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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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1 Comment
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च |
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम् || 7||
tasmāt sarveṣhu kāleṣhu mām anusmara yudhya cha
mayyarpita-mano-buddhir mām evaiṣhyasyasanśhayam
Therefore, at all times, please remember me. And then do what? Fight. Here we are talking of someone dying, and Bhagavan says remember me and fight? Bhagavan, you can’t be so obsessed with yourself. So now somebody who wants to fit Gita to his personal agenda will say see, that’s why I fight. There’s so much injustice in this world. Somebody has to speak for the minority. That’s why if I don’t raise my voice, who will raise it? You know, we have to empower them okay. So, in this way, you can delude yourself.
Here because Arjuna is a warrior, his role is to fight. That’s why Bhagavan says तस्मात् युध्य | So may you fight. For all of us who are listening to the Gita, May you do whatever is your dharma. In all your different roles, whatever is to be done, may you do that. But how do you do that? Complaining, lamenting, but why me, why I should do it? If I do it, nobody appreciates, why should I do, what to do, what to do? I just… you know this inertia, I think winter inertia I’m experiencing. I don’t feel like doing anything.
Tasmaat- therefore, you fight. Meaning therefore you do what is the right thing for you. I don’t feel like it. We didn’t ask you what you feel, okay? Despite what you feel, you please do whatever is appropriate to be done. How to do? मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धि: – your mind and intellect, you know that place where we are constantly experiencing all kinds of emotions, and shall I do, shall I not do, different kinds of decisions and judgments, lot of self-judgments. All that, you just offer it to me(Bhagavan). मय्यर्पित, just offer it to me. And you will definitely reach me. All the time you please remember me. How to do this, you know?
See generally you know there’ll be our perception. So I see the screen, then maybe I see the paper. Now when I’m seeing the paper, I’m not seeing the screen. One perception is displaced by another perception. Right? So if you’re thinking of your partner, then you are not thinking of your child, even if you call your partner, ‘baby’ and so on. But you understand the distinction okay. So one being you remember, then other being kind of gets displaced. But here when you think, remember me at all times, that when is it you don’t remember Bhagavan? Every cognition, every thought, every feeling, every emotion, is pervaded by Bhagavan, intelligence, material etc. Okay so all my cognitions are pervaded, permeated, suffused by Bhagavan. So any thought is a thought of Bhagwan. And Bhagavan I am not looking upon as a limited person, limited form with the chakra and mukut and all that. But my understanding of Bhagavan has grown, it’s no longer a ‘child’s’ understanding.
So all thoughts, what are they sustained by……they are sustained by the laws of Bhagavan. From where does a thought come? Nobody knows really. Because there are some thoughts that don’t seem like my thoughts, because you really are used to a certain pattern. So they’re coming from the cosmic mind. Okay. So Cosmic Mind means it’s all the way Bhagavan, Hiranyagharba. So when it is being said, remember me at all times. If I have this global understanding that wherever I go, whatever I do, whatever I think, it is all pervaded by Bhagavan, my life is Bhagavan, then everything stands offered anyway.
So, but you know, I’m really struggling with this role, some role is there- work role, family role, something like that. Then whatever you’re going through, just offer it. In the name of self mastery, let us not delude ourselves into accentuating our individuality. There is no self, self as in mind-body without Ishwara shristhi. So, in the name of self mastery, sometimes we will say oh, I only have to struggle and nobody knows what I’m going through. So, so much limiting we do. But what you are individually, whoever you are, however you are, can you see that the laws are sustained by Bhagavan? Maybe you don’t feel close to Bhagavan, doesn’t matter. But they are all, all of it is Bhagavan. So, you can relax in that understanding that this mind is given by Bhagavan, however weird it is, as eccentric as I am. He will take care. This is positive thinking. Swaminiji is thinking about doing a podcast on this.
So, I only have to struggle, I will be positive, or negative, whatever it is. It’s all subject to the laws of the mind anyway. So just in the relaxation that hey this is being sustained by Bhagavan, I can’t handle it on my own. But somehow I am feeling like nobody around me can help because I have not sought help.
Just a few hours ago I was talking to an 11 year old, she’s like you know my mom she’s playing favorites with the elder sister. So I say it’s possible that either what you’re thinking is correct, or what you’re thinking is not correct. How will we know for sure? You have to reach out and you have to tell your mom this is what you think. No, I’m scared. But until you tell, how will she know? Either she corrects you, or she might correct herself. Right? So no, I feel very distant from my parents, you know they are really paying attention to my elder sister, she’s in the 10th standard and so on. So I think they don’t care for me etc. Have you reached out to them? But they are always busy. So then you tell them, ‘Tell me when you have five minutes, I don’t want to rush you, but I’d like to talk.’ You can say that. Oh, I never thought of that. Ah so now you think like this, and you please talk to them. Then you see, either you correct your perception, it may be that you may be wrong, or you give them a chance to correct themselves. That’s it. Life is simple. Okay, okay. Then she sent Swaminiji a drawing of Swaminiji as a super girl in orange 🙂
Anyway, so now this self mastery. We don’t want to be entrenched in our individuality in the name of self mastery.
But now how else to remember Bhagavan, you know we always struggle with this. Okay, so what shall we do? But Bhagavan himself is saying okay, this is how you remember-
अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना |
परमं पुरुषं दिव्यं याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन् || 8||
abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena chetasā nānya-gāminā
paramaṁ puruṣhaṁ divyaṁ yāti pārthānuchintayan
Having a mind that is yoga yuktaha. Yoga yuktaha means mastered with the practice of yoga. Yoga here we understand is karma yoga. So bringing in kaushalam, offering our karma to Ishwara, recognizing all situations as prasaada, and so on. So abhyaasa/repetition, practice again and again. When you think as a devotee, what happens is परमं पुरुषं दिव्यम् i.e. the person gains परमं पुरुषं, the limitless being who is दिव्यं, self-effulgent.
And how to do this abhyaasa, this repetition? Anuchintayan in keeping with the teaching. I want to visualize Bhagavan as Captain Marvel. Okay you can, but also just see what the shaastra has to say. You know, because Bhagavan only has to say- talk about his powers and so on. And so that’s what is being said here. That recognizing the manifestations as Bhagavan and also the limitless being, the nature/swarupa Brahman, this person who dies away reaches the limitless being.
Then little more is spoken about this limitless being, because when we try to visualize like we often do for any kind of learning, then we limit the form, right? So, when I say Bhagavan, as much as we try, it’s difficult for the image to not pop up. Right? So something will pop up in your head and it’s very likely that it is a limited form. Then what we have to do is, you have to expand the form. So then we will have Purusha Suktam. So all the loka-s are his head and so on. But then you still imagine Bhagavan as a big huge giant, so still limited. And then depending on childhood samskaras you may have some fellow in white with some long beard.
And so like that. So that’s why it’s Swaminiji’s view not to encourage showing videos of Krishna Shiva etc. as portrayed by human beings to children, because of the impact on the mind. Or else one may think of Bhagavan Rama as Arun Govil, the guy who played that character. Parents are very well meaning, but then Rama becomes that actor-fellow, and the child is stuck with the thinking that this person is Bhagavan. On the other hand, with comic book-type characters, you’re not too stuck with that. That’s the beauty, like you can see the comic book, and at the same time you can visualize something. And then because once you visualize, then you can always visualize differently.
Other ways one can get stuck, like even the Shankaracharya movie. On the one hand, I promote to people that it’s good to see, a very nicely made film from 1984. But then I don’t want to get stuck with thinking Sankaracharya means only this character. You’re welcome to watch, if you think it works for you. But (be aware), so that we don’t limit Bhagavan to a limited form.
कविं पुराणमनुशासितार
मणोरणीयांसमनुस्मरेद्य: |
सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूप
मादित्यवर्णं तमस: परस्तात् || 9||
kaviṁ purāṇam anuśhāsitāram
aṇor aṇīyānsam anusmared yaḥ
sarvasya dhātāram achintya-rūpam
āditya-varṇaṁ tamasaḥ parastāt
So here he talks about the different aspects of Bhagavan, and how one can contemplate on Bhagavan. So here we can contemplate in two ways. Either like how we do during a puja, you take a seemingly ordinary object, nikrshta vastuni utkrshta aropya. So, for instance Shivalinga- we consider as Shiva superimposed on the stone. Then of course, Shiva Linga you worship and so on. You can do that mentally also, in the sense that you can visualize Shiva, Shiva Linga in your heart etc. and you can make some offerings.
Why should we meditate? Because ….you know when you want thoughts to sink deep into your subconscious.. when something needs to become your living reality and it’s not.Then we need to visualize, meditate on different aspects of Bhagavan.
It’s no surprise that a word like premeditated murder came about. It just means that to murder someone, you have to really plan. I mean, I’m not thinking that these people are sitting in meditation okay. Whoever chooses to do this premeditated murder- the level of thought, deliberation, practice in your mind, you know, these are the steps before which somebody will be murdered and so on.
So here recognizing that meditation is an important part of sadhana so contemplating on the many aspects of Bhagavan, so that’s why he says, which he has already said, with that kind of a mastered mind.
The one who contemplates on the being who is –
(i) Kavi. Kavi means ‘poet’ literally. By kavi, we understand दूरदर्शी, one who can see what normal people cannot see. Also means the one who is all knowledge.
(ii) Purāṇam. One who has always been there for a long time, so who is ancient.
(iii) Anuśhāsitāram. The one who is the ruler. Ruler, meaning the one who has made all the different laws. So laws of physics, laws of chemistry, laws of biology, laws of psychology, discovered and undiscovered by which this entire universe runs.
(iv) Aṇor aṇīyān. So this is also there in Katha Upanishad. The one who is smaller or subtler than the subtlest. Anything that is subtle means it has lesser dimensions, right? Cannot be grossly perceived. So, music is like that. Poetry is like that. There are subtle aspects even some flavors are like that. So subtle, meaning doesn’t have dimensions. So, atom, molecule, whatever. So smaller, smaller, smaller, smaller than that is what? Formless existence, that which exists that doesn’t have a form. So that’s why the word that is being used is smaller than the smallest. And in Katha Upanishad, bigger than the biggest is said also. Because the biggest means you cannot even visualize or imagine the form. In other words, existence, which is limitless, not having any boundaries.
(v) Sarvasya dhātā. The one who is that dhātā, the one who ordains, makes punya-paapa fructify for people. So, the one who ordains this law of karma.
(vi) Achintya-rūpam. You try to conceive of any form, it will be limited, any form you conceive of, it will be limited. So, therefore achintya-rūpam. So, that which is not an object of your thought, cannot be conceived by a thought meaning the limitless.
(vii) Āditya-varṇaṁ. As luminous, as effulgent like āditya.
(viii) Does not have any tamas. So, beyond ignorance, obviously all-knowledge.
So think of Bhagavan in this way when you meditate, is what he’s saying. So that from time to time when you meditate, when you train the body, you sit and then this comes to you. That’s the power of repetition, power of practice. So if you’re doing this over a period of time, as a part of sadhana, then thinking about Bhagavan in this way becomes very natural to you. Right? In Vedanta, the main sadhana is shravanam. You show up for the class. Right? Oh, I can’t do japa. Oh that is okay. Oh, I’ve not done puja. That’s also okay. In time you will develop some regularity. Oh, but I did not catch up with the last two chapters, it doesn’t matter. This is not a historical sequence of events that- Oh, you’re going to miss out on the part when Rama was in the forest. Then what happened with the deer? So then I will lose the link if I miss that class. But this does not apply to a Vedanta class. Right? Would you say the same thing about work? Oh, you know, I didn’t go to work for two weeks. I think I will catch up. Maybe over the next two months I will not go so I can catch up on my work, only then I will appear. No.
Suppose you’ve lost touch with the friend? You just pick up where you left off. That’s it. But this- our thinking- No, I feel so awkward. What will Swamini think? I will just think you are busy. I’m not going to cook up a story. No, but what will others think? Others are too busy thinking about themselves, they are going to think about you. And even if they do, so let them think, that’s not your problem. No, but I want to maintain a discipline. I should be able to do it. Well aye please don’t put this pressure on you. You know in Vedanta you have to learn to relax. Not as a technique. You have to learn to relax in life.
Okay, so Vedanta becomes one more task to be ticked, don’t make it like that. Don’t do that. So Vedanta is you, you are free. And that’s what you’re trying to learn. And for that we contemplate on Bhagavan. And these qualities are helpful for us to visualize. Visualize- not meaning to put form to it, but to see that you are always in the presence of Bhagavan. If I’m holding on to my individuality, then I will say okay, this individual is pervaded by the total that is Bhagavan. Or if I’m able to see the swarupa, then I enjoy, I revel in that all these words will apply to me also the conscious being, the atma. Some of the words of course will not apply, you know in terms of the sarvasya dhātā, and so on.
But swarupa will apply to me, the formless existence. So like that- either I recognize swarupa or I recognize all nama-rupa (name and form) as Bhagavan. Of course you will recognize swarupa only after you cross this initial stage of recognition of all nama-rupa as Bhagavan. Only then. It’s not an either/or. This swarupa, recognizing as one’s own nature, will come only after you see all nama-rupa as Bhagavan, so we can’t short circuit. Especially that annoying colleague in the office, to see that person as a manifestation of Bhagavan. So you cannot short circuit.