Summary:

Lesson 29 says Arjuna in CH1 is refusing to do his duty (svadharma) because of his emotional attachment to his teachers. Thus when we are attached to something we like (vasana), we are unable to think straight. 

TOPICS COVERED:

Terms used:

• Śruti:
  Meaning: “Heard” knowledge.
  Explanation: Śruti refers to the highest, most authoritative knowledge that was directly revealed to the ancient ṛṣis (sages) through deep meditation. It is considered timeless and universal. The Vedas and Upaniṣads fall under Śruti, as they are seen as divine revelations, not authored by any individual.
• Smṛti:
  Meaning: “Remembered” knowledge.
  Explanation: Smṛti refers to texts written by enlightened individuals who, in the light of Shruti knowledge, compose works to address the needs of their time. These texts aim to guide people out of ignorance and adharma (unrighteousness). The Bhagavad Gita is a prime example of Smrti, as it was written to make the eternal truths of Śruti accessible and relevant to the people of its age.

1) What is intuition?

Intuition is often described as a spontaneous insight or “inner guidance” that arises without conscious reasoning. However, in Vedāntic terms, intuition is not as mystical as it may seem. It is a function of the Mind (which includes the entire Subtle Body), and it operates based on past experiences and impressions.

How Does Intuition Work?

The mind has two primary functions:

1. 1. Inference: Drawing conclusions based on past experiences.
   2. Perception: Directly perceiving the present moment.

Both inference and perception are influenced by vāsanās (latent tendencies) and saṃskāras (mental impressions), which are formed from past experiences. Therefore, intuition is not some magical insight but rather a subconscious process where the mind refers to past patterns to infer what is to be done in the present moment.

Why Intuition is Unreliable

Since intuition is based on past conditioning, it is subjective and may or may not be accurate. The mind is colored by personal likes and dislikes, and these biases can distort the intuitive process. Thus, relying on intuition is like asking a foreigner for directions in your own town—they might be right, but they could also be wrong.

Intuition vs. Vedāntic Clarity

In Vedānta, the goal is to purify the mind so that it becomes clear and objective. A purified mind is not driven by personal biases but responds spontaneously (intuits without distortions) to the needs of the environment. This is not intuition in the conventional sense but a natural alignment with Ishvara's (the total order). You could call it “being in touch with Ishvara's intuition”.

Example:

• • Impure Mind (Subjective): A person sees a child being bullied but does nothing because their mind justifies the situation based on unresolved personal issues (e.g., “The victim probably deserves it”). This is a subjective response driven by past conditioning.
  • Pure Mind (Objective): A person sees the same situation but responds objectively, recognizing that hurting others is inappropriate (samanya dharma—universal values). They act to help, not out of personal bias, but because it is the right thing to do.

Summary:

1. 1. Intuition:
      • Arises from the mind, influenced by past conditioning.
      • Unreliable because it is subjective and may be clouded by personal biases.
   2. Complete Surrender to Īśvara:
      • A purified mind, free from likes and dislikes, responds spontaneously and appropriately to the needs of the total environment. Ishvara's intution.

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Recorded 20 Nov, 2018