This first instance only shows the facilitator's notes, but moving forward, we will attempt to capture other insights learned and answers received from Q&A with Swaminiji. We should be up to date with our notes on this blog soon.
Facilitator's Notes (Monika Sharma):
Individual Personalities and National Culture
Points
- Sometimes we forget the role of the individual in shaping the world around them and the collective consciousness that pervades through it
- Everyone wants to change the world, but are we willing to change ourselves?
Quotes - “Without this inward balance and readiness to act well in the world outside, how can an individual ever successfully face his own problems in life? And when each individual fails to face the challenges outside him, since the community is made up of individuals, the community will not be able to face its own or the nation’s problems” pg. 11
Standard of Living vs. Standard of Life
Points
- The materialists (scientists, politicians and economics etc) seek to raise the standard of living, the rishis seek to raise the standard of life
Quotes
- “.. draw from ourselves a larger gush of productivity to enrich the life outside and around us, and to emblazon the subjective life within us” pg. 11
- “It is obvious that the blessings of materialism can remove the agony of poverty, the sorrows of illness, the discomforts of a limited life within any underdeveloped community. But the philosophers unveil the convincing logic, that in spite of the highest standard of living that we may create for our community in the nation, man cannot yet feel happy in his ambitions, and live contented in his relationships with others, merely because he has plenty of food, clothing, shelter and all other amenities of a peaceful and efficient national life.” Pg. 2
- Man is “not merely a physical structure consisting of his body; he has a mind and and intellect. The materialistic needs of the body can satisfy only the physical man which is only a third part of an individuals; two-thirds of each individual is not taken into consideration when materialism strives to satisfy merely the basic needs in a community.” Pg. 2
Question
- Are the roles between elevating the standard of life versus living clear? Do you think there is a strong correlation between the two?
Arjuna representing the world of Youth – relevance to 21st century?
Quote
- “The Geeta addresses herself to teenagers. Their mental problems such as their nameless restlessness, impossible aspirations, unending desires, utter disillusionments, suffocating despairs, entombing dejections, and shattering confusions – nay, even their self-deluding sense of materialism in life, are all depicted in Arjuna, and Krishna’s psychological treatment for the Pandava Prince constitutes the main theme of the Bhagawad Gita” pg. 3
Questions
- Strong portrayal of a dejected, despondent youth who is unsure of his identity and duty – do you agree with its relevance to today’s youth?
- Have you ever experienced a similar situation as Arjuna, where there is was a situation that you found too challenging or difficult to face and were unsure of how to handle it?
- What makes us compromise our ideals in life?
- What are the difference between ideals and ideas?
Points - Requires a strong sense of identify, understanding of duty, clarity of vision and conviction - which requires the support of values, art of discrimination, right thinking and right contact with the world
Self-escapism during challenging or difficult situations
In relation: - Hindu philosophical thought’s born from the rishis whose haven is in the silence and quietude of the Himalayas, and yet also a misconception that the way to live Hindusim is to also retreat to these abodes. - Gita brings about opportunities to exercise its principles in motion, in contact with everyday living
Proficiency vs Efficiency
Quote:
“Where gathered knowledge adds up to form proficiency, the ability to translate that knowledge into action at the appropriate field is called efficiency.”
Education versus knowledge – education is a collection of data, knowledge is deeper – it is putting your education to use on the path of discovery
Points:
Swami Tejomayanada has noted that to be successful in life, you need:
- Work – have to work to find success
- Efficiency – the skill for performing in action in such a way that it will bear a desired fruit
- Proficiency – knowledge of the goal, the means to attain the goal the performer who is going to adopt the means to strive towards the goal
The Gita
Points - Art of fine tuning the Body, Mind and Intellect – refer to the Gita Chariot: horses represent 5 senses, reins represent our mind – to control the mind with right understanding with a ground in our basic values (sanatana dharma) - The offering to study with independent and critical outlook
Role of Religion
Quote
- “Religion is a great science, and it has a glorious utility in the world. We are not talking of the religion of ringing-the-bells or showing-thel-light. We are talking of the ‘religion’ that helps one to discover in onself a new strength and vitality to face one’s own challenges in life, and the science that provide a new inward courage of conviction to live honestly servicing others. That which provide for us such a true and masterly living in the outer world is true religion in the strictest sense of the term.” Pg. 23
Points
Role of Religion in our lives:
- Helps us to gain mastery of our lives
- Helps to gain the composure with which we can effectively meet personal and social problems
- Helps to discover new strength to face challenges
Question
- What has been your understanding or religion and what is the role that it has played in your life?
Points
- Sometimes we forget the role of the individual in shaping the world around them and the collective consciousness that pervades through it
- Everyone wants to change the world, but are we willing to change ourselves?
Quotes - “Without this inward balance and readiness to act well in the world outside, how can an individual ever successfully face his own problems in life? And when each individual fails to face the challenges outside him, since the community is made up of individuals, the community will not be able to face its own or the nation’s problems” pg. 11
Standard of Living vs. Standard of Life
Points
- The materialists (scientists, politicians and economics etc) seek to raise the standard of living, the rishis seek to raise the standard of life
Quotes
- “.. draw from ourselves a larger gush of productivity to enrich the life outside and around us, and to emblazon the subjective life within us” pg. 11
- “It is obvious that the blessings of materialism can remove the agony of poverty, the sorrows of illness, the discomforts of a limited life within any underdeveloped community. But the philosophers unveil the convincing logic, that in spite of the highest standard of living that we may create for our community in the nation, man cannot yet feel happy in his ambitions, and live contented in his relationships with others, merely because he has plenty of food, clothing, shelter and all other amenities of a peaceful and efficient national life.” Pg. 2
- Man is “not merely a physical structure consisting of his body; he has a mind and and intellect. The materialistic needs of the body can satisfy only the physical man which is only a third part of an individuals; two-thirds of each individual is not taken into consideration when materialism strives to satisfy merely the basic needs in a community.” Pg. 2
Question
- Are the roles between elevating the standard of life versus living clear? Do you think there is a strong correlation between the two?
Arjuna representing the world of Youth – relevance to 21st century?
Quote
- “The Geeta addresses herself to teenagers. Their mental problems such as their nameless restlessness, impossible aspirations, unending desires, utter disillusionments, suffocating despairs, entombing dejections, and shattering confusions – nay, even their self-deluding sense of materialism in life, are all depicted in Arjuna, and Krishna’s psychological treatment for the Pandava Prince constitutes the main theme of the Bhagawad Gita” pg. 3
Questions
- Strong portrayal of a dejected, despondent youth who is unsure of his identity and duty – do you agree with its relevance to today’s youth?
- Have you ever experienced a similar situation as Arjuna, where there is was a situation that you found too challenging or difficult to face and were unsure of how to handle it?
- What makes us compromise our ideals in life?
- What are the difference between ideals and ideas?
Points - Requires a strong sense of identify, understanding of duty, clarity of vision and conviction - which requires the support of values, art of discrimination, right thinking and right contact with the world
Self-escapism during challenging or difficult situations
In relation: - Hindu philosophical thought’s born from the rishis whose haven is in the silence and quietude of the Himalayas, and yet also a misconception that the way to live Hindusim is to also retreat to these abodes. - Gita brings about opportunities to exercise its principles in motion, in contact with everyday living
Proficiency vs Efficiency
Quote:
“Where gathered knowledge adds up to form proficiency, the ability to translate that knowledge into action at the appropriate field is called efficiency.”
Education versus knowledge – education is a collection of data, knowledge is deeper – it is putting your education to use on the path of discovery
Points:
Swami Tejomayanada has noted that to be successful in life, you need:
- Work – have to work to find success
- Efficiency – the skill for performing in action in such a way that it will bear a desired fruit
- Proficiency – knowledge of the goal, the means to attain the goal the performer who is going to adopt the means to strive towards the goal
The Gita
Points - Art of fine tuning the Body, Mind and Intellect – refer to the Gita Chariot: horses represent 5 senses, reins represent our mind – to control the mind with right understanding with a ground in our basic values (sanatana dharma) - The offering to study with independent and critical outlook
Role of Religion
Quote
- “Religion is a great science, and it has a glorious utility in the world. We are not talking of the religion of ringing-the-bells or showing-thel-light. We are talking of the ‘religion’ that helps one to discover in onself a new strength and vitality to face one’s own challenges in life, and the science that provide a new inward courage of conviction to live honestly servicing others. That which provide for us such a true and masterly living in the outer world is true religion in the strictest sense of the term.” Pg. 23
Points
Role of Religion in our lives:
- Helps us to gain mastery of our lives
- Helps to gain the composure with which we can effectively meet personal and social problems
- Helps to discover new strength to face challenges
Question
- What has been your understanding or religion and what is the role that it has played in your life?
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