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Opening and closing prayer-chants 4
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Prayer-chant unto the guruparamparāLecture1.1
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Prayer-chant unto Bhagavān KṛṣṇaLecture1.2
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1 a Sankalpa for the Gita Amrtam courseLecture1.3
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Prayer-chant for the well being and prosperity of the worldLecture1.4
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Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam 6
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1 b Freedom from seekingLecture2.1
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1 c Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam verse 1Lecture2.2
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1 d Q &ALecture2.3
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2 a Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 2 – 4)Lecture2.4
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2 b Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 5 – 9)Lecture2.5
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2 c The context of the Gita – a glimpse of the MahabharataLecture2.6
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 9
Chanting only of Chapter 1 by Pujya Swami Dayananda ji
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 1Lecture3.1
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3 a The opening of the Gita 1.1-1.9Lecture3.2
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3 b The armies on both sides 1.10-1.20Lecture3.3
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3 c How to study and do sadhana of VedantaLecture3.4
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3 d Q & ALecture3.5
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4 a The situation of Arjuna 1.21-1.35Lecture3.6
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4 b Arjuna’s conflict and sorrow 1.36-47Lecture3.7
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4 Gita Q & ALecture3.8
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How to use the Slack communityLecture3.9
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Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 2 - Saankhya Yoga 46
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 2 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture4.1
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5 a Arjuna’s topical problem 2.1-2.7Lecture4.2
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5 b Arjuna’s transformation from friend to shishya and request for shreyas (moksha)Lecture4.3
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5c Q & ALecture4.4
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Overview of the ShaastraLecture4.5
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6 a Arjuna qualified with viveka and vairagyaLecture4.6
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6 Q and ALecture4.7
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7 a The teaching begins 2.11-2.13Lecture4.8
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8 a Guided meditation (Attitude to sukha and dukha) 2.14Lecture4.9
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8 b Who is fit for liberation 2.14-15Lecture4.10
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8 c Satyam (and mithya) 2.16Lecture4.11
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9 a Guided meditation (Panchamahabhutas and connectedness)Lecture4.12
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9 b Sat – all pervasive and indestructible 2.17-18Lecture4.13
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9 c Q & ALecture4.14
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10 a The one who knows the Atma to be neither the karta (doer) nor the bhokta (experiencer) 2.19-20Lecture4.15
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10 b Nature of the Atma 2.21-23Lecture4.16
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10 c Q & A (2.19-23)Lecture4.17
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11 a Neither Atma can be grieved for nor Anatma which is ever changing 2.25-29Lecture4.18
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11 b Q & A and a delightful enactment of the Atma and the two bodies (sthula and sukshma sharira)Lecture4.19
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12 a Atma is no cause for grief 2.30Lecture4.20
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12 b Arjuna ‘s svadharma as a kshatriya (and our svadharma) 2.31-39Lecture4.21
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12 c Q & A (Expecting moksha from being a perfect parent, Career choice, Dharma conflict etc)Lecture4.22
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13 a Introduction to Karma Yoga and clarity on self knowledge being the solution 2.39-43Lecture4.23
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13 b Q & A (Is samadhi experience enough? , If moksha is not my only goal 2.39-43 )Lecture4.24
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14 a Glimpse of being a master (Atmavaan) 2.45-46Lecture4.25
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14 b Choice in Karma but not in result (Famous verses) 2.47-48Lecture4.26
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15 a Karma Yoga – attitude to action and its results 2.48-50Lecture4.27
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15 b Group Discussion and insights – The classification of the day into the four pursuits – Dharma/Artha/Kaama/,MokshaLecture4.28
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16 a Group discussion and insights – What happens when one is money/partner/work/children obsessed?Lecture4.29
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16 b How can one have it all – money/partner/work/children? By Being Dharma centredLecture4.30
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16 c Freedom from bondage of karma 2.51 and Q & ALecture4.31
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17 a Karma Yoga in relationshipsLecture4.32
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17 b How Karma Yoga helps in self knowledge, Vairagya towards alternatives and Arjuna’s question about a wise personLecture4.33
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17 c Q & A (Managing employees, Distractedness, Clash of roles, Dealing with a dominating personLecture4.34
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18 a Signs of a wise person and Mastery 2.56Lecture4.35
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18 b Mastery of the mind and senses 2.57-58 (incl Q and A)Lecture4.36
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18 c How do you feel loved? (Podcast episode link) – Supplementary listeningLecture4.37
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19 a Mastery of the mind and senses 2.59-61Lecture4.38
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19 b Understanding the framework of anger(Dwelling on sense object-Attachment-Anger-Loss of memory of learning-Destruction of person)Lecture4.39
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19 c Discussion on Kaushalam and Samatvam (Duty, Road rage, Resolving misunderstanding)Lecture4.40
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20 a Self mastery and tranquility 2.64-66Lecture4.41
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20 b The vision of a wise person and the sadhana of self mastery (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.42
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20 c Q & A (Roles etc) (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.43
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Questions for reflection and making notes on Chapter 2 0 questionQuiz4.1
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21 a The connection of self mastery and inner dialogue with the younger you (incl. guided meditation)Lecture4.44
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Wrap up on Chapter 2 – Kaushalam, Clear understanding of why Vedanta is a solution, Managing a strong desire for marriage, Expectations from our childrenLecture4.45
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture5.1
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22 Arjuna ‘s doubt, ‘If knowledge is better than action why prompt me to do karma?’ 2 Lifestyles 3.1-5Lecture5.2
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23 a Quiet appearance but false front & Why karma yoga is better than karma 3.6-7Lecture5.3
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23 b Why karma is superior to inaction & Karma transformed into yajna 3.8-9Lecture5.4
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23 c Q & A (How much work is too much, Objectivity wrt pursuits )Lecture5.5
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24 a Karma as Yajna and recognition of Devatas 3.10-11Lecture5.6
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24 b Karma as pervaded by Veda 3.12-15Lecture5.7
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25 a Contribution to the cosmic wheel and the contentment of a wise person 3.16-18Lecture5.8
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25 b Why perform karma, Janaka, the wise king and role models 3.19-21Lecture5.9
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25 c Gita Q & A (Japa, Time for Vedanta, Delegation etc)Lecture5.10
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26 a Gita 3.22-25 No karma to be done by Bhagavan but still karma is doneLecture5.11
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26 b Gita 3.26-28 Karma impelled by Prakrti’s gunasLecture5.12
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26 c Q and A (Dharma, Rebirth)Lecture5.13
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27 a How can the wise person engage with those who are deluded by prakriti and its gunas and How to fight ?Lecture5.14
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27 b The role of shraddha in learning and how prakriti affects a wise personLecture5.15
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27 c Don’t some under the spell of ragas and dveshasLecture5.16
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27 d Discussion – Handling Differences, Managing ragas and dveshasLecture5.17
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28 a Svadharma is better than paradharma and the problem of (binding) desireLecture5.18
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28 b Knowledge (as though) clouded by binding desire and Atma untouched by it allLecture5.19
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28 c Guided meditation (Saakshi)Lecture5.20
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28 d Discussion (Processing a situation, The 4 aspects of a mind etc )Lecture5.21
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29 Ch 3 Discussion after small groups discussionLecture5.22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Jnana-Karmasannyasa Yoga 30
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture6.1
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30 a Greatness of the parampara 4.1-3Lecture6.2
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30 b The Why and What of an Avataara 4.4-8Lecture6.3
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30 c Gita 4.1-8 (Can a non sannyasi get jnanam and Can giving up desires lead to jnanam)Lecture6.4
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31 Discussion on the value of Dharma by looking at AdharmaLecture6.5
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32 a Reality of an Avataara and Levels of reality 4.9Lecture6.6
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32 b Taking refuge in Bhagavan and his blessings 4.10-12Lecture6.7
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32 c Gita 4.9-12 (Q and A) (Bindi, Dharma and religiosity etc)Lecture6.8
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33 a The Four fold Varna system 4.13Lecture6.9
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33 b Bhagavan Krishna as Karta and AkartaLecture6.10
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33 c Gita 4.13-15 (Q & A Vrata etc )Lecture6.11
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34 a Gita 4.16-17 What is karma and akarma?Lecture6.12
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34 b 4.18 The vision of a wise person about karma and akarmaLecture6.13
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34 c Gita 4.16-18 (Q & A – Work role, Healing karma etc)Lecture6.14
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35 a Atma as akarta and abhogta (non-doer and non experiencer) 4.18-19Lecture6.15
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35 b Aspects of Jnanam and lifestyle of grahastha and sannyasi 4.20-21Lecture6.16
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35 c Gita 4.18-21 Q & A (Clarifications of Akarta, Vedanta as a perspective, Being assertive)Lecture6.17
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36 Gita 4.22-25 Attitude of a wise person wrt gain/loss and life as yajnaLecture6.18
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37 a Gita 4.26-27 Self mastery of senses as yajna and Chariot imageryLecture6.19
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37 b Gita 4.28 Yajnas – Dravya, Yoga, Svadhyaaya etcLecture6.20
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37 c Gita 4.26-28 (Q & A – Social media response, You are bigger than your pain etc)Lecture6.21
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38 a Gita 4.29-30Lecture6.22
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38 b Gita 4.31-33Lecture6.23
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38 c Gita 4.29 – 33 (Q & A Soham, Misinterpreting the verse)Lecture6.24
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39 a Gita 4.34 How to relate to a teacher for knowledgeLecture6.25
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39 b Gita 4.35-38 The result of knowledge and What if one is a paapi?Lecture6.26
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39 c Gita 4.34-38 (Q and A – Making amends etc )Lecture6.27
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40 a Gita 4.39Lecture6.28
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40 b Gita 4.39 contd.Lecture6.29
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40 c Gita 4.40-4.42 (plus Q and A)Lecture6.30
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Sannyasa Yoga 20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 chantingLecture7.1
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41 a Gita 5.1-3 Sannyasa or Karma Yoga – Which is better? aLecture7.2
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41 b Gita 5.4 Are Sannyasa and Karma Yoga same?Lecture7.3
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41 c Assignment on Identifying Life prioritiesLecture7.4
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42 Discussion on Life prioritiesLecture7.5
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43 a The goal of Sannyasa and Karma Yoga as a lifestyle is oneLecture7.6
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43 b Vision of a wise person despite performing actionsLecture7.7
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43 c Gita 5.5-9 Reflections and discussionLecture7.8
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44 a Gita 5.10 The wise one who is not affectedLecture7.9
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44 b Gita 5.11-12 How do karma yogis perform karmaLecture7.10
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44 c Gita 5.13-14 Where does the wise being live and how?Lecture7.11
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45 a Gita 5.15-16 Atma is not affected by punya/paapaLecture7.12
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45 b Gita 5.17 Levels of commitmentLecture7.13
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45 c Gita 5.18 How does the wise person look upon a Brahmana, a cow etc Q & ALecture7.14
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46 a Gita 5.19-20 Freedom from the cycle of birth and death and extremes of emotionLecture7.15
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46 b Gita 5.21-23 The gain of happiness that does not change and the transitory nature of experiential happinessLecture7.16
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46 c Gita 5.19-23 Q & ALecture7.17
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47 a Gita 5.24-25 Videha mukti and the sukha of a wise personLecture7.18
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47 b Gita 5.27-29 Introduction to Dhyaanam and AikyamLecture7.19
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47 c Gita 5.24-29 Q & A (Imp of Asana, Desire fulfilment,Lecture7.20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Dhyaana Yoga 15
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 chantingLecture8.1
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48 Gita 6.1-3 Who is a Sannyasi and a yogi?Lecture8.2
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49 Gita 6.4 Yogi has freedom from dependenceLecture8.3
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49 b Gita 6.5-6 Being a friend to oneselfLecture8.4
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50 a Gita 6.7 Being a jitatma and free from oppositesLecture8.5
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50 b Gita 6.8-9 A yogi ‘s attitude towards objects and peopleLecture8.6
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51 a Gita 6.10 The preparation of Karma Yoga for a meditatorLecture8.7
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51 b Gita 6.11-14 Initial preparatory steps (place, asana etc)Lecture8.8
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52 Gita 6.15 Who is an accomplished personLecture8.9
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53 Gita 6.19-20 The mind of a yogiLecture8.10
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54 Gita 6.21-23 Reveling in oneself and Dissociation from the association with sorrow (3rd definition of Karma Yoga)Lecture8.11
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55 Gita 6.24 – 28 Dissociation from the association with sorrow and benefits of DhyaanamLecture8.12
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56 Gita 6.29 – 30 The vision of oneness/samenessLecture8.13
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57 Gita 6.31-34 The wise person and Arjuna’s question about not seeing the visionLecture8.14
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58 Gita 6.36 – 47 What happens to one who did not complete his Vedanta journey and praise of a yogi?Lecture8.15
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Jnana-Vijnana Yoga 16
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture9.1
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59 Gita 7.1-7.6 Introduction to Indirect and Immediate knowledgeLecture9.2
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59b Gita 7.4 – 7.6 Nature of IshvaraLecture9.3
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60a Gita 7.7 – 7.9 Manifestations of IshvaraLecture9.4
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60b Gita 7.10-11 Manifestations of Ishvara contd.Lecture9.5
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60c Gita 7.7-11 Q and ALecture9.6
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61a Gita 7.12-14 Mayashakti and crossing over MayaLecture9.7
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61b Gita 7.15-17 Four Types of devoteesLecture9.8
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61c Gita 7.12-17 Q and ALecture9.9
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62 Gita 7.16 Four kinds of devotees and their world viewLecture9.10
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62b Gita 7.18-20 Which among the devotees is one with IshvaraLecture9.11
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62c Gita 7.18-20 Q and A (Why more don’t take to Vedanta, Readiness, Journey of a Jijnasu etc)Lecture9.12
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63a Gita 7.21-22 How Bhagavan makes the shraddha strongerLecture9.13
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63b Gita 7.23-25 Why and what do people not know about Bhagavan?Lecture9.14
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63c Gita 7.21-25 Q and A (How shraddha for rituals grows)Lecture9.15
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64 Gita 7.26-30 How do devotees seek Bhagavan?Lecture9.16
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Akshara Brahman Yoga 17
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture10.1
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65 a Summary of first seven chaptersLecture10.2
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65 b Gita 8.1-5 Arjuna’s question about Brahman and what happens when a person diesLecture10.3
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65 c Gita 8.1-5 Q and ALecture10.4
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66 a Gita 8.5-8.6 Whom to remember before dying ?Lecture10.5
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66b Gita 8.7-9 How to remember Bhagavan?Lecture10.6
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66c Gita 8.5-9 Q and A Grieving and HealingLecture10.7
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67 a Gita 8.10-13 How to give up the body (for a yogi and jnani)?Lecture10.8
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67b Gita 8.14-15 How to reach Bhagavan and what happens after that?Lecture10.9
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67c Gita 8.10 – 15 Q and ALecture10.10
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68 a Gita 8.16-18 The lifespan of Brahmaji and the nature of the lokasLecture10.11
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68 b Gita 8.19-21 The play of manifest and unmanifestLecture10.12
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68 c Gita 8.16-21 Q and ALecture10.13
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69 a Gita 8.22-24 Who is the limitless purusha and where do meditators of Brahmaloka go?Lecture10.14
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69 b Gita 8.25-28 Where do karmis, mere ritualists go after death and who finally reaches Brahman?Lecture10.15
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69 c Gita 8.22-27 Q and ALecture10.16
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70 a Gita Ch 8 Q and A (post death rituals)Lecture10.17
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga 20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture11.1
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70 b Gita 9.1-2 What is the King of Knowledge and the King of Secrets and why?Lecture11.2
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71 a Gita 9.3 What is required for the knowledge and what happens to those who don’t seek it?Lecture11.3
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71 b Gita 9.4-5 Satyam (and Mithya)Lecture11.4
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71 c Gita 9.3-5 Gita (Q and A)Lecture11.5
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72 a Gita 9.6-8 Nature of Ishvara (and Maya shakti)Lecture11.6
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72 b Gita Despite manifesting Ishvara is unchangingLecture11.7
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72 c Gita 9.6-10 (Q and A)Lecture11.8
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73 a Gita 9.11-12 What happens to the ones who do not recognise Bhagavan as the lord of all beings?Lecture11.9
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73 b Gita 9.13-14 Qualities of the ones who seek Bhagavan ?Lecture11.10
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73 c Gita 9.11-14 Q and ALecture11.11
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74 a Gita 9.15-17 How to worship Bhagavan with jnana-yajna?Lecture11.12
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74 b Gita 9.18-21 How Bhagavan is one and distinct & What happens to people who go to svarga ?Lecture11.13
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74 c Gita 9.15 – 21 (Q and A – People who don’t have viveka, what to do when a person is bitter etc)Lecture11.14
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75 a Gita 9.22 How does Bhagavan support the jnani/mumukshu?Lecture11.15
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75 b Gita 9.23-26 Devotees who are committed to different ends and not Bhagavan; Bhagavan ‘s acceptance of the smallest offeringLecture11.16
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75 c Gita 9.22-26 Q and A (Bhagavan-Sakshi/experiencer)Lecture11.17
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76 a Gita 9.27-28 Which actions to offer to Bhagavan and the resulting maturity from this attitudeLecture11.18
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76 b Gita 9.29-32 ‘I am the same in all’ and different groups of people can still gain BhagavanLecture11.19
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76 c Gita 9.33-34 and Q and A The level of commitment in seeking BhagavanLecture11.20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhuti Yoga 22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhutih Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture12.1
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77a Gita 10.1-3 Introduction to the glories of BhagavanLecture12.2
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77b Gita 10.4-5 All dispositions and emotions are from BhagavanLecture12.3
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77c Gita 10.1-5 Q and A (Sadhana in Vedanta, Doing the right thing as jury, When people think you should not forgive etc )Lecture12.4
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78a Gita 10.6-7 Knowing the vibhuti of BhagavanLecture12.5
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78b Gita 10.8-9 What do wise people know about me and how does it show in their life?Lecture12.6
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78c Gita 10.6-9 Q and A (Vegetarianism, Socialising/Social pressure etc)Lecture12.7
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79a Gita 10.10-11 Whom does Bhagavan give knowledge to and what does he destroy?Lecture12.8
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79b Gita 10.12-19 Arjuna summarising his understanding of Bhagavan and making a requestLecture12.9
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79c Gita 10.10-19 Q and A (sharing of one’s life vibhutis and the question of creation)Lecture12.10
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80a Gita 10.20 Aham AtmaLecture12.11
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80b Gita The conscious being is free from roles (Guided meditation)Lecture12.12
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80c Gita 10.20 Q and A (Responses to meditation etc)Lecture12.13
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81a Gita 10.21-23 Bhagavan’s vibhutis beginLecture12.14
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81b Gita 10.24-26 Bhagavan’s vibhutis continueLecture12.15
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81c Gita 10.21-26 Q and A (Balance, Japa, Samskaaras, Where do thoughts come from?)Lecture12.16
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82a Gita 10.27-29 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Uchhaishravasa till Yama who disciplinesLecture12.17
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82b Gita 10.30-32 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Prahlada till Vada-discussionLecture12.18
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82c Gita 10.27-32 Q and A (the how of creation, the why of Bhagavan Krishna’s list)Lecture12.19
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83a Gita 10.33-35 Vibhutis – A among the letters till the Spring seasonLecture12.20
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83b Gita 10.36-42 Vibhutis – Game of dice etc All vibhutis are meLecture12.21
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83c Gita Vibhuti garland of blessingLecture12.22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga 3
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1 Comment
+ Role play between आत्मा & कर्ता-भोक्ता – these deliberate, theatrical exercises drive home the point better sometimes +
Understanding the आत्मा is not denying the experiences of the कर्ता-भोक्ता |
Yes, कर्ता-भोक्ता is going through a tough time, and I am in and through that.
Swaminiji has previously done a podcast on this – So we want to alternate between सखा भाव and साक्षी भाव |
What does this mean? That when the experiencer is going through a lot of overwhelm, then the way you talk to yourself has to be as a सखा/friend. Don’t talk about the आत्मा | No, just don’t.
At other times when you’re doing the inquiry, then- I am aware of this, I am aware of the doer, the experiencer and so on, and all that. And you see that more clearly.
So it’s like the army that is preparing for war. On the eve of war, you are not going to say- Oh, I am साक्षी | You want to slap someone, but you say I am साक्षी | If indeed you see the truth, you will not want to slap that person.
So सखा भाव because we want to function according to धर्म, and we start with being friendly to oneself. Be kind, be supportive, be encouraging because that’s what you need if you’re going through overwhelm.
And then when you are a little more settled, either you say this too shall pass, which is a great reminder of the truth, and you say I am in and through all of this. I am in and through the anger.
आत्मा is not denial of anger. आत्मा supports your anger actually, आत्मा supports your sadness, आत्मा is present in and through.
Just like the light that you see. If one is asked what do you see, you will say- Oh, I see you, and I see one plant, and a picture, and all that. But there is light which is taken for granted. You see the light and everything else is seen in the presence of that light.
And so आत्मा is not opposed to कर्ता-भोक्ता |
Otherwise we will only be looking at आत्मा as the manager of the experiencer.
So, you want to calm down, so therefore you objectify. Then what will happen is you will be dissociated, and people will think well, what’s wrong with you, you’ve become very cold, very uninvolved, unaffected, like I can’t relate to you anymore. Because you think आत्मा is separate like CCTV, watching कर्ता-भोक्ता | No.
So this आत्मा is ever revealing, self-revealing.
Then, in terms of degree of commitment, the next verse follows-
* श्लोक १७ *
तद्बुद्धयस्तदात्मानस्तन्निष्ठास्तत्परायणा: ।
गच्छन्त्यपुनरावृत्तिं ज्ञाननिर्धूतकल्मषा: ॥ १७॥
So some words are being used here to indicate the level of commitment to the मोक्ष pursuit.
The word तत् is a pronoun for That.
Who is That?
That is ब्रह्मन्, That is ईश्वर |
(i) तत् बुद्धि: – the one whose बुद्धि:/intellect is awake to ब्रह्मन् i.e. the one who has some insight, who appreciates the inquiry, may not fully understand, but recognizes that yes this inquiry is there, yes I may have got some insights, and it’s important to me. Just like earning a living is important to me. Managing my relationships is important to me. Doing good is important to me. So, just like that, this मोक्ष pursuit is also important to me. I give some time, effort, energy in all my other pursuits of धर्म, अर्थ, काम; I also give some time and attention to the मोक्ष pursuit.
(ii) तत् आत्मान: – Then, the more you find the time and leisure to appreciate this knowledge, and as it starts to flow a little bit more in your life, then that person is तत् आत्मान: |
It could be the same person who goes through different stages of commitment, or it could be referring to different people who have different levels of commitment to the मोक्ष pursuit.
तत् आत्मान: ~ That ब्रह्मन् that is spoken of is me. I have a deeper understanding of that, or I abide more in this understanding.
(iii) तत् निष्ठा: – निष्ठ is lifestyle commitment. So for the one who is committed only to this, which is a जिज्ञासु | So the one who wants to know. Yes I get on with all other things in life, but this is such an important commitment that I give it some time, some effort and attention. In fact, a lot of my pursuits revolve around मोक्ष pursuit. So, it is this जिज्ञासु, the one who wants to know, the one who has जिज्ञास, and in time that person will become तत् परायणा: |
(iv) तत् परायणा: is the the ultimate goal; referring to ब्रह्मन् only.
So for whom the truth is accomplished, in the sense the one who sees that I was already accomplished.
There is one very beautiful book called ‘Accomplishing the Accomplished’, a book on वेदान्त by one of Pujya Swamiji’s students who teaches academically, Prof. Anantanand Rambachan.
So you accomplish what is unaccomplished. Correct? I don’t have money, I work for it. I don’t have enough pleasure in my life, then I do something about it.
But this is such a weird pursuit. Because I’m already the आत्मा, but I am pursuing the आत्मा |
So, on the face of it, it’s ridiculous. But since आत्मा is not known, therefore there is an as though gain, an as though commitment, and so on.
So for this person, the truth is very clear.
And for for such a person, what happens is कल्मषा:/impurities, i.e. whatever impurities are there, they have been destroyed by ज्ञानम् |
And as a result of that,
गच्छन्ति अपुन: आवृत्तिम् – so they’re not going to come back again.
Meaning they’re not going to have the cycle of birth and death.
So what do you mean, I will die? No, you’re one with ईश्वर, you’re always here.
In the second chapter we saw that either you are going to be having lifetime after lifetime, so anyway you are here, always around. Or you are one with ईश्वर | You won’t have a form in that sense. But you’re always here.
So no cycle of birth and death. In other words, no संसार, no cycle of becoming.
Then what are these impurities/कल्मषा:?
In वेदान्त we talk about three kinds of impurities-
1. मल – means रागद्वेष | मल generally means some dirt. Something that colors one’s understanding and therefore dealings with life.
E.g. I hate people who belong to that community~ द्वेष | I love these people who belong to a particular community, I only hang around with them ~ राग |
This is referred to as मल/impurity. Why?
Because it prevents me from being in touch with functional reality.
And so one can get on the self improvement trip and say- Oh, I have to deal with my रागद्वेष | Well, the way you deal with it is to offer it to ईश्वर |
That yes, I find this particular community annoying, let’s say I want to avoid them at all costs. But I will act according to the धर्म of the situation, and all my angst I offer it to you ईश्वर, you please take.
So रागद्वेष is not determining my life, and my mood. The great mood, because we are all very moody people, so रागद्वेष is not determining by mood.
Whatever has to be done I do, and in time रागद्वेष does not define me. It does not determine my mood.
2. विक्षेप – means some sort of projection or disturbance.
Now let’s say that I have managed to neutralize a lot of रागद्वेष with कर्म योग बुद्धि: and all that, so I’m more or less okay. I have some preferences, they are not so binding any more, but I am always distracted.
Just can’t sit still. Luckily for this group, most of us are 35+, so we are not the millennial generation, for whom it’s like everything is buzzing all the time, so much distraction.
So this distraction, each will understand what level of focus one has, when you sit for जप |
Just sit for जप, you will know how you go across on world tour or across galaxies, past, present, future, all the way everywhere.
And that’s why we give a repetitive thought- just stay with the sound; you’re staying with the deity actually, staying with the मंत्र | The मंत्र is the sound form of the deity. Stay. Going here and there, everywhere, you come back, come back, come back, come back. Don’t have to be judgmental of yourself. Just come back. That’s the discipline.
So this विक्षेप is another impurity.
And for that साधु-s sit for hours and hours doing जप | Because one needs a very focused focus. Because the subject matter is like this.
Anything you are pursuing requires some focus. But here because we tend to get distracted, or we distract ourselves, because some things become uncomfortable.
It’s like on a daily basis this happens I’m sure with everyone. You have at least two important tasks to do that day. Then you are dilly-dallying to get into the right mood, or doing some other admin stuff, saying that I’ll get to that soon. Why? Because I don’t want to start feeling uncomfortable in the beginning of the day. I want to feel nice. And then when I have to rush rush rush because there’s not much time ~ so विक्षेप, disturbance/ projection.
3. अज्ञानम् – this is the biggest one, because of which I make wrong conclusions about myself.
And then I say- Oh, I am a list of my favorite things, रागद्वेष | And then I only hang out with these people, and I feel very special about myself. You know, I am a वेदान्तिन् | So this is snobbery. Don’t think very highly of yourself because you’re pursuing वेदान्त | Oh those people are द्वैत, those people are just doing प्राणायाम | Sometimes in class to point out the limitations of a method one may say that, but it’s possible that we may unconsciously pick it up. So there is no need to feel superior because you are pursuing वेदान्त | Because it becomes one more thing to struggle with. Because I feel insignificant, I say~ Oh, I’m a योगी, or I am a meditator, and I chant मंत्र-s and one feels so unique and so special; but hello- you’re still identified with body-mind.
अज्ञानम् has not gone.
So there are subtle ways in which these impurities affect us. But for these groups of people for whom it’s a commitment.
Commitment- don’t conjure fancy ideas. It is just about being consistent with something that is important to you.
And for every single person and for all संन्यासी-s also, there will be phases when you’re very involved with whatever is the pursuit, and then at times you’re just sailing, you’re just floating. Then sometimes you are like okay, not a big deal, not as involved. But the way we perceive our involvement, we have a judgment on that. And then we’ll say- Oh, I’m falling off the track, but all this is not required at all. The ship never sails in a straight line, with all the fancy GPS and whatever else. It stays on track for sure, but moves a little bit here, a little bit there.
So we want to review the kind of commitment we have to earning money and to seeking pleasure. Is that a pursuit? Yes. Are there days that you are not having fancy meals? Yes. Are there days that you are on medical leave, casual leave, privilege leave, whatever leave? Yes. Does it mean you have no commitment to earning money? No. Or you’re just cruising along, whatever in your relationships etc. Nothing fancy, nothing earth- shattering is happening. Are you still involved? Yes.
Then why when it comes to मोक्ष, why would you make that judgment? Okay, there are phases when there are lots of things happening, maybe you kind of fall off the grid, but if it is an important commitment then you’ll come back to it. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, anyway.
So talking about degrees of commitment, it depends on what is your level of विचार |
So to the extent that you have done the correct diagnosis of the human problem, to that extent you will make time, effort, attention for this, and of course it also depends on age and stage of life.