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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
-
-
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
-
46 a Gita 5.19-20 Freedom from the cycle of birth and death and extremes of emotionLecture7.15
-
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
-
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
-
-
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
-
-
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
-
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
-
68 b Gita 8.19-21 The play of manifest and unmanifestLecture10.12
-
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
-
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
-
-
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
-
81a Gita 10.21-23 Bhagavan’s vibhutis beginLecture12.14
-
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 10
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture13.1
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84a Gita 11.1-16 Arjuna’s request to see the cosmic form and Bhagavan’s responseLecture13.2
-
84b Gita Garland of Vibhutis and Q and ALecture13.3
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85a Gita 11.16-24 Arjuna awestruck by the cosmic formLecture13.4
-
85b Gita 11.25-33 Arjuna getting afraid, Krishna tells him to be a ‘nimitta’Lecture13.5
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85c Gita 11.16-33 Q and A What is the point of this chapter?Lecture13.6
-
86a Gita 11.34-40 Arjuna doing namaskaar to the cosmic form and sharing his wonderLecture13.7
-
86b Gita 11.41-54 Arjuna apologises for being casual, the return of Bhagavan to the Krishna form and the importance of bhaktiLecture13.8
-
87a Gita 11.55 Clarification about offering karma to BhagavanLecture13.9
-
87b Gita Ch 11 Discussion – Being an instrumentLecture13.10
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Bhakti Yoga 16
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Bhakti Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture14.1
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87c Gita 12.1-2 Arjuna’s question – Is meditating on Bhagavan or Brahman better?Lecture14.2
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88a Gita 12.3 The one who meditates on Brahman gains meLecture14.3
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88b Gita 12.4-5 and QnA The maturity and mastery of a person who meditates on BrahmanLecture14.4
-
89 Guru stotram on the eve of Guru PurnimaLecture14.5
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89a Gita 12.6-7 What does karma yoga with upaasana do?Lecture14.6
-
89b Gita 12.8-9 If karma yoga with upaasana is difficult what to do?Lecture14.7
-
90a Gita 12.9-10 Why Abhyaasa yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) is helpful for mastering the mindLecture14.8
-
90b 12.11-12 The ways of relating to Bhagavaan (Sequence of maturity)Lecture14.9
-
91a Gita 12.13 Signs of a jnani bhaktaLecture14.10
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91b 12.14-15 Signs of a jnani bhakta (contd.)Lecture14.11
-
91c Gita 12.13-15 Q and A Do Vedantins have extra miseryLecture14.12
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92a Gita 12.16 Qualities of the bhaktaLecture14.13
-
92b Gita 12.17-18 Qualities of the bhakta (contd.)Lecture14.14
-
92c Gita 12.18-20 Glory of bhakta and shraddha incl Q and ALecture14.15
-
93 Gita Ch 12 Group discussion – some observationsLecture14.16
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Kshetra-Kshetrajna vibhagah yoga 23
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture15.1
-
94a Gita Quick recap Ch 1 – 12Lecture15.2
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94b Gita 13.1-2 The kshetram (field) and kshetrajna (knower of the field)Lecture15.3
-
94c Gita 13.1-2 Q and A Am I the thoughts of the mindLecture15.4
-
95a Gita 13.3-6 More about the Kshetram, fieldLecture15.5
-
95b Gita 13.3-6 Guided Meditation on the Kshetra and kshetrajnaLecture15.6
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95c Gita 13.3-6 Q and A Sequence of manifestation, Knowing = BeingLecture15.7
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96a Gita 13.7 Intro to Value of ValuesLecture15.8
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96b Gita 13.7 Values contd. and AmanitvamLecture15.9
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97a Gita 13.7 Values are universal but not absolute Adambhitvam – absence of non pretensionLecture15.10
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97b Gita 13.7b Values contd. Ahimsa-non harming, Kshanti – AccommodationLecture15.11
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97c Gita 13.7c Values QnA Fear of hurting the other, What if the other does not give the same importance to the value like me?Lecture15.12
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98a Gita 13.7 a Values – Aarjvam, AcharyopaasanamLecture15.13
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98b Gita 13.7b ShauchamLecture15.14
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98c Gita 13.7c Values Q n A Applying the values etcLecture15.15
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99a Gita 13.7 Values – Sthairyam – SteadinessLecture15.16
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99b Gita 13.7b Atmavinigraha – Mastery of the mindLecture15.17
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99c Gita 13.8 Indriyaartheshu Vairagyamssion towards the sense objectsLecture15.18
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99d Gita 13.8 Anahankaara – Absence of prideLecture15.19
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99e Gita 13.8 Q n ALecture15.20
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100 a Gita 13.8 Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyaadhi-dukha-dosha-anudarshanam Seeing clearly the defects of pain in birth, death, old age and diseaseLecture15.21
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100b Gita 13.9 Asaktih-Absence of sense of ownership and Anabhishvangah – Absence of obsession towards the child, partner house and the likeLecture15.22
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100c Gita 13.8-9 Q and A Give and take in relationships, Parenting, Friendships drifting apart etcLecture15.23
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This fifth chapter of संन्यास-योग: is a further elaboration on Chapter Four where the nature of the आत्मा is unfolded and we understand that ज्ञानेन कर्म संन्यास |
So, कर्म is really not a problem, although it feels like a problem for a lot of us- to do, or not to do, or to do differently continues to be a perennial question. But that’s going to be the struggle as long as I identify myself as the कर्ता/doer.
So this identity as a doer, is what the विचार is into. Actually, it is आत्मा विचार |
But this doer who seeks to be significant, who seeks to have the need for approval met, who wants to achieve X-Y-Zed in life, this doer believes that by doing कर्म, different kinds of कर्म~ वैदिक कर्म (enjoined by the वेदस्), लौकिक कर्म, any kind of other exalted karma, that I will be okay, that my sense of inadequacy will go away. And that’s why we are furiously thinking about how to refine our कर्म | And then if you have a self-critic who is very much there for most people particularly वेदान्त students, so you will convert all knowledge into criticism of oneself. So that’s not helpful at all.
So recognizing the nature of the आत्मा, while doing कर्म also, one is free from कर्तृत्वम् | Free from कर्तृत्वम् means that one was always free from कर्तृत्वम् | It is not that you evolve with your साधना, that after doing a lot, then you finally retire. Then somebody will say only fools retire, what retirement? There is no retirement for me, I’m always involved in something or the other.
So generally how we look at कर्म~ Oh, at the end of the day, now relax, it’s been so hectic, so hectic. End of career, retirement, a reduction in कर्म | So our orientation is that a reduction in कर्म may be a reduction in कर्तृत्वम् (sense of doer-ship). But here again and again भगवान् emphasizes that कर्म is not opposed to ज्ञानम् | What is opposed to ज्ञानम् is the sense of कर्तृत्वम् that is born of अविद्या | If the sense of कर्तृत्वम् was real, then let us not struggle against it, let us reconcile with it. Okay, I have to do, it’s okay, I will struggle with my inadequacy, I will work on my self-esteem, all those things we can do, for lifetime to lifetime to lifetime, we can do. But कर्तृत्वम् is a temporary, temporal identity that is based on taking oneself as the body-mind-sense-complex only.
And so we get a glimpse of the fact that I am not the कर्ता because of the experience of deep sleep. I’m absolutely fine. No problem. A lot of us think we are indispensable. You really want to know how indispensable you are? You put your finger in a bucket of water and take it out. That’s how indispensable we are.
But without me nothing will happen etcetera, etcetera. Really, things may suffer a little bit here and there, but nothing much.
So, continuing with the theme of आत्मा being अकर्ता (never the doer), He speaks about what comes with कर्तृत्वम्-भोक्तृत्वम्, which is पुण्य & पाप, and that one is not affected by it. So he’s giving an example also, so that we are able to assimilate it better.
* श्लोक १० *
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति य: ।
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥ १०॥
ब्रह्मणि आधाय कर्माणि – all कर्म-s that are offered unto ब्रह्मन्,
How?
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा – giving up your सङ्ग i.e. रागद्वेष |
य: करोति – the one who,
gives up सङ्गं, and offers कर्म unto ब्रह्मन्,
न लिप्यते – is not affected.
But, first of all, I have very limited things and now you are asking me to offer, what shall I offer?
Also, I will offer something to someone who doesn’t have it.
So let’s say I have extra clothes, and maybe I want to dispose of it, because new ones have to come in. Or, I say- Oh, somebody will benefit, so I will give it away. So then that person doesn’t have the clothes that the person needs, and I offer it, I give it away. So, because of somebody else’s lack I make an offering.
Now what is the offering to be made unto ब्रह्मन्? Has ब्रह्मन्/ईश्वर asked me- Give me your wealth, surrender unto me, all that you have you please give me. No. Then what is the surrender we are talking about? What is this offering that we are talking about? Why to offer? What to offer?
When we do कर्म, we generally will offer it unto the altar of रागद्वेष | I want this outcome, whatever be the outcome. Therefore I am doing the कर्म | Fine. Thankfully at least you are clear about what you want, and that itself is quite something. Very good. Go for it.
Then, I rub against the order. Because suppose the result is not according to what I want.
Then I am frustrated. Then I go into a spiral of why this happened to me, why it did not happen to me. Why am I being denied despite all my effort, despite me being such a good person? Etcetera, etcetera.
So, the कर्मफल that I got in the form of a situation, a person’s reaction to me, or my own reaction to myself, I am not okay with it. I am resisting the order.
Suppose I’m looking for a partner. And then I did not get the kind of response I was hoping for. कर्मफल not up to expectation. What shall we do now? So there might be many reasons why the response did not come. One way is saying- oh what is deficient in me, what more I could have done etcetera, etcetera. Or you say, dump this person. Forget it. I am not worth this person. Something, however you deal with it. If my reaction to this situation persists for a very, very, very long time and I am repeating and regurgitating what could have happened, why it happened, why it should not have happened, etcetera, etcetera, then, on the face of it, I’m not happy with the result.
But the laws of कर्म that shape the result, that is what I am really resisting. Why? Because everything should be according to what I want. And there are 7 billion of us at least on this earth, and therefore, our matrix of कर्म interconnects and very often it might be in opposition.
For example- the child wants to play, but the mother wants the child to do homework. Look at the wonderful clash that happens on a day to day basis in some households. I want my daughter to keep the room clean, that’s the least I can expect after all that we do for you, and when I walk into the setup, it is stinking, etc, etc. So everything I’ve tried- I’ve persuaded, I’ve cajoled, I’ve threatened and complained, everything I’ve tried but nothing works. What shall we do? Reaction, build up.
So whatever be the कर्म, सर्वाणि कर्माणि in all your roles, you focus on what you need to do and offer it to भगवान्/ब्रह्मणि/ईश्वर/ब्रह्मन् with प्रासाद बुद्धि: | Because one way of talking about giving up results is that you’re fine with whatever results come your way. Fine means that you will not be absolutely fine. More or less okay. You are not defining yourself by the outcome of a situation. You see different situations, different results, they come and go and that’s okay. That’s all laws of कर्म and laws of कर्म are really भगवान् | Or, laws of कर्म are धर्म, and for us धर्म is not a mandate that is to be imposed upon us externally. Although there could be do’s and don’ts, the voice of धर्म is in your heart. That’s why the satisfaction of doing the right thing is there for all of us, irrespective of cultures, irrespective of age and stage in life. That we naturally want to do what is right. We feel we are integrated, we are okay, when we have done what is right. Although it may not be very popular sometimes, but it’s okay.
So, the offering is a recognition that all कर्म is possible because of धर्म, and धर्म includes the ability to do the कर्म, because you’re talking about laws. E.g. in the simple action of raising your arm, in that itself there is the धर्म of the hand, with so many muscles and organs of the body involved to make this action possible. And then there is the result- I wanted to raise it only so much, so only that much it has raised. But you ask people who are undergoing physiotherapy for a frozen shoulder. The person is saying- Lift, lift, lift. But the person can’t lift. What do you mean lift? No, I just cannot.
So the offering is unto धर्म, and धर्म is ईश्वर | So every कर्म is your worship. Naturally, you’re not going to offer anything rotten. You are going to offer something which involves your कौशलम् | You try your best, no half hearted attempts.
So because you don’t have सङ्ग to your रागद्वेष, you’re not nurturing your रागद्वेष | रागद्वेष is there, and भगवान् श्री कृष्ण never says do not have रागद्वेष | He doesn’t say that you are doomed if you have रागद्वेष | There is a recognition that everyone has some or the other रागद्वेष, no problem. And so we need not judge ourselves on the basis of our रागद्वेष | We tend to do that. This is why this is being emphasized.
E.g. I still want to have a successful career, or I want to have a child, or I want to marry, or I want to remarry, or I want the promotion, or whatever it is. You have the राग | Great. Fantastic. It’s all धर्म, अर्थ, काम | Then you work for it with सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा |
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा is not giving up attachment.
Because I wanted it, therefore I’m working for it. E.g. so much effort to get a job and despite the effort, jobs are not coming by easily these days.
So the सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा is giving up this attachment to the रागद्वेष |
Yes, the राग is there, and I work for it, I align it to धर्म and I trust that this offering of mine will be accepted. So then, so much of the resistance has dropped. Because a lot of our conflicts are because of resistance. We don’t want things to be how they are, situations to be how they are, people to be how they are. And closer home, I don’t want myself to be the way I am, I wish I was different etc. etc.
So this is the सङ्ग to रागद्वेष – This is how it should be. Why is it different? I don’t want it to be different etc., etc.
Because all the way you start with रागद्वेष; the biggest राग is that I am a कर्ता – see what all I achieved etc. etc.
So, in giving up कर्तृत्वम्, so you offer your कर्म, in other words you surrender, and therefore you are not affected by any पाप or पुण्य |
पुण्य is not specifically mentioned here, but you are not affected by पाप i.e. any kind of suffering.
Now another very beautiful metaphor is given. So the leaf of a lotus, when you try sprinkling water on it, these very beautiful translucent drops are perfectly formed. And then you can see the reflection of the surroundings in those drops if you look really closely~ very beautiful.
So the lotus continues to be in the water, in the pond, in the muck. At the same time it is untouched. The leaves are untouched.
And this is a very popular metaphor to indicate that one can be in the world but be untouched by the world. One need not go away, or one need not be so steeped in it that you drown, but you can be untouched. Untouched means not affected by whatever situations one faces because that is really पुण्य-पाप that is unfolding.
Some aches and pains- suddenly one fall, some fracture, some sprain. Or some attempt at hacking your account. Some little दु:ख/पाप, the person is not affected.
Basically the person is not affected by कर्मफल is what is being highlighted here.
So, do not convert this into saying that from now onwards, success or failure will not affect me. No. Don’t do that.
That you, however you interact and receive whatever you think is success and failure, learn to be compassionate to yourself. This is a very important lesson we all have to learn.
And actually, the good news is that we are supremely compassionate to our tongue. If accidentally, you sipped a very hot cup of coffee, or accidentally while biting into a chakli you bit your tongue. So chomp, chomp, chomp, and then you bit your tongue. What do you do?
How dare my tongue come in between, it should not have come in between. It has been moving around in my mouth for so many years, has it not learned the lessons of how it has to behave? Etc. Do you do such drama? No. You just say- oh, I better be more careful next time. That’s all. Are you going to dwell on it? Oh, you know, five years ago, my tongue came in between my teeth, and my teeth thankfully are sharp. And I was hurt. My tongue was hurt and I should not be hurt, and so much hurt was caused.
So, the mind is also part of you. Sometimes it will move in certain directions, you may not be happy with it. Maybe some course correction is required. It’s okay, relax. If you can be compassionate to your tongue, which is so brilliant in the way it works- just look at it, when you’re singing, when you’re eating, when you’re talking, when you’re breathing, or doing प्राणायाम and all that, it moves very differently at different times. It just obeys the master, and it’s not like you’re consciously thinking of how you want to move the tongue when you are sipping coffee vis-à-vis eating something really chewy. It has an intelligence of its own, it moves around, it’s fine.
And you can be so compassionate to your tongue, that same compassion we want to extend to the mind. So, try to understand the mind. The more you understand, and not saying necessarily that one has to go very deep into psychology, because modern psychology tends to be pathology based- ‘what’s wrong with you?’, that’s the orientation.
So just- okay, this is the way my mind is thinking, and I see it, and it’s okay, and I apply my mind for whatever other pursuits. That’s it, get on with it.
Oh, but I am affected. I am affected is one thing. But, I am affected because I’m affected.
This is classical, i.e. reaction to a reaction. Most of our suffering is because of a reaction to a reaction. I cannot accept that I was upset. Okay so the situation was like that, so I was upset. But why I was upset. I should not have been upset. So this has happened so many times. By now I should have been hardened and toughened, and I am upset now because I am upset.
So you can see how we can be build up reaction. In the name of self improvement, we build up reaction and ensure that we stay upset for a long, long time.
So I accept that I’m upset. I accept that I resist. Now what? Get on with life, that’s it. Then, there’s not much drama.
Now what shall we do? But I wanted some entertainment. Okay, then you watch something on TV. You don’t have to create extra drama for yourself.