For Seekers by Seekers

In this episode, we share inputs on what meditation  truly is.

We discuss what it means to meditate.

We share our thoughts on how helpful the current mindfulness programs are and what purpose they serve.

We discuss what exactly is the 'meditation' technique prescribed in Gita.

We reconcile meditation from Vedanta perspective and also from Yogashastras perspective.

We explore how Aparokshanubhuti integrates the Vedanta and Yogashastras and provides a unified perspective...

In this episode of 'from seekers to seekers',  we discuss:

- What is creation - is it real/ unreal?

- What is Maya? How is it different from real /unreal?

- What is the difference between Ishwara, Jiva, Brahman

- What is prarabda, sanchita, agami karma

- What is our musings (of four of us) from completing one month of Chaturmasa fasting?

In this we talk of 

- Creation as per Scriptures & what is Maya? 

- The various explanations that we can use to understand creation /universe 

- Pancha Maha bhuta (space, air, fire, water, earth) and where they came from

- Gross pancha maha bhuta / subtle pancha maha bhuta

- We talk about death - what it means, 

- We talk about suffering - why it should happen

- We talk a bit about karma

- We conclude by chanting Nirvanashatakam

One of the great prakarna granthas written to help understand the Truth in Upanishads is Tattva Bodha, by none other than the Shri.Adishankara Bhagavatpada....

In this episode, 'from seekers to seekers' we discuss few topics on the Tattva Bodha

- Pancha kosha viveka [The five sheaths of a human being - annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vignanamaya, anandamaya]

- Avastha traya viveka [The three states of human experience - jagrat, swapna and sushupti.

We continue to learn Nirvanshatakam under Alpana's guidance.

In this discussion, we discuss:

1. We discuss how Chaturmasa food restrictions & the 'sankalpa' some of us have taken, we mapped it to Sadhana Chatushtaya. Like for example, how not eating some food item - is it damah, titikshah or vairagya? We discuss our perspectives.

2. We then discuss what is causal body - the discussion goes on for a long time. This is actually a complicated topic, but an important one.

3. We discuss dream state, waking state and deep sleep state and try to explore what these states mean and who is the 'experiencer' of these three states,

4. Finally, Alpana leads us to practice Nirvanashatakam verse 3.

In this episode 'from seekers to seekers' we discuss the following:

- Sadhana Chatushtaya (four folded qualifications) - Vivek, Vairagya, Shama-dama-di, Mumukshu

- Meaning of antahkarana

- Vivek - atma /anatma: subject /object distinction

- Vairagya - if we do it forcefully, it will come back with vengeance

Shama - quieting the mind

Dama - reducing external influence

Uparati - to observe more of internally what is happening. introspection.

Titiksha - endurance - is taking the medium path.

Sraddha - faith in scriptures; vedanta does not expect you to have blind faith.

Samadhan - one pointedness focus on the goal - to be focussed on the Brahman

Mumukshutvam - the desire for liberation - different people have different ideas of what liberation means.

We take a good digression into gunas - sattva, rajas, tamas and how they are related to Sadhana Chatushtaya from a practical point of view

- The advantages of waking up early in the day to experience Sattvic energy

The advantages of learning the scriptures with a better knowledge of Sanskrit, Hindi

Power of mantras and some powerful anecdotes of names in Sanskrit which have a beautiful etymological root.

Finally, we practice verse 2 of Nirvanashatakam lead by Alpana's excellent chanting.

In this episode, we discuss the classic text by Shankaracharya, Tattva Bodha.

Tattva means the TRUTH.

Bodha means KNOWLEDGE.

The first few pages summarize the key qualification to even understand Tattva Bodha. It is known as the four folded qualification [Sadhana Chatushtaya]. The Sadhana Chatushtaya qualification is discussed as - Vivekam (ability to separate real from unreal), Vairagyam (being dispassionate about 'worldly' objects as they are perishable), Shama Damadi (this is the six folded subset known as shama - mind control; dama - sense control; uparamah - prolonged involvement in doing our duties; titiksha - forbearance; sraddha - trust in words of Guru and shastras; and Samadhana - single pointed focus of mind.

We also digress a bit to discuss why Sanskrit words express meanings better than English translation.

The last fifteen minutes we practice group chanting of Nirvanashatakam.

Following up on the group discussions 'from seekers to seekers', in this GD, we focus on the broad following topics:

1. Two lifestyles - Karma yoga lifestyle, Sannyasa yoga lifestyle & Krishna's recommendation for us.

2. What is the true meaning of renunciation?

3. Does age have any bearing on one's ability to renounce?

4. Clues for why the theory of reincarnation is a valid theory

5. Anchoring ourselves in our perception that we live from birth to death - by forgetting that our mind survives death.

6. What is absolute reality, transactional reality & dream reality?

7. Practical applications of understanding of realities, renunciation, death

8. Is everyone on the path of self-realization?

9. What is detachment, attachment? Is detachment mean apathy, indifference?

10. How to understand the concept of 'sarvatmaka bhava'? How can I be happy when my colleague is promoted but not me?

11. Should we embrace tough situations in our life? 

12. Concept of 'one-ness' and how we identify ourselves...

13. We also discuss & decide to take a diversion from the book and start learning Tattva Bodha for the next few weeks.