Students in Biology learned about the “inner Biology” of India’s ancient cosmology, which describes reality by taking into account the totality of human experience through the three states of awareness and the 24 cosmic principles, and thus incorporates metaphysical/subjective reality and the atomic/objective universe. This was contrasted with western materialist philosophy and science that normally considers reality as the physical universe perceived through the five senses. Babaji also presented two charts: one that discussed the different viewpoints of Vedanta, Theology, and Evolution with regard to various topics such as birth and death, and another that showed the Hindu conception of origins and causality.
Babaji gave two presentations in a combined Religion and Philosophy class. There he
provided a general overview of India’s Sanatana Dharma (eternal religion), the synthesis of the Four Yogas and how spirituality can be integrated into every aspect of life through their practice. He also discussed statements by Jesus Christ from the Bible through the lens of Vedanta in a chart titled “Christ the Sannyasin.” This portion of the talks centered on Jesus of Nazareth as a sannyasin (free soul) who advocated the practice of renunciation through his life and words. Babaji also mentioned how in the East, Christ is viewed as an exemplar rather than a savior. Students also learned of how Vedanta teaches that beings are sinless and eternally perfect by their very nature, and that the realization of this is the goal of human life.
In History class, Babaji presented India’s concept of time as cyclical, with its incessant cycles of projection and withdrawal over vast stretches of time, all set in the eternal moment, which is known by an ultimate Seer. The history of Vedanta in the West, with emphasis on Swami Vivekananda two visits to America, was also summarized.
Psychology is the study of why people think and behave as they do. EWC’s psychology class was given a healthy dose of Yoga Psychology with its Five States of the Mindfield, Five yamas and niyamas, Eight limbs, and teachings of karma and samskaras.
In American Government, Babaji introduced the concept of ahimsa (nonviolence) as emphasized in the religion of Jainism. Ahimsa was then discussed in light of foreign policy and world events such as the United States’ use of military force in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Babaji also dovetailed statements and views of eastern spiritual leaders on this event to illustrate how they look at such happenings in the world, as compared to political leaders. As a specific example, Babaji mentioned The Dalai Lama’s letter to President Bush that cautioned against a violent reaction to 9/11. He commented on how leaders such as The Dalai Lama think of the well being of the world in terms of karma (cause and effect), and how it is produced through individual and collective action. Additionally, Babaji spoke about the success of nonviolent resistance in India’s liberation from British rule as lead by Mahatma Gandhi.
Babaji gave two talks open to the public. The first was a Diversity Club sponsored lunchtime talk titled, “Finding Unity in Diversity.” Babaji focused on the Vedantic perspective that views the diversity of existence as a potential problem. He provided analysis of how seeing differences everywhere is at the root of many human difficulties. He further explained that in Vedanta’s view,, form (diversity) covers the formless reality (unity), and thus finding this unity is the way to peace. In the second public talk, Babaji gave a general introduction to Vedanta with the concepts of higher and lower knowledge and the universality of the nondual truths of Vedanta. He presented a chart titled, “The Mahavakyas of the World’s Avatars” which provided sample nondualistic statements from the great souls of the world’s major religions including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. For example, statements from Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Moses, Buddha, and others, were displayed that point toward the identity of mankind and God and the changeless nature of the soul. Two musical offerings were also given. The first was about Swami Vivekananda who first came to the West in 1893, and the second pertained to the Divine Mother, otherwise known as the feminine aspect of God in Hinduism.