Summary of class from May 15 2026 - Chapter 1, Valli 2 (Mantras 19–22)

Summarized by: Rajesh

Sloka 19 & 20

If the killer thinks he kills and if the killed man thinks he is killed, neither of these apprehends aright.  The Self kills not, nor is it killed. /19/

Our biggest 2 issues are hurt & guilt.  ‘Moksha is escape from guilt & hurt.’


Examples:

When you scold your kid to teach them a lesson - if you did that with detachment, then you should not feel guilt.

Or when a Swamiji pretends to be angry but the next moment in another situation he speaks lovingly.  They are in complete control of their emotions and have to ‘act’ according to the situation to accomplish the result that they want.


Mantras 20, 21 & 22

Atman, smaller than the small, greater than the great, is hidden in the hearts of all living creatures.  A man who is free from desires beholds the majesty of the Self through tranquility of the senses and the mind and becomes free from grief. /20/


Though sitting still.  It itself far; though lying down.  It goes everywhere.  Who but myself can know that luminous Atman who rejoices and rejoices not? /21


The wise man, having realised Atman as dwelling within impermanent bodies but Itself bodiless, vast and all-pervading, does not grieve /22/


Theme:

  • 19 & 20th mantras are in Bhagavad Gita
  • Like a ripe fruit falls by itself; a fully knowledgeable person completely drops all attachments and desires.


AI slide 1:

  1. The Self cannot kill nor be killed
    • Weapon cannot cut it,
    • Fire cannot burn it,
    • Water cannot wet it,
    • Wind cannot dry it,
    • It is unborn, eternal and undying
  1. It is not the doer nor the experienced
    • The body-mind acts and experiences
    • The Self ins the witnessing presence - untouched, unattached
  1. Subtler than the subtlest and bigger than the biggest
    • Subtler than an atom, vaster than the universe
  1. It resides in a cave within the intellect
    • In the cave (gods) of the intellect (buddhi) shines the self
  1. This can be experienced only when the mind and the sense organs are quietened
    • When the mind is silent and the senses are withdrawn, the Self reveals itself
  1. Then we become free of sorrow (suffering)
    • Realizing the Self, one is free from all sorrow
  1. The Atma can go very far away, even being seated here
    • “My eyes went to see the beautiful mountain”
    • Conditioned consciousness is the one traveling as thoughts
  1. In the state of deep sleep - is there knowledge or not?
    • Special (object) knowledge does not exist
    • But generic knowledge (“I was”) exists


AI Slide 2:

  1. Who knows the Self other than itself?
    • In the light by which everything is known.  It is known only by itself
  1. Brahman v/s Manish’s
    • Brahman (Reality)
    • Manusha (Super-imposition)
    • Like a snake superimposed on a rope, man is superimposed on Brahman
  1. That which is permanent in the impermanent
    • Impermanent (example is of flowers wilting over time)
    • Permanent (example is of the Sun)
    • Amidst all changing things, the Self alone is changeless
  1. Experience - Waker -> Enjoy; Dream -> Takes the experience IN; Deep sleep -> Dissolves
    • Waker (Jagrat) - Enjoy
    • Dream (Swapna)
    • Deep Sleep (Sushupti) - Dissolves
    • = Atma
    • The Waker, Dreamer and Sleeper keep changing
    • The Atma, the Witness, remains the same in all three states

 

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