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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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Transcription:
We are studying the Bhagavad Gita, but actually, we are not studying the Bhagavad
Gita. Why? Because, we are looking at our life in the light of the Bhagavad Gita. So,
while we may say that “yes, we are studying the Bhagavad Gita. Yes, we’re studying
Vedanta.” It is strictly not true. You study physics, you study math, you can still be the
way you are and study different subjects which are external to you. You can gain
knowledge. But, when it comes to Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, the Upanishads, the
mantras, the shlokas, the teaching is like a mirror. The purpose of looking at the mirror
is not to look at the mirror. You can admire the glaze, the reflection, the shine, when the
mirror was made, and the framing of it, but you stand in front of the mirror to look at
yourself. And if the mirror is not able to reflect you clearly, then it’s not doing its job. So,
when you are being exposEd to the Gita or Vedanta for that matter, our earlier
orientation of looking at a subject matter as external, away from me, will kick in. “Yes,
yes, I know all the chapters [Bhagavad Gita], I can chant the shlokas!” Very good for
you. [But], do you see your life in the light of the Gita? The verses that reflect the nature
of the Atma and so on and so forth? That’s the question. So just a very quick recap,
before we go to the eighth chapter.
Recap of Ch 1 – Ch 7
As probably everyone knows, the Bhagavad Gita has 700 verses. And it is right in the
middle of the Mahabharata, the great war that took place 1000s of years ago. And in the
tradition, the Bhagavad Gita is spoken of as Brahma Vidya and yoga shastra. The
knowledge of Brahman, the limitless being, and yoga shastra the discipline of
knowledge that tells you how to live your life, the right values, attitudes, and so on. The
Gita is a Moksha Sastra which means that it reveals what already is, who you already
are. And that Mahavakya is tat tvam asi. So, tvam asi, “you are” What? That’s not very
helpful. You are that, “That” being a pronoun referring to Ishwara.
So, then the way in which the chapters of the Gita are structured, 18 of them, the first
six generally we say are referring to tvam, who is that individual the jiva, who is looking
at Bhagavad Gita, and an inquiry into tvam, which reveals that that jiva, the individual, is
really consciousness. The next set of six chapters 7 to 12, are very heavy on revealing
the glory, the manifestation of Ishwara God, and also the swarupa. And then, the rest of
the 13 to 18 chapters are talking about the equation, that tat and tvam is one that
means you and Isvara are one. In other words, consciousness. And, also the values
and attitudes. that are required for us to assimilate this knowledge.
We have seen in chapter one, the battlefield where Arjuna really discovers his problem
in life. And he not only discovers the topical problem, the one that he has to deal with
and address, but he discovers a fundamental problem below the topical problem. So a
topical problem, is an event based problem, i.e. you have a battle to fight, you have an
appraisal, or you have to fire a few people, or unexpected relatives are coming, or it’s a
lot of family time, and then, you know, secrets that were buried deep, they have
suddenly emerged out and they have to be addressed, or there are property disputes,
or you didn’t get the promotion, or you have been trying for a child and you didn’t get
that, or you have a financial setback. These are all topical problems, right? All of us are
dealing with this on a regular basis. And our lives can go in managing these problems
from one, to another, to another. But, Arjuna with his warrior training and thinking
recognizes that he is stuck whether he wins or loses the war. If he wins, he’s not going
to be particularly happy because that victory is going to be tinged with blood. If he loses,
well, he’s not done well as a warrior, because he’s the best archer in the land and so on.
So this feeling stuck, “No matter what I do, where I do, how I do, I am not enough,”
which stems from our identification with the body mind. Recognizing that I am this much
only, to recognize that this is the problem, people can take years and lifetimes. This is
the fundamental problem that Vedanta addresses. You have made conclusions about
yourself. “I am this human being.” Hey, hello, how did you do that? On what basis? “Oh,
everybody treats me like a human being.” That’s not enough. So, an inquiry is required.
And Krishna begins with a bang. Of course, when just going into the war, Krishna is
Arjuna’s friend, buddy. So, they have cracked lots of jokes, done a lot of back slapping,
etc. Arjuna recognizes that this fundamental problem, “I cannot handle on my own. I
need a teacher and for that I am willing to see myself as a shishya, a student worthy of
being taught.” He asked for shreyas, moksha, and also dharma, what is to be done and
so on.
Krishna starts with a bang, the teaching. There is no reason for sorrow. [There is] no
empathy, no validation, no reassurance, no war strategy, no mantra, no assurance of
victory, nothing. You have no reason for sorrow. What? “Here I am, I have expressed my
whole heart to you. This is what you say?” Of course, Krishna goes on to say that atma
is limitless, has no loss and therefore, there is no reason why you should be sorrowful.
So a few verses on the atma continue, and then he also talks about karma yoga, the
disposition of karma yoga, our attitude to karma, where because we don’t feel in charge,
we want to control the outcome of every action. And from early on in life, we realize we
cannot control a lot. So, the teaching, it’s not advice from Krishna, the teaching is that
you are only the contributor, not the controller of your outcomes. karmaṇy-evādhikāras
te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi – 2.47
So, you have a choice with respect to your karma. And, if you bring in kaushalam, a
certain competence in handling your different life situations, by aligning your karma with
dharma and make it as an offering to Ishwara, then you will be ready to understand
what the atma is all about. Additionally, the different things that we resist, situations we
are in, people who are around us, starting with family, okay, then extending to work and
so on and so forth. So, if we bring in a little more acceptance into our lives, recognizing
that all laws of karma are really Bhagavan it’s not really clear, but you know, it’s
introduced, then there will be samatvam, and we will not have these radical mood
swings.
He concludes the second chapter with some descriptions of the wise person.
So now, Arjuna’s interest is very piqued. “Really, if knowledge is the way forward, why
are you asking me to do this ghora karma? I will come with you. We will go to Rishikesh,
it is very close to Kurukshetra. We can just sit there and I’ll be very happy to just listen
to you. So, just teach me and then you know, it’s all good.” So, then Bhagavan Krishna
says karma cannot be avoided by anyone, whoever the person is. And, in fact, there are
two lifestyles: the lifestyle of sannyasa, renunciation, so renouncing your worldly
responsibilities, and the lifestyle of karma yoga, where you have all these different
priorities in life, and you continue to fulfill them, fulfill your responsibilities with your goal,
being moksha. Both for the sanyasi and the karma yogi, the goal is Moksha. Sanyasi is
a fast track, and Karma Yoga is like a scenic route, that’s all. But the goal is one
(Moksha). With respect to karma, he introduces devata and also raga dveshas, not
coming under the spell of very strong likes and dislikes.
Then, in chapter four, Bhagavan Krishna continues by talking about the (teaching)
lineage, and that what he is saying is not something special, only whispering into
Arjuna’s ears. The teaching that he is giving is universal. In fact, it has been timeless
and he mentions a few names such as Vivasvan, and so on. He also speaks about
avatara, a divine incarnation that appears again and again, to restore dharma. And, as a
part of the laws of karma created, the grouping of people according to karma, and
Guna, the four Varna system he speaks about. And he gives a list of different yajnas(fire
ritual offering), but really this list of yajnas is the list of sadhanas that one can do. It
starts from the kind of food you eat, your approach to food, your approach to sense
organs, or the way you do dānam, so this list we have seen. He speaks about the
surrender to the guru and an important verse in chapter four is pointing to the fact that
you were never the karta nor the bhokta, never the doer nor the experiencer. So, he
encourages Arjuna to see that.
Then, in chapter five, which is called sanyasa yoga, he spoke a little bit about a few
qualities- yo na dveṣhṭi na kāṅkṣhati (5.3), the one who does not have dveshas nor any
Kāṅkṣās/ragas/binding desires. That person is nitya sannyasi. And he also points out,
because we all have romantic ideas about sannyasa, and we fancy seeing ourselves in
orange robes. In fact, some of us have that in our wardrobe also, you know, different
shades. And, he points out that if you’re not ready for this lifestyle, then it’s very difficult.
Because Karma Yoga is not negotiable. Initially, it is deliberate, bringing in the attitude of
kaushalam, the competence in handling whatever life has to bring. This is not
competence regarding a particular skill, which of course, one can work towards, but that
whatever I do, I align it with dharma, and I offer it to Ishvara. This takes a while. And, a
deeper abiding acceptance, balance with regard to whatever happens in life. So,
wherever you are, whoever you are with, you are fine. Right now, we have lots of
conditions attached to my day, and everything. “I will be happy when…” that’s where it
starts. “I will be happy if I’m able to attend class. I will be happy when I lose weight. I will
be happy when my children do the homework. I will be happy when people make less
noise on the road.” You know the trend. So, we are always placing conditions on our
happiness and the few times that we are happy then, “Actually, why am I happy?” I can’t
allow myself to also be happy. “Like nothing in particular has happened you know, did I
get up from the other side of the bed? Maybe I should try more of that. I think the left
side is what usually works for me.” We are the ones who have placed this condition on
oneself, that unless the condition is fulfilled, I cannot allow myself to be happy. Right?
So, if you see people who are seemingly happy for no reason, either they are children
or they’re crazy eccentric people and we will be dismissive of them. Or, you will ask the
person “look at how tragic our society has become. Oh, you look really happy. So what’s
happening? You found something new, somebody new or you got a raise? Or what?”
So, chapter five is highlighting the need for vairagya and yoga. There’s a lot of
description about yoga in the sense of karma yoga, the right attitudes, qualities, etc.
Then, chapter six, we saw, dhyana yoga, yoga here being the topic. [There are] 18
topics in the Gita depending on the predominant theme that has been covered in each
topic/chapter. So in chapter 6, a life of moderation has been emphasized, in addition a
few verses related to breathing and so on. Chapter six gives us a very nice third
definition of Karma Yoga. Kaushalam and samatvam have been spoken of in chapter
two. In chapter six, the dissociation from the constant association with
duḥkha/sadness/sorrow we have [is spoken about]. May you dissociate from your
association with sorrow- duḥkha-sanyoga-viyogaṁ (6.23). We have already seen this,
I’m not elaborating. It closes with saying that punya is important and Śraddhā is
important for the one who wants to know.
We recently saw chapter seven, Jñāna-vijñāna-yogaḥ, where there is a shifting of
gears. And Bhagavan introduces himself, because who else but Bhagavan to introduce
himself. And, he speaks about his different manifestations eight fold, para prakriti, apara
prakriti. And, the ones who are able to cross over Māyā Shakti are the ones who know.
There have been references to meditate on me, and to think about me, offer things to
me etc. Not because Bhagavan is arrogant, this is for one’s own sake. Our sense of
separation from everything is so strong and not grounded in reality. But, it causes us
lots of pain and sorrow. “I feel disconnected.” It can happen between family members,
like you’re trying to get your point across and the person doesn’t get it, or they are trying
to explain and you just can’t see their point of view, with our office colleagues, with
partner, friends, etc, all the time. Yes, there are moments of connection but there are
moments where you don’t feel connected. You know, because you see the other as
separate from you. We never question “is that person really separate from me?”
Vedanta will reveal to us that it is just nama-rupa, name and form. And yes, the name or
form is different, but that which sustains the name and form is one, it is you, it is
Brahman, and it is the atma. We struggle with this. The surrender to Bhagavan can only
happen when you know Bhagavan. So four types of bhaktas were spoken of and then at
the end of seventh chapter, he said that the ones who are prayāṇa-kāle ’pi (7.30) at the
time of departure, departure means a final departure, departure from this realm. At that
time, if the mind is absorbed in Me, then they will know me because that is really our
search.
It’s not necessarily an articulated search. You know, our search for perfection is really
the search for the infallible. Infallible means that which has no defect. It’s an unspoken
search. And we project that on everything from childhood onwards. So, we expect our
parents to be perfect, that they should have no defect. They should always be available
for us. We expect that of the best friend, definitely the boyfriend/girlfriend, partner,
children. And children are looked upon as products. A series of product development. “I
have to make a good product with lots of inputs. [I want a] perfect child and all that I
could not do in my life my child should be able to do.” That struggle is there. That
perfect, even today as it is, is not perfect because some conditions [are there] and we
don’t even know what those conditions are and just by chance if those conditions are
achieved, still we are seeking. So now, calling it for what it really is, is that the search for
the infallible is a search for Bhagavan that is there in every human heart. It may not
have been articulated. And once you know “ah, that’s really what I’m looking for. And in
limited names and forms, my heart will never be satisfied.” helps me because I can take
the pressure off people and situations to be free from defects. Everything has its
defects, including this body mind. So, some people, also situations, have a defect. I
have a defect, you have a defect, and we live with it. That’s fine. No problem. “I am not
struggling with you all the time. I don’t need to. Because only Bhagavan is infallible, or
all that is infallible is Bhagavan.”
So now, the eighth chapter, Akshara-brahma-yogah. The topic is Brahman, the limitless
being who is Akshara. Akshara means there is no decline for this Brahman. It begins
with a few questions from Arjuna.