• In the class held on 23rd June we had enough reading about American history and how Swamiji's presence at USA was able to give India's spirituality to the Americans.
• We also saw about Swamiji's likingness to some of the Western literature of Walter Whitman and others which was very similar to Advaita and had contents related to renunciation.
• And we saw about Swamiji's bold reply to those people who tried to portray him in the West and to those superstitious Hindu people at India, where Swamiji says that he has not stepped even a bit on his chastity and poverty.
• After reading some portions from Swamiji's biography we read Gomu sir's Gita book, on Chapter-7 which explained about Anubandha Chatushtaya(Adhikari, Prayojana, Vishaya and Sambhanda) for Gita.
• BG-2-11(अशोच्यनन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे | गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ||) discusses this Anubandha Chatushtaya for the Gita.
• The Adhikari was a person who considers welfare for all (अशोच्यनन्वशोचस्त्वं)and who has some amount of jnana and has exercised all possible solutions before(प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे).
• The Prayojana is not to worry (नानुशोचन्ति).
• The Vishaya is wisdom which is right understanding of who I am? what is my relationship with God and world and other fundamental questions like these.
• The Sambandha is the relation on what the adhikari has to do with the vishaya to get the prayojana. So for the jnana to manifest what has to be done those steps are sambandha.

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography Essence of the Bhagavad Gita For Modern Minds

• In the last class we saw before leaving for America, Swamiji traveled across India as a wandering monk and finally meditated on a rock at Kanyakumari. There, reflecting on India's past glory and present struggles, he felt a clear sense of mission: to work for the upliftment of India and share its spiritual wisdom with the world..
• Swamiji sailed to America without sufficient money, contacts, or even a guaranteed place at the Parliament. As a result, he faced many hardships after arriving in America. At the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, his opening words, "Sisters and Brothers of America," instantly connected with the audience and made him one of the most admired speakers. His message emphasized the universality of religion, tolerance, and acceptance rather than conversion or religious superiority. We will continue from the same place where we stopped in the last class (Continuing, the Swami said ...).
• 3. After this we started reading on the Gita book till Chapter-6 were we discussed about the sloka BG-2-7 (कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभाव: पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेता: । यच्छ्रेय: स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्) where Arjuna surrenders to Krishna and requests Krishna to tell him what is shreyas for Arjuna to do. Today we will continue from Chapter-7..

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography Essence of the Bhagavad Gita For Modern Minds

• In the last class we had indepth discussion on dyana slokas of Bhagavad Gita and for next class (today) we shall continue reading both Swamiji's life as a wandering monk and the fourth chapter from the Gita text. Remember there will be a quiz competition with cash prize for first three winners in the month of August.

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography Essence of the Bhagavad Gita For Modern Minds

• Last class we discussed Swamiji's life as a wandering monk. Today we shall continue the same.
• In the last class we also read the first four chapters of the "Essence of Bhagavad Gita For Modern Minds" book by Gomu sir.
• In the upcoming class, we shall continue reading both Swamiji's life as a wandering monk and the fifth chapter from the Gita text.

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography Essence of the Bhagavad Gita For Modern Minds

• Swami Vivekananda traveled across northern India with Swami Akhandananda, praising the spiritual heritage of the Ganga region.
• During meditation near Almora in the Himalayas, Vivekananda had a deep spiritual realization that the individual soul and the universe are built on the same divine principle, leading him to perceive the essential unity of man, nature, and the cosmos.

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography | The Divine Life:Its Practice and Realization

• Swami Vivekananda travelled across northern India as a wandering monk, where his experiences with poverty, illness, and spiritual seekers deeply shaped his thinking.
• He realized that India’s strength lay in its spiritual heritage and unity in diversity, but social stagnation, rigid caste practices, and lack of knowledge had weakened society.
• Vivekananda admired both Vedantic spirituality and the equality he saw in Islam, while also believing India needed Western science and technology for true progress.
• His meeting with Pavhari Baba and repeated visions of Sri Ramakrishna strengthened his faith and clarified his spiritual path.
• In the primer to the Hindu philosphy book, we read the following things.
• A person’s present condition is shaped by actions from past lives, while current effort can shape the future.
• The soul (Atman) is considered eternal and passes through many births, learning and evolving spiritually until it realizes its true divine nature.
• Differences in human lives like happiness, suffering, talents, fears, and instincts are understood as results of past experiences and actions carried across births.
• Liberation from the cycle of rebirth comes through self-discipline, ethical living, meditation, devotion, and realization of the Self, where Karma loses its hold.

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography | Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda Vṛttānta Sāra Sarvasv

• Last class we discussed Swamiji's life as a wandering monk. Today we shall continue the same

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography | Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda Vṛttānta Sāra Sarvasv

• In the last class we started the class with Narayana suktam chanting.
• We completed the chapter "Training of the disciple" chapter and in the upcoming class we need to start "As a wandering monk chapter".
• In the last class there were a few nice things which Swamiji pointed out-ajnana (to see the world alone), jnana (to see the world as God), vijnana (to see the world permeated by God)
• देहबुद्ध्या तु दासोऽस्मि जीवबुद्ध्या त्वदंशकः। आत्मबुद्ध्या त्वमेवाहमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः॥ We had a discussion about this quote as well in the last class.
• In the Shankaracharya life history book we started the second chapter reading what an avatara is and where Shankaracharya mentions about avataras in his Prastanatraya bhashyas.

Next class lecture links: Vivekananda-A Biography | Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda Vṛttānta Sāra Sarvasv

• In the last class we read about Naren's interactions with Sri Ramakrishna and how sri Ramakrishna used to train him for spiritual life.
• We had a guided meditation session.
• At last we read the Shankaracharya life history book. There, the author was trying to use historical events to identify the authenticity and historical relevance of different older manuscripts on Shankaracharya's life.
• In today's class we will have 3 things-(i) reading from Swamiji's life history, (ii) guided meditation activity (iii) reading from Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda Vṛttānta Sāra Sarvasv.

• In the last class we read about Naren's meeting with Sri Ramakrishna and how sri Ramakrishna used to test him, warn him.
• We had a lengthy discussion on what does an impure thought mean(a thought with raga and dvesha is impure.)
• We had a guided meditation session and then started reading the lesson-1 of Shankaracharya life history book.
• In today's class we will have 3 things-(i) reading from Swamiji's life history, (ii) guided meditation activity (iii) reading from Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda Vṛttānta Sāra Sarvasv

• In the last class we read about Naren's meeting with Sri Ramakrishna and how sri Ramakrishna used to test him, warn him.
• We had a lengthy discussion on what does an impure thought mean(a thought with raga and dvesha is impure.)
• We had a guided meditation session and then started reading the lesson-1 of Shankaracharya life history book.
• In today's class we will have 3 things-(i) reading from Swamiji's life history, (ii) guided meditation activity (iii) reading from Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda Vṛttānta Sāra Sarvasv

• In the last class we read about Naren's meeting with Sri Ramakrishna and state of Naren's family after Naren's father's death.
• In today's class we will have 3 things-(i) reading from Swamiji's life history, (ii) guided meditation activity (iii) reading from Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda Vṛttānta Sāra Sarvasv

• In the last class we read about Swamiji's meeting with Sri Ramakrishna.
• In this class we shall continue from the same lecture.

• In the last class we read about the early life of Swamiji and his meeting with Sri Ramakrishna.
• In this class we shall continue from the same lecture.

• In the last class we completed the book His call to the Nations.
• As a concluding lecture there were multiple important comments made by Swamiji in terms of keeping up the ideals with respect to India.
• Renunciation and service are the national ideals of India.
• One must have faith in oneself that he is born to do great things.
• India will be raised with the power of spirit, and not with the power of soul.
• If one is able to sacrifice his/her life for a cause then only he/she can become a leader.
• Expansion (being unselfish) is life and contraction is death.
• The only service for the lower class is to educate them. Feel for the poor, the ignorant.
• Be the servant while leading.
• Swamiji's faith is on the young generation who are lions.
• True equality can never be achieved on earth.
• God and Truth are the only politics in the world.
• Next we started to read a new book by Swami Nikhilananda ji Maharaj on Biography of Vivekananda
• In the upcoming class we will start from Chapter-2 of Swamiji's Biography.

• We saw how Swamiji emphasizes for serving everyone.
• To serve only the three things are needed from our side-heart to feel, brain to conceive, hand to work. (Rest all will align up in its place)
• Religion is the idea which rises brute unto man and man unto God.
• The difference between a devil and God lies in the aspect of being selfish.
• We cannot see impurity outside without we having on it.
• The only sin in the world is to say that you are weak.
• Man is the Tajmahal of temples. If one doesnt know to worship man then no temple will be of any use.
• Religion is the manifestation of natural strength (divinity) that is in man.
• The book from which you learn religion is your own mind and heart.
• In the upcoming class we will start the next chapter on "India:Our Motherland".

• Love, sincerity, and patience are the three things which are essential to pursue any work.
• By imitating others ideas we never become one's own. We should modernize not westernize.
• One cannot help anyone, he can just serve others.
• Let the poor, downtrodden, ignorant be your god. Who serves jiva, serves the God indeed.

• In the last class we had a discussion on how the statement every knowledge comes from within, where in sir was giving us an example that information is what which comes from outside and the knowledge comes from inside with thorough contemplation.
• We saw three things which swamiji mention to make a man great-conviction on the power of goodness, absence of jealousy and suspicion, helping all.
• यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च य:-we had a discussion on this sloka briefly.
• Also we ended the lecture by reading one of the very important quotes that wickedness is ignorance and telling other person about his wickedness is not a wise act (not to recognize wickedness in others). Instead tell about his glorious nature.

• In the last class we read the chapter Man-the maker of his destiny in His Call to the Nations book.
• A few important quotes like "Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man", "Each soul is potentially divine and the goal is to manifest its divinity within by controlling the nature external and internal" were discussed in the last class.
• We saw that there are 3 levels- animal level, human level, divine level. Gomu sir beautifully explained in last class how the normal education is discussed in terms of human level (in terms of manifestation of perfection already in man), spiritual education in terms of divine level (goal is to manifest this divinity either through work, worship, physique control or philosophy.)
• We ended the session discussing about Shraddha in the last class. We will continue from this next.

• In the last class, we saw powerful quotes of Swamiji on faith, fearlessness.
• We had one chapter especially on concentration, which is the major power that differentiates between a man and an animal or one man and another man.
• We will continue with the Man is the maker of his own destiny lecture next.

• In the last class we read the first chapter in Call to the Youth of Nations book.
• We saw about a short biography of Swamiji's life history on how he came to Sri Ramakrishna, his journey as wandering monk, Swamiji's Chicago lecture, Swamiji's lecture from Columbo to Almora.
• Today we will start the next chapter.

• In the last class we saw about Swamiji's ideas on Women education and educating the masses.
• One has to ensure that education goes to all the masses. If the student is not able to come towards education, education has to go towards him.
• Swamiji was also mentioning about three things-feeling to help, finding the solution, steadfastness in truth for any great achievement.
• At last we saw some gist similar to the lectures of Karma Yoga about the story of Sanyasin and the householder lady doing their duty as a sacrifice without expecting anyother thing.
• Today we will start a new book "Call to the Youth of Nations".

• In the last week we saw Swamiji telling about the new religion which says one who doesnt believe in himself is an atheist.
• We also saw Swamiji emphasizing to have physical strength so that the Gita can be understood even better. (This is mainly to say that one can gain confidence if his physical health is good.)
• We also saw about the Alexander and a monk story where Alexander when threatens the monk, he was bold enough to reject the proposal of the emperor.
• Swamiji in the last lecture also insisted on willingly giving to all. We will continue with next lesson today.

• Education is shift of body to mind. Body needs are nothing but animal extincts.
• Character is formed by repeated thoughts, actions, and habits, we become what we consistently think and do.
• Suffering and struggle teaches more than comfort, awakening inner strength and wisdom.
• True power lies in inner personality and will, not merely words, intellect, or outward achievements. Personality is the reason why certain people though having less degrees can influence more people than a person with all the degrees.
• Self mastery, purity, and disciplined habits enable control over mind, actions, and destiny.
• Real education is man making, transmitted through character, example, love, and inner transformation rather than information alone.

• In the last class we started Education lectures of Swamiji, before which we read a brief intro about the author who compiled the lectures TS Avinashilingam.
• The lecture started with the line-"Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man".
• Swamiji was telling in this lecture how all knowledge is within and a teach can only make suggestions to rouse the internal teacher to understand things.
• Swamiji was telling about the importance of Concentration and he mentioned its power of concentration which differentiates one man from another.
• We had a discussion about faith and belief and Shankaracharya Gita bashya-18-66 which talks condemning blind faith on Vedas too.

• Swamiji explains Christ as a divine manifestation through Maya, teaching that realizing God within transcends good and evil through selfless love and service.
• Swamiji teaches that steadfast devotion to one’s own path leads to realizing the universal Spirit, dissolving fear through unity with God.
• Swamiji defines Bhakti as total, selfless love for God that dissolves ego and merges supreme love with highest knowledge in infinite bliss.