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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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*श्लोक ११*
कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि ।
योगिन: कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वात्मशुद्धये ॥ ११॥
So these योगिन: i.e. these कर्म योगी-s, what do they do?
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा |
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा is spoken of here again, and again in verse 12, but in 12 it is specifically कर्मफलम् त्यक्त्वा (giving up).
So what do these योगी-s do?
योगिन: कर्म कुर्वन्ति – they perform कर्म |
How?
With their body/काया, their mind/मनसा, intellect/बुद्ध्या (these are in 3rd case Sanskrit).
And also with their sense of इन्द्रियै: अपि |
But that everyone does, so what is so special about this?
The difference is that they do सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा i.e. they give up the dependence, the obsession with results. In other words, they try to see different situations as प्रसाद |
And why are they doing all this song and dance, for what? Oh, for आत्मा शुद्धि: |
आत्मा is anyway नित्य बुध शुद्ध मुक्त स्वभाव | So आत्मा here is referring to the अंतःकरण/mind.
So, for आत्मा शुद्धि: means for अंतःकरण शुद्धि: |
Now, this अंतःकरण शुद्धि: project can seem like a lifetime project. That’s why we have to learn to be compassionate with ourselves. Because if you are in this for the long haul, then you will sooner or later beat yourself up. What, I can’t even get over this राग of chocolate, I tried so hard, I just cannot give this up. It’s okay, relax. You do what you can.
When we are looking at अंतःकरण शुद्धि:, we mean a relative freedom from our रागद्वेष |
Now if you’re going a little deeper into this, then अंतःकरण has three components together with the अहंकार, holding the functions of the अंतःकरण/mind/inner instrument.
So how can the अहंकार be शुद्ध ? शुद्ध meaning you are free from रागद्वेष-s related to your self concept~ This is how I should be perceived. This is how I must be treated. People will treat you the way that they can best treat you.
Everyone has an idea of ‘this is who I should be’. But the word ‘should’ has a very absolute quality to it. And that pressure that we create on ourselves by the word ‘should’ doesn’t allow us to breathe, doesn’t allow us to be.
Yes, ‘should’ was important in childhood for discipline and so on and so forth, but what does अहंकार शुद्धि: mean? Real शुद्धि: in that sense is only seeing that you don’t have an अहंकार | That अहंकार is understood as the आत्मा |
Until then, अहंकार stays surrendered. अहंकार is now a भक्त in relation. Always in connection with भगवान्, so ever purified.
When I see my connection with भगवान्, then I am not this suffering, isolated, alienated individual, at least one connection I have. Maybe I’m a little disconnected with other few people, in time it will come back, but at least with भगवान् I am connected. And all that is here is given to me- body, mind, senses, abilities are given, given, given. So then अहंकार stops bothering me, it’s functional- I can get things done, I do, whatever I need to do I do.
Then what about शुद्धि: of चित्तम् ? Because there are four functions of the अंतःकरण/inner instrument- चित्तम्/memory, बुद्धि:/intellect, and मन:/mind(desires, emotions, etc.). Can you have शुद्धि: in the desires and emotions? Well it’s all a part of the order- anger, frustration, rage, sadness, disgust, excitement, cheerfulness, etc. It’s all a part of the psychological order. There is some cause-effect relationship between all of it.
So whatever is there in the mind is either because of the present situation, or largely because of how I’m reacting to the past. So residue might be there, or whatever build up, I have not resolved certain issues maybe. So there is guilt about certain things, there might be anger about certain things, and so on.
Then the बुद्धि:, what is the शुद्धि:(purity) of the बुद्धि:? The बुद्धि: can be purified only by aligning oneself to functional reality at least. How will you take decisions if you don’t know if this is a mirage or what? If you’re going in the desert, this is a mirage? Yes, no, I don’t know? So you need some certainty. बुद्धि: is for decision making, whatever decision making. So you are open to facts. You are not afraid like the ostrich who buries the head in the sand. It doesn’t want to face reality. Reality is all around but no no, I don’t want to face it, I just escape. So how शुद्धि: will take place?
When we say अंतःकरण शुद्धि:, we have to dwell on what that is. That the अहंकार is free from रागद्वेष |
रागद्वेष have come from patterns, but they are all a part of the psychological order. If I resist the psychological order, I’m resisting myself, I’m resisting भगवान् | Is it helping me? No.
Then how can I purify the बुद्धि:? By aligning myself to reality. What is functional reality? It is ईश्वर विभूति(Glory) | Everywhere, all manifestations, everything. It’s all the glory of ईश्वर | So all the way then the अहंकार is not struggling-अहंकार anymore.
One may still be struggling with situations. Maybe I still need to acquire certain skills, maybe I’m upgrading my portfolio. But the अहंकार is so aligned to reality, is accepting of facts, is cheerful because of recognizing blessings all the way every day. Then अहंकार no longer is struggling. अहंकार is in harmony with what is.
We need to be in harmony with what is relatively speaking first, before you are able to appreciate the absolute reality, that is in and through all the व्यवहार |
So with whatever instruments that have been given, what do the कर्म योगी-s do? Yes, there are रागद्वेष-s.
But, they perform कर्म because they know that whatever be the outcome of the कर्म that I do, it’s not going to be enough for the unwept sorrow that is there in my heart.
What is this unwept sorrow? The sorrow of the human condition.
So I may have topical sorrow because of a situation, some event or something. So maybe that is also unwept. If it is unwept, then please cry, howl, scream, whatever you need to do you please do.
But this is the helplessness of being the human being. The limitation that despite everything it will all come to an end one day, whenever that is.
A child was writing his homework. The teacher said to write your five top wishes. The first wish the eight-year-old child writes is that I don’t want to die. Why? Because if I die, then with rebirth I may have some other mother and father, and I don’t want that, I want only this mom and dad.
So this 8-year-old is saying that I don’t want to die. Already the sense of limitation is being experienced. Of course generally the limitation is- Oh, you’re not allowing me to play, what is this? But here, I don’t want to die. I don’t want what I’m going through to come to an end.
This is the sorrow we all have.
Then the only way out is not to do positive thinking. The way out is to say- is it real? Is this human condition absolutely real? Or is it something that is a superimposition on the Truth. That’s all what the विचार is about.
So this कर्म योगी knows that whatever I do, I am not going to be satisfied. And this is a moment of great clarity. It is not a moment of resignation. It’s a moment of great clarity that whatever I do, I will never be fully satisfied with it. Because the nature of every कर्मफल limited. The nature of कर्म is limited. What will satisfy me is only that I see I am the infinite. Only the infinite can satisfy me, nothing else. And so we can really enjoy our lives because we don’t burden a limited कर्मफल with infinity.
So the फल, e.g. the apple is limited, it will last for so long, you enjoy, that’s it, over. Some more कर्मफल is there- mangoes are there, enjoy for this season, then it’s over.
So then what happens to such a person, this कर्म योगी?
*श्लोक १२*
युक्त: कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा शान्तिमाप्नोति नैष्ठिकीम् ।
अयुक्त: कामकारेण फले सक्तो निबध्यते ॥ १२॥
So this person who is together, who is a कर्म योगी,
कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा – The person is working for the कर्मफल knowing that for my emotional growth I need this right now, in this stage of my life. And I will learn to be okay with whatever comes. I have given my best to this situation. I’m not going to define myself by the outcome of the situation but at the same time I really want that promotion, or whatever it is.
So learn to hold paradoxes. This is very important. Because वेदान्त is presented in lots of paradoxes. Otherwise we get into categorical thinking. You can hold both, both of these seemingly apparently contradictory paradoxes. What is that?
I work, I want the result, and yet I am free from the result. I am not going to define myself by the result. It kind of seems seems contradictory, it’s not.
So you work towards the result/कर्मफल, but you know very well that you stop having a say the moment you drop the ball from your hand from six floors above. It’s no more in your hands. When the ball was in your hand, then whatever you wanted to do, then that’s fine. But let’s say you throw it with some force. It’s out of your hands literally and metaphorically. Then the laws of nature, gravity, etc. will take over. You have nothing to say, even if you want to say you can go on saying. It’s out of your hands. The laws of nature, the laws of gravity, the laws of कर्म, everything will shape it.
So that is कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा | कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा is NOT the ad nauseam repetition of~ work without expectations etc. No.
And by doing this कर्मफल त्यक्त्वा, there is so much relaxation, so much शान्ति |
शान्ति we translate as peace of mind, but here,
शान्तिम् आप्नोति नैष्ठिकीम् –
नैष्ठिकीम् is referring to a certain commitment that comes from a life of कर्म योग |
So the शान्ति can be relative. E.g. you went to a place, and there’s lots of greenery and there’s a nice stream and there’s beautiful sunlight. So you see it and you feel peaceful. Or you listen to some nice Japanese music- so nice, so peaceful. So, situational शान्ति, related to something.
The nature of the आत्मा is पर-शान्ति i.e. absolute शान्ति which can hold any conflict. So, not absence of conflict. आत्मा accommodates order, disorder, conflict, no-conflict.
Often the example that is given is that of the white-screen in the theater movie. The theater screen is there, and then different movies are screened on it. So different categories are there- romance, comedy, thriller, horror. So like that on the screen of your life i.e. the awareness that you are, different movies get screened. So there are certain phases- certain phases are very tragic, some are very funny, and then some are thrillers, all the time thrilling. It’s like a roller coaster ride. Though all this is going on, the screen is untouched.
Suppose there is a blazing forest fire in this movies. Then is the fire brigade called? Oh, we have to extinguish the fire. No. The screen always remains untouched.
So this is that शान्ति | That the one who is aware of all this drama, the one who is aware of how the कर्ता is moving around in the world, how the experiences are being experienced, all that whatever drama, whatever movies are being projected. That I am that पर-शान्ति, absolute शान्ति in which all this प्रकृति, the play of the गुण-s happens, and that’s fine.
So again, the कर्म योगी gains this शान्ति: because of the commitment to कर्म योग |
Not that- oh, this कर्म I like to do, so yes of course I offer it to ईश्वर; Other things- no that I don’t. So, not like that, not selective.
And then the first line of the श्लोक is contrasted with the second one which is-
if the person is अयुक्त: i.e. NOT a कर्म योगी, but a simple कर्मी,
then what is it that guides the person?
काम i.e. binding desire. So things have to be done in this way only. So when desire leads you like this, and especially binding desire, then what happens?
We are so obsessed with the outcome. We cannot sleep for nights- what’s going to happen, what’s going to happen, I hope it works out, I hope it works out etc.
So, सक्त: निबध्यते – that I am bound, I feel trapped, I feel stuck, because I am not getting the result that I want.
When something determines my mood, then I’m stuck. So we have to understand what this being bound means. That I am not able to do what needs to be done because I feel stuck because things didn’t happen in a particular way.
So on the other hand, the one who knows… And here भगवान् is not really talking so much about the one who knows the Truth, but just a commitment to a life of कर्म योग, working towards the goal of self discovery. Having some insights, one recognizes that I am like that screen that is untouched.