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Opening and closing prayer-chants 4
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Prayer-chant unto the guruparamparāLecture1.1
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Prayer-chant unto Bhagavān KṛṣṇaLecture1.2
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1 a Sankalpa for the Gita Amrtam courseLecture1.3
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Prayer-chant for the well being and prosperity of the worldLecture1.4
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Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam 6
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1 b Freedom from seekingLecture2.1
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1 c Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam verse 1Lecture2.2
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1 d Q &ALecture2.3
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2 a Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 2 – 4)Lecture2.4
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2 b Bhagavad Gita Dhyaanam (verses 5 – 9)Lecture2.5
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2 c The context of the Gita – a glimpse of the MahabharataLecture2.6
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 9
Chanting only of Chapter 1 by Pujya Swami Dayananda ji
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 1Lecture3.1
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3 a The opening of the Gita 1.1-1.9Lecture3.2
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3 b The armies on both sides 1.10-1.20Lecture3.3
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3 c How to study and do sadhana of VedantaLecture3.4
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3 d Q & ALecture3.5
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4 a The situation of Arjuna 1.21-1.35Lecture3.6
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4 b Arjuna’s conflict and sorrow 1.36-47Lecture3.7
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4 Gita Q & ALecture3.8
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How to use the Slack communityLecture3.9
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Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 2 - Saankhya Yoga 46
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Bhagavad Gita Ch 2 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture4.1
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5 a Arjuna’s topical problem 2.1-2.7Lecture4.2
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5 b Arjuna’s transformation from friend to shishya and request for shreyas (moksha)Lecture4.3
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5c Q & ALecture4.4
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Overview of the ShaastraLecture4.5
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6 a Arjuna qualified with viveka and vairagyaLecture4.6
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6 Q and ALecture4.7
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7 a The teaching begins 2.11-2.13Lecture4.8
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8 a Guided meditation (Attitude to sukha and dukha) 2.14Lecture4.9
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8 b Who is fit for liberation 2.14-15Lecture4.10
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8 c Satyam (and mithya) 2.16Lecture4.11
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9 a Guided meditation (Panchamahabhutas and connectedness)Lecture4.12
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9 b Sat – all pervasive and indestructible 2.17-18Lecture4.13
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9 c Q & ALecture4.14
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10 a The one who knows the Atma to be neither the karta (doer) nor the bhokta (experiencer) 2.19-20Lecture4.15
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10 b Nature of the Atma 2.21-23Lecture4.16
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10 c Q & A (2.19-23)Lecture4.17
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11 a Neither Atma can be grieved for nor Anatma which is ever changing 2.25-29Lecture4.18
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11 b Q & A and a delightful enactment of the Atma and the two bodies (sthula and sukshma sharira)Lecture4.19
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12 a Atma is no cause for grief 2.30Lecture4.20
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12 b Arjuna ‘s svadharma as a kshatriya (and our svadharma) 2.31-39Lecture4.21
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12 c Q & A (Expecting moksha from being a perfect parent, Career choice, Dharma conflict etc)Lecture4.22
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13 a Introduction to Karma Yoga and clarity on self knowledge being the solution 2.39-43Lecture4.23
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13 b Q & A (Is samadhi experience enough? , If moksha is not my only goal 2.39-43 )Lecture4.24
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14 a Glimpse of being a master (Atmavaan) 2.45-46Lecture4.25
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14 b Choice in Karma but not in result (Famous verses) 2.47-48Lecture4.26
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15 a Karma Yoga – attitude to action and its results 2.48-50Lecture4.27
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15 b Group Discussion and insights – The classification of the day into the four pursuits – Dharma/Artha/Kaama/,MokshaLecture4.28
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16 a Group discussion and insights – What happens when one is money/partner/work/children obsessed?Lecture4.29
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16 b How can one have it all – money/partner/work/children? By Being Dharma centredLecture4.30
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16 c Freedom from bondage of karma 2.51 and Q & ALecture4.31
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17 a Karma Yoga in relationshipsLecture4.32
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17 b How Karma Yoga helps in self knowledge, Vairagya towards alternatives and Arjuna’s question about a wise personLecture4.33
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17 c Q & A (Managing employees, Distractedness, Clash of roles, Dealing with a dominating personLecture4.34
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18 a Signs of a wise person and Mastery 2.56Lecture4.35
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18 b Mastery of the mind and senses 2.57-58 (incl Q and A)Lecture4.36
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18 c How do you feel loved? (Podcast episode link) – Supplementary listeningLecture4.37
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19 a Mastery of the mind and senses 2.59-61Lecture4.38
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19 b Understanding the framework of anger(Dwelling on sense object-Attachment-Anger-Loss of memory of learning-Destruction of person)Lecture4.39
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19 c Discussion on Kaushalam and Samatvam (Duty, Road rage, Resolving misunderstanding)Lecture4.40
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20 a Self mastery and tranquility 2.64-66Lecture4.41
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20 b The vision of a wise person and the sadhana of self mastery (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.42
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20 c Q & A (Roles etc) (audio has some disturbances)Lecture4.43
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Questions for reflection and making notes on Chapter 2 0 questionQuiz4.1
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21 a The connection of self mastery and inner dialogue with the younger you (incl. guided meditation)Lecture4.44
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Wrap up on Chapter 2 – Kaushalam, Clear understanding of why Vedanta is a solution, Managing a strong desire for marriage, Expectations from our childrenLecture4.45
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture5.1
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22 Arjuna ‘s doubt, ‘If knowledge is better than action why prompt me to do karma?’ 2 Lifestyles 3.1-5Lecture5.2
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23 a Quiet appearance but false front & Why karma yoga is better than karma 3.6-7Lecture5.3
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23 b Why karma is superior to inaction & Karma transformed into yajna 3.8-9Lecture5.4
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23 c Q & A (How much work is too much, Objectivity wrt pursuits )Lecture5.5
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24 a Karma as Yajna and recognition of Devatas 3.10-11Lecture5.6
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24 b Karma as pervaded by Veda 3.12-15Lecture5.7
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25 a Contribution to the cosmic wheel and the contentment of a wise person 3.16-18Lecture5.8
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25 b Why perform karma, Janaka, the wise king and role models 3.19-21Lecture5.9
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25 c Gita Q & A (Japa, Time for Vedanta, Delegation etc)Lecture5.10
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26 a Gita 3.22-25 No karma to be done by Bhagavan but still karma is doneLecture5.11
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26 b Gita 3.26-28 Karma impelled by Prakrti’s gunasLecture5.12
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26 c Q and A (Dharma, Rebirth)Lecture5.13
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27 a How can the wise person engage with those who are deluded by prakriti and its gunas and How to fight ?Lecture5.14
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27 b The role of shraddha in learning and how prakriti affects a wise personLecture5.15
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27 c Don’t some under the spell of ragas and dveshasLecture5.16
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27 d Discussion – Handling Differences, Managing ragas and dveshasLecture5.17
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28 a Svadharma is better than paradharma and the problem of (binding) desireLecture5.18
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28 b Knowledge (as though) clouded by binding desire and Atma untouched by it allLecture5.19
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28 c Guided meditation (Saakshi)Lecture5.20
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28 d Discussion (Processing a situation, The 4 aspects of a mind etc )Lecture5.21
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29 Ch 3 Discussion after small groups discussionLecture5.22
-
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Jnana-Karmasannyasa Yoga 30
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture6.1
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30 a Greatness of the parampara 4.1-3Lecture6.2
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30 b The Why and What of an Avataara 4.4-8Lecture6.3
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30 c Gita 4.1-8 (Can a non sannyasi get jnanam and Can giving up desires lead to jnanam)Lecture6.4
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31 Discussion on the value of Dharma by looking at AdharmaLecture6.5
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32 a Reality of an Avataara and Levels of reality 4.9Lecture6.6
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32 b Taking refuge in Bhagavan and his blessings 4.10-12Lecture6.7
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32 c Gita 4.9-12 (Q and A) (Bindi, Dharma and religiosity etc)Lecture6.8
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33 a The Four fold Varna system 4.13Lecture6.9
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33 b Bhagavan Krishna as Karta and AkartaLecture6.10
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33 c Gita 4.13-15 (Q & A Vrata etc )Lecture6.11
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34 a Gita 4.16-17 What is karma and akarma?Lecture6.12
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34 b 4.18 The vision of a wise person about karma and akarmaLecture6.13
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34 c Gita 4.16-18 (Q & A – Work role, Healing karma etc)Lecture6.14
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35 a Atma as akarta and abhogta (non-doer and non experiencer) 4.18-19Lecture6.15
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35 b Aspects of Jnanam and lifestyle of grahastha and sannyasi 4.20-21Lecture6.16
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35 c Gita 4.18-21 Q & A (Clarifications of Akarta, Vedanta as a perspective, Being assertive)Lecture6.17
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36 Gita 4.22-25 Attitude of a wise person wrt gain/loss and life as yajnaLecture6.18
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37 a Gita 4.26-27 Self mastery of senses as yajna and Chariot imageryLecture6.19
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37 b Gita 4.28 Yajnas – Dravya, Yoga, Svadhyaaya etcLecture6.20
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37 c Gita 4.26-28 (Q & A – Social media response, You are bigger than your pain etc)Lecture6.21
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38 a Gita 4.29-30Lecture6.22
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38 b Gita 4.31-33Lecture6.23
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38 c Gita 4.29 – 33 (Q & A Soham, Misinterpreting the verse)Lecture6.24
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39 a Gita 4.34 How to relate to a teacher for knowledgeLecture6.25
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39 b Gita 4.35-38 The result of knowledge and What if one is a paapi?Lecture6.26
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39 c Gita 4.34-38 (Q and A – Making amends etc )Lecture6.27
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40 a Gita 4.39Lecture6.28
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40 b Gita 4.39 contd.Lecture6.29
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40 c Gita 4.40-4.42 (plus Q and A)Lecture6.30
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Sannyasa Yoga 20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 chantingLecture7.1
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41 a Gita 5.1-3 Sannyasa or Karma Yoga – Which is better? aLecture7.2
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41 b Gita 5.4 Are Sannyasa and Karma Yoga same?Lecture7.3
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41 c Assignment on Identifying Life prioritiesLecture7.4
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42 Discussion on Life prioritiesLecture7.5
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43 a The goal of Sannyasa and Karma Yoga as a lifestyle is oneLecture7.6
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43 b Vision of a wise person despite performing actionsLecture7.7
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43 c Gita 5.5-9 Reflections and discussionLecture7.8
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44 a Gita 5.10 The wise one who is not affectedLecture7.9
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44 b Gita 5.11-12 How do karma yogis perform karmaLecture7.10
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44 c Gita 5.13-14 Where does the wise being live and how?Lecture7.11
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45 a Gita 5.15-16 Atma is not affected by punya/paapaLecture7.12
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45 b Gita 5.17 Levels of commitmentLecture7.13
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45 c Gita 5.18 How does the wise person look upon a Brahmana, a cow etc Q & ALecture7.14
-
46 a Gita 5.19-20 Freedom from the cycle of birth and death and extremes of emotionLecture7.15
-
46 b Gita 5.21-23 The gain of happiness that does not change and the transitory nature of experiential happinessLecture7.16
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46 c Gita 5.19-23 Q & ALecture7.17
-
47 a Gita 5.24-25 Videha mukti and the sukha of a wise personLecture7.18
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47 b Gita 5.27-29 Introduction to Dhyaanam and AikyamLecture7.19
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47 c Gita 5.24-29 Q & A (Imp of Asana, Desire fulfilment,Lecture7.20
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Dhyaana Yoga 15
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 chantingLecture8.1
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48 Gita 6.1-3 Who is a Sannyasi and a yogi?Lecture8.2
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49 Gita 6.4 Yogi has freedom from dependenceLecture8.3
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49 b Gita 6.5-6 Being a friend to oneselfLecture8.4
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50 a Gita 6.7 Being a jitatma and free from oppositesLecture8.5
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50 b Gita 6.8-9 A yogi ‘s attitude towards objects and peopleLecture8.6
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51 a Gita 6.10 The preparation of Karma Yoga for a meditatorLecture8.7
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51 b Gita 6.11-14 Initial preparatory steps (place, asana etc)Lecture8.8
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52 Gita 6.15 Who is an accomplished personLecture8.9
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53 Gita 6.19-20 The mind of a yogiLecture8.10
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54 Gita 6.21-23 Reveling in oneself and Dissociation from the association with sorrow (3rd definition of Karma Yoga)Lecture8.11
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55 Gita 6.24 – 28 Dissociation from the association with sorrow and benefits of DhyaanamLecture8.12
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56 Gita 6.29 – 30 The vision of oneness/samenessLecture8.13
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57 Gita 6.31-34 The wise person and Arjuna’s question about not seeing the visionLecture8.14
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58 Gita 6.36 – 47 What happens to one who did not complete his Vedanta journey and praise of a yogi?Lecture8.15
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Jnana-Vijnana Yoga 16
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture9.1
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59 Gita 7.1-7.6 Introduction to Indirect and Immediate knowledgeLecture9.2
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59b Gita 7.4 – 7.6 Nature of IshvaraLecture9.3
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60a Gita 7.7 – 7.9 Manifestations of IshvaraLecture9.4
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60b Gita 7.10-11 Manifestations of Ishvara contd.Lecture9.5
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60c Gita 7.7-11 Q and ALecture9.6
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61a Gita 7.12-14 Mayashakti and crossing over MayaLecture9.7
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61b Gita 7.15-17 Four Types of devoteesLecture9.8
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61c Gita 7.12-17 Q and ALecture9.9
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62 Gita 7.16 Four kinds of devotees and their world viewLecture9.10
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62b Gita 7.18-20 Which among the devotees is one with IshvaraLecture9.11
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62c Gita 7.18-20 Q and A (Why more don’t take to Vedanta, Readiness, Journey of a Jijnasu etc)Lecture9.12
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63a Gita 7.21-22 How Bhagavan makes the shraddha strongerLecture9.13
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63b Gita 7.23-25 Why and what do people not know about Bhagavan?Lecture9.14
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63c Gita 7.21-25 Q and A (How shraddha for rituals grows)Lecture9.15
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64 Gita 7.26-30 How do devotees seek Bhagavan?Lecture9.16
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-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Akshara Brahman Yoga 17
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture10.1
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65 a Summary of first seven chaptersLecture10.2
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65 b Gita 8.1-5 Arjuna’s question about Brahman and what happens when a person diesLecture10.3
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65 c Gita 8.1-5 Q and ALecture10.4
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66 a Gita 8.5-8.6 Whom to remember before dying ?Lecture10.5
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66b Gita 8.7-9 How to remember Bhagavan?Lecture10.6
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66c Gita 8.5-9 Q and A Grieving and HealingLecture10.7
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67 a Gita 8.10-13 How to give up the body (for a yogi and jnani)?Lecture10.8
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67b Gita 8.14-15 How to reach Bhagavan and what happens after that?Lecture10.9
-
67c Gita 8.10 – 15 Q and ALecture10.10
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68 a Gita 8.16-18 The lifespan of Brahmaji and the nature of the lokasLecture10.11
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68 b Gita 8.19-21 The play of manifest and unmanifestLecture10.12
-
68 c Gita 8.16-21 Q and ALecture10.13
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69 a Gita 8.22-24 Who is the limitless purusha and where do meditators of Brahmaloka go?Lecture10.14
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69 b Gita 8.25-28 Where do karmis, mere ritualists go after death and who finally reaches Brahman?Lecture10.15
-
69 c Gita 8.22-27 Q and ALecture10.16
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70 a Gita Ch 8 Q and A (post death rituals)Lecture10.17
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga 20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Chanting by Pujya Swami DayanandaLecture11.1
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70 b Gita 9.1-2 What is the King of Knowledge and the King of Secrets and why?Lecture11.2
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71 a Gita 9.3 What is required for the knowledge and what happens to those who don’t seek it?Lecture11.3
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71 b Gita 9.4-5 Satyam (and Mithya)Lecture11.4
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71 c Gita 9.3-5 Gita (Q and A)Lecture11.5
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72 a Gita 9.6-8 Nature of Ishvara (and Maya shakti)Lecture11.6
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72 b Gita Despite manifesting Ishvara is unchangingLecture11.7
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72 c Gita 9.6-10 (Q and A)Lecture11.8
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73 a Gita 9.11-12 What happens to the ones who do not recognise Bhagavan as the lord of all beings?Lecture11.9
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73 b Gita 9.13-14 Qualities of the ones who seek Bhagavan ?Lecture11.10
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73 c Gita 9.11-14 Q and ALecture11.11
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74 a Gita 9.15-17 How to worship Bhagavan with jnana-yajna?Lecture11.12
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74 b Gita 9.18-21 How Bhagavan is one and distinct & What happens to people who go to svarga ?Lecture11.13
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74 c Gita 9.15 – 21 (Q and A – People who don’t have viveka, what to do when a person is bitter etc)Lecture11.14
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75 a Gita 9.22 How does Bhagavan support the jnani/mumukshu?Lecture11.15
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75 b Gita 9.23-26 Devotees who are committed to different ends and not Bhagavan; Bhagavan ‘s acceptance of the smallest offeringLecture11.16
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75 c Gita 9.22-26 Q and A (Bhagavan-Sakshi/experiencer)Lecture11.17
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76 a Gita 9.27-28 Which actions to offer to Bhagavan and the resulting maturity from this attitudeLecture11.18
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76 b Gita 9.29-32 ‘I am the same in all’ and different groups of people can still gain BhagavanLecture11.19
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76 c Gita 9.33-34 and Q and A The level of commitment in seeking BhagavanLecture11.20
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhuti Yoga 22
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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10 Vibhutih Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture12.1
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77a Gita 10.1-3 Introduction to the glories of BhagavanLecture12.2
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77b Gita 10.4-5 All dispositions and emotions are from BhagavanLecture12.3
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77c Gita 10.1-5 Q and A (Sadhana in Vedanta, Doing the right thing as jury, When people think you should not forgive etc )Lecture12.4
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78a Gita 10.6-7 Knowing the vibhuti of BhagavanLecture12.5
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78b Gita 10.8-9 What do wise people know about me and how does it show in their life?Lecture12.6
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78c Gita 10.6-9 Q and A (Vegetarianism, Socialising/Social pressure etc)Lecture12.7
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79a Gita 10.10-11 Whom does Bhagavan give knowledge to and what does he destroy?Lecture12.8
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79b Gita 10.12-19 Arjuna summarising his understanding of Bhagavan and making a requestLecture12.9
-
79c Gita 10.10-19 Q and A (sharing of one’s life vibhutis and the question of creation)Lecture12.10
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80a Gita 10.20 Aham AtmaLecture12.11
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80b Gita The conscious being is free from roles (Guided meditation)Lecture12.12
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80c Gita 10.20 Q and A (Responses to meditation etc)Lecture12.13
-
81a Gita 10.21-23 Bhagavan’s vibhutis beginLecture12.14
-
81b Gita 10.24-26 Bhagavan’s vibhutis continueLecture12.15
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81c Gita 10.21-26 Q and A (Balance, Japa, Samskaaras, Where do thoughts come from?)Lecture12.16
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82a Gita 10.27-29 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Uchhaishravasa till Yama who disciplinesLecture12.17
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82b Gita 10.30-32 Bhagavan’s vibhutis – Prahlada till Vada-discussionLecture12.18
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82c Gita 10.27-32 Q and A (the how of creation, the why of Bhagavan Krishna’s list)Lecture12.19
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83a Gita 10.33-35 Vibhutis – A among the letters till the Spring seasonLecture12.20
-
83b Gita 10.36-42 Vibhutis – Game of dice etc All vibhutis are meLecture12.21
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83c Gita Vibhuti garland of blessingLecture12.22
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-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga 10
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture13.1
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84a Gita 11.1-16 Arjuna’s request to see the cosmic form and Bhagavan’s responseLecture13.2
-
84b Gita Garland of Vibhutis and Q and ALecture13.3
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85a Gita 11.16-24 Arjuna awestruck by the cosmic formLecture13.4
-
85b Gita 11.25-33 Arjuna getting afraid, Krishna tells him to be a ‘nimitta’Lecture13.5
-
85c Gita 11.16-33 Q and A What is the point of this chapter?Lecture13.6
-
86a Gita 11.34-40 Arjuna doing namaskaar to the cosmic form and sharing his wonderLecture13.7
-
86b Gita 11.41-54 Arjuna apologises for being casual, the return of Bhagavan to the Krishna form and the importance of bhaktiLecture13.8
-
87a Gita 11.55 Clarification about offering karma to BhagavanLecture13.9
-
87b Gita Ch 11 Discussion – Being an instrumentLecture13.10
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Bhakti Yoga 16
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Bhakti Yoga (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture14.1
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87c Gita 12.1-2 Arjuna’s question – Is meditating on Bhagavan or Brahman better?Lecture14.2
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88a Gita 12.3 The one who meditates on Brahman gains meLecture14.3
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88b Gita 12.4-5 and QnA The maturity and mastery of a person who meditates on BrahmanLecture14.4
-
89 Guru stotram on the eve of Guru PurnimaLecture14.5
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89a Gita 12.6-7 What does karma yoga with upaasana do?Lecture14.6
-
89b Gita 12.8-9 If karma yoga with upaasana is difficult what to do?Lecture14.7
-
90a Gita 12.9-10 Why Abhyaasa yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) is helpful for mastering the mindLecture14.8
-
90b 12.11-12 The ways of relating to Bhagavaan (Sequence of maturity)Lecture14.9
-
91a Gita 12.13 Signs of a jnani bhaktaLecture14.10
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91b 12.14-15 Signs of a jnani bhakta (contd.)Lecture14.11
-
91c Gita 12.13-15 Q and A Do Vedantins have extra miseryLecture14.12
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92a Gita 12.16 Qualities of the bhaktaLecture14.13
-
92b Gita 12.17-18 Qualities of the bhakta (contd.)Lecture14.14
-
92c Gita 12.18-20 Glory of bhakta and shraddha incl Q and ALecture14.15
-
93 Gita Ch 12 Group discussion – some observationsLecture14.16
-
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Kshetra-Kshetrajna vibhagah yoga 37
-
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 (Chanting by Pujya Swami Dayananda)Lecture15.1
-
94a Gita Quick recap Ch 1 – 12Lecture15.2
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94b Gita 13.1-2 The kshetram (field) and kshetrajna (knower of the field)Lecture15.3
-
94c Gita 13.1-2 Q and A Am I the thoughts of the mindLecture15.4
-
95a Gita 13.3-6 More about the Kshetram, fieldLecture15.5
-
95b Gita 13.3-6 Guided Meditation on the Kshetra and kshetrajnaLecture15.6
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95c Gita 13.3-6 Q and A Sequence of manifestation, Knowing = BeingLecture15.7
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96a Gita 13.7 Intro to Value of ValuesLecture15.8
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96b Gita 13.7 Values contd. and AmanitvamLecture15.9
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97a Gita 13.7 Values are universal but not absolute Adambhitvam – absence of non pretensionLecture15.10
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97b Gita 13.7b Values contd. Ahimsa-non harming, Kshanti – AccommodationLecture15.11
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97c Gita 13.7c Values QnA Fear of hurting the other, What if the other does not give the same importance to the value like me?Lecture15.12
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98a Gita 13.7 a Values – Aarjvam, AcharyopaasanamLecture15.13
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98b Gita 13.7b ShauchamLecture15.14
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98c Gita 13.7c Values Q n A Applying the values etcLecture15.15
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99a Gita 13.7 Values – Sthairyam – SteadinessLecture15.16
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99b Gita 13.7b Atmavinigraha – Mastery of the mindLecture15.17
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99c Gita 13.8 Indriyaartheshu Vairagyamssion towards the sense objectsLecture15.18
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99d Gita 13.8 Anahankaara – Absence of prideLecture15.19
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99e Gita 13.8 Q n ALecture15.20
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100 a Gita 13.8 Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyaadhi-dukha-dosha-anudarshanam Seeing clearly the defects of pain in birth, death, old age and diseaseLecture15.21
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100b Gita 13.9 Asaktih-Absence of sense of ownership and Anabhishvangah – Absence of obsession towards the child, partner house and the likeLecture15.22
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100c Gita 13.8-9 Q and A Give and take in relationships, Parenting, Friendships drifting apart etcLecture15.23
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101a Gita 13.9 Nityam cha samachitatvam ishtanishtoppapatishu – Evenness of mind re-desirable and undesirableLecture15.24
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101b Gita 13.10 Mayi cha ananya-yogena-bhakti-avyabhicharini, viviktadesha-sevitam, aratih-janasamsadi (unswerving devotion, resorting to quiet place, no longing for companyLecture15.25
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101c Gita 13.9-10 Q and A (Is Gita primarily psychological, Subjectivity of truthLecture15.26
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102a Gita 13.11 Overview of values and Tattva-jnanartha-darsanam – Purpose of knowledge, Adhyatma-jnana-nityatvam – constancy and commitmentLecture15.27
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102b Gita 13.12 Intro to jneyam and Role play of encouragement to have a variety of supportive responses in one’s toolkitLecture15.28
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103a Gita 13.13 Brahman is everything and Question about application of ValuesLecture15.29
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103b Gita 13.14 Brahman is nirguna (without attributes)Lecture15.30
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103c Gita 13.13-14 Q and A (Values, Brahman – Atma etc)Lecture15.31
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104a Gita 13.13-14 I am Brahman (Guided Meditation)Lecture15.32
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104b Gita 13.15 Brahman is inside and outsideLecture15.33
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104c Gita 13.16-18 Brahman remains undivided, Light of all lights, My devoteeLecture15.34
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104d Gita 13.15-18 Q and A (Is Awareness a part of the brain etc)Lecture15.35
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105a Gita 13.19-20 Introduction to Purusha and PrakrtiLecture15.36
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105b Gita 13.21-23 What happens to the one who knows Purusha and Prakrti clearly?Lecture15.37
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7.23:
अन्तवत्तुफलंतेषांतद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम् |
देवान्देवयजोयान्तिमद्भक्तायान्तिमामपि || 23||
For those who are ‘अल्पमेधसाम् | ‘अल्प’ meaning little, मेध is memory plus intelligence. We can consider मेध as viveka, the discriminative ability. So the ones who have very little of it, what happens to them?
The फलम्, the different results of कर्म that they get, are all अन्त-वत् i.e. they are all finite, they’re all limited. And one is so caught up in pursuing limited ends, expecting the limitless from the limited. For this we need viveka.
So like we often believe, that once I marry I will be happy, and I will live happily ever after. Swaminiji has nothing against marriage and will promote everyone to get married, but Swaminiji is just giving an example. So happily ever after, either we have that projection on the job, or the relationship, or the child, or something. True we get happiness from it, but that happiness is limited and we will soon be looking for the next thing. So what else is going to happen? So child is born, then thinking about admissions for school from nursery onwards, and providing, so it goes on and on. And the same thing with the job. So it’s not just a sigh of relief, oh now I got the job. Now, you have to sustain the job. And there are so many factors involved.
So it’s a shifting goalpost. And that shifting goalpost I mistake to be the pursuit of happiness, so I must keep aspiring. Until you realize that how much ever you aspire, the limitless सुख that you are expecting for, is nowhere in sight. It’s not there in the object, it’s not there in the person, it’s not in any desirable situation like meditating. People say, Oh, I was fine when I was meditating, I came out of it and its gone, my peace of mind is gone. I went to the temple, there I was peaceful, then gone. Or I went on a holiday, everything was fantastic and now I am back to the grind, as everyone says.
Okay, so now because these people who have ‘अल्पमेधस्‘ don’t recognize that the happiness that you get from these limited objects, situations, people is limited, then what happens to them? They go to different लोक:(loka), or they go to these deities. Means what? So a lot of पुण्य has been gained with a lot of praying and worship. So they will go to different places where there is comfort, there is pleasure, like on vacation. And that’s it.
On the other hand if you worship Krishna and understand my (स्वरूप)Swaroopa, then you will gain me i.e. you will come to me. And note that here Krishna is not speaking as Mr. Krishna. He says, ”you will come to me” meaning that you will gain the understanding that you are not different from me. If you look at only this verse, and not look at what has come before or after, then this verse lends itself to the interpretation that Krishna is superior to all other deities, which is what ISKCON says- so don’t worship other deities , just come straight to Krishna.
Now comes the next verse which is a very beautiful one.
7.24
अव्यक्तंव्यक्तिमापन्नंमन्यन्तेमामबुद्धय: |
परंभावमजानन्तोममाव्ययमनुत्तमम् || 24||
So actually speaking I am अव्यक्तं, meaning, I am unmanifest, meaning I don’t have a form. But व्याक्तिम् | व्याक्ति means person with a limited form. So people, अबुद्धय: i.e. who do not have viveka, what do they think? किं मन्यन्ते ? What is unmanifest, they reduce me to a limited form and they project all their fears onto me.
For Example: Oh, I forgot to do my japa today, God will be unhappy with me. Or, I did something wrong, God has turned away from me. So we attribute all kinds of things and reduce अव्यक्तं (that which is unmanifest, formless) to व्याक्तिम् (limited form).
So our devotion is also spasmodic. Like how you get spasms, you pray 5 minutes a day with great gusto and you sing a bhajan and that’s all its over, then you get on relating with other people in your life. So just like other beings, you relate to भगवान् as one other being. But that’s not what he’s saying here. Because if भगवान् is another being, is another object, is another person that you are relating to. And it’s not like we are so sensitive that we can understand how भगवान् is responding to us. All the time भगवान् is talking to us, but we say, No I don’t think I understand what you are saying, you are not giving me any signs. And then you wonder, and this is how we get caught up in a loop. So, suppose you are thinking about a problem and then some insight/solution you will get. Generally while in shower you get the solution. And then you think ah, भगवान् only sent this solution to me, but then you are like; no, no, I thought about it. But who gave you the capacity to think? It’s भगवान्. No, because I did not hear भगवान्’s deep baritone. So we have all these ideas.
So whatever you are thinking is all pervaded by the law of karma. All your thoughts are भगवान्, but there are some things that you intuitively, instinctively recognise. I am not saying that भगवान् is talking more that time, but these all are signs for us to recognise the presence of भगवान्. And so we tend to, without any lamentation or complaint.
भगवान् is saying that some people, they do not have medha/viveka, what do they do? This is how they reduce भगवान् in their life. Like how you are introduced in a party in a few sentences, we are never happy how we are introduced. We are not happy when people limit us, box us and categorise us. We want everyone to appreciate the many facets that we have. Then what shall we say about भगवान्, who is unmanifest and in and through all manifestations. And then you will say, oh I reduce you only to one form, and you are subject to birth and death. So suppose you are only focussed on a avatara story, for example Shree Rama, Shree Krishna. So you celebrate Rama Navmi, Krishna Janamashtmi and then you are so caught up with the story that you are not able to appreciate the greatness, and the fact that both Shree Rama and Shree Krishna were avataras. Some people can be dismissive about Shree Rama and the way he treated his wife, or Shree Krishna flirting around with the Gopis. That’s it, gone. You treated them as a limited person. And then it’s so easy to dismiss them. That’s it, over. How can you have trust in that kind of an altar? No chance. So besides appreciation of avatara, avatara meaning a divine incarnation, भगवान् is encouraging us in this chapter to look at the स्वरूप(Swaroopa), what is the instrinsic nature of me भगवान्, which is always present, and it’s the same as your intrinsic nature, which is always there, which is consciousness.
He adds further, that परंभावम्, this supreme nature that I (भगवान्) have is changeless (अव्ययम्) and it is anuttamam (अनुत्तमम्). So these people who don’t have viveka, don’t use their buddhi, they are not able to recognise who I truly am, they are not able to see that I am unmanifest, they are not able to see that I am in and through all manifestations. They are not able to see that there could be स्वरूप(Swaroopa) nature of all manifestations that is intrinsic to every form. So it’s like Space. Space is a very good example to appreciate that at all points in time, if you are talking about this body and mind, you are in space. You may be spaced out also. But still, you, the body and mind are in space. And galaxies are also in space. Can you reach space? We may say oh, you’re going into space, spaceship and all, so colloquial. But you are already in space. So space is something that cannot be reached. Can you produce space? Interior decorators may say that they create space. But what will they do, just put one partition and create one extra space. So seemingly created space. Space cannot be purified. Air can be purified, not space. That same space accommodates the polluted air of Delhi, and the clean air of the mountains. Space accommodates all of that, untouched. Space cannot be transformed either. It cannot be made better or lesser. Space is Space. We have only one of it, which is ever accommodating all of it. And you consciousness (Brahman) is actually the cause of space and all other forms. Understand this. You consciousness is the basis , is the cause of even a subtle form that is Akasha, Space. So if space had a human voice, space will say how these people say I’m working with space, I am going to space, how do they talk like this? I am here, I am all pervasive. This is exactly what we do to भगवान् | What is limitless intrinsic nature, we reduce to a form, and therefore we struggle.
So what else is the nature of our struggle?
7.25
नाहंप्रकाश: सर्वस्ययोगमायासमावृत: |
मूढोऽयंनाभिजानातिलोकोमामजमव्ययम् || 25||
समावृत: I am covered (आवरणम्) by Yoga Maya i.e. Maya Shakti- Sattva, Rajas, Tamas.
And so, नाहंप्रकाश: I am not seen/recognised by everyone. So it’s like the Sun that says, because of the clouds I am covered. But the Sun cannot be covered as such. It is more like I am as though covered. Even when we say Oh there is no sun in the sky. Of course there is sun, however dark it is. Because whatever you are seeing is in the light of the Sun, even the dark clouds you are seeing is in the light of the Sun. So the clouds as though seem to cover the radiant Sun. Likewise I (भगवान्) am covered by Yoga Maya.
So starting from अविद्या onwards. And people are very lost in managing Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. However I identify my personality, either I am like a headless chicken running around doing a lot of things, so lot of Rajas is there. Nothing is right or wrong about this. This is how it is. So I don’t know how to relax, it takes me time to even breathe properly. Then some of us for everything that is suggested we are like, what is the hurry, just chill. Now in the name of chilling this person is slothful. And all us go through these stages, but we are talking of generally as personality.
So सत्त्व,रजस्,तमस् is there. I myself have my सत्त्व,रजस्,तमस्, and I have to manage others’ सत्त्व,रजस्,तमस् – my colleague’s सत्त्व,रजस्,तमस्, my pet’s सत्त्व,रजस्,तमस्. Life is gone in this management. योगमाया | But why I am doing all this? Because I want fulfilment. But I think that fulfilment will come by me having a great sense of control over my environment. I will have mastery over सत्त्व,रजस्,तमस् | I will eat more सात्विक food perhaps and then I am more सात्विक. But what about it? So what if you have more सत्त्व? What will you do with it? Because सत्त्व means you have a mind that seeks knowledge, that thrives on clarity. But there is a सुख that can bind you. Only when you are reading it is okay, if you are dominated/obsessed with सत्त्व | But what is the सत्त्व being used for? Are you seeking to know that by which everything is known? In our professional domain we may seek to know different subject matter knowledge. That’s fine in my role as a professional. But because I am largely सात्विक am I also involved in मोक्षः pursuit? Because there is enough and more to keep me preoccupied and busy. मोक्षः pursuit takes some time and commitment.
So भगवान् is as though covered by Yoga Maya. People will say you start chanting and then everything will start to manifest in your life. Very Seductive, but do you know what you want to manifest in your life? And after you manifest whatever is there, are you going to be very fulfilled? You will be again dependent on the object, whatever you are trying to manifest.
So in this spirituality supermarket there are lots of these things i.e. Yoga Maya. And this ‘मूढ:’, the one who is confused, ‘अयंनाभिजानाति does not know me as ‘ अजम्’ who never had a birth, ‘अव्ययम्’ does not have ‘व्यय’, does not have any change. This confused, deluded, non-thinking person does not understand me/ does not know me as the one who is unborn and changeless. In other words he is referring to the स्वरूप(Swaroopa) of भगवान्. So the person may be appearing to be religious, may be going for lot of तीर्थयात्रा(tirtha yatra), doing lots of chants, prayers and recitation but does not seek to know भगवान्’s true intrinsic nature.
And one can get lost in gems, pranic healing, astrology, Reiki. All these are helpful healing modalities. And let’s just say you get an idea of the pattern of your life, an astrological diagnosis , so what about it? So you have a medical history, you have medical diagnosis, now also you have an astrological karma diagnosis. You still have to live your life right? You still have to articulate what is the purpose of your life? It is good to have an astrological diagnosis, but one cannot get lost in it. What for? Okay, so you have some sense of some pattern in your life. What about it? So you got some insight. But by that insight, do you see that you are Brahman, consciousness? No. Then you have to make some effort.
What is the effort to be made? The effort is to prepare your mind such that when the Vedanta words are revealed you see that it’s true. That you have lived a life where you have pushed the boundaries of the body and mind and you are able to see that you are much more than the body and mind. If the gems, pranic healing, astrology, whatever healing modality, is making you more entrenched in the boundaries of the body then it is not helpful at all. Earlier also I was feeling limited, now with all these different modalities I feel even more limited, even more helpless. Knowledge is meant to liberate, it is not meant to make you feel helpless. And if it is making me feel helpless, then the way I am approaching this knowledge is not correct. I have to recheck.
Swamini ji mentions about her friend who is struggling with her marriage for last 20-25 years. She has visited many astrologers and they are all non-committal- they do not tell her to leave, they do not tell her to stay and work on the marriage, instead some little insight they give. Now she feels stuck, she doesn’t know whether to leave or continue with the marriage. So Swaminiji asked her to keep the marriage aside and asked her to articulate what she wants from life, and then see how these things fit in the larger picture of life. Because if you make the marriage the be all and end all of life, or it may be a child also, then you are trying to approach it from different standpoints, but you are getting stuck with it. So you have to go on the helicopter and take a little bit of a helicopter view- What is my life about? What it only about the marriage, or was there something more to it?
So, through these verses 7.21-7.25, Bhagwan is encouraging us to look at the fact that his intrinsic nature is that which is अव्ययम् (changeless), which is अजम्(unborn). He’s also saying don’t get caught up with the सत्त्व,रजस्,तमस्, this योगमाया, this मायाशक्ति i.e. managing life. Everyone manages life. Even birds also manage life- they also find their food, travel, make a nest, mate several times, have a family, they also live a life. But with this great बुद्धि that we have been given as a human, if you are only going to use it for managing life, then it is a waste of a बुद्धि.