For Seekers by Seekers

https://medium.com/@k1shores/the-happiness-equation-ec3544e7254d

Mind is also matter. Like body.

We relax the body through auto suggestion & attention.

Likewise we pay attention to our mind and watch the river of thoughts flow.

Then we deepen the relaxation with alternate nostril breathing and deep breathing techniques.

When the mind is sufficiently prepared, we then give it a simple task - to ask it to focus on the breath.

Then we end the meditation recognizing the interconnectedness between us and the universe and being grateful for all we have. 

This is a recording from my weekly meditation practice of 4/19/2020.

In this group discussions, 'from seekers by seekers' we discuss what is karma theory.

What does it mean?

What is fate?

Can we change our fate?

What can be changed? What cannot be changed? If something can be changed, how it can be changed in the present age and times?

What we should do?

What is the reason for us to follow karma yoga? What is the impact of our likes and dislikes on the work /action we do? Why should we not be driven by our likes /dislikes? What should we do to neutralize our likes/dislikes? 

Should we follow our desires? Why? How? Why not?

This is the group discussions held on 4/11 'by seekers, for seekers'.

In this episode, we revise the first 6 chapters of the book, The Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Dayananda.

Some interesting topics:

- How some apply the knowledge to resolve their daily concerns, dilemmas

- Discussion on what is right /wrong and a first level intro into what is Dharma

- Trying to understand happiness and debating if happiness means absence of desires

- Does the spiritual path mean we should not pursue any of our desires?

- Few insights that some of us shared wrt certain topics that they loved (why being vegetarian is the right choice, what is the three steps to learn - sravana, manana, nidhidhyasana, concept of I, limitations.

Following up on our podcast series on Pratah Smaranam, this is the summary of line 2 verse 2: The speech (and by extension, other sense organs) comes out because of the blessings from the Consciousness/Awareness principle; not only just the speech - everything in this universe (nikhila....the Sanskrit word) shines /displays its intrinsic behaviour because of the grace from it.

Nobody or thing can do their functions without the grace of Consciousness - that is the substance of this line in this verse.

This is a conversation with Kishore Subramanian, on his recent well received article, https://medium.com/@k1shores/the-happiness-equation-ec3544e7254d

This is the Bhagawad Gita group recording of our discussions.

In this podcast, we discuss what is limitlessness of Awareness means.

We also talk of what remains as constant in Waking State, Dream State and Deep Sleep State.

And, we discuss what is happiness. When does one find happiness? In objects? Experiences? People/Relationships? Or it is in the space in the mind, when the mind is resting /being complete /being fulfilled?

We also discuss with analogies of waves/ocean, space in the pot to explain what is different between wave & ocean and the pot-space and the space outside.

We also discuss death - and discover that with the analogy of waves /ocean that from the standpoint of ocean, birth /death of wave is nothing significant - while from the standpoint of the wave, it is start & end of something. 

This is a group discussion amongst a bunch of seekers who discuss to understand Bhagavad Gita, by following the book, 'The Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita' by Swami Dayananda.

In this episode, we discuss chapter 5 of the book, entitled, Who am I?

We are ignorant of ourselves because we don't realize that we are the very subject. The subject can NEVER be the same as the objects.  What our mind understands /becomes aware is limited, but Awareness understands everything including being aware of the mind itself. That Awareness is limitless, ever-present and is beyond time and space. Awareness is NOT the body, NOT the senses, NOT the mind, NOT the intellect, NOT the ego, NOT the ignorance. It is THAT which is aware of body, senses, mind, intellect, ego, and ignorance.