Hari om everyone,
We began today's class with a moment of stillness through our pebble-drop meditation, setting a calm tone. Then we did likhita japa, switching the color of pens each time the mind wandered. The overall focus was noticeably stronger, and the room carried a serene energy right from the start.
We finished learning to chant the Geeta chapter 15. We will be practicing every class from now on.
After that, today's session moved like a live current, one thought sparking the next.
Quirky Question (QQ) of the Day: "I am broken in anger, but strengthened in restraint. What am I?"
Some guessed hope, some said reputation, a few said patience, someone said self-control, and finally Discipline. That's what we were looking for. Breaking discipline breaks our inner power.
From there, we flowed straight into the Mahabharata, because honestly, what better mirror do we have for human nature?
We saw how often discipline was upheld — and how often it was broken — and how every break led to consequences. We were drifting into deeper waters: karma, divine timing, and the way battles outside mirror battles within.
Then we dove into the episode when Krishna went as a messenger to Hastinapura.
We retraced the drama — Duryodhana's plan to capture him, the absurdity of trying to jail someone born in a jail, Krishna revealing his cosmic flash, the moment only Bhishma managed a glimpse of Him. We walked that fine line of human arrogance versus divine patience.
Krishna then went to Vidura's humble home for dinner instead of Duryodhana's lavish feast. Krishna chose
Intent over invitation.
Simplicity over show.
Restraint over ego.
When war was imminent, everyone went into alliances — Pandavas gathering seven akshauhinis, Kauravas gathering nine — and Shalya being tricked on the road just by good hospitality. We saw how one meal shifted the balance of an entire war. What would have been nine versus nine, became 7 vs 11 battalions of armies. That number 18 showing up again: 18 armies, 18 chapters of the Gita, 18 parvas in Mahabharata, 18 Puranas. Patterns everywhere.
Then we reached the battlefield - Bhishma becoming commander-in-chief; Karna sitting out for nine days, as Bhishma didn't want Karna to fight under his banner. The rules of war — sunrise to sunset, no fighting after dark, soldiers mingling at night, etc. Such dignity, such order, even between enemies.
And then the night visit — Pandavas approaching Bhishma humbly, asking how to defeat him. Bhishma said he wouldn't raise weapons against a woman. Shikhandi is brought on Arjuna's chariot. Arjuna hesitates again. Krishna pulls him back to dharma again. And the moment those arrows pinned Bhishma like a living bed of spikes — that image just settled into the room.
Arjuna creates a pillow of three arrows. Ganga flows from the ground at Bhishma's request. And we held that moment — discipline, surrender, destiny — all converging.
From there, we moved to Drona, his attachment to Ashwatthama, the breaking of rules, the formation of the Chakravyuha, and Abhimanyu stepping forward — beautifully brave, tragically young — learning in his mother's womb only how to enter, not how to exit, because his mother fell asleep before Arjuna had narrated the whole strategy.
We wanted to stop at how Arjuna promised to kill Jayadratha the next day or would immolate himself. But the class didn't want to stop at a cliffhanger :). So we continued...
Solar eclipse / Sudarshana chakra seemingly gave the appearance of nightfall. Krishna's strategy for Arjuna to cut the head of Jayadratha and make it fall on his father Brihadratha's lap saved Arjuna's head from being split into a 1000 pieces. Problems for the day were solved.
By the end of class, we had touched on discipline, destiny, courage, dharma, strategy, and the immense moral gravity of Mahabharata's choices.
Until next time, here's a thought to mull over -
Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.
Regards,
Rashmi and Jacqueline.
