Hari Om! :)

For this week's CHYK class, we discussed the chapter The Pride of Duryodhana. We established that the epic battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas is a metaphor for the internal battle that rages between our negative and positive tendencies. The Kaurava army was larger, and more efficient than the smaller Pandava army. However, they were weakened and eventually defeated by the sense of guilt and evil weighing on their consciences even before they reached the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Free of such negativity, the Pandavas emerged the stronger of the two sides.

Similarly, we are prone to far more negative tendencies than positive. However, these negative tendencies weigh us down with guilt, shame and doubt. Our positive tendencies, on the other hand, while fewer, make us stronger.

To illustrate this, we planned a role-playing activity in which each person represented various negative and positive tendencies, all being applied to a particular dilemma. The negative tendencies were: laziness, selfishness and a short temper. The only positive tendency in the group was dharma. We each made our cases for why or why not we should take a certain action.

In a similar vein, this week's sadhana is as follows:

Record down three instances in which you had a difficult decision to make. As exemplified in the class activity, separate out the various factors that were instrumental to your decision making. Analyse the case for each negative and positive factor, and the decision making process. In class, share one of these instances and decisions with the group.

Hari Om, and see you all next week! :)