Values: Mastering the Mind-Thoughts & Dispassion (136)

Summary:

Lesson 136 is Value 9, 10. Mastering the mind (4 types of thinking, Ashtanga Yoga). Dispassion arising from having correct relationship to objects.

Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 7.


Revision:

  • Value 1: amānitvam: Absence of conceit.
    • Releasing the need to deliberately announce qualities/achievements. Especially when it’s out of context.
    • SOLUTION:
      • Be alert when attempting to steal attention (to feel good). Instead let your brilliance shine naturally by being yourself. Intelligent minds will notice you even if you’re quiet.
      • Doesn’t mean to keep totally silent. There is purpose to advertising oneself for opportunities. Many great artists die unknown, due to insufficient public involvement.
  • Value 2: ahambhitam: Absence of pretense.
    • Involves monitoring speech at all times. And immediately rephrasing when catch yourself exaggerating glories. Because exaggerating is cover-up for insecurity, hoping to get more acceptance.
    • SOLUTION: Realize quality relationships are consequence of vulnerabilities, and not one’s perfections.
  • Value 3: ahiṃsā: Saintly thoughts/words/actions.
    • Asking yourself, “What is my intention behind THIS? Is it to throw light on realities OR be right?
    • Ahimsa is dynamic. EG: Sometimes, even though our intentions are saintly/thoughtful, it still hurts the other (because triggers them or misinterprets).
    • How to handle when other is hurt regardless, thus confronts you?
      • Mention what specifically compelled you to speak out.
      • Return to original topic. Don’t let argument divert into unrelated topics.
  • Value 4: kṣānti: Accommodation.
    • Involves accepting the uncomfortable tension that’s present right now, and working with it for sake of restoring harmony. Accept it as the new template.
      • Other option is resist the template, or philosophise how the tension shouldn’t be here right now. This is lack of kṣānti.
    • FACT: Most want liberation. But few of them are willing to accommodate the relative, limited person (jīva)… who is actually ātmā.
  • Value 5: ārjavam: Straightforwardness.
    • How large/small is the gap between one’s internal and external reality?
      • EG:
        • I love you”. How closely does the external tone, reflect the internal state of mind?
        • Giving feedback. We think one thing, but say another (because don’t want to hurt). Not being straight.
    • SOLUTION: If find yourself with inconsistencies between what you say and do, then pause before replying, and evaluate a more realistic answer.
  • Value 6: ācāryopāsanam: Service to teacher.
    • When fall in love, the other person doesn’t leave our mind. This isn’t case with books or YouTube videos. Such content doesn’t stick much as a person.
    • Whatever the person (in our mind) represents… is holding those representations in your mind (EG: wisdom).
  • Value 7: śaucam: Inner & outer cleanliness.
    • OUTER: Striving for an organized workspace. Create a relatable playground.
    • INNER: Upon any unfair thought (which you wouldn’t others done onto you)… understand they are product of many causes, just like you. (pratipakṣa-bhāvana).
  • Value 8: sthairyam: Steadfastness.
    • Rolling out a beautiful carpet of commitment, and refusing to step out of it.
    • Carpet requires periodic cleaning/maintenance. Meaning re-evaluating, “What am I committed to? And why?”.
    • In reference of relationships (business/intimate/client), commitment is a shared platform on which both walk on. The platform is reinforced by reminding self SHARED VISION & PURPOSE for being together.
      • Wedlock/Marriage: The purpose should be personal growth for sake of liberation. Never the end, because no relationship can ever satisfy you completely.
    • Steadfastness is also called svadharma.
      • What is svadharma?
        • Understanding, world is interconnected. What I do, matters. My actions affect the world and myself.
        • Therefore svadharma is taking responsibility for your existence while living. Because light of dharma is shining on your mind ALSO. Thus your duty is thus to contribute, because Ishvara is contributing to you every second.
      • Svadharma is subject to change. Because you change. Therefore script must also change.
        • EG: Relationships undergo change. If try to bring back what-was, then won’t be happy.

 

— RESUMING FROM PREVIOUS SESSION —

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 7:

amānitvam adambhitvam ahiṃsā kṣāntiḥ ārjavam ।
ācārya-upāsanam śaucam sthairyam ātma-vinigrahaḥ ॥
Absence of conceit, absence of pretension, not hurting, accommodation, straightforwardness, service to the teacher, cleanliness, steadfastness, mastery over the mind …

Value 9: ātmavinigraha: Mastery/Management of the Mind

  • What is difference between Mastery & Control of Mind?
    • Control: Quick affirmations. Quick fix. Interested in feeling good, rather then going into details.
    • Mastery: Taking time to investigate thought process. Confronting emotions. Processing unconscious.
  • Means to Mastering/Managing the Mind:
    • Discerning 4 Types of Thinking:
      1. Instinctive/Impulsive:
        • This is not REFERRING to fight-flight-freeze. It’s not brain amygdala.
        • This REFERS to unconscious colouring of the world, with PREJUDICES. Unexamined personal beliefs.
          • EG: Good woman are submissive. Strong men are emotionless (except anger/joy).
        • How to recognize this TYPE?
          • One may feel self-conscious, embarrassed or uneasy AFTER acting out.
          • Emotion driven. Easily influenced/motivated/moved through emotion charged topics/events.
      2. Mechanical/Habitual:
        • Opposite to Type 1. Lacks emotion/imagination/variety. Acting out a repeated thought.
          • EG: Inserting chips on assembly line. Monotonous exercise, response, speech. Solving Rubik’s cube by memorized algorithm. Treating client with same method. Same ways as parents.
        • Majority after 30+-, default to this Type.
        • In reference to the SPECIFIC repeated thought, you’ve lost your freedom of choice.
      3. Deliberate Thinking:
        • Involves using prefrontal cortex (cognitive capacity). Used least in humans, because newest part of brain. Technology reduces need for Type 3.
        • Involves deliberately introducing new useful thoughts, or replacing old ones in reference to yourself.
        • Vedanta needs Type 3 to work.
      4. Spontaneous Thinking:
        • Deliberate converts to Spontaneous through time.
        • Called, “Being in the zone. In the flow”. Īśvara does the thinking. Person partially forgets themselves as the doer/enjoyer.
        • It just came!”. Effortlessly tuned in with the variables of the environment.
    • Patañjali Aṣṭāṅga Yoga 8-Steps:
      • Āsana: Purpose of keeping body obedient to the thinker.
      • Prāṇayāma: Mastery over 5 physiological systems.
      • Pratyāhāra: Mastery over perception organs.
      • Dhāraṇa, Dhyāna, Samādhi: Mastery over mind’s focus.
      • The yoga system is intended for ātmavinigraha, and not gaining self-knowledge. However it’s highly effective in preparing mind for it.

 

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 8:

indriya-artheṣu vairāgyam anahaṃkāraḥ eva ca ।
janma-mṛtyu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣa-anudarśanam ॥
…dispassion towards the sense objects, absence of pride and seeing clearly the defects of pain in birth, death, old age and disease…

Value 10: indriyārtheṣu vairāgyam: Dispassion Towards Sense Objects

* Starts at: 59:13

  • What dispassion (vairāgyam) is NOT?
    1. It’s not distancing from “material world”, to be closer to “spiritual world”.
      • Such division doesn’t exist..
    2. It’s not a state of mind where nothing affects you.
      • 4 Kośas (body-mind) are designed to respond while alive. Can’t stop nor override this.
    3. It’s not about having no desires. FACT: You’ll have desires until death.
      • CORRECTION: Dispassion is, despite my desires, they don’t compel me to chase, knowing the limitations.
        • EG: Enjoyment of object depends on my mood. It can’t give lasting fulfillment. Maintenance needed.
    4. It’s not about building repulsion for objects/world. That violates śaucam/ahiṃsā. Creates miserable-I.
      • CORRECTION: Dispassion involves being clear, “What can this object do for me, and NOT do for me?”.
    5. It’s not a temporary state of mind obtained after substances or at funeral.
      • CORRECTION: Dispassion is a permanent understanding, arising from inquiring into limited nature of experiences >> then re-evaluating priorities based on your discoveries.
  • What IS vairāgyam?
    • Vi: Depart.
    • Rāga:rañj: To colour.
    • Virāga/Vairāgya: To depart from the need to color in. To NOT color in objects with biases. To NOT project more/less value onto objects.
  • SUMMARY OF NAMES:
    • Value 1: amānitva: Absence of demanding validation/respect.
    • Value 2: adambhitva: Absence of pretense (making up stories).
    • Value 3: ahiṃsā: Deliberation of thought/word/action.
    • Value 4: kṣānti: Accommodation / Glad Acceptance of WHAT-IS.
    • Value 5: ārjava: Straightforwardness (Alignment of thought/word/action).
    • Value 6: ācāryopāsana: Service to teacher.
    • Value 7: śaucam: Inner & outer cleanliness.
    • Value 8: sthairya: Steadfastness (Persistence).
    • Value 9: ātmavinigraha: Mastery/Management of the Mind.
    • Value 10: indriyārtheṣu vairāgya: Dispassion By Seeing Objects As-They-Are.

 

— NEXT SESSION: Value 10 continues. —

 

Keywords: asana, ashtanga, astanga, asthangta, dharana, dhyana, indriyartheshu, patanjali, pranayama, pratyahara, samadhi, vairagya, viraga

 


Credit for help in Bhagavad Gita teaching given to Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya), Paramarthananda & Chinmaya Mission.

Recorded 27 July, 2021

 

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