DISCUSSION POINTS 6

I am returning to the blog after quite a while. My apologies.

We have been holding classes for the most time since the last post in February, 2009. In fact, we met regularly for our Gita and Hinduism meetings on Sundays, meditation sessions on first Sunday of each month and the Upanishads study on alternate Fridays until about the end of August, 2009. All this as my advancing glaucoma was slowing me down imperceptibly, which showed up in my lack of active posting on this blog.

My first surgery for cataract and glaucoma on the right eye was scheduled on September 1. The second surgery , for the left eye, was scheduled for October 22. The cataract part in both surgeries was successful. The trabeculectomy in the right eye was also satisfactory. The second attempt at trab did not work well because the eye tissue was too thin and fragile. The recovery from such surgery is about six weeks. I did venture to start some classes in October, but the second surgery put an end to them. I have about 25 stitches in the left eye, which is my good eye, so I am sidelined from much activity. Although addicted to reading, I have to curtail exposure to books, computer, TV, etc.

It's important to realize that the glaucoma surgeries aim at preventing further damage to the optic nerve. Damage already done is not recoverable. Glaucoma has already done considerable damage to my optic nerve.

Thanks to Madhubhai Thakrar, I feel urged to venture this post. It feels good to reconnect.

I plan to fully resume the Gita, Hinduism and Upanishads meetings and the meditation sessions, hoping to come out of the recovery process in good shape.

Meanwhile, I have received much love and support from all the friends from our group and from various places around. I am grateful and feel energized.

As the matter stands now, in the classes we have completed chapter 11 of the Gita and are well-embarked on chapter 12. We also started learning Sanskrit and held about three or four sessions on the subject. The new method of doing this seems to make Sanskrit more fun than what I did in 2002-03 when we did nothing but Sanskrit grammar. I still remember the great courage of the participants in those classes who put up with the tedium of the subject.

In the Upanishads meetings we have completed the study of Isha and Kena Upanishads. When we resume, we will start Mundaka Upanishad which is longer than Isha or Kena. After Mundaka we will aim at Mandukya, which is Shankaracharya's favorite Upanishad. On writing, I need to report that I have completed the first draft of eight chapters now for the book "Hinduism for Today." I am going to cut it short and finish it in about ten chapters. So, on paper, I am close to completion here, which is huge for me, given the pointless perfectionism that so dilates me on book writing.

So much for now. I believe I have covered most of the current past activities or lack thereof that there is to report.

Best regards and best wishes.

--Ramesh