Class notes:
Yajur Veda 40.15
Om kRutO smara klibE smara kRutam smara
When you are active as a thinking being (human), think about Om (sacchidaananda). Remember your weaknesses. Remember the actions you have done.
Synopsis:
kRutO is the one who is active.
We souls in the shariira indriya manas.
We are referred to as kRutaH
smara = remind, recollect
Recollect and be reminded of Om
Om = God = sacchidaananda
klibE = our weaknesses
kRutam = actions we have done
kRutam smara = remember and understand the actions we have done.
Om kRutO smara
When you are active as a thinking being (human), think about Om.
Addresses to the beings in the shariira indriya manas. We should remember and chant Om. This can be done only when we are in the shariira indriya manas. Once we leave the body, I am dormant. I am inactive. Only when I get into another human body can I chant. If another non-human body then I can't do this.
What does thinking about Om mean?
This is not a mechanical chanting of Om. Om shivaaya namaha, etc. is useless.
Vedas don't say that.
Patanjali also says: japasta artha bhaavanam
japa is to get the meaning of what we are saying
mananaat traayata iti mantra
manana = to ponder over again and again
Thinking about Om means to understand the meaning and ponder over it again and again and analyze and deliberate.
Om is the best and easiest Mantra. All can chant. No discrimination. No caste, creed and gender.
Om has 19 meanings. Om came from the root ava. Note: See class in which Om is taught. These are 19 qualities of God. All these qualities have to be imbibed into my life. I have to chant, understand the meaning, ponder over it again and again and imbibe the meanings into my life.
klibE smara
klibE = our weaknesses and shortcomings.
Remember your limitations and shortcomings. Analyze the limitations. What is the use? First understand. Then try to overcome the limitations and weaknesses. This we can do only when we are in a human life.
These shortcomings are the samskaaraas in our soul. The impressions. These are not physical limitations. Those will die one day when we get separated from the shariira indriya manas. They are also important, but the highest priority is to overcome the ku-samskaara.
Weaknesses
kaama = desire
krOdha = anger
lObha = avariciousness
mOha = attachment
mada = arrogance (keeps us from learning)
maatsarya = jealousy (makes us fall down)
klibE = These are the weaknesses and shortcomings that get imprinted on our soul.
Find out where you are weak. If we don't analyze, we won't know. If we analyze, we will start knowing that we are weak.
kRutam smara
Scan what you have done till date. Good or bad. If it is good, then no problem. If it is wrong, then stop it immediately. Transform yourself.
What is good and bad?
Everyone has a definition of their own. This is not subjective.
What is good and bad are objectively defined. Yes.
That which improves the strength and purity of your soul is good. That which reduces the strength and purity of your soul is bad.
What gives strength or makes you weak?
This too is not subjective. It is objective.
You become indulgent, the soul becomes weaker
You have control over the sense organs your soul becomes stronger.
One may not know this. One may not accept this. But this is not based on anyone's opinion. It is the law.
What is truth
Truth is independent of opinions. It is objective.
Anything we see in our life has external face value and intrinsic value. On the face value, something may be different person to person. But the intrinsic value will be same for all. Always look for the intrinsic value of something.
Example: Take the share of a company. Value depends on market fluctuations from minute to minute. But the internal worth is a constant for a period of time. This is truth
Example: Say I will introspect myself. My control over anger is 40%. My anger is about 60%. This is my analysis after introspecting and analyzing. Someone says I am too angry. Another person says I am very calm. What am I really? 40-60. My analysis is the fact. This is truth. Others' are just opinions.
God is truth
* sat is that which exists and not aware of existence. It is inert. All things around us.
* satchit is that which exists and is aware of existence. That is people like us and animals.
* sacchidaananda is that which exists, is aware of its existence and is the source of aananda (bliss).
We have experienced bliss. It is there. But we cannot experience it all the time. It comes and goes. So, we have to infer that bliss is not my innate quality. It has to come from somewhere else. Therefore we have to infer that there is another entity. We call that entity as sacchidaananda. i.e. God.
If we say that the third entity (sacchidaananda) is not there, how can we explain peace and bliss? Peace and bliss we can experience anywhere and anytime. So God has to be omnipresent. At any point in time. So God is sarva kaalika.
If we understand God like this, we can see that God is Truth.
God exists not as a photo or painting or a human. But as the source of peace and bliss. God is free from our prejudices.
kRutam smara
Whatever you do, is it good? Whatever you have done has it contributed to the strength of your soul. Then it is Ok.
Say there is a situation. I get angry. My soul is weakened. Not good.
I tolerate it. I maintain my calmness. It increases the strength of our soul. It is good. Tolerance needs more strength than anger. Where does this come from? From the strength of my soul.
I am in the human body now. Only now can I do all these three things. If I waste this human body, then I would have lost the opportunity. Next life I may be an animal. I can't exercise these options as an animal. I can only do it as a human.
smashaaNa vairaagya
At the burial ground, by looking at the dead, I should remind myself that I too am going there one day. So let me make use of the time I have on earth wisely. i.e. let me live like a human.
Om kRutO smara klibE smara kRutam smara
When you are active as a thinking being (human), think about Om (sacchidaananda). Remember your weaknesses. Remember the actions you have done.