-
Opening and closing prayer-chants 4
-
Prayer-chant unto the guruparamparāLecture1.1
-
Prayer-chant unto Bhagavān KṛṣṇaLecture1.2
-
1 a Sankalpa for the Gita Amrtam courseLecture1.3
-
Prayer-chant for the well being and prosperity of the worldLecture1.4
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam 6
-
1 b Freedom from seekingLecture2.1
-
1 c Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam verse 1Lecture2.2
-
1 d Q &ALecture2.3
-
2 a Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 2 – 4)Lecture2.4
-
2 b Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 5 – 9)Lecture2.5
-
2 c The context of the Gita – a glimpse of the MahabharataLecture2.6
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 9
Chanting only of Chapter 1 by Pujya Swami Dayananda ji
-
Bhagavad Gita Ch 1Lecture3.1
-
3 a The opening of the Gita 1.1-1.9Lecture3.2
-
3 b The armies on both sides 1.10-1.20Lecture3.3
-
3 c How to study and do sadhana of VedantaLecture3.4
-
3 d Q & ALecture3.5
-
4 a The situation of Arjuna 1.21-1.35Lecture3.6
-
4 b Arjuna’s conflict and sorrow 1.36-47Lecture3.7
-
4 Gita Q & ALecture3.8
-
How to use the Slack communityLecture3.9
-
-
Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 2 - Saankhya Yoga 46
-
Bhagavad Gita Ch 2 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture4.1
-
5 a Arjuna’s topical problem 2.1-2.7Lecture4.2
-
5 b Arjuna’s transformation from friend to shishya and request for shreyas (moksha)Lecture4.3
-
5c Q & ALecture4.4
-
Overview of the ShaastraLecture4.5
-
6 a Arjuna qualified with viveka and vairagyaLecture4.6
-
6 Q and ALecture4.7
-
7 a The teaching begins 2.11-2.13Lecture4.8
-
8 a Guided meditation (Attitude to sukha and dukha) 2.14Lecture4.9
-
8 b Who is fit for liberation 2.14-15Lecture4.10
-
8 c Satyam (and mithya) 2.16Lecture4.11
-
9 a Guided meditation (Panchamahabhutas and connectedness)Lecture4.12
-
9 b Sat – all pervasive and indestructible 2.17-18Lecture4.13
-
9 c Q & ALecture4.14
-
10 a The one who knows the Atma to be neither the karta (doer) nor the bhokta (experiencer) 2.19-20Lecture4.15
-
10 b Nature of the Atma 2.21-23Lecture4.16
-
10 c Q & A (2.19-23)Lecture4.17
-
11 a Neither Atma can be grieved for nor Anatma which is ever changing 2.25-29Lecture4.18
-
11 b Q & A and a delightful enactment of the Atma and the two bodies (sthula and sukshma sharira)Lecture4.19
-
12 a Atma is no cause for grief 2.30Lecture4.20
-
12 b Arjuna ‘s svadharma as a kshatriya (and our svadharma) 2.31-39Lecture4.21
-
12 c Q & A (Expecting moksha from being a perfect parent, Career choice, Dharma conflict etc)Lecture4.22
-
13 a Introduction to Karma Yoga and clarity on self knowledge being the solution 2.39-43Lecture4.23
-
13 b Q & A (Is samadhi experience enough? , If moksha is not my only goal 2.39-43 )Lecture4.24
-
14 a Glimpse of being a master (Atmavaan) 2.45-46Lecture4.25
-
14 b Choice in Karma but not in result (Famous verses) 2.47-48Lecture4.26
-
15 a Karma Yoga – attitude to action and its results 2.48-50Lecture4.27
-
15 b Group Discussion and insights – The classification of the day into the four pursuits – Dharma/Artha/Kaama/,MokshaLecture4.28
-
16 a Group discussion and insights – What happens when one is money/partner/work/children obsessed?Lecture4.29
-
16 b How can one have it all – money/partner/work/children? By Being Dharma centredLecture4.30
-
16 c Freedom from bondage of karma 2.51 and Q & ALecture4.31
-
17 a Karma Yoga in relationshipsLecture4.32
-
17 b How Karma Yoga helps in self knowledge, Vairagya towards alternatives and Arjuna’s question about a wise personLecture4.33
-
17 c Q & A (Managing employees, Distractedness, Clash of roles, Dealing with a dominating personLecture4.34
-
18 a Signs of a wise person and Mastery 2.56Lecture4.35
-
18 b Mastery of the mind and senses 2.57-58 (incl Q and A)Lecture4.36
-
18 c How do you feel loved? (Podcast episode link) – Supplementary listeningLecture4.37
-
19 a Mastery of the mind and senses 2.59-61Lecture4.38
-
19 b Understanding the framework of anger(Dwelling on sense object-Attachment-Anger-Loss of memory of learning-Destruction of person)Lecture4.39
-
19 c Discussion on Kaushalam and Samatvam (Duty, Road rage, Resolving misunderstanding)Lecture4.40
-
20 a Self mastery and tranquility 2.64-66Lecture4.41
-
20 b The vision of a wise person and the sadhana of self mastery (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.42
-
20 c Q & A (Roles etc) (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.43
-
Questions for reflection and making notes on Chapter 2 0 questionQuiz4.1
-
21 a The connection of self mastery and inner dialogue with the younger you (incl. guided meditation)Lecture4.44
-
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
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 22
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture5.1
-
22 Arjuna ‘s doubt, ‘If knowledge is better than action why prompt me to do karma?’ 2 Lifestyles 3.1-5Lecture5.2
-
23 a Quiet appearance but false front & Why karma yoga is better than karma 3.6-7Lecture5.3
-
23 b Why karma is superior to inaction & Karma transformed into yajna 3.8-9Lecture5.4
-
23 c Q & A (How much work is too much, Objectivity wrt pursuits )Lecture5.5
-
24 a Karma as Yajna and recognition of Devatas 3.10-11Lecture5.6
-
24 b Karma as pervaded by Veda 3.12-15Lecture5.7
-
25 a Contribution to the cosmic wheel and the contentment of a wise person 3.16-18Lecture5.8
-
25 b Why perform karma, Janaka, the wise king and role models 3.19-21Lecture5.9
-
25 c Gita Q & A (Japa, Time for Vedanta, Delegation etc)Lecture5.10
-
26 a Gita 3.22-25 No karma to be done by Bhagavan but still karma is doneLecture5.11
-
26 b Gita 3.26-28 Karma impelled by Prakrti’s gunasLecture5.12
-
26 c Q and A (Dharma, Rebirth)Lecture5.13
-
27 a How can the wise person engage with those who are deluded by prakriti and its gunas and How to fight ?Lecture5.14
-
27 b The role of shraddha in learning and how prakriti affects a wise personLecture5.15
-
27 c Don’t some under the spell of ragas and dveshasLecture5.16
-
27 d Discussion – Handling Differences, Managing ragas and dveshasLecture5.17
-
28 a Svadharma is better than paradharma and the problem of (binding) desireLecture5.18
-
28 b Knowledge (as though) clouded by binding desire and Atma untouched by it allLecture5.19
-
28 c Guided meditation (Saakshi)Lecture5.20
-
28 d Discussion (Processing a situation, The 4 aspects of a mind etc )Lecture5.21
-
29 Ch 3 Discussion after small groups discussionLecture5.22
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Jnana-Karmasannyasa Yoga 30
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture6.1
-
30 a Greatness of the parampara 4.1-3Lecture6.2
-
30 b The Why and What of an Avataara 4.4-8Lecture6.3
-
30 c Gita 4.1-8 (Can a non sannyasi get jnanam and Can giving up desires lead to jnanam)Lecture6.4
-
31 Discussion on the value of Dharma by looking at AdharmaLecture6.5
-
32 a Reality of an Avataara and Levels of reality 4.9Lecture6.6
-
32 b Taking refuge in Bhagavan and his blessings 4.10-12Lecture6.7
-
32 c Gita 4.9-12 (Q and A) (Bindi, Dharma and religiosity etc)Lecture6.8
-
33 a The Four fold Varna system 4.13Lecture6.9
-
33 b Bhagavan Krishna as Karta and AkartaLecture6.10
-
33 c Gita 4.13-15 (Q & A Vrata etc )Lecture6.11
-
34 a Gita 4.16-17 What is karma and akarma?Lecture6.12
-
34 b 4.18 The vision of a wise person about karma and akarmaLecture6.13
-
34 c Gita 4.16-18 (Q & A – Work role, Healing karma etc)Lecture6.14
-
35 a Atma as akarta and abhogta (non-doer and non experiencer) 4.18-19Lecture6.15
-
35 b Aspects of Jnanam and lifestyle of grahastha and sannyasi 4.20-21Lecture6.16
-
35 c Gita 4.18-21 Q & A (Clarifications of Akarta, Vedanta as a perspective, Being assertive)Lecture6.17
-
36 Gita 4.22-25 Attitude of a wise person wrt gain/loss and life as yajnaLecture6.18
-
37 a Gita 4.26-27 Self mastery of senses as yajna and Chariot imageryLecture6.19
-
37 b Gita 4.28 Yajnas – Dravya, Yoga, Svadhyaaya etcLecture6.20
-
37 c Gita 4.26-28 (Q & A – Social media response, You are bigger than your pain etc)Lecture6.21
-
38 a Gita 4.29-30Lecture6.22
-
38 b Gita 4.31-33Lecture6.23
-
38 c Gita 4.29 – 33 (Q & A Soham, Misinterpreting the verse)Lecture6.24
-
39 a Gita 4.34 How to relate to a teacher for knowledgeLecture6.25
-
39 b Gita 4.35-38 The result of knowledge and What if one is a paapi?Lecture6.26
-
39 c Gita 4.34-38 (Q and A – Making amends etc )Lecture6.27
-
40 a Gita 4.39Lecture6.28
-
40 b Gita 4.39 contd.Lecture6.29
-
40 c Gita 4.40-4.42 (plus Q and A)Lecture6.30
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Sannyasa Yoga 20
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 chantingLecture7.1
-
41 a Gita 5.1-3 Sannyasa or Karma Yoga – Which is better? aLecture7.2
-
41 b Gita 5.4 Are Sannyasa and Karma Yoga same?Lecture7.3
-
41 c Assignment on Identifying Life prioritiesLecture7.4
-
42 Discussion on Life prioritiesLecture7.5
-
43 a The goal of Sannyasa and Karma Yoga as a lifestyle is oneLecture7.6
-
43 b Vision of a wise person despite performing actionsLecture7.7
-
43 c Gita 5.5-9 Reflections and discussionLecture7.8
-
44 a Gita 5.10 The wise one who is not affectedLecture7.9
-
44 b Gita 5.11-12 How do karma yogis perform karmaLecture7.10
-
44 c Gita 5.13-14 Where does the wise being live and how?Lecture7.11
-
45 a Gita 5.15-16 Atma is not affected by punya/paapaLecture7.12
-
45 b Gita 5.17 Levels of commitmentLecture7.13
-
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
-
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
-
47 b Gita 5.27-29 Introduction to Dhyaanam and AikyamLecture7.19
-
47 c Gita 5.24-29 Q & A (Imp of Asana, Desire fulfilment,Lecture7.20
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Dhyaana Yoga 15
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 chantingLecture8.1
-
48 Gita 6.1-3 Who is a Sannyasi and a yogi?Lecture8.2
-
49 Gita 6.4 Yogi has freedom from dependenceLecture8.3
-
49 b Gita 6.5-6 Being a friend to oneselfLecture8.4
-
50 a Gita 6.7 Being a jitatma and free from oppositesLecture8.5
-
50 b Gita 6.8-9 A yogi ‘s attitude towards objects and peopleLecture8.6
-
51 a Gita 6.10 The preparation of Karma Yoga for a meditatorLecture8.7
-
51 b Gita 6.11-14 Initial preparatory steps (place, asana etc)Lecture8.8
-
52 Gita 6.15 Who is an accomplished personLecture8.9
-
53 Gita 6.19-20 The mind of a yogiLecture8.10
-
54 Gita 6.21-23 Reveling in oneself and Dissociation from the association with sorrow (3rd definition of Karma Yoga)Lecture8.11
-
55 Gita 6.24 – 28 Dissociation from the association with sorrow and benefits of DhyaanamLecture8.12
-
56 Gita 6.29 – 30 The vision of oneness/samenessLecture8.13
-
57 Gita 6.31-34 The wise person and Arjuna’s question about not seeing the visionLecture8.14
-
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
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture9.1
-
59 Gita 7.1-7.6 Introduction to Indirect and Immediate knowledgeLecture9.2
-
59b Gita 7.4 – 7.6 Nature of IshvaraLecture9.3
-
60a Gita 7.7 – 7.9 Manifestations of IshvaraLecture9.4
-
60b Gita 7.10-11 Manifestations of Ishvara contd.Lecture9.5
-
60c Gita 7.7-11 Q and ALecture9.6
-
61a Gita 7.12-14 Mayashakti and crossing over MayaLecture9.7
-
61b Gita 7.15-17 Four Types of devoteesLecture9.8
-
61c Gita 7.12-17 Q and ALecture9.9
-
62 Gita 7.16 Four kinds of devotees and their world viewLecture9.10
-
62b Gita 7.18-20 Which among the devotees is one with IshvaraLecture9.11
-
62c Gita 7.18-20 Q and A (Why more don’t take to Vedanta, Readiness, Journey of a Jijnasu etc)Lecture9.12
-
63a Gita 7.21-22 How Bhagavan makes the shraddha strongerLecture9.13
-
63b Gita 7.23-25 Why and what do people not know about Bhagavan?Lecture9.14
-
63c Gita 7.21-25 Q and A (How shraddha for rituals grows)Lecture9.15
-
64 Gita 7.26-30 How do devotees seek Bhagavan?Lecture9.16
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Akshara Brahman Yoga 17
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture10.1
-
65 a Summary of first seven chaptersLecture10.2
-
65 b Gita 8.1-5 Arjuna’s question about Brahman and what happens when a person diesLecture10.3
-
65 c Gita 8.1-5 Q and ALecture10.4
-
66 a Gita 8.5-8.6 Whom to remember before dying ?Lecture10.5
-
66b Gita 8.7-9 How to remember Bhagavan?Lecture10.6
-
66c Gita 8.5-9 Q and A Grieving and HealingLecture10.7
-
67 a Gita 8.10-13 How to give up the body (for a yogi and jnani)?Lecture10.8
-
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
-
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
-
69 a Gita 8.22-24 Who is the limitless purusha and where do meditators of Brahmaloka go?Lecture10.14
-
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
-
70 a Gita Ch 8 Q and A (post death rituals)Lecture10.17
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga 20
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture11.1
-
70 b Gita 9.1-2 What is the King of Knowledge and the King of Secrets and why?Lecture11.2
-
71 a Gita 9.3 What is required for the knowledge and what happens to those who don’t seek it?Lecture11.3
-
71 b Gita 9.4-5 Satyam (and Mithya)Lecture11.4
-
71 c Gita 9.3-5 Gita (Q and A)Lecture11.5
-
72 a Gita 9.6-8 Nature of Ishvara (and Maya shakti)Lecture11.6
-
72 b Gita Despite manifesting Ishvara is unchangingLecture11.7
-
72 c Gita 9.6-10 (Q and A)Lecture11.8
-
73 a Gita 9.11-12 What happens to the ones who do not recognise Bhagavan as the lord of all beings?Lecture11.9
-
73 b Gita 9.13-14 Qualities of the ones who seek Bhagavan ?Lecture11.10
-
73 c Gita 9.11-14 Q and ALecture11.11
-
74 a Gita 9.15-17 How to worship Bhagavan with jnana-yajna?Lecture11.12
-
74 b Gita 9.18-21 How Bhagavan is one and distinct & What happens to people who go to svarga ?Lecture11.13
-
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
-
75 a Gita 9.22 How does Bhagavan support the jnani/mumukshu?Lecture11.15
-
75 b Gita 9.23-26 Devotees who are committed to different ends and not Bhagavan; Bhagavan ‘s acceptance of the smallest offeringLecture11.16
-
75 c Gita 9.22-26 Q and A (Bhagavan-Sakshi/experiencer)Lecture11.17
-
76 a Gita 9.27-28 Which actions to offer to Bhagavan and the resulting maturity from this attitudeLecture11.18
-
76 b Gita 9.29-32 ‘I am the same in all’ and different groups of people can still gain BhagavanLecture11.19
-
76 c Gita 9.33-34 and Q and A The level of commitment in seeking BhagavanLecture11.20
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhuti Yoga 22
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhutih Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture12.1
-
77a Gita 10.1-3 Introduction to the glories of BhagavanLecture12.2
-
77b Gita 10.4-5 All dispositions and emotions are from BhagavanLecture12.3
-
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
-
78a Gita 10.6-7 Knowing the vibhuti of BhagavanLecture12.5
-
78b Gita 10.8-9 What do wise people know about me and how does it show in their life?Lecture12.6
-
78c Gita 10.6-9 Q and A (Vegetarianism, Socialising/Social pressure etc)Lecture12.7
-
79a Gita 10.10-11 Whom does Bhagavan give knowledge to and what does he destroy?Lecture12.8
-
79b Gita 10.12-19 Arjuna summarising his understanding of Bhagavan and making a requestLecture12.9
-
79c Gita 10.10-19 Q and A (sharing of one’s life vibhutis and the question of creation)Lecture12.10
-
80a Gita 10.20 Aham AtmaLecture12.11
-
80b Gita The conscious being is free from roles (Guided meditation)Lecture12.12
-
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
-
81c Gita 10.21-26 Q and A (Balance, Japa, Samskaaras, Where do thoughts come from?)Lecture12.16
-
82a Gita 10.27-29 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Uchhaishravasa till Yama who disciplinesLecture12.17
-
82b Gita 10.30-32 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Prahlada till Vada-discussionLecture12.18
-
82c Gita 10.27-32 Q and A (the how of creation, the why of Bhagavan Krishna’s list)Lecture12.19
-
83a Gita 10.33-35 Vibhutis – A among the letters till the Spring seasonLecture12.20
-
83b Gita 10.36-42 Vibhutis – Game of dice etc All vibhutis are meLecture12.21
-
83c Gita Vibhuti garland of blessingLecture12.22
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga 3
This content is protected, please login and enroll course to view this content!
1 Comment
बीजं मां सर्वभूतानां विद्धि पार्थ सनातनम् ।
बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् ॥ १०॥
Earlier He had said that I am the प्रकृति, now He says that I am the बीजम् | बीजम् is the seed.
So, पार्थ/Arjuna, विद्धि – may you know/understand, that of all the beings~ सर्वभूतानाम्, I am the seed. We know the seed has the potential to grow into a tree, and so on.
So this बीजम् is सनातनम् i.e. is the eternal seed.
जीव-s/सूक्ष्मशरीर are अनादि | Then the body that one gets, whatever different types of bodies
depending on your कर्म fructifying, so that which makes this possible, for you to have
different kinds of bodies/medium, that is Me-भगवान् |
And further one can never say that I am an orphan. We use the word orphan only with reference to your father and mother in this lifetime, but who has been the father and mother for you throughout lifetimes? ईश्वर, always there. And you have the freedom to relate as~ father, mother, lover, friend, child also,बालगोपाल | So, you have the freedom to relate to ईश्वर in any way you want.
So I am that बीजम्, I am there in all beings.
And additionally in people who have बुद्धि | So बुद्धि/intelligence/intellect, everyone has. Everyone has some बुद्धि | So the ability to be decisive, to take decisions, to make choices- good, bad, ugly. That बुद्धि, we have not created. Nobody we know has created it. That बुद्धि, I am that.
So if you are banging your head and saying~ oh my God, what did I do? You are banging ईश्वर okay. This बुद्धि, what did I do? So of course there is always potential to be tapped, it’s like ground water. There’s lots in the ground, then there will be these water diviners. It is very fascinating, one came to the अश्रम-land to do this, so he just holds the coconut in his hand then he walks around the अश्रम and then the farmland, and then when it starts moving, somehow the coconut starts moving, then he says~ Ah you know here is where a well should be dug, there will be water here. And sure enough, a well is dug, and yes there is water. Of course you have to dig a little deep, but there is water. So this potential of बुद्धि is there. Some people may appear little more बुद्धिमान, little more intellect/intelligence etc., then they have just tapped into what they already have, they have honed it, fine-tuned it etc. etc.
But in all the people who have बुद्धि, भगवान् says I am that बुद्धि |
And in those who are brilliant, who are तेजस्वी-s, I am that तेज:, I am the brilliance in them. That brilliance you see in arts, performing arts, the scientists, physicists, anyone who’s using any kind of innovation. Or in India anyone who is doing ‘jugaad’. Jugaad is a very unique thing, it’s
like a quick fix, sometimes it’s a shortcut, Indians are very good at that, but the बुद्धि is required to do this jugaar. So भगवान् is saying~ I am that brilliance, all this jugaar people do sometimes. So all that intelligence I am, referring to ज्ञान शक्ति |
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम् ।
धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥ ११॥
Among the strong, the ones who have बलम्/strength, I am that strength.
Nobody is born with biceps. You have to work on it. So much weight training, and CrossFit training etc., through all that you build this strength. You’re not born with all of this, but potential is there. Potential is there, so whether you are doing endurance training, flexibility or strength training, etc. बलम् to do anything, any कर्म, so much कर्म is done all over the world every day, every moment. So people are working in different kinds of factories, people are working in different kinds of services, the things you do around the house on a regular basis, and the strength of the animals, plants, etc. – amongst all beings I am बलम्/strength.
Then this is a nice one- with this बलम्, is also a phrase, काम-राग-विवर्जितम् i.e. particularly the strength that is free from काम and राग, so pointing to धर्म | So the strength that somebody has may be misused for hurting another person.
We have seen this repeat itself, that the victim often becomes the perpetrator. A lot of people who have been sexually abused, one would imagine that because of what they have been through that they would never do the same, but history shows that they do. Or, people who have been beaten up in childhood, for different reasons- mischief etc., if the person has not processed it, then that’s considered as norm and the way the person will deal with one’s own children will be this kind of corporal punishment. But if the person has processed it and
said~ okay yes I was beaten, and it was some sort of a punishment for some wrong action done, and yes it was painful, and yes I was shamed, and the other person didn’t know better in
terms of how to discipline me, and it was an event that happened, and I’ve carried a lot of anger in me because of that, so maybe I’ve taken to martial arts or something, as you need some physical way to process it also, so you release that build-up of energy. Then it’s likely that this cycle will not be perpetuated.
But like some people who have been through military training, it’s tough training. But some of them were anyway traumatized in childhood, and then they chose this line, then the way they are, a lot of them just issue orders, even at home. They forget that that’s a role in the army, or whatever it is, it’s not meant to be there at home. And because one has been through tough discipline, also one thinks that that’s exactly how you have to bring up children. What is all this mollycoddling and all, just give one tight slap. This tight slap is an Indian phrase, there is nothing tight about a slap. A slap is a slap. And some teachers also, that’s how they have been brought up. And the way they look at it is~ I got sorted because I was beaten up, otherwise I was so mischievous, so of course this principle will work for someone else. So, the intention may be okay, and there are rare instances where a little bit is okay, but what am I using the strength I have for?
Is it to perpetuate काम~ more and more and more binding desire? This happens generally with people who take loan after loan, mortgages. And then the banks also have a great strategy, but of course it has led to recession, depression etc.
So let’s catch these youngsters, millennials, because everyone is aspiring for this fantastic lifestyle, and therefore let’s lure them with lower rates of Interest, and so the strength I have, I know my money is coming in anyway, at the end of the month it gets credited, so one after the other. I have the strength to earn the money, but my prediction goes for a toss, I take on too many loans, without any planning, because I’m going to pay it off, anyway all these EMIs are on etc.
So one binding desire after another after another, and you will justify it saying~ YOLO, you only
live once, who knows when I’m going to die. So I want to go on an overseas vacation every year, no matter what, and even if I have to take many loans, so what about it? Everyone takes. So I have the strength to take a loan, I have the strength to repay it also, but then there are fights in the family because of it, because money now has to be allocated, there is a monthly budget. Let’s say the couple is married, or planning for a child~ no no we are not ready to have a child, no way, we are paying off for the vacation, or we cannot have second child because
we have so much to pay off. And a lot of this aspirational lifestyle, see everybody aspires for a decent lifestyle that’s fine okay, but the बलम् I have, the strength I have, what am I using it for is a question that needs some answering.
The physical strength I have, the emotional strength, mental strength, what am I using it for?
Then He says this beautiful line, which Swaminiji quotes very often in response to people saying desire is a root cause of suffering. भगवान् श्री कृष्ण actually says the opposite. He says~ I am that काम:, काम: अहं अस्मि | I am that desire in all beings/भूतेषु, which is धर्म-अविरुद्ध:, double-negative meaning not opposed to धर्म | Or rather, I am that desire which is aligned to धर्म, present in all beings, भूतेषु | What a line! This is pointing to इच्छा शक्ति i.e. the capacity to desire for all beings.
So काम: is a valid pursuit, the वेद recognizes it to be so, and what भगवान् is saying is just
little align it with धर्म, that’s all. So the desire to make someone happy, contribute to their happiness, the desire to provide for your family, the desire to make somebody’s day special,
the desire to give something to someone who really needs, it could be your time, it could be some skill, it could be some effort in a larger collective सेव, or the desire that भगवान् शङ्कराचार्य had~ that I will capture the teaching tradition, I will write all these commentaries, so many
आचार्य-s, so many गुरु-s, so many ऋषि-s, that I have got something, I have been
blessed with something, I pass it on. I create an infrastructure for it which happens to be called a गुरुकुलम्, so that it is passed on. That is desire, and it is a धार्मिक desire, there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact more people should have धार्मिक desires.
In the name of saying~ oh desire is the root cause of suffering, which is not at all the teaching in सनातनधर्म, we neither have वैरग्य, nor can we really enjoy having a desire. Desire is a privilege. I get to enjoy all kinds of desires, especially when they are not binding. So I have the privilege to desire that all people are happy, they are free from disease. I will pray~ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः | It’s a nice, noble desire to have. Or that people in my family particularly are free from disease, very good desire to have.
But then from where we have heard~ no you should not have desires. And then we beat ourselves for it. Then when we achieve the desire, we cannot enjoy it. Then we cannot have the desire also, because I should not etc.
The problem is we don’t know how to manage a desire. When you align your desire to धर्म,
just go all out and fulfill it. What will happen is, you will grow out of the desire. Likely, very likely.
Or you may develop a राग, then you have कर्म योग teaching anyway, then work on it, align the राग to धर्म, and then fulfill it.
What’s wrong with it? Is it wrong to provide for your family? Is it wrong to be kind to someone, or to do something for another person? Or you have a particular skill or ability and you say~ okay this is my target group, and I want to help to change their lives for the better with
whatever skill that one has. And you want to contribute, what’s wrong with it? That’s fantastic.
So look at the nature of desires that you have, and embrace all of it, because it is your इच्छा शक्ति, there is nothing wrong about it. The binding desires, do some विचार, do some inquiry into it. If all the desires are binding then of course we have a serious problem. But still don’t worry even if they are all binding, just align to धर्म | That in the fulfillment of the desire, let people not be hurt. The broad theme of aligning to धर्म means that try to see that people are not hurt in your fulfillment of the desire, or there is not too much depletion of resources. And it could be any kind of desire. So, look into that.
It’s also good to look into~ do I really need it, or do I want it? But of course what we call civilization is conversion of all wants into needs. Mobile phone~ I cannot do without, I need it, where is it? As soon as people wake up~ like where, where is it? Of course the alarm is there, but it’s like your limb. It’s there right, oh thank God, it’s okay.
So this, अहं काम: and धर्म-अविरुद्ध: भूतेषु, something to really think about and change our relationship with the desires we have. Of course we want to grow into people who are not defined by our desires, but you can’t fight too much with your desires. If they are aligned with धर्म, go ahead fulfill it, and then you say~ oh that’s all, that was it okay, been there, done that, I don’t need it anymore. You can say that. Or some desires will require a little विचार~ do I really need it? How is my life going to be dramatically different if I were to fulfill it? Actually not much, it’s okay, I let it go. Oh, but I really want. So, again do विचार, let it go.
So you need विचार also, you need an inquiry. And in some very very strong desires, you may fulfill it also, but the objective is that I am more than the sum total of all my desires, that I am not defined by my desire. Because in all the desires, I am only there.
And that emotional security, initially we believe that once my desire is fulfilled then I will be secure, but over time irrespective of whether your desire is fulfilled or not, you can discover emotional security. How? By being a भक्त, by being a devotee. You are secure, always connected with भगवान् |
So desire not fulfilled~ okay, you are willing to wait. Like Siddhartha in the book by Herman Hesse. So, I can think, I can wait, I can fast. What a line! His CV.
So this is a very nice book to read. Siddhartha is this guy who’s a monk, he takes to monkhood very early and then he says I’ve not really seen the world, so then he gives up the robes, then he explores and falls in love. Then he wants to marry this girl, and so the girl says you have to
ask my father for my hand in marriage. But he’s never done a job, and he’s not really qualified in that sense. So then he goes to the father of his girlfriend and says~ I would like to marry your daughter, but I need a job also, and I believe that you can give me a job. I am willing to do whatever work. So then the father says~ what do you know, or something to that effect. And this is the CV/biodata Siddhartha gives~ I can think, I can wait, I can fast. He gets a job, he does extremely well, then he has children and so on and so forth. But his thought process is depicted very beautifully in the book.
So this I can think, what an ability that is, like really think. Not worry okay, I can think- qualification. You can think yourself in and out of whatever you need to.
And I can wait~ I have patience. I am not going to force open, like if a bud needs time to bloom, I am willing to give it that time. There are different projects that we work on. Some maybe three weeks, some three months, some take three years. I am willing to wait. A lot of times we become so impatient we give up our efforts halfway, but that emotional labor- waiting, waiting for things to happen, not passively, knowing that certain things have their own life cycle, whether it is a relationship or a project or your child growing up, all that, patience is so important.
Some parents become very impatient with their children~ come on, come on, learn quickly. And then if you have to learn how to use a software, then your child will teach you and say~ come on come on I told you so many times, I have to repeat the same instructions again and again. What are you doing mom? So patience.
And I can fast. Fast- I can put up with discomfort. Everyone has to learn that. Growing up wherever you are there will be situations that make you uncomfortable. To a great extent we have managed to control situations, and as a result of which we have become comfort creatures, सुख-जीवी | And as a result of which little discomfort and we are always complaining.
As Pujya Swamiji would say we start murmuring~ munu-munu. You know this munu-munu is
going on all the time. This is not okay, that is not okay, why this is so. Non-stop. Why? I cannot put up with discomfort a little bit.
Swaminiji is not saying deliberately you put up with discomfort. But little bit, because some people will be abrasive, or you walk into a situation it’s taking a lot of time, and then somebody you have explained yourself to but the person doesn’t understand, or you don’t understand and the person is explaining to you again and again.
All this which is uncomfortable is okay, relax. But in this misguided search to prove ourselves, to be significant, we want to take control of things that we have no control over actually.
Honestly we don’t have control over much. But still okay for now at least let’s continue with the illusion we have control over certain things. But little~ I am not in charge, then I just lose it.
So somebody will say~ oh how about coming to this get together? Oh, I don’t know anyone. That’s okay, you’ll get to know people. No, I just feel very uncomfortable. I’m not used to it. I’m very introverted. Okay, what to say. Just look at all the things that one immediately says no to. There will be these things, okay. People ask you certain things, or to come here etc. No, I don’t, I’m not, I don’t feel up to it, I don’t want to go etc. etc. This immediate no, reactive no is because I don’t want to feel uncomfortable.
And so what if you are uncomfortable, so what about it? Be uncomfortable. No. राग – it’s so subtle and some of it of course is very obvious, but some of it is so subtle. That we have to pay attention to.
And say~ okay I’m going to be uncomfortable, let it be, I will be uncomfortable.
So that’s how I learn to be comfortable with what is uncomfortable.
Because then I don’t have द्वेष | So I will be uncomfortable and that’s okay, and in time I will become comfortable. Then my comfort zone becomes this entire world. There is no place I am not comfortable.
Maybe I’m the fourth person sitting on the edge of the seat but I am okay. Like how they joke in Mumbai local trains~ push, push, push, like I want to sit. Actually three pleasantly plump people can manage, fourth person, a little bit of struggle is there. But no no, push okay you sit. And then somebody will joke, though the train is fully crowded, then they will say~ oh there is enough room for a football field, come on make more space, though it’s so crowded you can’t move. If you are in a position, you’re like statue, that’s how you are, you can’t move, but then somebody will say~ oh there’s enough place for a football field, come on make more space.
So even in that physically uncomfortable situation, yeah that’s okay, it’s not a big deal, don’t make a big deal out of discomfort.
So, I can think, I can wait, I can fast.
Nice lines to think about.
ॐ