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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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4 Comments
So these are the last few verses of chapter four~ ज्ञान-कर्मसंन्यास-योग: | The topic of this chapter has been संन्यास i.e. giving up completely.
Of what? Not ज्ञानम्; but giving up of कर्म through ज्ञानम् |
Otherwise in giving up, I may give up वेदान्त, but stick on to my कर्म because I’m obsessed with doing and deriving my identity from doing.
So anyway, संन्यास is completely giving up of कर्म through ज्ञानम् |
How is this possible? By recognizing the nature of the आत्मा~ as ever the non-doer, ever the non-experiencer.
So, the nature of the आत्मा that we have looked at is oneself, so one shouldn’t imagine something floating around that is आत्मा |
भगवान् has spoken of the different ways in which we can transform कर्म into कर्म योग with the attitude of surrender, with the attitude of offering which is born of understanding the reality- the reality is that whatever is around me, including this body-mind, is not really mine. All that I have, all that I see, all that I experience is given to me. Even the effort that I am able to put in i.e. the capacity to make the effort to make things possible, all that is given to me. So, कर्म योग is the disposition towards my कर्म, कर्मफल (the results of my कर्म) which is born from objectivity- that all that is here is given to me, and I make the most of it.
So, we looked at different ways in which कर्म can be transformed into कर्म योग | And why कर्म योग? Because we want to be awake to the reality. What is the reality? That I-आत्मा was never the कर्ता nor the भोक्ता |
So, to see this vision of the wise person/तत्त्वदर्शि spoken of in 4.18, we go through a certain process of preparing ourselves such that we gain the शुद्धि i.e. the freedom from my रागद्वेष, freedom from wanting to experience certain things, freedom from the addiction of wanting to feel good. Wanting to feel good is a big addiction, which all of us have- the भोक्ता/experiencer identity is very strong, so I want to feel good all the time, and cannot deal with discomfort of any kind, as one has become a slave of comfort. Comfort creatures/सुख-जीवी-s means that one needs some great infrastructure wherever one is going, because otherwise one may not be in a good mood, because a lot of things are required to make one’s mood okay.
So, we can imagine how much we are enslaved. And what is the altar? The great altar of our worship is our रागद्वेष- whatever I can do in service of my रागद्वेष(cravings & aversions) and then I am fine.
The greatest purifier is ज्ञानम्/knowledge.
भगवान् concluded 4.38 by saying that through this disposition of कर्म योग, in time you gain this ज्ञानम्/knowledge.
Now, भगवान् also mentions a very important qualification for ज्ञानम्/knowledge, which is श्रद्धा | This is an often-quoted verse similar to a मंत्र in छान्दोग्योपनिषद् – आचार्यवान् पुरुषो वेद |
The one who has an आचार्य, knows the truth. This is the declaration of the श्रुति |
So, you have an आचार्य/Teacher, then you know the truth.
If you are floundering around seeking, reading books, trying to understand, then you won’t know. Not that it’s a curse, but the method is such that you need to have a Teacher. So, what shall we do? This is how it is.
* श्लोक ३९ *
श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं तत्पर: संयतेन्द्रिय: ।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥ ३९॥
वान् or मान् ~ whenever it is attached to a word, means ‘the one who has’.
श्रद्धावान् – the one who has श्रद्धा |
What happens to this person?
That person, ज्ञानं लभते (gains the knowledge).
When?
तत्पर: संयतेन्द्रिय: अचिरेणाधिगच्छति |
अचिरेण- Immediately, quickly, no waiting.
What else does this person gain?
With that ज्ञानम् comes an absolute शान्ति: |
What else?
Along with श्रद्धा, तत्परत्वम् is important | तत्पर: is commitment.
And also, the person needs to be संयतेन्द्रिय: i.e. a master of his or her senses- how you are using your senses organs in terms of your eyes, nose etc.? Are you overwhelmed by what is being bombarded at you, or are you the master where you decide how you want to use, for what, how much and so on.
So ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा – gaining that knowledge,
परां शान्तिम् – absolute peace is gained.
So now this word श्रद्धा – people translate it as faith, but there is no accurate translation for श्रद्धा, so we stick to the word श्रद्धा | The closest English word for श्रद्धा is ‘trust’.
What do you trust? You trust the one who shares the knowledge/ज्ञानम् |
In तत्त्वबोधः which is a book of definitions of terms used in वेदान्त, श्रद्धा is defined as- गुरुवेदान्तवाक्यादिषु विश्वासः इति श्रद्धा । So, विश्वासः in the गुरु and वेदान्त |
गुरु is the one who is able to remove your ignorance. This is the true definition of a गुरु |
Then, trusting that that person will reveal the truth to me and I will understand, this is श्रद्धा |
But why should you have trust in a person? Nowadays we trust our dogs more, because trusting a person is very difficult.
All of us have to develop some trust in life. Because we start off very beautifully with complete trust. You completely trust your parents.
And we see the pictures of how we have been thrown up in the air and then held- You fully trust that whoever is throwing you up in the air, will hold you. So, imagine if at that time you started to think- I don’t know if this person is going to hold me, then from that time onwards you get a heart attack. It’s a blessing we have been given, which is also called the unconscious, which has its own method and madness within the context of modern psychology.
So, this ability to trust is there because of our sense of helplessness. Because as a child, for everything one is depending on adults (parents or caregivers). So, if one looks at this ईश्वर लीला- because there is helplessness, there is complete trust.
Imagine if there was helplessness, but you could not trust anyone, then you’ll just be crying all day and night, and be dead by now you know.
Then, slowly we realize that the people we trust, who we thought were perfect, they have some faults- sometimes minor, sometimes major. And, you can’t help it- that’s the process of growing up. You realize that your mother, who was always available to you, now has to run errands and cannot pay attention to you, or has to go to the toilet- and how dare she, how dare she leave me alone? But that is how it is. Or, I thought that my mother could take care of everything, but then when she saw a lizard on the wall, she started shouting, and so she also acted helpless. So, she cannot protect me from lizards. And my father is a very brave and courageous man, but the moment his boss calls, his voice changes, and he behaves very meek. So, I don’t know if I can trust. Generally, I can trust but I see a few limitations in the people around me.
Then, there are some small betrayals that all of us go through in childhood- your secret was revealed, your best friend did or did not do something, then boyfriend/girlfriend, partner, children, work…You thought that somebody had your back at work, but then that person betrayed you.
So, in the process of living, even if you’re 20 years old, you would have had enough heartbreak, not necessarily romantically, but someone who has let you down.
Now it’s another story- were you right in putting your trust in that person? We’re not going there. Whether you are right or not, your trust has been broken.
Some of us will still say- no, no, I can still trust a few others. But some of us withdraw into a shell and we become bitter and think that the world cannot be trusted, and so we are angry and sad, and so on.
And so now, it is this person in कलियुग who now wants to learn वेदान्त, and has read lots of books, and has done a lot of exploration, and then is told that वेद says- you need a Teacher. So, this person thinks- what rubbish, everything I figure out on my own. I can read books, I can figure it out.
But, the वेद that reveals the reality, also reveals the method. The method is that you have to be exposed to the one who is wielding the प्रमाण |
What does that mean? And why should I have श्रद्धा?
So here is where some of the talk about प्रमाण is important.
Now, whatever the Teacher says, the Teacher is not giving you information. This is unlike any other knowledge. Why? Because the Teacher is only scraping away ignorance. One already stands revealed. It’s really like the job of a sculptor. So, the sculptor is not creating, though on the face of it, the sculptor is creating. There is a big granite stone. And then with whatever tools the sculptor has, the sculptor will bang/chip away. For example, David by Michelangelo, was sculpted out of the softer stone of white marble, which would be easier to sculpt that granite. And so, suppose somebody is sculpting and banging away- you are already the आत्मा, so what does the Teacher have to do? The Teacher has to do some banging. What kind of banging? In order to take away the ignorance that is there.
Because of अविद्या/ignorance, there are a lot of mistakes we have made regarding our identity, and the कर्म and काम – So, I feel incomplete-> therefore I have to do. Then, no matter how much I do it is not enough. And then I’m on this hedonic treadmill- running & running, but still not okay.
So, to shift attention and say that all this incompleteness that you are feeling is not because you have not tried methods, techniques and processes. All of that is okay to manage life.
– But, what is your true identity?
~ Well of course, I am a human being.
– No, you are not a human being. You are the limitless having a human experience.
~ Oh, come on, don’t talk rubbish. Are you on some substance or something?
– No, that’s the truth. That’s what वेद says. Because it’s true the वेद says it.
So, this श्रद्धा ~ गुरुवेदान्तवाक्यादिषु विश्वासः इति श्रद्धा – how will you have trust in the Teacher?
You have to try, that’s the only way. And you see that what the Teacher is saying sounds
True, so maybe it’s true. So, you start entertaining the possibility.
Even my partner never says that I am the limitless. The Teacher is saying this and does not seem to have an agenda, so maybe it’s true.
So, then your working trust is good enough.
It’s like you sign up for any course. Let’s say you sign up for a course on ‘cryptocurrency decoded’. How do you know whether to sign up or not? You look at the credentials of the person giving the course. Then, you say- okay maybe I’ll give it a shot.
So, similarly, you look at the credentials of the गुरु | Does the person belong to a संप्रदाय? Is the person claiming to teach something that was revealed to him/her in one big dream? Is there a cult? Then all these things one has to watch out for. Does the गुरु have an agenda? Does the गुरु want to gain something from me, and so on and so forth. These are all alarm bells that will start ringing.
So, if this is no, and the Teacher is doing His/Her job, and you are welcome to join- then good.
So now it takes me some time to have working trust, because you remember, I’ve been betrayed in life. I don’t know if I can trust, and all the horrible stories that I have heard about गुरु-s – it’s like rotten apples in any place. So, any group of people who are doing similar things, it would be so very difficult to trust.
But what is the गुरु doing? Just sculpting away what you are not. And that’s only from the point of view of understanding.
How come the गुरु is able to do this? Because He/She had another गुरु | And what was being wielded? What was being wielded is the शास्त्र | Why do we need the शास्त्र? Because it is the sixth means of knowledge.
What do you mean ‘means of knowledge’?
Amazing! how did you transcribe this?
What an awesome job of transcribing! How do you do this?
Earlier Priya would painstakingly transcribe. Now she uses otter.ai which is a great transcription software and manages to get 95-98% accuracy.
The Sanskrit words may need to be entered in.
One can easily play the video on the laptop and switch on Otter while going about one’s errands and
return to the video the second time to fill up the Sanskrit words.