The most important follow-up measure of the Gyana Yagnas is the Study Group program. The basic concept of the Study Group is to study the scriptures by those who have curiosity/thirst to benefit from the perennial wisdom of the Rishis.

A group of 10 - 15 likeminded people get together at a place, time and day mutually agreed upon for 90 minutes a week for a systematic study of the scriptural texts prescribed in the Study Group Scheme by Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda after testing its validity over several years. Setting aside blind beliefs, they analyze the scriptures in give-and-take discussions, deepening their personal understanding.

Study Group – Manual of Self Unfoldment

(This Study Group meets on Sundays at 4.00 pm at the Residence of Shiv and Misha at 5000-J Marine Parade Road, # 05-44, Lagoon View. S (449291)

Summary of Chapter 5 (Part1):

Hari OM

Eliminating Vasanas - The Method
Water in its natural state is colorless, odorless and tasteless. However once it adorns  a color, odor or taste then the property of the water alters. Similarly the mind in its pure state  is transparent. However when it adorns a coloration then every manifestation borne out of the mind is tinted by that coloration. This coloration in Vedanta is called Vasana and its is akin to the color, odor or taste added to pure water. Vasanas are created by the ‘I’ centric ego. ‘I’ and ‘I want’ thoughts encrusts the Vasanas. It provides the ego to build upon itself.   Vasanas are so hideously blended into one’s personality that it is difficult to notice and see it as a separate entity. It even taints the self scrutiny because it is seen through oneself which is already colored by Vasanas.

The seat of the Vasanas is the mind. Vasanas imbue the mind with an identity that manifests in the form of tendencies. In this  day and age, where life fleets at an exhilarating pace, one fails to realise how Vasanas affect his thoughts and action. The ‘I’ and ‘I want’ are the main culprits to the Vasana creation even when the intent is a good one.  Any form of tendency, good or bad, is a slant from what is meant to be. Thus how can the Truth be realized when the mind is not neutralized. Truth can only be in one state and has to be seen like wise.

Elimination of Vasana only means neutralization of the mind. When the mind is not colored or pivoted on the ego, it automatically discovers its meditative poise and the ripples cease all together. Hence an action borne out of such mind can only be equanimous and impartial - this in essence, is the true meaning of Karma Yoga in Pujya Gurudev’s words. 

Re-educated Values - Readjusted Mind
The objects out in the world has no real value. Amazingly it is the human mind that determines the value. Analysing further, it is the desire or the vasanas of the mind that imposes a ‘want’ factor which is called value. Value perception is the mantra of the commerce world today. Many get swept off their feet by this value haunting maya only to find themselves chasing for that virtual pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Thus the question one has to ask is whether one is here to chase or live!

Nay, as a seeker, this fool hardy chase must stop. The chase can be stilled by pivoting the mind on a higher ideal. When the mind is surrendered to the higher ideal a stimuli gets cleansed of its coloration - thus the intent and reaction becomes synonymous.  One can never douse fire with fire. Similarly it is a formidable task eliminate the Vasanas unless we are properly equipped.

The ablution of the mind can only happen with a mightier substance that does not depend on Vasana and ego. That is what higher ideal is all about. When the ideal is secured to the Infinite then the finite mundanities will soon find no ground to stand on. The mind becomes unperturbed by the maya and conducts  as one with the True Self. One can be born with Vasana but he can choose to stifle their influence by simply surrendering to the feet of the Lord. The rest is his grace.......

All Obeisances to Pujya Gurudev!

Summary of Chapter 4 (Part 2): Study of 27th March, 2011

Hari OM

As the Mind, so the Man
Man in his daily life, encounters challenges at two levels - external and internal. The external environment changes constantly and yet man strives for a permanent niche in the ever changing facade. Change seems to be the only permanent thing in this world and  as a result continually pose new challenges. However man also experiences an internal strife as he battles between desires and ethics. An average man lives his life with a constant battle in his mind for most of his useful conscious time. Therein lies the problem because the mind is unable to discriminate. The mind’s job is to receive and deliver and not to process. The analytical role is done at the intellect.

The mind infers the world through the five jnana-indriyas and responds to the world through the karma-indriyas. The jnana-indriyas only senses the outer world as it is e.g. the sky is blue to the eyes, we seem to be stationary despite the world spins at an alarming rate and so on. The senses delivers the message to the mind in the form of stimuli. This first level sensing is done at an objective level. The response signal that the mind sends to the karma-indriyas is done at the subjective level. Because the mind is unable to discriminate, it makes a flimsy assessment and delivers a flimsy judgement at the subjective level. To make matters worse the mind also cultivates a flux spun out of memories, excitement and anxiety. This flux is called the ego. Now the stimuli gets tainted and biased by the ego and consequently the subjectivity gets more flimsy. Thus what the mind infers and responses is what we loosely say as man’s personality or character.

Integrated Mind
Ideally the mind should deliver the stimuli to the intellect where the subjective element can be fine tuned and narrowed. When ego exists distortion of the signal will exist. Ego is the cataract of the mind - if left to grow it will progressively darkens the mind. A stimuli needs the rational capacities of the intellect to decipher its content and deliver the correct response. When the mind is devoid of the ego the intellect has only to deal with the vasanas. In fact under such situation the intellect can administer solution to eradicate the vasanas gradually. This cleansing process is severely hampered when it has to grapple with the toxic ego.  Spring cleaning of the mind is mandatory for any true seeker, to rid the mind of the ego-centric layers. Man is born with vasanas but he cultivates the ego. When the ego is removed, the fidelity of the inferences and responses improves exponentially. Only then, man with his objective mind reacts intelligently and faithfully to the external stimuli and his actions become magnanimous and will even strive to purge out the remaining vasanas in his subjective mind.

Eliminating the ego is not for the light hearted. Years of nurturing has only made the ego more hideous as it blends with the personality. It can even skew an introspective analysis. The only remedy is to replace the ego by filling its space with a higher ideal that demands  utmost reverence. At the same instant, one should surrender himself to the feet of Gurudev in humble obeisance for it is only through His kripa that this vital information has been unveiled to us.

All Obeisances to Pujya Gurudev.

Summary of Chapter 4 (Part 1): Study of 20th March, 2011

Hari OM

Conservation of Energy
Thoughts sap energy. When left unchecked thoughts have the tendency to multiply in quick succession building realms upon realms and eventually draining the host of his mental potency. It is very common to find an average city dweller bickering about how tired he feels despite that technology has lessened the need for physical labour. The tiredness that one mentions today usually refers to the mental fatigue. It is amazing to note the ‘gazillion’ number of thoughts that one indulges in just one day. Some build thoughts, some let the thoughts blossom and some just live in them. The entity that holds the thought is a fertile ground and when thoughts are planted they deplete the ground of the potency as they spread their roots. Thoughts thrive on fertile grounds! It is of no wonder that the rishis kept harping on the significance of keeping the mind devoid of thoughts so that the sadhana in seeking within becomes effortless. Great souls, like Pujya Gurudev  lived to prove that when the mind is quietened the energy becomes a formidable one.

What are these Leakages?
Thoughts are energy thieves and they thrive in three forms - memories of the past, anxiety of the future and excitement of the present. When the mind is filled with thoughts they clamber noisily and clutter the space with projections. Highly energized thoughts are like rapids down the rocky crevices and imagine trying to steer a boat through - almost a predicament when trying to seek higher ideal alongside! Pujya Gurudev is absolutely correct that a seeker should first bring his mind to a tranquil state (devoid of thoughts) so that the energy can be optimized for sadhana. Colloquially it is often termed as to focus the mind on the issue which only means channeling all the energy towards the task - what more to say for a seeker!

When thoughts are streamlined, its aspect enhances through resonance. For example sattvic thoughts begets more sattvic thoughts and likewise for tamasic thoughts. Thoughts generate action. Sattvic actions begets contentment and tamasic actions give rise to regrets, resentment and fear. According to Pujya Gurudev merits (punya) and sins (paapa) are none other than the reaction of the mind following an action. It is a Karmic equation that every action triggers a feeling and the quality of such a feeling determines the paapa/punya categorization. In summary sinful thoughts guzzles energy and meritorious thoughts vitalizes the energy. Thus it is a no brainer that keeping the mind on a sattvic diet provides the best platform for higher pursuits.

Source of Energy
Unlike physical energy, mental energy has formidable powers that can accomplish Herculian feats effortlessly, albeit depending on the goal or ideal. Thoughts pivoted on altruism and benevolence invariably draws energy from infinite energy generators.  Such energy generators come alive automatically when the ideal is set upon a higher order.   Such energy can be drawn and stored.  Ego-centric thoughts only drain stored energy and ego is nothing but a  false identity built on memories, anxiety and excitement.

All Obeisances to Pujya Gurudev.