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Opening and closing prayer-chants 4
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Prayer-chant unto the guruparamparāLecture1.1
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Prayer-chant unto Bhagavān KṛṣṇaLecture1.2
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1 a Sankalpa for the Gita Amrtam courseLecture1.3
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Prayer-chant for the well being and prosperity of the worldLecture1.4
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Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam 6
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1 b Freedom from seekingLecture2.1
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1 c Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam verse 1Lecture2.2
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1 d Q &ALecture2.3
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2 a Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 2 – 4)Lecture2.4
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2 b Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 5 – 9)Lecture2.5
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2 c The context of the Gita – a glimpse of the MahabharataLecture2.6
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 9
Chanting only of Chapter 1 by Pujya Swami Dayananda ji
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 1Lecture3.1
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3 a The opening of the Gita 1.1-1.9Lecture3.2
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3 b The armies on both sides 1.10-1.20Lecture3.3
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3 c How to study and do sadhana of VedantaLecture3.4
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3 d Q & ALecture3.5
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4 a The situation of Arjuna 1.21-1.35Lecture3.6
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4 b Arjuna’s conflict and sorrow 1.36-47Lecture3.7
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4 Gita Q & ALecture3.8
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How to use the Slack communityLecture3.9
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Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 2 - Saankhya Yoga 46
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 2 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture4.1
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5 a Arjuna’s topical problem 2.1-2.7Lecture4.2
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5 b Arjuna’s transformation from friend to shishya and request for shreyas (moksha)Lecture4.3
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5c Q & ALecture4.4
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Overview of the ShaastraLecture4.5
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6 a Arjuna qualified with viveka and vairagyaLecture4.6
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6 Q and ALecture4.7
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7 a The teaching begins 2.11-2.13Lecture4.8
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8 a Guided meditation (Attitude to sukha and dukha) 2.14Lecture4.9
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8 b Who is fit for liberation 2.14-15Lecture4.10
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8 c Satyam (and mithya) 2.16Lecture4.11
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9 a Guided meditation (Panchamahabhutas and connectedness)Lecture4.12
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9 b Sat – all pervasive and indestructible 2.17-18Lecture4.13
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9 c Q & ALecture4.14
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10 a The one who knows the Atma to be neither the karta (doer) nor the bhokta (experiencer) 2.19-20Lecture4.15
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10 b Nature of the Atma 2.21-23Lecture4.16
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10 c Q & A (2.19-23)Lecture4.17
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11 a Neither Atma can be grieved for nor Anatma which is ever changing 2.25-29Lecture4.18
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11 b Q & A and a delightful enactment of the Atma and the two bodies (sthula and sukshma sharira)Lecture4.19
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12 a Atma is no cause for grief 2.30Lecture4.20
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12 b Arjuna ‘s svadharma as a kshatriya (and our svadharma) 2.31-39Lecture4.21
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12 c Q & A (Expecting moksha from being a perfect parent, Career choice, Dharma conflict etc)Lecture4.22
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13 a Introduction to Karma Yoga and clarity on self knowledge being the solution 2.39-43Lecture4.23
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13 b Q & A (Is samadhi experience enough? , If moksha is not my only goal 2.39-43 )Lecture4.24
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14 a Glimpse of being a master (Atmavaan) 2.45-46Lecture4.25
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14 b Choice in Karma but not in result (Famous verses) 2.47-48Lecture4.26
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15 a Karma Yoga – attitude to action and its results 2.48-50Lecture4.27
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15 b Group Discussion and insights – The classification of the day into the four pursuits – Dharma/Artha/Kaama/,MokshaLecture4.28
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16 a Group discussion and insights – What happens when one is money/partner/work/children obsessed?Lecture4.29
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16 b How can one have it all – money/partner/work/children? By Being Dharma centredLecture4.30
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16 c Freedom from bondage of karma 2.51 and Q & ALecture4.31
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17 a Karma Yoga in relationshipsLecture4.32
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17 b How Karma Yoga helps in self knowledge, Vairagya towards alternatives and Arjuna’s question about a wise personLecture4.33
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17 c Q & A (Managing employees, Distractedness, Clash of roles, Dealing with a dominating personLecture4.34
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18 a Signs of a wise person and Mastery 2.56Lecture4.35
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18 b Mastery of the mind and senses 2.57-58 (incl Q and A)Lecture4.36
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18 c How do you feel loved? (Podcast episode link) – Supplementary listeningLecture4.37
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19 a Mastery of the mind and senses 2.59-61Lecture4.38
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19 b Understanding the framework of anger(Dwelling on sense object-Attachment-Anger-Loss of memory of learning-Destruction of person)Lecture4.39
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19 c Discussion on Kaushalam and Samatvam (Duty, Road rage, Resolving misunderstanding)Lecture4.40
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20 a Self mastery and tranquility 2.64-66Lecture4.41
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20 b The vision of a wise person and the sadhana of self mastery (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.42
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20 c Q & A (Roles etc) (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.43
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Questions for reflection and making notes on Chapter 2 0 questionQuiz4.1
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21 a The connection of self mastery and inner dialogue with the younger you (incl. guided meditation)Lecture4.44
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Wrap up on Chapter 2 – Kaushalam, Clear understanding of why Vedanta is a solution, Managing a strong desire for marriage, Expectations from our childrenLecture4.45
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture5.1
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22 Arjuna ‘s doubt, ‘If knowledge is better than action why prompt me to do karma?’ 2 Lifestyles 3.1-5Lecture5.2
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23 a Quiet appearance but false front & Why karma yoga is better than karma 3.6-7Lecture5.3
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23 b Why karma is superior to inaction & Karma transformed into yajna 3.8-9Lecture5.4
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23 c Q & A (How much work is too much, Objectivity wrt pursuits )Lecture5.5
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24 a Karma as Yajna and recognition of Devatas 3.10-11Lecture5.6
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24 b Karma as pervaded by Veda 3.12-15Lecture5.7
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25 a Contribution to the cosmic wheel and the contentment of a wise person 3.16-18Lecture5.8
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25 b Why perform karma, Janaka, the wise king and role models 3.19-21Lecture5.9
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25 c Gita Q & A (Japa, Time for Vedanta, Delegation etc)Lecture5.10
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26 a Gita 3.22-25 No karma to be done by Bhagavan but still karma is doneLecture5.11
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26 b Gita 3.26-28 Karma impelled by Prakrti’s gunasLecture5.12
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26 c Q and A (Dharma, Rebirth)Lecture5.13
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27 a How can the wise person engage with those who are deluded by prakriti and its gunas and How to fight ?Lecture5.14
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27 b The role of shraddha in learning and how prakriti affects a wise personLecture5.15
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27 c Don’t some under the spell of ragas and dveshasLecture5.16
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27 d Discussion – Handling Differences, Managing ragas and dveshasLecture5.17
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28 a Svadharma is better than paradharma and the problem of (binding) desireLecture5.18
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28 b Knowledge (as though) clouded by binding desire and Atma untouched by it allLecture5.19
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28 c Guided meditation (Saakshi)Lecture5.20
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28 d Discussion (Processing a situation, The 4 aspects of a mind etc )Lecture5.21
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29 Ch 3 Discussion after small groups discussionLecture5.22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Jnana-Karmasannyasa Yoga 30
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture6.1
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30 a Greatness of the parampara 4.1-3Lecture6.2
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30 b The Why and What of an Avataara 4.4-8Lecture6.3
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30 c Gita 4.1-8 (Can a non sannyasi get jnanam and Can giving up desires lead to jnanam)Lecture6.4
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31 Discussion on the value of Dharma by looking at AdharmaLecture6.5
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32 a Reality of an Avataara and Levels of reality 4.9Lecture6.6
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32 b Taking refuge in Bhagavan and his blessings 4.10-12Lecture6.7
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32 c Gita 4.9-12 (Q and A) (Bindi, Dharma and religiosity etc)Lecture6.8
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33 a The Four fold Varna system 4.13Lecture6.9
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33 b Bhagavan Krishna as Karta and AkartaLecture6.10
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33 c Gita 4.13-15 (Q & A Vrata etc )Lecture6.11
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34 a Gita 4.16-17 What is karma and akarma?Lecture6.12
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34 b 4.18 The vision of a wise person about karma and akarmaLecture6.13
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34 c Gita 4.16-18 (Q & A – Work role, Healing karma etc)Lecture6.14
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35 a Atma as akarta and abhogta (non-doer and non experiencer) 4.18-19Lecture6.15
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35 b Aspects of Jnanam and lifestyle of grahastha and sannyasi 4.20-21Lecture6.16
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35 c Gita 4.18-21 Q & A (Clarifications of Akarta, Vedanta as a perspective, Being assertive)Lecture6.17
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36 Gita 4.22-25 Attitude of a wise person wrt gain/loss and life as yajnaLecture6.18
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37 a Gita 4.26-27 Self mastery of senses as yajna and Chariot imageryLecture6.19
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37 b Gita 4.28 Yajnas – Dravya, Yoga, Svadhyaaya etcLecture6.20
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37 c Gita 4.26-28 (Q & A – Social media response, You are bigger than your pain etc)Lecture6.21
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38 a Gita 4.29-30Lecture6.22
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38 b Gita 4.31-33Lecture6.23
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38 c Gita 4.29 – 33 (Q & A Soham, Misinterpreting the verse)Lecture6.24
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39 a Gita 4.34 How to relate to a teacher for knowledgeLecture6.25
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39 b Gita 4.35-38 The result of knowledge and What if one is a paapi?Lecture6.26
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39 c Gita 4.34-38 (Q and A – Making amends etc )Lecture6.27
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40 a Gita 4.39Lecture6.28
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40 b Gita 4.39 contd.Lecture6.29
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40 c Gita 4.40-4.42 (plus Q and A)Lecture6.30
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Sannyasa Yoga 20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 chantingLecture7.1
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41 a Gita 5.1-3 Sannyasa or Karma Yoga – Which is better? aLecture7.2
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41 b Gita 5.4 Are Sannyasa and Karma Yoga same?Lecture7.3
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41 c Assignment on Identifying Life prioritiesLecture7.4
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42 Discussion on Life prioritiesLecture7.5
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43 a The goal of Sannyasa and Karma Yoga as a lifestyle is oneLecture7.6
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43 b Vision of a wise person despite performing actionsLecture7.7
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43 c Gita 5.5-9 Reflections and discussionLecture7.8
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44 a Gita 5.10 The wise one who is not affectedLecture7.9
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44 b Gita 5.11-12 How do karma yogis perform karmaLecture7.10
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44 c Gita 5.13-14 Where does the wise being live and how?Lecture7.11
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45 a Gita 5.15-16 Atma is not affected by punya/paapaLecture7.12
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45 b Gita 5.17 Levels of commitmentLecture7.13
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45 c Gita 5.18 How does the wise person look upon a Brahmana, a cow etc Q & ALecture7.14
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46 a Gita 5.19-20 Freedom from the cycle of birth and death and extremes of emotionLecture7.15
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46 b Gita 5.21-23 The gain of happiness that does not change and the transitory nature of experiential happinessLecture7.16
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46 c Gita 5.19-23 Q & ALecture7.17
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47 a Gita 5.24-25 Videha mukti and the sukha of a wise personLecture7.18
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47 b Gita 5.27-29 Introduction to Dhyaanam and AikyamLecture7.19
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47 c Gita 5.24-29 Q & A (Imp of Asana, Desire fulfilment,Lecture7.20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Dhyaana Yoga 15
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 chantingLecture8.1
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48 Gita 6.1-3 Who is a Sannyasi and a yogi?Lecture8.2
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49 Gita 6.4 Yogi has freedom from dependenceLecture8.3
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49 b Gita 6.5-6 Being a friend to oneselfLecture8.4
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50 a Gita 6.7 Being a jitatma and free from oppositesLecture8.5
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50 b Gita 6.8-9 A yogi ‘s attitude towards objects and peopleLecture8.6
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51 a Gita 6.10 The preparation of Karma Yoga for a meditatorLecture8.7
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51 b Gita 6.11-14 Initial preparatory steps (place, asana etc)Lecture8.8
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52 Gita 6.15 Who is an accomplished personLecture8.9
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53 Gita 6.19-20 The mind of a yogiLecture8.10
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54 Gita 6.21-23 Reveling in oneself and Dissociation from the association with sorrow (3rd definition of Karma Yoga)Lecture8.11
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55 Gita 6.24 – 28 Dissociation from the association with sorrow and benefits of DhyaanamLecture8.12
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56 Gita 6.29 – 30 The vision of oneness/samenessLecture8.13
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57 Gita 6.31-34 The wise person and Arjuna’s question about not seeing the visionLecture8.14
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58 Gita 6.36 – 47 What happens to one who did not complete his Vedanta journey and praise of a yogi?Lecture8.15
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Jnana-Vijnana Yoga 16
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture9.1
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59 Gita 7.1-7.6 Introduction to Indirect and Immediate knowledgeLecture9.2
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59b Gita 7.4 – 7.6 Nature of IshvaraLecture9.3
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60a Gita 7.7 – 7.9 Manifestations of IshvaraLecture9.4
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60b Gita 7.10-11 Manifestations of Ishvara contd.Lecture9.5
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60c Gita 7.7-11 Q and ALecture9.6
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61a Gita 7.12-14 Mayashakti and crossing over MayaLecture9.7
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61b Gita 7.15-17 Four Types of devoteesLecture9.8
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61c Gita 7.12-17 Q and ALecture9.9
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62 Gita 7.16 Four kinds of devotees and their world viewLecture9.10
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62b Gita 7.18-20 Which among the devotees is one with IshvaraLecture9.11
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62c Gita 7.18-20 Q and A (Why more don’t take to Vedanta, Readiness, Journey of a Jijnasu etc)Lecture9.12
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63a Gita 7.21-22 How Bhagavan makes the shraddha strongerLecture9.13
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63b Gita 7.23-25 Why and what do people not know about Bhagavan?Lecture9.14
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63c Gita 7.21-25 Q and A (How shraddha for rituals grows)Lecture9.15
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64 Gita 7.26-30 How do devotees seek Bhagavan?Lecture9.16
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Akshara Brahman Yoga 17
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture10.1
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65 a Summary of first seven chaptersLecture10.2
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65 b Gita 8.1-5 Arjuna’s question about Brahman and what happens when a person diesLecture10.3
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65 c Gita 8.1-5 Q and ALecture10.4
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66 a Gita 8.5-8.6 Whom to remember before dying ?Lecture10.5
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66b Gita 8.7-9 How to remember Bhagavan?Lecture10.6
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66c Gita 8.5-9 Q and A Grieving and HealingLecture10.7
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67 a Gita 8.10-13 How to give up the body (for a yogi and jnani)?Lecture10.8
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67b Gita 8.14-15 How to reach Bhagavan and what happens after that?Lecture10.9
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67c Gita 8.10 – 15 Q and ALecture10.10
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68 a Gita 8.16-18 The lifespan of Brahmaji and the nature of the lokasLecture10.11
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68 b Gita 8.19-21 The play of manifest and unmanifestLecture10.12
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68 c Gita 8.16-21 Q and ALecture10.13
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69 a Gita 8.22-24 Who is the limitless purusha and where do meditators of Brahmaloka go?Lecture10.14
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69 b Gita 8.25-28 Where do karmis, mere ritualists go after death and who finally reaches Brahman?Lecture10.15
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69 c Gita 8.22-27 Q and ALecture10.16
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70 a Gita Ch 8 Q and A (post death rituals)Lecture10.17
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga 20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture11.1
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70 b Gita 9.1-2 What is the King of Knowledge and the King of Secrets and why?Lecture11.2
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71 a Gita 9.3 What is required for the knowledge and what happens to those who don’t seek it?Lecture11.3
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71 b Gita 9.4-5 Satyam (and Mithya)Lecture11.4
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71 c Gita 9.3-5 Gita (Q and A)Lecture11.5
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72 a Gita 9.6-8 Nature of Ishvara (and Maya shakti)Lecture11.6
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72 b Gita Despite manifesting Ishvara is unchangingLecture11.7
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72 c Gita 9.6-10 (Q and A)Lecture11.8
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73 a Gita 9.11-12 What happens to the ones who do not recognise Bhagavan as the lord of all beings?Lecture11.9
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73 b Gita 9.13-14 Qualities of the ones who seek Bhagavan ?Lecture11.10
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73 c Gita 9.11-14 Q and ALecture11.11
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74 a Gita 9.15-17 How to worship Bhagavan with jnana-yajna?Lecture11.12
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74 b Gita 9.18-21 How Bhagavan is one and distinct & What happens to people who go to svarga ?Lecture11.13
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74 c Gita 9.15 – 21 (Q and A – People who don’t have viveka, what to do when a person is bitter etc)Lecture11.14
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75 a Gita 9.22 How does Bhagavan support the jnani/mumukshu?Lecture11.15
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75 b Gita 9.23-26 Devotees who are committed to different ends and not Bhagavan; Bhagavan ‘s acceptance of the smallest offeringLecture11.16
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75 c Gita 9.22-26 Q and A (Bhagavan-Sakshi/experiencer)Lecture11.17
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76 a Gita 9.27-28 Which actions to offer to Bhagavan and the resulting maturity from this attitudeLecture11.18
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76 b Gita 9.29-32 ‘I am the same in all’ and different groups of people can still gain BhagavanLecture11.19
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76 c Gita 9.33-34 and Q and A The level of commitment in seeking BhagavanLecture11.20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhuti Yoga 22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhutih Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture12.1
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77a Gita 10.1-3 Introduction to the glories of BhagavanLecture12.2
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77b Gita 10.4-5 All dispositions and emotions are from BhagavanLecture12.3
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77c Gita 10.1-5 Q and A (Sadhana in Vedanta, Doing the right thing as jury, When people think you should not forgive etc )Lecture12.4
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78a Gita 10.6-7 Knowing the vibhuti of BhagavanLecture12.5
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78b Gita 10.8-9 What do wise people know about me and how does it show in their life?Lecture12.6
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78c Gita 10.6-9 Q and A (Vegetarianism, Socialising/Social pressure etc)Lecture12.7
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79a Gita 10.10-11 Whom does Bhagavan give knowledge to and what does he destroy?Lecture12.8
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79b Gita 10.12-19 Arjuna summarising his understanding of Bhagavan and making a requestLecture12.9
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79c Gita 10.10-19 Q and A (sharing of one’s life vibhutis and the question of creation)Lecture12.10
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80a Gita 10.20 Aham AtmaLecture12.11
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80b Gita The conscious being is free from roles (Guided meditation)Lecture12.12
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80c Gita 10.20 Q and A (Responses to meditation etc)Lecture12.13
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81a Gita 10.21-23 Bhagavan’s vibhutis beginLecture12.14
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81b Gita 10.24-26 Bhagavan’s vibhutis continueLecture12.15
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81c Gita 10.21-26 Q and A (Balance, Japa, Samskaaras, Where do thoughts come from?)Lecture12.16
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82a Gita 10.27-29 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Uchhaishravasa till Yama who disciplinesLecture12.17
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82b Gita 10.30-32 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Prahlada till Vada-discussionLecture12.18
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82c Gita 10.27-32 Q and A (the how of creation, the why of Bhagavan Krishna’s list)Lecture12.19
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83a Gita 10.33-35 Vibhutis – A among the letters till the Spring seasonLecture12.20
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83b Gita 10.36-42 Vibhutis – Game of dice etc All vibhutis are meLecture12.21
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83c Gita Vibhuti garland of blessingLecture12.22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga 3
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1 Comment
So, how often does one have कर्म योग attitude?
* श्लोक ३१ *
ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवा: ।
श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभि: ॥ ३१॥
भगवान् श्री कृष्ण: says – What I have said in terms of offering one’s कर्म to भगवान्, this should be done नित्यम् (always).
E.g. Some अश्रम-s have a timetable with कर्म योग scheduled for a specific time. But this slated कर्म योग is really a time-slot for collective सेव |
कर्म योग is not time-bound ~ there is no specific time to offer one’s कर्म to भगवान्, or to be accepting of others.
Collective सेव is good because depending on one’s personality/culture, the way things are done may be different, so there can be reason for disagreement, and then eventual acceptance & accommodation.
So, कर्म योग does not fit into a scheduled time slot. कर्म योग is a 365-24/7 disposition that one tries to bring into one’s life.
कर्म योग does not fit into the should/should not list that we create for ourselves. Relax. It is to see the vision, and approach with a gentleness towards oneself, but also be tough on oneself too.
So, the मानवा:(people) who follow this teaching and try to bring in कर्म योग, how are they supposed to do it?
Be equipped with श्रद्धा | श्रद्धा means trust. श्रद्धा does not mean faith.
I trust the Teacher who teaches about कर्म योग |
And अनसूयन्त: ~ I do not find fault with the teaching.
This is why giving the benefit of doubt to people is an important quality to develop.
How can one trust the Teacher if one does not trust one’s partner, children, co-workers?
We can look at 4 कृपाs(trusts)-
(i) आत्मा कृपा – Trust in oneself.
(ii) ईश्वर कृपा – Trust in भगवान्, or भगवान्’s grace.
(iii) शास्त्र कृपा – Trust in our शास्त्र |
(iv) पर कृपा – Trust in the other, whomsoever the other may be.
Everyone has faced situations where their trust has been affected.
It makes one not trust the other. One feels disconnected, isolated, lonely, always second guessing the other. There can be grounds for not trusting the other.
So, as a person, am I a trusting person?
Do I trust myself to do the right thing? When given a difficult situation, I trust myself to do my best.
And I trust the other. If someone says something, it is not that they have malice in their heart and they are out to get me; it is their प्रकृति | And similarly it is my स्वभाव that determines my hot-headed response.
श्रद्धा in Teacher is part of our needed 6-pack i.e. षट्क संपत्ति: (the 6-fold wealth) of a वेदान्त student.
श्रद्धा in शास्त्र does not come naturally, it comes from a trust in life.
This happens when one comes to terms with the कर्म in one’s life, and understands that no one deliberately gives me a tough time. I am only experiencing my own choices which have fructified. There is no one to blame.
And then, by extension one can have a working trust in the Teacher and the Teaching.
The Teacher comes with the package of the Teaching.
So, if one does not want to relate to the Teacher, then there is a problem.
Why not relate? Because all of us are rebellious, all of us struggle with authority. There are different ways that one’s rebelliousness manifests, e.g. not switching on one’s video during class. And then one makes excuses for this.
So, if I do not go along with a small, non-forceful request by the Teacher, then how am I going to listen to the words of the शास्त्र from the Teacher? Then, one will have doubts.
Or for instance if we get caught up in analyzing the personality or any idiosyncrasy (which we all have) of the Teacher, then the Teaching is lost since we were paying attention to प्रकृति instead of आत्मा |
The Teacher-student relationship is for the purpose of the Teaching, for nothing else.
Any criticism that the mind comes up with, e.g. maybe we should get a 20-point bullet point list of the class teaching etc., it is an unequipped अहंकार trying to take on the role of the teacher.
श्रद्धा वन्त: अनसूयन्त: मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभि: –
On the other hand, my trust in शास्त्र will bless me. Because I will accept the words of शास्त्र that reveal that I am limitless आत्मा, despite any कर्म that I do. I am free from all सत्त्व, रजस् & तमस् | So, with श्रद्धा, one is मुच्यन्ते कर्मभि ~ one is free from the effects of कर्म, only with self-knowledge.
Because the cause of all suffering is अपूर्णता & अविद्या | So, the only solution is knowledge.
So, more or less कर्म is not the answer. It is not to withdraw from all responsibilities and meditate in a cave. It is to recognize that I am not defined by the कर्म that I do.
This is a difficult concept to come to terms with as the media’s messages tell us that we are less or more because of what we do. Often one of the first questions asked in a conversation is ~ what do you do? And it is often profession-based.
Also depending on the outcomes of different life events, e.g. divorce, one defines oneself and one may feel bad about oneself. So, one allows कर्म to define me.
But शास्त्र tells that I am not कर्ता | I am अकर्ता, I am अभोक्ता, I am चैतन्य-consciousness. To be with this vision, I have to have trust, or else in the teaching there will be a lot of apparent contradictions in one’s mind.
Because at one point, the Teacher will talk about doing a lot of कर्म, and then later on the same Teacher/Teaching will say to withdraw from कर्म |
So, one must be present for the entire journey or else one only gets little bits & pieces. शास्त्र study is not a buffet-style approach where one chooses to accept part of the teaching and not accept another part. That is one’s रागद्वेष operating. Therefore, one should have श्रद्धा to see all of it.
Therefore, in traditional वेदान्त study, meeting with the गुरु from time to time is important; this is not just necessary when one has a problem.
This is an individual journey with a definite pursuit. Therefore, relationally one needs to have trust in one’s गुरु for their own sake. One has to trust the Teacher in order to trust the words of the Teaching.
One’s own personal study e.g. listening to many videos on one’s own, creates one’s own idea of the Teaching and this does not work.
* श्लोक ३२ *
ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् ।
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतस: ॥ ३२॥
With श्रद्धा/trust, one says that well वेदान्त says that I am limitless, however right now I feel limited, but I will enquire into this. This is a trusting & open attitude.
Whereas, those who find fault in the Teaching, will say that वेदान्त is rubbish.
Then, someone may even say things like- Swami-s are not to be trusted, that they hypnotize.
So, there are those who are critical for no reason.
For instance, some people actually start a sentence with ‘no’. It has become a part of one’s vocabulary, such that one is not even conscious of it.
E.g. if one keeps on telling a kid ‘no’, the kid will turn around and also say ‘no’ to one.
One can relate to this by trying not to say ‘no’ for one week, or even just for an hour.
This is not glorifying the word ‘yes’, but ‘no’ can indicate resistance to things, people and situations.
So, one can reflect on when to say ‘no’, as this can extend to one being critical of the Teaching.
So, what happens to such a person?
If a person does not have the विवेक to discriminate between what is eternal and what is temporary, it is likely that the person will be confused about what is the right thing to be done in a given situation i.e. धर्म versus अधर्म, e.g. speaking more or shouting less.
सर्वज्ञान ~ in all one’s interactions, in all different domains of knowledge,
नष्ट (destruction) ~ one is likely to be lost i.e. there is constant confusion about what is the right thing to be done.
E.g. should I give this person one more chance or not? etc.
Confusion in one’s mind on many things, will deplete one’s energy. This back & forth vacillating saps a lot of energy.
So, as one follows the vision, one should try to have a working trust, at least try to see if it works.
E.g. after cataract surgery, and the bandages come off, one insists on a guarantee from the doctor that one would be able to see, before one opens the eyes.
Really one just has to open one’s eyes to see.
So, similarly one has to open one’s eyes to the प्रमाण i.e. the means of knowledge that reveals the Truth. I have to allow the प्रमाण to work, so that much working trust should be there.
So, श्रद्धा is required for this learning.
The scenario is different in an academic setting. One is not asked to have श्रद्धा in the teacher.
But, in वेदान्त, the qualities of the अधिकारी are the required qualifications, not one’s secular qualifications.
So, there should be trust in life, in भगवान्, in कर्म, trust that pervades me.
So that one allows the शास्त्र to work.
Otherwise one remains lost, and cannot be freed from the hold of कर्म, and the cycle continues.
* श्लोक ३३ *
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि ।
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति ॥ ३३॥
Even the ज्ञानवान्-s (i.e. the one who has ज्ञानम्) i.e. the wise person, also behaves according to प्रकृति |
So, whatever action the ज्ञानवान् does, it is because of प्रकृति |
And भूतानि (all beings) follow their own स्वभाव,
निग्रह: किं करिष्यति~ then what is the use of control?
This is not a deterministic statement.
We see different ज्ञानी-s with different life trajectories.
For instance, Pujya Swamiji Dayananda Sarasvati traveled a lot, taught classes, and initiated a lot of projects.
Whereas his गुरु, Swami Tarananda Giriji lived quietly in Haridwar and said that I will only teach the people who come to Me.
So, each has their own स्वभाव, and we cannot say that one way is right and the other is wrong i.e. traveling the world versus staying in one place. Each has their unique प्रारब्ध and they don’t resist it.
Wisdom has nothing to do with one’s lifestyle. So though there may be different personalities, the knowledge is the same. But we tend to be judgmental.
But, the question arises- if one’s behavior is due to one’s स्वभाव, then should one attempt to control it?…श्लोक ३४