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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
So we are in the 7th chapter of the Gita. JñānaVijñānaYogah(ज्ञानविज्ञानयोग:) is the name of the chapter. And the topic is really of ज्ञानम् (Jñānam) and विज्ञानम् (Vijñānam). When these two words are used together, then ज्ञानम् (Jñānam) means knowledge i.e. knowledge of Ishwara, so in that sense it is indirect. And विज्ञानम् (Vijñānam) does not mean science, rather विज्ञानम् (Vijñānam) here means direct knowledge of Ishwara as oneself.
In the last verse of Chapter Six (6.47), Bhagwan Krishna talks about the importance of श्रद्धा(śraddhā). Swaminiji mentions here that we are not translating श्रद्धा as faith, but rather keeping श्रद्धा as श्रद्धा, meaning some sort of trust in the Veda, a growing trust). So the one who has श्रद्धा(śraddhā), and contemplates on me (Bhagwan) is the most exalted amongst the yogis. This is what was said in 6.47.
Now how can you love someone if you don’t know that person, or that being? So therefore Bhagwan attempts to, and not just attempts, He actually reveals what his nature is, reveals all his manifestations, and he indicates that 8 fold prakriti i.e. अपराप्रकृति is all the manifestations of the various names and forms that we see around us. Then पराप्रकृति, the higher prakriti in that context, which is Bhagwan’s Swaroopa, that is also something that is to be understood.
So you can grow to love any being if you know more about that being. So all the manifestations are spoken, 8 building blocks of the manifestations are spoken and some sampling is given. And he also talks about the nature of भक्ति (Bhakti), (भक्ति one should understand as love, love for Bhagwan). And after he mentions the four stages of भक्ति (Bhakti). He says that the ज्ञानी(Jñāni), the wise person, is a भक्ता i.e. is a devotee and is dear to me. Because a ज्ञानी(Jñāni) has not kept me as a remote object somewhere, someplace but recognizes Bhagwan as oneself.
So वासुदेवःसर्वमिति (vāsudēvaḥsarvamiti). So then what about the others? What about the other devotees. Well, they are devoted to other things. They may be devoted to FTX, and may have lost a lot of money in crypto, or they are devoted to the wife or they are devoted to the child or they are devoted to some other thing. Devoted means you’re consumed. You are obsessed, and all you can think about is only that thing or that person, it could be work it could be money, could be pleasure, it could be any of this or anything else. And all these altars of devotion are limited. Temporary. So then naturally the सुख: (sukha) the pleasure, the happiness that you get will also be temporary. And so just as a drug addict, you need to keep having it, having the substance or having that experience to feel okay. Because the altar of devotion is not giving you constant nourishment, and love and care. So one has to keep at it. And the other devotees they worship Bhagwan as an object, more as a means to an end, for whatever that one is seeking in life which is all temporary and limited.
Having said that we now are now verse 7.21. He is still elaborating on how one can gain श्रद्धा(śraddhā) for Bhagwan and how one can deepen one’s relations. So the verse 21 sounds like a rap song, since it starts with यो यो (Yoyo), but it is not. Yoyo is actually य: (Yah), Yah meaning who –
Verse 21:
योयोयांयांतनुंभक्त: श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति |
तस्यतस्याचलांश्रद्धांतामेवविदधाम्यहम् || 21||
So whoever is the भक्ता (Bhakta) and whoever the भक्ता worships- The devata at the altar could be anyone: Shiva, Vishnu, Ganapati, Jesus. The person worships, prays to, maybe chants to, sings to, seeks to bond with Ishwara and does with श्रद्धा(śraddhā) i.e. with a certain trust, what does भगवान् do for that devotee? भगवान् makes this Shraddha firm for this devotee.
How? By giving results.
So if we really look into our lives, we will find that we get some signs. You’re praying for something or you really want something and then just out of the blue, some opportunity comes up or you get a sign. Like some people, when they go to the temple, are praying and one flower will fall. It happens and you suddenly get some sign and it’s just so random. There’s no way it could have happened. The signs are there in our lives all the time. But our minds are very grossified. So we cannot spot the subtle signs.
Swamini ji gives an example of her college friend with whom she had gone on a trip. Now, this friend had been told she must worship Krishna. But for a long time she has been worshipping Ganesha. She was narrating this incident to Swamini ji while they were driving. It was Ganesh Chathurthi and she was doing some decorations and suddenly the Murti shook. This was after Pran Prathisthapana was done. So Swamini’s friend’s husband was livid. The friend didn’t mean to be disrespectful but such a thing happened. Swaminiji’s friend wasn’t sure if Ganesha had forgiven her for this. As they were driving, they were passing by many hotels, but at this instance they suddenly passed by ‘ Sri Ganesha Hotel’, so Swamini ji said, did you see, we just passed by Sri Ganesha Hotel. At this Swamini’s friend said, Ah! I think Ganesha is not upset with me.
She thanked Swamini ji, as she wouldn’t have spotted if Swamini ji had not shown her.
Of all the names and whatever that hotels can be named. Of all of them you had to spot Sri Ganesh Hotel only at the time that one was discussing this. One may say Oh, it’s just random. Or some may say, it is some sign, maybe something to pay attention to.
These kinds of incidents happen all time in our lives. But we may be hung up with our राग and द्वेष. And so only if राग is fulfilled, only then we think that Bhagwan is blessing me, otherwise I don’t feel blessed. Now imagine if these kinds of signs keep coming up in our lives. You chant a mantra, you get the result or you chant some strotram (as a remedy suggested by your astrological chart), so you chant that and you find some benefit. Then the Veda that has revealed all this, you start to trust it a little more, or some of the things that one has learned in the भगवद्गीता as you see it play out in your life. Just karma, nothing earth shattering, just the recognition of karma and that karma is not linear, much like snakes and ladders where anything can happen anytime. You are prepared to handle anything i.e. you have कर्मयोगबुद्धि: (Karma Yoga Buddhih). Then your श्रद्धा (śraddhā) in the Gita will increase because when something works, naturally your श्रद्धा(śraddhā) increases. That’s why we have all whatever we call as alternative medicine. Somebody will say drink lots of water, somebody will say don’t drink water. We do fasting, some go on fruit fast, some on grass fast, etc. etc. Then, some result somebody finds and then they swear by it. What भगवान् is saying is that, if the भक्ता worships me I will give results. Why I am doing that? Because I want to make the श्रद्धा (śraddhā) firm for the person. Earlier he has also said, श्रद्धावान्लभतेज्ञानम् (Chapter 4), meaning for ज्ञानम् you don’t necessarily need a very sharp intellect, but one who is श्रद्धावान् i.e. who has श्रद्धा, gains knowledge. It’s a very bold declaration and an assurance that you can trust the Veda. Slowly, slowly one will trust, not on the first day.
But the process of living is such that there is no one that one can completely trust. Right? From our parents onwards, I mean as well-meaning and as wonderful as they are. People are inconsistent, we ourselves our inconsistent. So to expect consistency, infallibility that the person, the being is capable of no defect, that expectation will not be fulfilled ever. It’s not the fault of human beings. It’s not. This is how we are. And so if we are prepared that people are inconsistent, including us, then we are able to place trust in the person appropriately. But if for you trust is such that the person you trust has to look after you completely, which very often happens in marriages, then sooner or later there will be hurt, or betrayal or they don’t stand up for each other in a public situation. There might be some betrayal so one’s trust is affected.
And now you are listening to the Gita, so how to trust? It doesn’t feel right to me, I want to protect myself. You don’t know if you can trust. Now these things we may not articulate, but the sense is there, and the of course the package with which the Gita comes is the Guru. How can I trust the Guru? I haven’t even met the Guru in person. During the pandemic many people joined and then after that many dropped off.
So all Swamini ji is highlighting is the fact that it is not easy to trust. But भगवान् is saying that slowly, slowly I will make your trust, your श्रद्धा firm. You continue to pray and I will give you results, by giving you signs and you will see signs all the time, you just need to keep your eyes open.
7.22:
सतयाश्रद्धयायुक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते |
लभतेचतत: कामान्मयैवविहितान्हितान् || 22||
The one who engages with श्रद्धा, श्राध्ययुक्तः,तस्यआराधनम्इहते. When a person does आराधनI, i.e. worship- you offer, flowers, incense. So whatever be the form of worship whether it is offering different kind of flowers or grass or meat. Like this temple Swaminiji went to in Guwahati, one of the entrances to the temple is through the slaughterhouse. And this baby goat was standing on the gates, he has been garlanded with hibiscus flowers and is going to be slaughtered very soon, given as an offering to the God ,(बलि). So can I say that your worship is wrong as you are offering animal. But according to the Veda the animal is very blessed because he is going to be offered to the Gods.
So when the भक्तः sees the connection- that I am offering this and I will get this result, or I am offering this and I don’t necessarily need a result I just need status quo, or my संकल्पः(sankalpa) is a thanksgiving, a prayer for gratitude, or you are asking for something. लभते-the person gains. What? कामान् विहितान् हितान् | So, all that has been ordained. There are 2 ways of looking at the second line. विहितकर्म is कर्मा that has to be done, like पुत्रकामेष्ठियज्ञः(Putrakameshti yagna). So in doing that, these are the results that have been foresaid, when done properly with these materials, with the mantras and so on and so forth, then you will get the result. So whatever the devotee prays for, the devotee gains that object of desire. These have been ordained by Bhagwan himself.
Swamini ji gives an example of a place she visited in Meghalaya called Sacred Grove, it has a local name also, it is a tiny patch of a forest. The guide who took Swamini ji was describing that about 150 kings, each of them have a sacred grove here in this forest. Entry is allowed only in a tiny section of the forest not the entire forest. It’s a very surreal experience – huge trees, trunks covered with moss and each tree is 300 plus years old. Swaminiji’s guide led her to an altar and he pointed out to some stones kept there and there was one other altar. The belief is that if you walk into that forest, you cannot take a thing out of that forest. If you do so then some misfortune is going to befall you. Swaminiji offered prayers there, it was almost like a temple, hugely powerful.
Now here in this Sacred Grove they used to offer a reddish bull as बलि(Bali), a sacred offering to the deity of the forest called Labasa. And they found that all is well with the kingdom when they make this offering. This is the connection they made. Now it so happened that the reddish bulls became extinct after 1950. So now reddish bull wasn’t being offered, but a hen was now being offered and it has worked well too.
So here these verses don’t necessarily mean that you worship a devata according to what we believe is a Devata. It just needs to be an altar, a being that you look up to. And whatever has to be gained from that deity, in this case the forest deity Labasa, the king is rest assured that all is well with his kingdom because every kings’ Sacred Grove has to be maintained in a particular way.
And so we see there are lots of tribes all over the world and they all have their respective deities, what is often referred to as paganism and so on is there actually in lots of cultures, but now all wiped out because of the dogmatic belief that there is only one God, with a lot of resultant conversion and violence.
So all the कामः(Kama), the different kinds of desires, the different kinds of desirable objects that one seeks, Bhagwan makes all that available. But is it true all the time? No. But all that has been provided for us is all subject to law of karma(कर्म), depending on how our own कर्म is fructifying, based on पुण्य and पाप | And this is how the श्रद्धा(śraddhā)is kept going.
At this point Swamini ji mentions about an Indian movie Kantara. Swamini ji says that the movie very well drives home the point of Gramadevata. Every village had a devata that had been worshipped by the people living in the village for generations, but all these things have been lost. And so the movie brings it out beautifully.
So this श्रद्धा, that’s all what these acts of worship do is help you trust, you begin to trust भगवान्, trust not so much in terms of I will get what I want, not necessarily. It may start off that way, but then you are also discovering the space and the leisure to see the pattern when things don’t work out in your life. And then very often you are thankful for somethings not coming your way at a particular time but a little later in your life, so that you are prepared for what is going to come. One may say that oh, you’re just rationalizing, but anyway we are only telling stories to ourselves. And then Vedanta is all about seeing the reality that I am. So, one story can always be replaced by another story. It’s not a big deal. So with श्रद्धा, trust in Bhagwan, trust in the शास्त्र, trust in the Veda, increase.
Swaminiji gives an example of her batchmate who was raised as a strict catholic. When she came to the ashram she was horrified because she had to go to the temple every day. It was not a mandate, but everyone did it. However, she was not comfortable and could not relate to the worship of Dakshinamurthy and the rituals. She spoke to Pujya Swami ji and Pujya Swami ji said just go from time to time and take it as a cultural experience. In time as she discovered the depth of भगवान् she became a regular temple goer. So श्रद्धा is not something we force, we allow ourselves to heal. Understanding भगवान् can be very healing, because you start to trust yourself, you start to trust life, you start to trust the law of karma that has unfolded in your life, not that somebody is sitting there and punishing you. You begin to see it as my own karma that is fructifying and coming back to me and there is no one being vicious or malicious, and torturing me etc.