Bhakti Narasimha Swami - Sunday Fest Class

Mandal discipline according to praha and Krishna in this chapter and some other places. So in any yoga system one the willingness to engage in yoga and determination is not enough. The key is to discipline the man. [snorts] That's the the the main foundation in yoga practice. For example, praad is talking about u the afold mystic mystic yoga as uh also another way of attaining perfection. So when you practice this mystic yoga it also require discipline. First there is yama which is ethical restraint. You restrain the senses and then after that you perform. After the yama there is yama where You engage in personal observances which means you certain things you avoid doing certain things like violence and then you engage in study of sacred scripture. You stop violent activities like consuming animals, killing animals for your consumption. you become a vegetarian and then after that day is aa means physical posters practice how to sit proper Krishna is speaking about this in the beginning of this chapter from verse one up to verse 10 how the yogi go to the forest and then he found a secluded place he arranged the seat how he sit proper and Then he with great concentration he gazes on the tip of his nose with eyes half closed. So Arjuna is hearing all this [clears throat] that is yama nyama and then after that pranayyama this pranayyama means the breathing process begin now and then pratyahara after breathing one learn to withdraw the senses from the sense objects and there is dhana dhana uh is a stage where the mind or one practice uh concentration of the mind mana which is spoken about. Why is that? Krishna says Gita chapter 15 verse number eight that our problems or the life of ki the life of struggle is due to the mind and the senses. You can see fish in water is always looking for something to eat. He can't control his senses and then he get hooked by fisherman and then he end up in fish market is begin with the mind and the senses. Yeah. So, so Krishna is talking about it from verse one up to 10 he is explaining to Arjuna. So then the mind need to be concentrated. What is the concentration of mind? The example that is given in yoga is like is like of a dark tunnel that our conditional life is like we are in the dark tunnel. Koopa in Indian language say well we are in a well goo. So when you are in a well it's dark in the well. So until someone pulls you out the rope. So the mind is in this tunnel. So the stage of dhana means now you learn how to take the mind out of this dark tunnel to the light. It says jotama. Yes. J means light. They're saying like that in India. Get out of the of darkness. Come to the light. Yeah. So this is the process of yoga to get the mind out of this darkness like a coup to the light. And then after that there is dian or meditation. And then when the meditation is advancing it advance to samari h that is when one is in union with himself that's the stage of fixation in the in the yoga of patanjali that is called nuda like a lotus the lotus grows in water but is not disturbed by what is going on there in the water. So that stage take practice. So some people they found it difficult. Why? Krishna explains no he says that the this material world in this material world everyone is under the the the power of the three modes of mater. So these modes are affecting everyone in different ways. So how the modes are affecting the mind which is spoken about here in yoga. That is explained in the Patanjari Sutra that the mind we experience five mental states. So there is ship ma eagra or na five mental states. So the first one hip is is a mind like a monkey. It's called monkey mind is unsteady. Jump from one thing to the other. And then the third stage is called muda. The mind is like donkey very lethargic. It's like walking in the m in a swamp. You keep on postponing things. And then the third stage uh v shifter is compared to like a butterfly. The mind is like a butterfly. is moving from it flitters from one anxiety to another anxiety from one distress to another it's just unstating so these three states mental states are due to being under the control of rajun and damagon more of passion and ignorance right like ajuna Also in the beginning in verse 34 he says oh Krishna verse 33 and 34 he says oh Krishna the process that you have recommended seems impossible seems unendurable whyn because the mind is chantela is going all over so without mind control this process seems impossible. So the mind like a butterfly is chantala. So because of rajagun and damagon. So it is said that by practicing of the yoga system when we talk about yoga we like praat says it can be ashtanga yoga can be bi yoga all yoga processes first are meant to relieve the mind from rajun and tamakun otherwise it's difficult for someone to advance without rising above rajakun and tamagon So when one practices yoga, he rises above uh these three mental states. The mind that is like uh monkey mind, donkey mind and butterfly mind. And then you come to the fourth stage is called ara or a when you read Krishna says 241. Oh beloved son of the gurus those who are on this path of yoga meaning yoga they are resolute in purpose. Those who are not on this path their intelligence is branched. same means that their intelligence is still affected by the goonas. So this part is meant to help the yoga practitioner to rise above rajun and damagon. So when goodness increases when increases one come to the stage called eagra or which means concentrated mind that is represented by a crane that stands with one leg in water. And then the next stage nuda which is presented is represented by a lotus. If you look at all yoga societies they have a lotuses for a logo isn't it? [clears throat] Majority raja yoga whether it's hata yoga you will see the lotus is very dominant in their publications even iscon logo is lotus. Why is that? Because the lotus represents someone who has attained that mental state of calmness, self-control. The lotus represents self-control. Even us many of our logos have the lotus. Huh? Yes. That's the reason. So the lotus represent a sage who has attained this stage of total mental control. who is in satun like a lotus in water is not disturbed by the waves is part of water but is not disturbed by what's going on there so that's why all yoga systems uses that uh emblem of a lotus because it represents someone who has attained the me the the the the mental level of controlled mind nuda right so that's why sometimes some yogis they don't finish because the mind is so strong that it carries away even someone who has determination yes the mind is very very strong that's why Christian says so in that way uh mana here the words used there is chalisa mana The mind that is restless that's the cause of someone not finishing the process of yoga. So Arjuna's question is very very important. So his question is what happened to the person? Does he perish like a cloud up in the sky without being connected with a main cloud? What is the destination of such a yogi? So this question represents universal fear of incomplete growth. So Arjuna's question reflects a common highly relatable uh anxiety. It's if I dedicate my life to this yoga system and it happened that I don't finished will that mean that I wasted my time. uh do I lose both my world opulences and pleasures and also lose my spiritual rewards. These are the anxieties for devotees also. Huh? >> Even devotees sometimes feel like that. Yeah. Do I lose everything? What will happen? Isn't it? Even the body some some they doubt. >> Not all. Some people after many years they have these doubts. >> Yes, it's true. I've been a full-time devotey for over 40 years. I know what I'm talking about. There were young people that I joined with. We are to it out after some after maybe 10 years or 15 years. Yeah. [snorts] Why? Because it's just a nature of the mind to have doubts. Yeah. Yeah. Our mind is always doubting things. Yeah. So this is dou the doubt that Arjuna is placing before Krishna. We have these doubts also. Not all of us. Anyone who doesn't have doubt that means he's on the transcendental platform. But generally the mind is always doubting things. It's a sign of being intelligent also. Yeah. To always question things. Yeah. So this is uh another point is that of the interplay of faith and effort. So the verse highlights the term ayati which refers to lack of sufficient or sustained sustained endeavor. So the Gita emphasizes that lasting mastery requires matching your spiritual life or philosophy with consistent daily work. Yeah, it takes practice. [clears throat] And then the other point here is that uh the broader context of Krishna's answers to this uh is in the chapter 38 to 45 Krishna gives the answer there. those who would like to look into what is Krishna's answer to this rather very uh very important question. So Krishna uh he explains that yes sometimes a yogi may not finish uh his [clears throat] uh what he what he has started on this part but he does not perish he does not lose [snorts] but Krishna says that anyone who does good oh my mind or strives for self realization is never overcome by evil or he's not ruined. But what happens is that the journey carries on and then if he does not attain perfection, he get to be born in the family of pious people or aristocratic people or people are devotees where he will get the facility to continue [clears throat] wherever he left off. He does not lose anything wherever he left off and then in his next life he will continue. [snorts] So that's uh the answer to this question that such a yogi due to his previous samscaras uh uh the samscaras accumulated in his past life. In his next life he will begin the process and continue until he finishes. if he happens to finish. So that's the answer the lord gave to this question. What is the destination of a yogi who in the beginning uh try to follow the process but due to his worldmindedness he gets sidetracked and does not reach destination just like in India I go to India every year in India you find a big big big load of vegetables going to the market in the morning. There is a donkey, a tiny donkey. He's overloaded. You can't see the don donkey. Just see twinkle twinkle little legs. He is going to the market. So sometimes they put blinkers here so that he doesn't see this side or that side. He just see straight the road because if he look this side, he will see grass. He may be attracted by grass. Yes. So then he goes to the market and very successful. It's hard even for a donkey to control the mind and senses. If he sees grass on the other side, he may divert. So they put something here so he doesn't see this side. [snorts] >> Yes. Dunkey like so we have to train our mind like that to not see this side or this side to see straight forward otherwise we get sidetracked. So [snorts] that's how you train the mind. So how do you do that? Praad explains that we train our mind by chanting harrishna but not just casually. We have to chant with that concentration. Hurry Krishna. Hurry Krishna. Krishna Krishna. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Yes. And then the goal will be easily achieved. I'll give you an example. In Africa [snorts] I used to do sanitan. One day I was coming from the sanankitan I took a public transport and then as soon as I got into that vehicle like most Har Krishna we fall asleep because we get up early in the morning. So then you go on Sagetan is the sun is hot. If you're so tired as soon as sit down, you just fell asleep and then I fell asleep and then the the driver took off. On the way we crashed with another car while I was sleeping. So I got up hearing people chanting Jesus Jesus Jesus. I was confused right now. What is this Jesus? Am I in a church? I looked around. I thought, "Oh, I'm still in a vehicle." But we just had accident. So that reminded me the verse in the Bhagavat Gita chapter Krishna says, "Whatever mental state one will be at the time of death, whatever one remembers to that he will attain." And who will remember me alone at that moment? Surely he will attain to my nature. And then I thought, "Oh, I would have died hearing about Jesus." At least [laughter] instead of hearing people crying, wow wow like you know in the animal farm. You know animals when they are like threatened they just scream but at least I was with the people who were Jesus consciousness. At least that would have been better. Yes. So in that way when we are Krishna conscious bam Krishna will come out Krishna Krishna hrishna hrishnaishnaishna h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h. Why is that? If you ask a Christian, what does it mean to be religious according to you? Whether you're in Germany, Switzerland or whether you're in Moscow or any city, the answer that you will get is that to be religious amongst the Christians, it means to accept the passion of Christ. to accept that Christ allowed himself to be crucified so that the sins of man can be redeemed out of love. They say so the Christians Jesus loves you. Why? Because he sacrificed his life so that you can be saved. That's a very powerful statement. You can you you will get that answer whether you are here in Cologne whether you are in Berlin if you meet genuine Christians who knows the scripture they will say that that Jesus sacrificed his life that's what to understand that and accept it that means you are a Christian if you don't understand that you are not really a proper Christian if you ask the Jews I don't know whether you have Jews here in baloney do I have rich people here if you ask them what does it mean to be religious according to your people the answer that you'll get is that to be a parka Jew Jewish person someone who's following Judaism first he has to follow the law of Moses he has to follow the Sabbath he has to follow yum kimpur the the festival called Chauffar. Sandi is a Jewish person. And then if you ask the Muslims, what does it mean to be a religious? The first thing they will say, you have to understand that there's only one God, that's Allah. Yeah. And if you ask a Muslim, what about Ram? No. Ram was a prophet. What about Krishna? Was a Hindu prophet. Now in Hindu are claiming that we was God. Krishna was just a prophet. [snorts] If you find a Muslim who says Allah is God and Krishna is God, that's not Muslim. So they said only Allah is God. You understand? That's a Muslim. Nowh whether in Berlin or in Col that's answer Muslim you wouldn't say oh Krishna is God and Ram is God and Allah is God. No, they said no, no, those are not gods. Only Allah is God. And Muhammad is was his last prophet. And then come to Har Krishna. What does it mean to be religious according to your people? Give me an answer. [laughter] Yes. What does it mean to be religious according to the Har Krishna people? Yes. So to be religious according to Har Krishna or to be Krishna conscious it means to always remember Krishna >> exactly that's the answer that is in Bhagavad Gita chapter 8 verse number five that's what Krishna says why did Krishna say this uh chapter seven of Bhagavad Gita has 30 verses. So towards the end in verses 29 and 30 Krishna is telling Ajuna that those who are endeavoring for uh endeavoring for liberation from birth and death take refuge in me in my devotion. And they are Brahman because they know everything about transcendental life. And then next verse number 30, he says, "Those who are in full conscious of [snorts] me, the supreme lord, who know me as the governing principle of material manifestations, governing principle of the devils and all method of sacrifice." He says those will understand and know me even at the time of death. Which which propels Ajonah to ask the question in verses in chapter 8 verses 1 and two. One of those questions is how will they remember you? Those who are engaged in devotion service at the time of death. That's why I consist whatever meant whatever one will remember at the time of that to that he will attend but and and whoever will remember me alone will attend. So that what means to be religious for the har Krishna people to remember Krishna everything that we are doing whether is haram book distribution cooking daily worship is meant to help us to remember Krishna you understand yes that's why I like this chapter because he's talking about that that making that point heart is the destination of a yogi uh who due to the mind does not succeed in yoga. So the mind is that instrument that can propel you to your destination but also to the road shows. So you have to put blinkers so you see Krishna you don't see so many things Krishna plus so many things it's just Krishna yes so you keep your heart for Krishna just like in India I read one book I like his books like Panchat these books stories for children which uses animal characters. Yeah. Yes. I used to like them as a kid. Even now I I still get those books because they have some points. So in one of the books there's a a monkey. This monkey is living on a very special tree. This tree is full of fruits, very sweet fruits. He doesn't have to go anywhere. He just eat these fruits and then he just leave very nicely on his tree. And next to the tree there's a crocodile in is living in a in a lake nearby. So this crocodile, he is always thinking, "Oh god, that monkey must be very sweet now. He's eating those fruits. I wish I can test his flesh. [snorts] But how do I get this monkey? And then the crocodile devised a plan. One day he went he went out and then you know crawled to the tree and said, "Oh my dear neighbor, I have come to invite you." The monkey said, "Invite me for what?" He said, "At my place, we are celebrating something. We have a a good celebration there and uh my wife he asked me to extend invitation to you and then the monkey said but I don't know how to swim your house is underwater the crocodile said don't worry just jump on my back I will take you there and then the monkey developed faith and then he came down from the tree. He jumped on the back of the crocodile's back and then the crocodile slowly moves into the water. He started swimming very slowly. When he reached the middle of the lake where water is deeper, he says started swimming fast. And the man said, "Wait, why are you so fast?" He said, "I'm so happy that I got you. I tricked you out of that trip. Actually, there's no party at my house. You are the party. My wife like to eat the the heights of the monkey. We'll be very happy to munch on your sweetheart that has been eating those sweet fruits. Now the monkey is in is in trouble. But he didn't panic. He said, "Oh, Mr. Crocodile, I'm sorry. I do not always carry my heart. I left my heart on the tree. Please, let's go back and get my heart. your wife will be not happy with you if you bring a heartless monkey. And the crocodile believed him and then he said, "Oh, really? You don't have your heart." And then he went back and then when they reached the show, the the monkey jumped off the back and climbed on the tree and just sat there. The crowd now is waiting. Hey, come down. He said, "Do you think I'm stupid? Why should I come down to go and be eaten by your people?" No. I'm not going to calm down. So in that way don't give your heart to crocodiles. You leave your heart for Christ. [clears throat] >> Okay. Thank you very much. So we can take few questions if you have. No question. Everything was clear. Thank you for this wonderful lecture. Uh when you mentioned that uh we should focus uh >> our mind. >> Yeah. Focus our mind only and don't get distracted there. Then a question comes in mind that am I now getting convinced to behave like a donkey that I should not I should only focus on one [laughter] or >> no you don't become a donkey >> is there a smarter wa