BMCM
Video Study Guides
Satsang Coordinators Curriculum for #13 Finding Immortality Within
Lesson One
Introduction: "This month our focus will be on two sections from
the Chandogya Upanishad. To prepare for watching Sri Easwaran's commentaries
and to deepen our understanding of these passages for meditation, we will read
several sections together and discuss how they relate to our practice of the
Eight Points. This week and next, we'll be reading from the dialogue between a
father and son about the nature of the Self and the world."
Then, ask a member of the group to read the following excerpt from Sri
Easwaran's translation of the Chandogya Upanishad, as it appears in God
Makes the Rivers to Flow:
You Are That
Translated by Eknath Easwaran
From the Chandogya Upanishad
This is the teaching of Uddalaka to Shvetaketu, his son:
As by knowing one lump of clay, dear one,
We come to know all things made out of clay
That they differ only in name and form,
While the stuff of which all are made is clay;
As by knowing one gold nugget, dear one,
We come to know all things made out of gold
That they differ only in name and form,
While the stuff of which all are made is gold;
As by knowing one tool of iron, dear one,
We come to know all things made out of iron
That they differ only in name and form,
While the stuff of which all are made is iron
So through spiritual wisdom, dear one,
We come to know that all of life is one.
In the beginning was only Being,
One without a second.
Out of himself he brought forth the cosmos
And entered into everything in it.
There is nothing that does not come from him.
Of everything he is the inmost Self.
He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.
You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that.
Then ask the group: "What can this passage teach us about the practice
of Putting Others First? Do you have other reflections on this passage or on
how meditation and the allied disciplines can help us see the unity underlying
the diversity of life?"
When it's time for inspiration, please watch the first talk on the video tape,
entitled "You Are That" (34 minutes long). For groups that aren't
using the videos, please read Chapter VI, "The Story of Shvetaketu"
from the Chandogya Upanishad in Sri Easwaran's The Upanishads.
Conclude with 30 minutes of meditation.
Lesson Two
Introduction: "This week we are continuing our focus on the
inspirational passage 'You Are That' from the Chandogya Upanishad. We will read
and discuss another stanza of that passage."
Then, ask a member of the group to read the following excerpt:
You Are That (continued)
Translated by Eknath Easwaran
>From the Chandogya Upanishad
As a tethered bird grows tired of flying
About in vain to find a place of rest
And settles down at last on its own perch,
So the mind, tired of wandering about
Hither and thither, settles down at last
In the Self, dear one, to whom it is bound.
All creatures, dear one, have their source in him.
He is their home; he is their strength.
There is nothing that does not come from him.
Of everything he is the inmost Self.
He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.
You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that.
Then, pose this topic for discussion: "This part of the passage
compares the restless activity of our thoughts and our lives to a bird which at
last comes to rest on a safe perch, its real home. Do you see this kind of
restlessness in your own mind and life? In what ways have you used the Eight
Points to find rest in your deeper Self? How can we use the Eight Points to
cope with restlessness, and to remind ourselves that we have what we need
within us?"
When it's time for inspiration, please read the chapter entitled "Chasing
Rainbows" in Eknath Easwaran's book, Climbing the Blue Mountain.
Conclude with 30 minutes of meditation.
Lesson Three
Introduction: "This month we are focusing on inspiration from the
Chandogya Upanishad. Our passage for reflection and discussion this week comes
from Chapter VIII, 'The City of Brahman.' We will read the first three
paragraphs of the passage and discuss them."
Then, ask a member of the group to read the following excerpt:
The City of Brahman
Translated by Eknath Easwaran
>From the Chandogya Upanishad
In the city of Brahman is a secret dwelling, the lotus of the heart.
Within this dwelling is a space, and within that space is the fulfillment of
our desires. What is within that space should be longed for and realized.
As great as the infinite space beyond is the space within the lotus of the
heart. Both heaven and earth are contained in that inner space, both fire and
air, sun and moon, lightning and stars. Whether we know it in this world or
know it not, everything is contained in that inner space.
Never fear that old age will invade that city; never fear that this inner
treasure of all reality will wither and decay. This knows no age when the body
ages; this knows no dying when the body dies. This is the real city of Brahman;
this is the Self, free from old age, from death and grief, hunger and thirst.
In the Self all desires are fulfilled.
Then, pose the following topic for discussion: "In these opening
paragraphs, the Upanishad is telling us that there is a central core within us
that is free from all change, decay, and death. In practical terms, Sri
Easwaran teaches that meditation and the allied disciplines can gradually wake
us up to the capacity for changelessness that is within us, by making our minds
more even and by helping us to remain equally loving under all circumstances.
In what ways have you become more changeless through your practice of the Eight
Points? In what ways would you like to become more even-minded and continuously
loving? How might the Eight Points help?"
When it's time for meditation, please watch the second talk on the video tape,
"The City of Brahman" (36 minutes long). For groups that aren't using
the videos, please read all of Chapter VIII in the Chandogya Upanishad, from The
Upanishads, by Eknath Easwaran.
Conclude with 30 minutes of meditation.
Lesson Four
Introduction: "This week we are concluding our study of the
Chandogya Upanishad, as Sri Easwaran presents it. Last week we examined the
concept of changelessness, as it is expressed in our practice of the Eight
Points. The Chandogya Upanishad says there is a central core within us that is
free from all change, decay, and even death. In practical terms, Sri Easwaran
teaches that meditation and the allied disciplines can gradually wake us up to
the capacity for changelessness that is within us, by making our minds more
even and by helping us to remain equally loving under all circumstances. This
week we will be considering another part of the passage which points out the
connection between changelessness and immortality."
Then, ask a member of the group to read the following excerpt:
The City of Brahman (continued)
Translated by Eknath Easwaran
>From the Chandogya Upanishad
Like strangers in an unfamiliar country walking over a hidden treasure, day
by day we enter the world of Brahman while in deep sleep but never find it,
carried away by what is false.
The Self is hidden in the lotus of the heart. Those who see themselves in all
creatures go day by day into the world of Brahman hidden in the heart.
Established in peace, they rise above body-consciousness to the supreme light
of the Self. Immortal, free from fear, this Self is Brahman, called the True.
Beyond the mortal and the immortal, he binds both worlds together. Those who
know this live day after day in heaven in this very life.
Then, pose the following topic for discussion: "One of the
implications of this section is that our minds tend to get distracted and focus
not on what is changeless, but on what is constantly changing. To the mystics,
things that change are relatively unreal or false, when compared to things that
are changeless. For example, when we are very loving toward our friend, even
when he or she is inconsiderate, the mystics consider our changeless love a
true expression of our real nature.
"On the other hand, if we get angry and move away from that friend, the
mystics consider that change in our attitude false, a failure to live up to our
capacity for unchanging love. In your life and your practice of the Eight
Points, do you see this dynamic at work? How have you used the Eight Points to
keep your attention focused on the challenge of keeping your love and friendship
unchanging?"
When it's time for meditation, please read Sri Easwaran's commentary on verses
11-13 and 15-28 of the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, in The Bhagavad
Gita for Daily Living, Volume One, by Eknath Easwaran.
Conclude with 30 minutes of meditation.
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How to Use This Curriculum
The BMCM monthly video series presents a special opportunity for BMCM
Satsangs to enrich the content of their meetings and coordinate their program
with the Center and with other Satsangs. Each month many of our Satsangs will
be following this program, which has been created by workshop presenters at the
BMCM, based on programs at our Tuesday night Satsangs in Petaluma and Berkeley.
This video curriculum is not required. The choice of which of our approved
formats to follow is up to you and your Satsang. We understand that not all
groups have access to a TV and VCR for showing video tapes. While the videos
are a great aid in using this curriculum, it is also possible to follow it
without the videos, using the questions for reflection and readings that are
contained in this curriculum.
We do recommend this curriculum (and especially the videos) as an ideal way for
a new group (or a "Satsang of One") to get well grounded in Sri Easwaran's
core teachings and to feel more "in touch" with the Center. If you
would like assistance in deciding on a format, please feel free to contact us
at the address below.
The choice of when to start using the curriculum is also up to you. Week One,
therefore, may end up being the second or third week of the month. That's fine.
But we do suggest that you follow the order of the weekly curricula as they
appear here. For groups that meet monthly, you may want to use only the weekly
sections that include videos, or to cover two weekly sections if your meeting
is longer.
We have tried to make this Satsang curriculum flexible enough that it can be
used completely within the Eight Point Format, as outlined in the Satsang
Guidelines. For your "Eight Point Focus" you can continue to cycle
through the Eight Points weekly or monthly as it suits your group, and use this
curriculum to deepen your study of Sri Easwaran's teachings.
For those of you who distribute messages via email to your Satsang, feel free
to forward parts of this email to members as a preview of the coming month's
program.
We are eager to hear about your experiences with this curriculum, and welcome
your feedback. Please send it to:
satsang@nilgiri.org
or
Robbie Nichols
BMCM
P O Box 256
Tomales, CA 94971
Copyright (c) 2003, Blue Mountain Center of Meditation