? Kishore's story of why he left Google.


    When do you decide 'internal conflict' is good? between what roles we do and our natural inclination


    What is the connection between one's vision of self-identity & swadharma?


    Johari Window in psychology


    Krishna knew the war was 'dharma yuddha' so wanted to make sure Arjuna fought a righteous war.


    Doing what comes naturally to you + lok kalyan is important.


    Sometimes the Gita model is 'over-simplified'


    Swadharma - Swabhav - Swarup:  Swadharma is taking swabhav to swarup.






    1 hr 30 min
  • Gita Group Discussions: Who do we love the most & Wonder of knowing who we truly are!

    May 23 Sl 2.26-30 [Contd]


    Expectations met - relationship strengthens; 

    When not met - relationship weakens


    We slowly understand there is nothing called 'unconditional love'; there is always a quid-pro-quo expectations.


    When we include others in our sense of identity - then it bothers us.


    Mother's love - how inclusive it is with the kid - because mother does not think the kid is any different from herself.


    What needs to change in us - we give unconditional love?


    Atma is strange, mystery, wonder


    True knowledge makes the man realize he is a soul with the body but in his ignorance he thinks he is a body with a soul.


    Practical implications of understanding 'who I truly am?'


    Definition of sat-chit-anand


    Krishna Tattva



    1 hr 25 min
  • Gita GD 05162021, Ch 2.26-30, Reincarnation, Attachments, Expectations, Karma Theory
    If you want to listen to a healthy debate (part 1) on reincarnation theory - why we should accept, why we can't accept and what is the view of about 20 people who have background in engineering, sciences and trying to make sense of the world with a 'framework' they can apply to solve the mysteries of the universe - this is the group discussion you must listen to.
    Few things you will enjoy listening in:
    - Swami Vivekananda said, My own karma is sufficient explanation to the ways of the world.
    - Discussion In 2.27, theory of reincarnation is reinforced.
    - How easy it is to let go of attachments?
    Can we let go of the expectations from our attachments? Is there anything called 'attachment with detachment'? What does it mean?
    - We will detach immediately if the person we are attached to says, 'I dont give a damn.'- then we will immediately detatch ourself from that person. Why do we do this? Doesn't this indicate - without doubt that we ultimately 'love only ourself' and love others only if it is convenient for us? Hard hitting truth that one has to reflect on deeply. It may not be easy to accept.
    - We talk of species, neanderthals, homo sapiens and how life evolved and the concept of God - perhaps came only ~5K years ago? Or was it always there? [Short answer: Truth /Reality is always there - even if we have not discovered it; or have discovered it only 5000 years ago!]
    - We discuss certain challenges in science based logic and talk of subjective realities. 
    - Hear about the benefits one of the participants shared openly - how the knowledge helped her overcome the fear of death, bring in a sense of acceptance but still struggling to figure out how to let go of attachments, and still be attached.
    Hear about how the theory of Karma helps us to reconcile to the mysteries of universe.
    1 hr 23 min
  • Gita GD - Ch 2.23 24 25, Suffering, Karma, Death, Doing Good, Last Desire

    Ch 2.23 24 25

    ----------


    - Who actually wrote the Gita?


    - Why is it fair to suffer if I don't know what I have done to suffer now?


    - Discussions on karma - sukha, dukha....consequences


    - We continue on discussions on death.


    - Is death gory? Painful? For whom?


    - Last thought /desire while dying and its impact.


    - The melange of prarabda, sanchita and agami karma - how do they work?


    - Should I continue to do good when I don't know if I will benefit in this lifetime? What is the logic I should adopt to do good?




    1 hr 30 min
  • Gita Group Discussions - Concept of Atma, Slokas 2.20, 2.21, 2.22

    This group discussion centers on the concepts covered in sloka 2.20, 2.21


    - There is something else between physical body and 'Soul/Atma' that never dies.

    - Demystifies death

    - Six stages of existence - 

    - Why don't we go back to an older birth? Why can't we remember previous births?

    - Is our karmas and balancing karmas a most convoluted balance sheet like a family owned business?

    - Past does not add value. Memory is just a memory - emotions create a baggage

    - We cannot live in the past; nor future; only present.

    - Is time a mental construct?

    - Is time subjective? How do we reconcile that different species have different life spans?

    - Go to no=mind state, we become ageless.

    - How do you explain to kids /family members who may be dying - that it is all irrelevant?

    - Is it ok to plant 'seeds' in children's mind of our beliefs?

    - Do these teachings give emotional succor or are they mere intellectual construct?

    - Not born, not dies - organ donation - does it make sense?

    -Living in the present is not chronological time - it is living in the dimension of eternality

    -Do scriptures talk of euthanasia? Abortion? 

    -When we die, is it happy event or sad event?



    1 hr 31 min

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