Online Class Notes (Jesse) [33]

Grammar

if it’s going to success – if it’s going to succeed / to be successful

when I got here, first 2 weeks – when I got here in the first 2 weeks

Vocabulary

to make up for costs

Pronunciation

saying the important words clearly, and be lazy with all the little words

what
it – i don’t know it
his
when

How do you think social media influences you / the way you act / talk?

In the past trend setters were famous people or public figures that millions of people had collectively agreed deserve to be setting trends and leading people. However, these days, anyone can be a trend setter just by having a viral video.

Social media is full of “tips” designed to grab the attention of viewers for a short 20 second clip, however behind each “tip” there is a huge amount of missing context. We must remember that content creators sometimes have an alterior motive to sharing these tips, and may be just looking for views.

Yoga Sutra mentions, where knowledge should come from or in other words “good chitta”, and “bad chitta”. Good chita has 3 components. First – perceiving something directly. Second – testimony of someone who is qualified or knowledgeable. Third – accurate or verified knowledge.

Without knowing ourselves, social media can become an information whirwind, or “chitta vritti”, full of tips and knowledge without context, or usefulness to most viewers. And in many cases, it can even send them further away from their true selves and be harmful in the long run.

We are living in the fast information age. We tend to get knowledge promptly and to be successful as fast as we can. Always seeking instant gratification. Be aware that all the good tips that people share on social media are in fact years and years of cumulative experience, practice, and analysis.

People are always seeking instant healing methods and quick fixes for any mental, emotional, or physical ailments, by simply searching on google. Have you ever heard of this term “trauma healing”?

Yoga Sutra chapter 2 – svar diya – self studying

There are 2 ways of studying – using old texts, and studying to understand the self. Before you take someone’s word, you need to study yourself to understand yourself otherwise all the methods will be another layer of the veil to stop you from knowing who you are. 

Be brave and embrace yourself and who you are, don’t necessarily listen to what others say and let it influence you without fully understanding yourself first…and don’t be intellectual lazy.

You should always know the source and context of any knowledge that you receive online. If you don’t know it, you shouldn’t take it. There’s no such thing as fast knowledge. All “tips” are years and years of cumulative experience, practice, and analysis.

1 – understand context
2 – understand source
3- understand yourself

The “noise” of information on social media should be like the noise of a busy street. You don’t need to analyse each car driving past. It’s like meditation and the constant stream of thoughts passing by – you don’t need to analyse each one, and should choose the ones you want to give attention to, and the ones you can simply ignore. Or just simply observe the coming and going of your thoughts. The more you cultivate your discrimination, you will filter through, and be able to see more clearly the knowledge that you can actually use.

Tapas is the key to transcending yourself

ingnite yourself