Event : Swami Swatmananda ’s study class visit.
Date: 28th July
Topic: Why have faith in Covid times?
Attended by: 30 members from classes of Sevikas, Trupti Vyas, Bina Kejriwal and Shilpa Mavani
Reported by : Archana Awasthi
Swamiji first congratulated the three sevikas for successfully conducting classes over multiple years and keeping the interest of all member focussed on knowledge. He also congratulated the members to have been part of self-realisation journey.
Swamiji started the talk by saying that the pandemic having caused such human suffering only allows someone with shallow shraddha to question existence of God. It is similar to taking the credit for all good while the bad times are blamed on God.
He told us that everything in this Samsar is going as per the Laws of Karma. All hard times are due to our Karma. People who passed due to Covid had their karma for this life met. They dropped their body. This is the rule of life and we should understand that God is the "karma Adhyaksha" and also the "karma phala data". He compassionately guides us and also ordains the impartial justice to us of our action.
We need shraddha in these times that helps us anchor us emotionally and gives us mental immunity and fortitude.
Swamiji advised us on the following ways that we can adopt to develop Shraddha:
1. Regular satsang and proximity to good people
2. Read scriptures that helps us have clear vision of our path
3. Make a habit to learn and reflect on subtler aspects. Give thought over how is happiness within us.
6. Express gratitude to God.
7. Understand the nature of Prakriti.
8. Building a bond with God. Sharaddha needs "sambandha". Eg. Vithal and Panduranga, Vithal and Namdev, Ramkrishna Param Hansa and Kali Ma.
9. Chant his name and his Mantra
10. Read life of saints. Eg. Bandit Ratnakar became Maharishi Valmiki by simply chanting mara-mara. He suggested we read the following books:
a. Lives of Saints by Swami Sivananda
b. How God came into my life published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan
Swamiji also advised us on how to protect our Shraddha. He said to be watchful of the following:
1. Rise above the physical view of life . Think of the subtler learnings.
2. Avoid sceptics and atheist
3. Avoid argumentative nature.
4. Avoid dry intellectualism
