Geeta Little By Little

Shakunkimatrai.com

Lesson 1

lesson 2

A few words from me

The first 9 Lessons are an introduction for those who would like to know the backdrop of the Divine Song of the Lord… for those who would like to dive into the Bhagwad Geeta right away , do scroll down and start reading from the ‘Chapter 1 Lesson 1…

Wish you a Divine journey ! God bless you !

Lesson 1

A lot of us do not seem to know the difference between Shrimad Bhagvad and the Bhagvad Geeta.The Shrimad Bhagvad is a ‘Purana’ (ancient scripture) in which is narrated the lives of the different Incarnations of God, the most important being the Lives of Sri Ram and Sri Krishna. It also deals with the Creation of the Universe. It exudes Knowledge and devotion. Its stories are pregnant with moral, symbolic and practical value.The Bhagvad Geeta is ‘The Song of God’. It is pure philosophy and is a dialogue between Sri Krishna and His dear friend Arjuna, just before the great war of Mahabharata was fought. The Bhagavad Geeta is part of the great Epic ‘Mahabharata’. It is said that if the Mahabharata is a necklace, the Geeta is Its pendant.

Lesson 2

If I were asked what I thought the message of the Geeta was in a sentence, I would say: “Do your best, and leave the rest”.I have always believed that once one puts all efforts towards any cause to the best of ones capacity, one is a winner, no matter what the consequences.Krishna, in the Bhagavad Geeta states the above, in a more complicated way, in the 47th verse of the 2nd Chapter.A lot of people believe that Spiritualism is for those, who seek an escape from life. If that is so, why is Krishna urging Arjuna to fight for what is rightfully his? Does not that mean that life was not meant for escaping to the hills but to face up to life’s challenges?However one must remember that Krishna tried his best to bring about a reconciliation between the warring cousins, Also Krishna’s message was directed to a soldier whose dharma (roughly translated as duty) was to defend his integrity, and the honor of his wife, on whom an attempt had been made to disrobe in public.

Lesson 3

Before we enter the Geeta, it is important that we know under what circumstances, the Geeta was sung. The wisdom of the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna is independant of this story, but knowing how the Great War came about is relevant for our understanding.The Mahabhaarata is considered a Great Epic of India and was compiled by the Sage Ved Vyaasa.It tells us the history of Indian ancestors. It also describes to us their moral values, their Dharma…Dharma is generally explained away as ‘religion, duty…In the Hindu concept ‘Dharma’ means a lot more. When the children are young it is the ‘dharma’ of a mother to look after them, but as the children, come of age, it is the ‘dharma’ of the same mother to ‘let them go’It is the Dharma of a soldier to fight and the dharma of an ascetic, not to.Now read on:The Mahabhaarata tells us the story that transpired in and around Hastinapura.The story spans around 6 generations.Though the Mahabharata has the story of many lives woven into one another, the predominant narration is of 2 brothers and their families.Dhritrashtra and Pandu were brothers. Dhritrashtra married Gandhaari and Pandu married Kunti and Madri.Pandu had 5 sons who are popularly known as Pandavas.Dhriraashtra had 100 sons.They were called the Kauravas.Pandu died and the Pandavas and Kauravas were brought up together.The Kaurava’s maternal uncle Shakuni played a crucial role in the story of the Mahabhaarata.The Pandavas performed a great sacrifice (Yajna) which made Duryodhana, the chief of the Kauravas jealous and greedy.Shakuni invited the Pandavas for a game of dice and cheated in the game.The Pandavas lost all their possessions including Draupadi, their wife.The Kauravas wanted to humiliate the Pandavas and hence dragged Draupadi to the main hall and tried to disrobe her in public.She implored to Krishna who she affectionately called ‘Sakha’. Krishna came to her aid and miraculously kept Draupadi draped, despite the fact that the Kauravas kept pulling at her saree.Finally, the Pandavas and Kauravas reached a settlement. The Pandavas were made to go to the forest for 12 years. They had to live for one more year in the forest incognito. The condition was that the Pandavas should not be traced by the Kauravas. While the Pandavas were away, the kingdom was to be ruled by the wicked Duryodhana.The 13 years of exile were completed successfully. The Pandavas approached the Kauravas for their share of the kingdom.However Duryodhana refused to part with as much land as would be covered by a needle.Krishna tried very hard that the Pandavas and Kauravas reach an amicable agreement, but the Kauravas refused to relent.War became inevitable. Both the Pandavas and the Kauravas wanted Krishna to help them. The Pandava Arjuna was a devotee and friend of Lord Krishna. Arjuna chose to have Krishna alone on his side, despite the fact that Krishna had warned that the latter would not pick up arms in the battle.Duryodhana was overjoyed at Arjuna’s decision and chose to have Krishna’s powerful army to fight with him.Just before the great war, Arjuna became despondent. He did not know which course to adopt. Would it be better for him to fight and have so many people killed, or should he renounce the Kingdom and take to a life in the forest.This question also appears many times in a man’s life when faced with difficulties.When one is restless and life seems difficult, we would like to give up.Krishna explains to Arjuna that to fight (to face difficulties) with courage, is the right path. Arjuna asked Krishna many more questions which the latter answered, in a simple forthright manner.Krishna explained to Arjuna that he should only be concerned with performing his duty to the best of his capacity, the fruits or results of the action, lie with God.Krishna said:Karmanye Vaadhikaa rastey, maa phaleshu kadaachanaMaa karmaphal hetur bhoorMaa te sangostwa karmani.The above dialogue is recorded in the Mahabharata and is known as the the Bhagvad Geeta.It is said that if the Mahabharata can be compared to a priceless necklace, the Geeta is the pendant.The terrible war of Mahabharata was fought. The Pandavas emerged victorious.

Lesson 4

It is important and a regular practice to offer obeisance to the Scripture before entering into it. I have heard that if one perseveres in reading the Scriptures, they open out their deeper meaning to you.The following mantra can also be recited when one is going through troubled times.Mookam karoti vaachaalam (pronounce oo like in room)Pangum langhayatey girim (ey like in whey)u like in putYatkripaa tamaham vandey (aa like in car)Paramaananda Maadhavam Which means:I salute that Madhava (Krishna)the source of Supreme Bliss,whose Grace makes the dumb man eloquentand the cripple cross mountainsA dumb man eloquent? It could mean literally or it could mean that on some, the Grace is poured where they become instruments to expound deep truths.Cripple cross mountains? It could mean literally and also, by the Lord’s Grace some are able to go through difficult times, or to go where only their effort alone would not be able to take them.

Lesson 5

One worships Ganeshji before the start of anything auspicious. He is resourceful. Ganeshji offered to write the Vedas as Ved Vyaasji dictated. But there was a condition to fulfill. Ganeshji could not stop writing…It so happened that Ganeshji’s pen broke as he wrote. Without a moment hesitation he used his broken tusk as a pen…So we hope that Ganeshji will always be there as and when an obstacle arises…The broken tusk symbolically means that Ganpatiji is beyond duality.One of the famous mantras dedicated to Ganpati follows:Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama PrabhaNirvighnam kuru mey DevaSarva kaaryeshu SarvadaaVakratunda means curved trunkMahakaaya means large bodiedSurya kotee ,million sunsSama Prabha means with the brilliance ofNirvighnam means free of obstaclesKuru means makemey means myDeva means LordSarva Kaaryeshu means in all workSarvada means alwaysO Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always.

Lesson 6

Lord Krishna tried everything to bring about peace between the warring cousins. Every effort failed. War became inevitable.Durodhana from the side of the Kauravas and Arjuna from the side of the Pandavas went to Dwarka to seek the help of Krishna in the battle.Krishna was resting in a couch in his palace.Duryodhana stood at the head of the couch while Arjuna stood near the feet.When Krishna opened his eyes he naturally saw Arjuna first and therefore gave him the first choice.Arjuna was asked to choose between Krishna’s powerful army, called the Narayani Sena or Krishna unarmed. (He would not participate in the battle) Arjuna chose the Lord. Arjuna knew that the Lord by his side was worth more than his powerful army.This is the way a spiritual person thinks, and that is what is called ‘faith’ Duryodhana pretended to be disappointed and thought that Arjuna was foolish to have made the above choice.Duyodhana took Krishna’s mighty army to help the Kaurava side of the battle.

Lesson 7

Draupadi, the Queen but more importantly Draupadi was ‘Krishna’s Sakhee’. ‘Sakhee’ means friend. Krishna’s special name for Draupadi was ‘sakhee’. She was married to one of Krishna’s best friends, Arjun, the Pandava Prince. Draupadi was a courageous queen with a dynamic personality. Even Duryodhan (a Kaurava) grudgingly admitted to her greatness. She was in a way, the revolving kingpin of the Mahabharata war. Draupadi was married to the five brothers (Pandavas) at the same time. The above proves that it was acceptable, during those days for a woman to marry more than one man. She lived as a wife to each brother for a year in rotation. She was a beloved of all her husbands. The Kauravas (jealous cousins of the Pandavas) had been rankled by a remark uttered by Draupadi in a moment of weakness. They invited the Pandavas for a game of dice where the Kauravas cheated and the Pandavas lost Draupadi in a gamble. Indignant Draupadi proved that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Draupadi questioned her husband Yudhishtra, if he had pledged her before or after he had lost himself in the gamble. She argued that if he had pledged himself first, he had no right over her as he was already a slave.She later challenged the game as illegal as she argued that Duryodhan, a Kaurava, had not placed his brothers and wife as a matching stake.Because of evil omens that started to manifest, the old king Dhritrashtra tried to appease Draupadi by asking her to ask for any boons of her choice.Draupadi asked for the freedom of her husbands. The old king begged her to ask for the kingdom.Draupadi vehemently refused and proudly proclaimed that her husbands would win back their kingdom and that she did not want the gift of a kingdom which was theirs by right.Draupadi took a vow that she would not oil or tie her hair until the Kaurava Dushyaasan was killed. The latter was responsible for dragging her to court to humiliate her.It is believed that the queen eventually oiled her hair with the blood of Dushyaasan.The Kauravas wanted to humiliate the Pandavas and hence dragged Draupadi to the main hall and tried to disrobe her in public. She implored to Krishna who she affectionately called ‘Sakha'(friend). Krishna came to her rescue and miraculously kept Draupadi clothed, despite the fact that the Kauravas kept pulling at her saree. Draupadi’s faith in Krishna never wavered even though she went through very difficult times.Much later when her husband Yudhishtra wanted to renounce the world, Draupadi rebuked him. She held him responsible for bringing sorrow to the family. She reminded him that she had suffered intensely. Not only had she been deeply humiliated, but she had unfairly lost her 5 sons in the war. Yet she opted to live on.Her ‘Sakha’ Krishna recognised Draupadi’s qualities. He was aware of her deep devotion and faith to him. He never let her down. He appeared whenever she summoned. The most dramatic instance is when Dushyaasan tried to pull her saree off her. She turned to Krishna as her husbands bowed their heads in shame. He came to her aid yet once again. The saree became endless. Metres and metres were added miraculously, until Dushyaasan gave up defeated.Krishna’s and Draupadi’s friendship had withstood the supreme test.Draupadi’s five sons were killed by Ashwatthaama. Yet she spared the latter’s life because he was the son of the Pandava’s guru. Draupadi ruled for 36 years, after which she renounced worldly life and walked away to the Himalayas, when her grandson Parikshit was crowned as king.

Lesson 8

I have tried to explain in such few words, the Mahabharat, Arjuna, Draupadi before we enter the Divine Dialogue, the Geeta.I have been reading The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee DivakaruniThe author has placed Draupadi in the forefront of the action…her joys, doubts, struggles, triumphs, heartbreaks, achievements…Presenting some of the excerpts that have touched my heart.Dhai Ma says to young Draupadi:…“Love comes like lightening and disappears the same way. If you are lucky it strikes you right…I advise you to forget about love, princess. Pleasure is simpler and duty more important. Learn to be satisfied by them”Krishna says to Draupadi:…“A problem becomes a problem only if you believe it to be so, and often others see you as you see yourself”……“As for being pawns , ar’nt we all pawns in the hands of Time, the greatest player of them all”…When Draupadi asked Krishna what kind of palace He thought she should have, Krishna said: “Already you live within a nine-gated palace, the most wondrous structure of all. Understand it well: it will be your salvation or your downfall.”Draupadi said: “If I am a queen I owe it to my palace.”Krishna frowned and said: “Don’t be so attached to what is, after all, no more than metal and stone and asura sleight of hand. All things in this world change and pass away—some after many years, some overnight. Appreciate the Palace of Illusions , by all means. But if you identify so deeply with it, you set yourself up for sorrow.”… Krishna gazed into my eyes. Was it love I saw in his face? If so, it was different in kind from all the loves I knew. Or perhaps the loves I had known had been something different, and this alone was love. It reached past my body, my thoughts, my shaking heart, into some part of me that I hadn’t known existed. My eyes closed of their own accord. I felt myself coming apart like the braided edge of a shawl, the threads reaching everywhere……Can’t you ever be serious? I asked mortified.“It’s difficult,” He ( Krishna ) said. “There’s so little in life that’s worth it”….…”They’re saying the gods are angry at Sisupal’s death.”“Priests like to say such things” Krishna replied. He didn’t seem too concerned about the anger of the gods…When Draupadi was being disrobed:…The wind smelled of sandalwood. Krishna sat beside me on a cool stone bench. His glance was bright and tender. “No one can shame you, He said, if you don’t allow it”It came to me in a wash of amazement, that He was right.Let them stare at my nakedness I thought. Why should I care? They and not I should be ashamed for shattering the bounds of decency”.Was that not miracle enough?Krishna nodded. He took my hands. At His touch I felt my muscles relax, my fists open. He smiled, and I prepared to smile back…… “A situation in itself is neither happy or unhappy. It’s only your response to it that gives you sorrow. But enough of philosophy, I am hungry…”Krishna explains to Draupadi about hatred…Suddenly Krishna reached out and pulled a half burnt stick from the fire. He thrust it at me so that I flinched back.“What are you doing?” I cried startled and angry.“Trying to show you something. The stick—it scared you right? It may even have hurt you, if you hadn’t been so quick. But look –in trying to burn you, It’s consuming itself. That’s what happens to a heart—“Draupadi thinks later:“I know you want me to drop my hatred, Krishna ” I whispered, It’s the one thing you’ve asked me for. But I can’t. Even if I wanted to. I don’t know how anymore”Outside the hut, the shal trees bent and swayed, their leaves like sighs.…I knew that the remedy lay not in finding a new flower but in what Krishna had advised me over and over again: Let the past go. Be at ease. Allow the future to arrive at its own pace, unfurling its secrets when it will. I knew I should live the life that teemed around me: this clear air, this newborn sunlight, the simple comfort of the shawl around my shoulders…”

Lesson 9

Mantras for studiesI love the following Mantra and I am amazed at the wisdom of our ancestors.It is a Mantra to be chanted before one starts one’s studies.But what amazes me is its last line which states that ‘May we not (have ego clashes) quarrel with one another. ie students and teachers.The ancestors and Scriptures said that one has to have certain requisites before becoming a student. One of them is to come with an empty clean vessel.It is only then that the wisdom of the Scripture will fill one. and now the mantra:Om Sahana Vavatu, Sahanao BhunaktuSahaveeryam Karvaa vahaiTejaswee Naava Dheeta Mastu Ma Vidvishaa vahaiOm Shanti Shanti ShantiLoosely translated it means:I pray that You (God) help me teach.You (God) help me (student) learn!May our study be brilliant and may we not misunderstand!(and quarrel due to our ego)Om Peace, Peace, Peace!A prayer to Mother Saraswati (Goddess of Learning) Mantra to be chanted before you begin your studies: Saraswati namastubhyamVarde KaamarupiniVidyarambham karishyamiSiddhir bhavatu me sadaaIt means:My humble prostrations unto Thee, O Goddess Saraswati,You are the fulfiller of all my wishes,I start my studies, with the request that I achieve perfection in them.

Chapter 1: Lesson 1

Dhritrashtra was the blind father of Duryodhana and his brothers (Kauravas).(Explanations do not suggest that the Mahabharata is an allegory)It was the extreme attachment of Dhritrashtra for his children that blinded him to ‘dharma’ truth justice…Dhritrashtra believed blindly that physical might would triumph.Dhritrashtra asks Sanjaya: What did the Pandavas and my sons do, when they had assembled on the holy land of Kurukshetra, eager to fight O Sanjaya?The fascinating thing that happens now is that Sanjaya gives Dhritrashtra a moment to moment account about what happens in Kurukshetra.Less than a hundred years ago, one would have thought that it was fantasy, magic or that Sanjaya had spiritual powers. Maybe Sanjaya did but now in the ‘Live television broadcast’ zamana that we live in, it is so much easier to believe.

Chapter 1: Lesson 2

At Kurukshetra all the famous warriors from both sides (Pandavas and Kauravas) had assembled. Hundreds of conches blared. Krishna was to act as the charioteer of Arjuna. Arjuna requested Krishna to place the chariot between the two armies. As Arjuna surveyed his opponents he saw fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, sons, relatives, friends…A feeling of despondency took over him. He wondered whether the victory (if it came to him) would be worth the carnage. The bow slipped from Arjuna’s hands and he turned to Lord Krishna for guidance.The first chapter of the Geeta is called ‘The Yoga of the despondency of Arjuna’ Why is it called yoga? There comes a point in everyone’s life when one has tried all means to control situations to ones liking, when one just ‘lets the bow fall’ and that is when the enquiry starts. All journeys start with the first step…the first step towards the philosophic quest is the enquiry: “Athato Brahmn Jignasa”…Then starts the sadhana, the spiritual effort the seeker puts in. The word sadhana is derived from the root word ‘sidh’ which means ‘to be accomplished’ in ‘seeking divinity’ The quest starts ‘out’ and ends in the knowing that there is no ‘separation’…

Chapter 1: Lesson 3

You saw in the lesson (my note about Draupadi) that the Pandavas who were the better ones were addicted to the game of dice. What is remarkable in the Mahabharata is that characters are not black and white but shades of grey. Only in some cases the grey is almost black. Awareness of imperfection allows us to be less judgemental of others. Marguerite Theophil writes ‘This is not about being satisfied with mediocre or about condoning evil or inhumanity it is about facing reality and working with it rather than against it. Working with ‘what is’ means to seek meaning within the absurd, peace within chaos, light within darkness, joy within suffering- without the need to deny the reality of absurdity, chaos darkness and suffering’. Coming back to the Geeta,It is interesting to note that Krishna first tries psychology to urge Arjuna to fight.Krishna tells Arjuna that if he refuses to fight and flee from the battle , people will be justified in considering him a coward. On the other hand if he does his ‘dharma’ ie fights as a soldier, he will attain a high state (Could be that of a great warrior)

Chapter 2: Lesson 1

So in the first chapter of the Geeta, we learned that Arjuna requests Krishna to place the chariot between the 2 great armies ..and also we learned that Arjuna feels that he cannot fight. And also we learned that that is, what happens in life . When you just cannot feel that you can deal with what life is dealing out to you…and you lay down your arms!
If we look at this scene allegorically… when Krishna places the chariot in the centre between the 2 great armies… maybe we could look at one army as our good tendencies ( the Pandavas) and the other as our negative tendencies ( Kauravas)
As Arjuna looks at the Kauravas and those that he felt that he could not fight against. Could it also mean that we feel helpless to fight against our negative tendencies , like Arjuna felt? But then, who must we turn to , to help us in this dilemma ? Our Conscience, our Inner Guru or as for Arjuna , he turned to Krishna for help !
And Krishna in the Geeta, takes the essence, the cream, of the knowledge in the Upanishads and feeds it to Arjuna … and through Arjuna to us !

Chapter 2: Lesson 2

What affected Arjuna at this stage was not a sense of righteousness but a weakness of heart. It is like a doctor, surgeon, whose ‘dharma’ is to cut open a person to cure but at the time of operation he places down his medical instruments and says he cannot go through it. They had tried all methods for peace and reconciliation, Arjuna’s wife Draupadi had been humiliated beyond imagination…(A daughter-in-law, a queen was tried to be disrobed in an open assembly where her husbands, brothers-in –law, fathers-in-law were present…Such a thing has never ever happened in the history of mankind. Can you imagine it happening in our parliament today ? Inconceivable!One must constantly remember that Arjuna was a soldier. And as a soldier his ‘dharma’ was to fight, to get what was rightfully his, to avenge Draupadi’s honour.

Chapter 2: Lesson 3

Krishna explains to Arjuna that the body dies but the Aatman is eternal. Wise men do not grieve over the dead or the living. Krishna now touches upon re-incarnation. He says: There was never a time when I was not, or when you or these kings were not. Nor Will there be a time when we shall cease to be. The soul or the Aatman cannot be cut burnt or dried as it transcends the five elements namely the earth, water, fire, air and ether. Krishna urges Arjuna to withdraw the senses from objects like the tortoise withdraws all its limbs within. Krishna emphasized he who is balanced in pleasure, pain is fit for immortality.Once Buddha was asked how he would describe himself. The Buddha answered: I am awake.Why is Krishna explaining this to Arjuna? Because He is emphasizing the point that he need not grieve about something that in any case is an illusion.King Janak had a dream where he was a beggar. He wondered which was the dream? that he was a king or a beggar? Ashtavakra replied Both are a dream. Thus was ‘Ashtavakra Geeta’ born. A Masterpiece on Vedanta What is Vedanta? Vedānta comes from 2 words: Veda and Anta (Veda end or goal) The appendix to the Vedic hymns. It is believed that Vedanta explains the ultimate nature of reality.Wikipedia states: The goal of Vedanta is a state of self-realization or cosmic consciousness. Historically and currently, it is assumed that this state can be experienced by anyone, but it cannot be adequately conveyed in language.

Chapter 2 Lesson 4

So Krishna states in Chapter 2 verse 58:
One who withdraws, his senses from the sense objects, like a tortoise, withdraws its limbs from all sides, becomes steady of mind …
Easier said than done, right?
What are the senses? Sight, hearing, smell taste and touch…
I do not believe that Krishna is asking you not to see, smell, hear, smell, touch !
What He is saying is not to be obsessed with it…
Enjoy it, but do not get obsessed and greedy and addicted!
But how?
Well that only you can help yourself by reading , contemplating and honing your will power…
You take one step and God will take 10 steps to help you…but then you will argue: Didn’t Krishna say to Arjuna that He will not pick up any weapons ? That the war has to be fought by Arjuna alone?
You will be happy to note that at one time during the war, Krishna picks up the weapon to help his dear friend Arjuna. It is Arjuna who halts Krishna from breaking His vow !
Get the point? 😊🙏

So we were explained how we should withdraw our senses from objects … now please pay attention ! 😊 neither the senses are to be blamed nor the objects … it is what transpires within…for eg when you see a beautiful object … nothing really happens from the outside … it is something that happens inside . For example, your neighbour has bought a beautiful car or his wife has a beautiful necklace . Suddenly emotions arise in you, you want it too , from wanting it and the fact that you cannot have it, arises anger, after anger, you can’t discriminate right from wrong? And maybe you , do something inappropriate which will lead to your destruction … ?
This is what Krishna explains in Ch 2 verse 62, 63
Let me remind you what happens in the epic ‘Mahabharat’ where the ‘Bhagvad Geeta’ really appears.
In short :
The Pandavas and Kauravas were cousins , Duryodhana the eldest son of the Kauravas refused to give anything to the Pandavas … after many attempts on the Pandavas lives, the Kauravas finally concede 5 useless villages to the Pandavas . Now the Pandavas made the land productive and built a beautiful palace . When Duryodhan saw how the Pandavas had prospered ,he could not bear it and so the saga continued until it deteriorated to such an extent that the war became inevitable ! And what happened? all suffered and the Kauravas eventually died in the war!
So what Krishna says makes sense no? Read this note again , would you?
More tomorrow!

Chapter 2 Lesson 5

Now Krishna urges Arjuna to keep his senses under control. Because then that man, is known to be of steady wisdom (Ch 2 verse 65)
Here Krishna says that while the world sees night, a man of steady wisdom, sees day…
Majority of people see the good things as boring ( unimportant) while the man of wisdom see it as day, exciting , interesting.
Think about it…most men run after material objects , how many want to take the trouble to really read the scriptures , the Geeta? And most of you who are in this chat seem to be following it and enjoying it right ?
Most people may find it tedious boring ?
So while men of steady wisdom see day, others see night!
Similarly with meditation , exercise, early morning walks…
A scattered mind is not steady , and an unsteady mind will have accidents , just like, if your mind is not concentrating on the road , the accelerator , the brake is bound to crash!
Here Krishna is the charioteer to Arjuna , and he is controlling the 5 horses (senses) from going astray … what does it imply … ? The rein controls the horses just like we must control our senses if we are to win the battle of life… and ofcourse choose Krishna as your charioteer !
I hope it is clear what I am trying to say… please ask me if confused…
More tomorrow!

Chapter 2 Lesson 6

Yesterday we learned how obsessive desire, greed can lead to destruction …
Some have asked me what about attachment?
Excessive attachments , excessive ego, also drive one to destruction . Let us see what happened in the Mahabharat.
The father of the Kauravas was Dhritrashtra! He was overly attached to Duryodhan, his eldest son , who was so very unfair to his cousins the Pandavas… interesting to note that Duryodhan’s father though being the king and who could easily override the son’s unfair longing for complete power , did nothing because of his excessive attachment to the son! And the result? Complete ruin and loss of not only power but also lives! More interesting to note that the king was ‘blind’ .., one gets blind when overly attached .
Love and attachment is different … the saying goes: Love is blind , but no! Attachment is blind ! Think about it!

Chapter 2

Lesson 7

So Krishna urges Arjuna to keep his senses under control. Because then that man, is known to be of steady wisdom (Ch 2 verse 65)
Here Krishna says that while the world sees night, a man of steady wisdom, sees day… ( ch 2 verse 69)
Majority of people see the good things as boring ( unimportant) while the man of wisdom see it as day, exciting , interesting.
Think about it…most men run after material objects , how many want to take the trouble to really read the scriptures , the Geeta? And most of you who are in this chat seem to be following it and enjoying it right ?
Most people may find it tedious boring ?
So while men of steady wisdom see day, others see night!
Similarly with meditation , exercise, early morning walks…
A scattered mind is not steady , and an unsteady mind will have accidents , just like, if your mind is not concentrating on the road , the accelerator , the brake is bound to crash!
Here Krishna is the charioteer to Arjuna , and he is controlling the 5 horses (senses) from going astray … what does it imply … ? The rein controls the horses just like we must control our senses if we are to win the battle of life… and ofcourse choose Krishna as your charioteer !
I hope it is clear what I am trying to say… please ask me if confused…
More tomorrow!

Chapter 3 Lesson 1
So we learned how Krishna teaches Arjuna the fact that there is no such thing as death, and how we must harness our senses in order to live a life steady in wisdom …
The beauty of the Bhagvad Geeta is that the questions that should naturally arise in us, do arise in Arjuna … and so Arjuna asks Krishna :
‘If You believe that knowledge is superior to action , then why do You ask me to engage in this terrible war?’
( chapter 3 verse 1)
Krishna replies : Even if a man abandons action , he will not reach perfection , as the mind remains active…
And the one who abandons action may be termed as a hypocrite…as everyone is made to act helplessly… ‘
So then what to do?
Krishna explains :
Control the senses of the mind and engage yourself in action… but without attachment!
( chapter 3 verses 4,5,6,7)
We know that complete inaction is not possible … if you run away to the hills , the mind will still follow you and not allow you to rest … also the body cannot be maintained by inaction, one will need food, water etc to maintain the body, and we have been told that we must look after our body as it is the temple of good …
So for a while let’s stop playing games on our phone and learn to balance body and mind in the battlefield of life… actually it is for our own peace of mind, but it requires practice… so the sooner we start the better… 😊

Chapter 3 Lesson 2

If any of you are reading the Geeta in english , the word ‘yagna’ is translated as sacrifice … I would , ( and I know other learned people say) claim that the word ‘sacrifice’ is inaccurate. I would translate it as ‘rightful effort’ but then that would be symbolic…
Now in a yagna ( havan ) one offers aahuti of grains etc to the gods , to receive a boon … just like, if you would like to become a doctor , the ‘aahuti’ offering , would be your efforts, your study…and if your efforts are sincere, you will achieve what you were seeking… you become a doctor …
Now that effort has to be done in a spirit of ‘non doership’
Think about a time in your life… where you felt that you could not handle it… and you went through it… almost like you ‘did’ nothing to get through it… if you can’t think of a time like that, then I guess you will not understand what I am saying …
In verse 27 Krishna says:
All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature only, he whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks:
I am the doer !
And yet, in verse 22 Krishna states : Though there is nothing that I need to attain in the three worlds, yet I engage myself in action… ‘
This is again to coax Arjuna to take action !
Though Arjuna’s very nature of a kshatriya (soldier) , combined with his previous janams and karmas , will make him ‘act’
Sorry readers, cannot make this simpler than this 😊🙏

Chapter 3 Lesson 3

So in the last lesson we learned about ‘non doership’
The simplest way, to follow the above is to do our actions, as Krishna says in (chapter 3 verse 30 )
Renounce all your actions in Me, free from thinking of what will be the outcome, and egoism …
Now Arjuna asks: ( chapter 3 verse 36)
What impels man to commit sin, though against his wishes, by force?
In chapter 3 verse 37)
And Krishna answers : it is desire, and then all devouring and sinful anger ( when desire not fulfilled)
Think about it!
More tomorrow!

Chapter 3 Lesson 4
So in the last lesson we learned how desire (when not fulfilled ) giving rise to devouring and sinful anger , impels man to commit sin!
In chapter 3 verse 42,43 Krishna states;
Senses are superior to the body
Mind is superior to the senses
Intellect is superior to the mind!
The Self ( the Atman, one’s true Self that resides within each and everyone of us)
Is higher than the intellect!
So Arjuna , knowing Him who is superior than the intellect , conquer the Desire ( the mind , senses)

Dear Krishna, wonderfully stated, but how do we do that ?
I guess Krishna , would reply, to keep company of the good ( satsang ) study the scriptures, meditate , do not do harm..,, what I believe all creeds urge us to do!
Dear Readers, what do you think?

Chapter 3 Lesson 5
Dharma
The word ‘dharma’ though popularly known as ‘religion’ and translated as ‘duty’ is not exactly
so…
So then what is Dharma? In my mind depending upon your role in life, it is what you need to do at that time!
In the Mahabharat , it is very clearly explained by the roles of the characters in it, and the circumstances that they are involved in … and there is always a ‘dharm sankat’ which is a confusion meaning : should I do this or should I do that? The ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ are not black and white but shades of grey … now how to know what is the right thing to do! Which is the right way to act… see here Arjuna has a major ‘dharm sankat ‘ to fight or run to the hills’ and as Shakespeare states : To be or not to be, that is the question !
Here Krishna is there to explain to Arjuna , what about us? Well, If we get to ‘know’ our ‘Self’ as explained in yesterday’s note, the ‘Self’ tells us what to do!
Now in chapter 3 verse 35 Krishna states : Better to be true to one’s dharma , even if not praised ( not succeed) , rather than not do one’s Dharma !
Now here again I mention , Arjuna is a soldier and a householder whose wife has been dishonoured , so his dharma is to fight , not run away to the hills. Had Arjuna been a sanyasi, maybe Krishna would have told him not to fight and run to the hills…
This note is a tough one and takes a lifetime of introspection to understand and practice, but I will tell you, what I do… when I do not know what to do, I do nothing… I pause… and then somehow a door opens , clarity comes and I walk confidently in…
Between the above, and my ‘do your best and leave the rest’, I have been able to navigate through life… maybe it will help you too… God bless you all, those who have been with me thus far! 🙏

Chapter 4 Lesson 1
Here Krishna touches upon Re incarnation.
In Chapter 4 verse 1
Krishna states :
This Yoga that I am teaching you Oh Arjuna , I taught to Vivasvan, Vivasvan taught it to Manu and Manu taught it to Ikshvaku!
And that supreme secret I am teaching to you today ! ‘
Arjuna says: Vivasvan was born much before You, so how could you have taught to Vivasvan?
But Krishna proclaims that He has been born numerous times and so has Arjuna, the difference being that He (Krishna) remembers all His births whereas Arjuna does not!
And then comes the often quoted verse 7, 8, 9, 10 where the Lord states: ‘Whenever there is a decline of righteousness O Arjuna and rise of unrighteousness, I manifest Myself ! For the protection of the good and the destruction of the wicked and the establishment of righteousness , I am born in every age . He who knows in true light my divine birth and action , need not be reborn , but freed from attachment, fear and anger , purified by knowledge, taking refuge in Me, attain to my Being’!

Amen! Or should I say OM or So Be it…
And those who in particular have been doing the Geeta with me for the first time are truly blessed … once Krishna takes a hold of you , He will not leave you . That is my experience!
I have heard :
Chinta karo to mile bimari
Chintan karo to mile Bihari!
God bless ! More tomorrow!

Chapter 4 Lesson 2
Let us ponder upon the verse 10 of chapter 4 :
Who attains to Krishna? Or who attains Krishna? Or who attains Krishnahood or Godhood , who attains a state of perfection?
Krishna says:
He who is freed from attachment, fear and anger and is purified by the fire of knowledge…
We have to pause and think here… and I would like to introduce you to terms often used in Hindu paradigm …
As we study scriptures it is important to Hear, ( read) Think about it and Introspect or meditate upon it deeply…
These 3 terms are called Shravan, manan, and nididhyasan !
So will you think deeply upon what is most keeping you from from the Peace that resides within you? And which is said is our birthright?
Knowledge you have been brave enough to step into, by volunteering to learn what the Bhagvad Geeta says… but anger, fear, attachment?
It is a hard task to get rid of these obstacles , I am with you here… but as they say in Spanish poco a poco? Little by little? 😊
More tomorrow

PS
A reader has requested me to translate the Samskrit words .
Please do always ask if confused 🙏
‘To hear’ is Shravan
‘Manan’ is to think about it… ponder upon it
‘Nididhyaasan’ is to introspect or meditate upon it deeply…

Chapter 4 Lesson 3

In verse 11 Krishna states that, in whichever way , one may approach Him, so He rewards them!
There are many paths in which to approach the Lord, ( the infinite Ocean of Bliss which is within us) but the main ones may be classified as three…
If the goal is one , should there not be one path to it?
Different starting points are determined by the kind of person one is, by the kind of personality one possesses.
There are according to Hindu analysis, three different kind of persons. Some are basically reflective, their way to God would be through knowledge . (The Path of Gyaan).
My readers maybe, are predominantly reflective, wanting to know, but surely you cannot be without devotion and action…
The second kind is primarily emotional. Their way to God would be through Devotion and Love.
(The Path of Bhakti)
The 3rd kind is usually active, their way to God would be through work and service…
(The path of Karma)
Actually come to think of it, all these paths require primarily Faith…
and if thought about them deeply, then they all merge into one another … Gyaan, Bhakti and Karma… All require Faith and Devotion!
Karma (action) is integral to Gyan (knowledge) and Bhakti ( Devotion, Love)
As equally as Gyan and Bhakti is…
Krishna as we have learned earlier has mentioned , that man cannot really live without action, (karma) when Arjuna dropped his Gandiva, ( his bow in dejection, and wanted to forsake it all…
And now for some Shravan, manan and Nididhyasan ! What is that? See my previous message!
More tomorrow 🤗

PS The Gopis of Krishna and Meerabai… their predominant path was Bhakti… Love Devotion
Adi Shankaracharya ‘s Path was Gyaan ( knowledge ) when he pens ‘Chidananda Roopaha Shivoham Shivoham ) meaning in truth, in essence , I am no different from God .
And a Karma Yogi is one who Acts , without the desire for the award … Does his best and leaves the rest!
Dear Readers, you who have come this far , I urge you to continue , some parts may be difficult … let them be/go and continue reading and return to them whenever the time is right !

Chapter 4 Lesson 4

Remember in the earlier lesson we had spoken about the symbolic meaning of yagna and offering to the gods?
How the offering to the gods (aahuti) is the effort that one puts in to achieve something?
Well? In verse 12, Lord Krishna states :
Those who long for success in action in this world, sacrifice to the gods ( perform your action ) because success is quickly attained by action … as you have heard before and I state often ‘Do your best and leave the rest’
In Krishna’s words ‘sacrifice to the gods ( chapter 4 verse 12) and surrender the fruits of the action ( unto Me)
(Chapter 2 verse 47)

In chapter 4 verse 13, the Lord speaks about the caste system. He states that the caste system is according to Guna ( inherent qualities) and karma… (action)
Now see , depending upon one’s qualities and action one will be classified…
In one way look at it as a profession… you can be a teacher so (Brahmin would be your caste…
you can be a Kshatriya so you would be a Soldier !
you can be a Vaishya ( so trader) or you can be a shudra ( doing menial jobs)
These jobs could be interchangeable, like in today’s world …professions can be changed … ( they were not necessarily hereditary)
Or you may classify the person by their inherent qualities and behaviour!
Hence a person can be a teacher( highest order in the hierarchy of the caste system ) and perform Shudra acts ( like cheating , insulting, raping! performing lowly tasks )
Similarly with other castes…
Here I would like to mention as to why Shudras were called ‘untouchables’
Well, obviously Indians knew about germs , and those days, there were no toilets and bathrooms and detergents the way we have now a days …and it was the Shudras jobs to do the act of cleaning… so ofcourse we were urged not to touch them, allow them into the kitchen or prayer rooms!
There are countless stories in our scriptures where ‘saints’ denounced the ‘untouchable system’… and Gandhiji actually termed them ( the Shudras) as ‘Harijan’ ( people of God) Think about it!

Ps: A prostitute is called a Vaishya ( trader)
She had no other means in those days to earn , when she absolutely needed to, hence she would trade her body for money or medicines or whatever she may have absolutely required to sustain her life and those of her loved ones… ( does not that prove that the caste system was not hereditary? )… to maintain control the teachers who knew Sanskrit would interpret the scriptures the way it suited them… at least that is what I believe 🙏 and most thinkers agree!

Chapter 4 Lesson 5
We all understand ‘karma’
As we sow so shall we reap
We also understand
‘Vikarma’ which is bad actions, lying , stealing etc , the so called 10 commandments!
But now comes the difficult one, and which is only taught in the Hindu Scriptures as far as I know!
This is called ‘akarma’ a non action !
What ?
And to make it even more confusing , in the Geeta ( Chapter 4 verse 18)
Krishna talks about’ Action in inaction , and
Inaction in Action
PAUSE! , read above again !
Now,
All action , good or bad , gets one entrenched in returning , or re incarnating in the world over and over again!
Except if you understand this bhajan :
Prabhu teri hi kripa se’ sab kaam ho raha hai,
Karte ho tum Prabhuji mera naam ho raha hai!

Inaction happens when an act is done without the feeling of ‘ego’ that I am doing it… things just happen … and if you could look at what happens in life, good or ‘bad’ as a spectator , you stop being the ‘doer’

And as Krishna states: you become a Yogi among men!

If you have not understood the above, I do not blame you, but I only request you to think about it, and let it go… only slowly start observing the ‘ego’ when it arises within you… and slowly you will understand the above !
Ok?
More tomorrow!

PS : and as I sat wondering who would continue to read the Geeta notes everyday after the above difficult concept :
a reader wrote :
What an interesting concept dear Aunty Shakun. Need to watch for the ego at all times and know that we are just instruments in Gods hands. He is the doer! 😊🤗👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Chapter 4 Lesson 6

In the last note we spoke about akarma.
To repeat:
‘akarma’ non action happens, when one realises that situations come and go, and having abandoned attachment to success or failure, does nothing though engaged in activity.
Quite a paradox … but in simple terms the best way i understand the above ? Is just Do your best… and leave the rest ! To the Lord ! To Life!
( Chapter 4 Verse 20)
Now Krishna speaks about the various ways the Humans worship Him… some by fasts , some by watching the breath, some by offering wealth…
In chapter 4 Verse 42
Krishna states :
Cut asunder your doubts , of the self born of ignorance, with the sword of knowledge and take refuge in Yoga ( in Me) ( Yoga literally means the Union of God and Man)
So congratulations dear Readers for having taken refuge in the Supreme knowledge, by having taken the step, in trying to understand what the Geeta, the Song of the Lord, proclaims 🙏

Ps : A reader has asked :
Is it ‘ego’ when u defend yourself? when one explains why one did this or did not do…
My reply:
Ego is not when you defend yourself when you truly think you are in the right… ego is when you know that the other person has a point and you continue to defend yourself… because in this case your ego is hurt… an ego cannot accept that it could ever be wrong ! Relationships break , wars are waged because of ego…
if you observe , Arjuna wants to run away to the hills while Krishna explains that it is not out of ‘ego’ that he does not want to wage the war , but more probably because of the fear of failure… or cowardice …
But the ego works in many ways , plays many games….
If your truly observe yourself you will find where the ego is acting up… in some cases it feigns illness because the ego wants attention… it won’t allow itself to be ignored … and so on and so on…

Chapter 5 Lesson 1

In this chapter ,
Arjuna, like probably most of us, is still confused, so Arjuna asks Krishna: tell me clearly, which is better , the path of renunciation of action, or the path of action…
Now in Chapter 5verse 2 Krishna says:
Both the ‘Yoga of action and the path of renunciation lead to the highest bliss but the Yoga of action is superior to the renunciation of action!
( A man does not become a sanyasi by merely giving up actions due to laziness, ignorance, some family calamity or unemployment. A true Sanyasi is one who has neither attachment nor aversion to anything…
From Swami Sivananda’s commentary)
In Chapter 5 verse 11 , 12, Krishna states :
Yogis, having abandoned attachment, perform actions only by the body, mind and intellect and even by the senses , for the purification of the self. Having abandoned the fruits of action, they attain to eternal peace !
Read the above again and again, and more tomorrow 😊

PS: Karmas can be classified into many categories… I will tell you about them as we go along… but here Krishna talks about the ‘Kriyamaam’ karma… which are absolutely necessary to survive and as such do not bind much to the cycle of birth and deaths … in my understanding a sanyasi needs to eat, drink, excrete … but those if done in complete moderation are necessary to preserve the body… which is necessary if ones aim is to achieve ‘nirvana’ enlightenment! In a lifetime!
Our problem lies when water is not good enough to quench our thirst and the usual greed for more, for better.., which gives rise to greed , anger and final destruction of self… right?

PS No 2
A reader writes :
Shakun aunty, you know even Krishna laughs at the idea of sitting idle. In the Gita he says —

Chapter 3, Verse 22
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन ।
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥
‘O Arjuna, there is nothing in the three worlds that I am required to do, nor anything unattained that I should attain; yet I am always engaged in action.’

Chapter 3, Verse 23
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥
‘If I ever ceased to act, these worlds would perish. I would be the cause of confusion and destruction of all beings.’

So clearly, God didn’t send us here just to do penance and rush back to Him. He sent us to act, to live, to enjoy this drama called life. Otherwise why bother creating it at all? 😄”

Aunty, even the Mahabharata happened only because Krishna pushed Arjuna into action — otherwise what fun story would we even have left?

Just my views 🙈🙈🙈
And I replied:
I have touched upon the Geeta and some difficult concepts … like completely confusing ones … like He does things but does nothing at all… kaise samjhaoon? It is actually touching upon the concept of being an observer … yet just like we cannot understand quantum physics … what Krishna is really trying to say we will never understand… then only read , love and surrender 🙏😊

Chapter 5 Lesson 2

In verse 13 of chapter 5 Krishna says : Renounce all actions mentally…
Let us look at the word ‘mentally’ how does one do that?
I am often asked , if one has no goal ,no desire, then what is the point of doing anything ?
This is the ‘fun part’ of how I do it…
I have a goal, when my children were small I wanted my children to excel in life as human beings and in every way… but I did not think of my goal all the time… I just concentrated and enjoyed and did my best at the task at hand… so think of the goal, drop the goal and concentrate on what needs to be done now!
When you cook, you want the dish to turn out well, but you concentrate on the fire, whether low or high… and the quantity of ingredients that need to go into the dish , when they need to go in …
As they say ‘live in the moment’ and then as Krishna continues to say: …the self controlled , the embodied ( as He calls the Humans in the body) will rest happily in the nine gated city ( 9 Chakras) neither acting nor causing the body and senses to act…. ‘
Tough surely! But come to think of it , that is the way we truly must act if we are to succeed!
I am confident that these readers will at least try! No? 😊

Chapter 5 Lesson 3

In verse 17, 19, 20, 21, 22
Krishna talks about how humans are deluded , but knowledge destroys that ignorance and sins…
Krishna declares that resting in steady intellect , neither rejoicing in what is pleasant , nor grieving in what is unpleasant, Man then finds happiness in the Self, and engaged in meditation , and established in ‘That’ he attains to the state of ‘no return’ from endless happiness …
But even while living ‘here’ everything ( pain , sorrow) is overcome by those whose minds rest in equality !

To make it simpler, what Krishna says, is that all enjoyments, that are born from desire to see, hear, smell touch, have a beginning and an end…
So having gained knowledge , there is no need to rejoice too much , nor grieve too much. With the help of internalising knowledge and meditating, one can achieve endless happiness , even while living in this earth which seemingly is made of joy and sorrow!
Could not make it easier… but once you take the first step to understand , I promise that it will start becoming clearer , remember Shravan (hear, read ) manan ( think about it) and nidhidhyasan ( internalise) ?
More tomorrow!

Chapter 5 Lesson 4

Congratulations! those who have been with the Geeta and me thus far… because most of the very difficult concepts Krishna has already touched upon …
Now in verses 26,27,28,29
‘Krishna states that Bliss resides within those, who are free from desire and anger, have controlled their thoughts and have realized the Self!
How to do that!
Krishna says: ‘Shutting all external contacts, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows , equalising the outgoing and incoming breath moving within the nostrils, with the senses, the mind and the intellect controlled, having liberation as
his Supreme Goal , free from desire, fear and anger, is liberated for ever , and attains peace , Him ( Krishna) and Bliss!’
None of my readers here are ascetics , so obviously we cannot be in this meditative state all the time… but it helps if we start with a few minutes ever day, and gradually increase the time…
More tomorrow 😊🙏

Chapter 6 Lesson 1

In Verse 1, 2
Krishna repeats : He who performs his bounden duty without depending on the fruits of action , he is a sanyasi and a Yogi…
( because) no one verily becomes a Yogi who has not renounced thoughts …
What I believe that Krishna is stating here, is that you may run to the hills ( because you cannot face the vicissitudes of life )
You may try and run away from situations , but can you run away from your thoughts … your mind… ?
We pray for peace of mind , but what is mind? Have you asked yourself … it is just a crowd of thoughts …
How to deal with ego, desire of the senses?
In verse 6
Krishna says:
The self is the friend of the Self for him who has conquered himself by the Self , but to the unconquered self , this Self stands in the position of the enemy, like the external foe ‘
In other words you can be your friend and you can be your worst enemy …
I often say the key that locks the lock , is the same one that
opens it…
Think about it! More tomorrow! 😊🙏

PS: a reader asked :
How does one conquer the self ? Is it only through meditation?
If one is truthful to one’s self, does that mean the self has become a friend?

I replied :
One of the ways is through meditation , but to meditate , we have to control and harness the mind … how to do that ? Be aware of one’s own shortcomings and be truthful to yourself … and love the self …
What helped me was to treat the mind like your child… scold it sometimes, pamper it sometimes ❤️

Chater 6 Lesson 2

In verse 9,10, 11,12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 23

Krishna states that Yoga is (union with the Self) and a state of breaking away from pain …
The above state is not attained by one who eats too much or does not eat at all, or one who sleeps too much or is always awake. Yoga ( the destroyer of pain ) is attained by one who is moderate, balanced in exertion of actions .
This Yogi’s steady mind feels the same towards the righteous and unrighteous…free from hope and greed, he likes to remain in solitude…
Now Krishna advises on how to meditate.
Choose a clean spot, have a comfortable seat ( not too high , not too low) made of cloth , a skin and kusa grass one over the other.
Control your senses, have your neck and head erect and gaze at the tip of the nose…
Now serene minded, like a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker , resting in the Self.. then he is said to be united!

Tall order, don’t you think… but I have heard , that the journey to a place far away, starts with taking the first step.
Also to keep the senses engaged what do we do, while we meditate?
We smell the incense or agarbatti to keep the nose engaged,
we touch the mala or prayer beads,
we hear and chant our mantra ( or prayer ) and gaze upon our Isht Dev or the Deity who we choose and love.
Think about it!
More tomorrow!🙏

Chapter 6 Lesson 3

Verse 29, 33, 34
Continuing, Krishna states: ‘When the mind is harmonised by Yoga , then he sees that that Self abides in all beings , and all beings abide in the Self’

In other words all are ‘one’ as the same atman abides in everyone and everything …for one who is harmonised by Yoga!

But now, Arjuna asks Krishna, the question that bubbles within all of us , Arjuna says: This mind is restless, turbulent, strong and unyielding and because of it, I am not able to practice the Yoga of equanimity that You teach’
And the Blessed Lord answers:
Undoubtedly, what you say , O mighty armed Arjuna is true, the mind is difficult to control and is restless, but by practice and by dispassion ( emotional detachment) the mind may be restrained…

( and one may be able to achieve a state of peace, love and bliss, which the Bible describes as a peace that surpasses all understanding.) 🙏
Krishna does not quote the Bible , I am 😊

Chapter 6 Lesson 4

Verses 37, 38, 39, 40, 41,42,43

Now Arjuna asks Krishna: What happens to the seeker who despite his faith and sincerity fails to realise the Supreme?
And Krishna replies :
He who pursues the Path with sincerity and faith but dies before achieving the ‘Supreme’, will carry on His Sadhana in his next birth , and will finally achieve God realisation !
That (sincere seeker) Soul is reborn in the house of the pure or wealthy or is born in a family of wise yogis…( a birth which is very difficult to obtain in this world)
And thus ( praising such a yogi , sincere seeker) and on this encouraging note ends the Chapter 6
More tomorrow! 😊

Chapter 7 Lesson 1

Verse 3, 4, 5, 7

Krishna now proceeds to explain His Manifestation as the Universe and the Power behind it.
He says : There is nothing whatsoever higher than Me…All is strung on Me as clusters of gems in a string.
My inferior Prakriti or Nature is made up of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Mind, intellect, egoism…
But My Higher Prakriti , Nature is made up of the very life element by which the world is held!

And I say: The first Bhagvad Geeta that I was introduced to was the Geeta by RadheSham … it was beautiful and we used to sing it in a beautiful tune.
I am reminded of the above said by Krishna in Hindi.
He says:
Athva itna jaanlo , chhodo sab vistaar,
Mere hi ik ansha se
Chamak raha sansaar!
Meaning:
Forget all descriptions ( of Me)
Only know this much, that by my one spark , the whole universe pervades, shines!
Or
Know this much: I am but a spark that illuminates the entire universe, and everything emanates from a small part of Me.”
Krishna , also says that among thousands of men , one perchance strives for perfection, even among those successful strivers, only one perchance knows Him in essence!

And I say: haven’t we heard that man is made in the image of God, and we are a drop of the Ocean…
Ponder upon it
More tomorrow!

Chapter 7 Lesson 2
Verse 8, 9, 10, 11

Yesterday, we learned that Krishna said: … My higher element is made up of the very element by which the world is held…
Today , we learn as Krishna elaborates:
I am the sapidity in water, light in the moon and the sun, syllable Om in the Vedas, sound in ether, virility in men, sweet fragrance in earth, brilliance in fire, life in all beings, austerity in ascetics, eternal seed of all beings, intelligence of the intelligent, the splendour of the splendid objects, of the strong , I am the strength yet devoid of desire and attachment …

And I say , no wonder that we Hindus see God in the elements , fire , water , ether… and also in the idol made of earth …
As RadheSham sings:
(Krishna says)
Ghat ghat ke sansar ke
Vyaapak main bharpoor
Prem se nitya sameep hoon prem nahin to door

Meaning: I dwell in every atom and particle in abundant measure…
But I am close to you if you love me , but if you stray , I seem to be far away’

In the above verses Krishna does not talk about love, but if you know about the love of the Gopis for Krishna , they said : we have nothing to do with this great Gyan about God, we only know and need to know that we love Him ! 🙏

Chapter 7 Lesson 3

Verse 12
Now I must warn you , it is truly difficult to understand the verse 12, 13, 14

Krishna states: All objects and beings, that may be, inert , pure, active , know that they proceed from Me. They are in Me yet I am not in them!
???
They are in Me maybe easy to understand, But He not in them ???
Krishna continues :
Deluded, all this world does not know Me, as distinct from the 3 qualities/states of Nature and immutable ( unchanging)
However dear Readers, before you lose heart , the Lord compassionately states: Verily this Divine illusion of Mine, made up of the three qualities ( of Nature) is difficult to cross over, (however) those who take refuge in Me alone cross over this illusion’
And I say: the key word in the above passage is , ‘refuge’
So perform your ‘Dharma’ and take refuge in Him…
In simple words as I do not tire of saying ‘Do your best , and pray, surrender , leave the rest (to Him) 🙏

Chapter 7 Lesson 4

Verse 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22,

Krishna says: There are 4 kinds of people who worship Me , the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth and the wise!
But the wise ones, the steadfast and the devoted , who seek Me are exceedingly dear to Me! As I am dear to them!
These Wise ones , consider Me alone as their Supreme Goal!
These come to Me after many births , and such souls are very hard to find.
These may worship Me in any form but with faith… and when they worship Me with faith, I make that faith firm and unflinching. And these obtain their desire and obtain Me.
And I say: which type of Seeker are we… ? Whatever type we may be, let us be sincere seekers, and even if we may want something worldly so what? Better to go to Krishna , because He truly knows our pain and understands us and knows what we need better, than anyone else!
Remember , sometimes ‘No’ or ‘Wait’ can be an answer… how often have our parents denied us what we cried and cried for, because they knew , either we were too young, or it was not good for us ? 😊🙏

Chapter 7
Lesson 5

Verse 23
We learned how Krishna said that there are 4 types of seekers in the last note.
In verse 23 Krishna says : Those who seek worldly , material things, those material things , are finite ( after all nothing lives forever)
The worshipper of those gods ( to who they pray to, or ask the favour from ) The worshippers go to them, but those who are my devotees, and ask for Me alone, come to Me!
I would interpret the above words eg: like you may pray to a doctor, or to someone for a favour , and think that, what one asked for, came from them, when in actuality it came from a Higher Force ( Krishna)
I like to pray thus: Do grant me this finite thing that I ask for, and I have done my best to achieve… However, now I leave it to You, to do what You believe is the best for me ! 🙏

Chapter 7 Lesson 6

Verse 24, 25,26,27

Krishna says: I know the beings of the past, present and future ( meaning i am aware of what has been, is happening and what will transpire in the future ) but no one really knows Me , My higher , immutable and excellent nature ( please do not mistake this as an ‘ego’ speaking , because He describes Himself as He truly is 🙏)
And here He says the above is actually what I Am and not really like the Manifest ( the idol)
( But remember that He has said: ‘ I am in every atom of the Universe’ and therefore He abides even in the idol)
I ask: But why can’t we ‘see’ Him in His true form ?
And Krishna says: I am veiled by the ‘Maya’ ( illusion ) the pairs of opposites ( joy, sorrow, pleasure, pain) which arise from desire and aversion ( like and dislike ) and are subject to delusion at birth!’
Enough to think of for today? 😊
More tomorrow!

PS: the same words uttered can be coming from a separate centre in the body…
I can say; ‘I am good ‘
I can come from my ‘ego’ centre
‘I am good’ can come from a ‘self esteem’ centre
And ‘I am good ‘ can come from the very truth of my being ! ‘
Like in the case of what the good Lord Krishna states above !

Chapter 7 Lesson 7

Verse 28, 29
In the last lesson we learnt how Krishna says that He is veiled by Maya ( illusion ) and pair of opposites ( joy sorrow , pleasure , pain ) and therefore we cannot see Him the way He truly is!
Now in Verse 28
Krishna states that those men of virtuous deeds, whose sins have come to an end, who are freed from delusion of the pairs of opposites , who are steadfast in their vows, who strive for liberation from old age and death,
who take refuge in Me, who know Me as the knowledge of elements on the physical plane, as the knowledge of gods on the celestial plane, as the knowledge of sacrifice ( effort) in the realm of sacrifice ( effort) , realise in full,
the Brahman ( God) the knowledge of the Self and all action !
And Thus ends Chapter 7

PS: At this point, in the world, or better put…in the standard that we belong to in the school of Spirituality, I would take, from what Krishna says above is :
Let us strive to be virtuous, be steadfast in our practice , and have faith in the words of the Lord… as Shirdi Sai Baba states: Shraddha and Saburi ( Faith and patience ) is what we need in simple terms to get to shift the ‘veil’ and know the Lord the way He truly is…
Good luck, mere humsafar … my fellow passengers on the Path ! 🙏😊
More tomorrow!

A dear reader , Aarti Wadhwani says:
So beautifully said, Shakun Aunty 🌸🙏

Yes, just as you reminded us of Shraddha and Saburi, Guru Nanak Dev Ji too always preached Sabr (patience) and Shukr (gratitude). Both teachings merge so seamlessly — patience in the journey, gratitude for what is, and faith in the Divine. Truly the essence of walking the path with humility and love.
Looking forward to tomorrow’s reflections, mere humsafar on this spiritual path ✨🙏

Chapter 8 Lesson 1

In the last note , Krishna states that He should be known as the ‘Knowledge of the Elements’ in Sanskrit , that is known as ‘Adibhuta’
and ‘Adhiyajna’ is Karma or as ‘Effort put in to achieve something’ .
So just like we would like to know , Arjuna asks:
Verse 1, 2 ,3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10

What is Adibhuta, what is Adhiyajna , What is Brahman?
And how at the time of death, art Thou to be known?
Krishna answers:
Brahman is the Imperishable, the Supreme.
The offering to the gods ( effort) which causes existence, manifestation and sustains beings is called ‘action ‘ ‘karma’
‘Adibhutam’
( knowledge of the elements) pertains to my perishable nature ! And the Purusa or the soul is the Adhidaivam !
And whosoever leaving the body , goes forth remembering Me alone at the time of death, he attains My Being, there is no doubt about this ‘
Krishna continues to state that, That ( would only happen) if the mind remained constantly fixed in Him ( while living) meditates, fixing the life breath in the middle of the 2 eyebrows with unshaken mind ! Meditates on the Omniscient, inconceivable , minuter than the atom, inconceivable, effulgent like the sun and beyond darkness of ignorance … ‘
And I say , just love, meditate, think of Him as the ‘ultimate Doer’ and present in every atom and continue doing your ‘karma’ to the best of your capacity and understanding 😊🙏

PS: I often say: We give time to our daily exercise, brushing our teeth , going to doctors, going to parlour, visiting friends, having a good time…how about a little time to learning the Scriptures, learning about maintenance of our mental health and Spiritual well being? We all look for love and peace of mind… and I believe that Spiritual exercises do provide what we truly desire… ie peace of mind and mental well being…and Of course what we practice through our life is what will stand paramount at our time of death… and maybe, just maybe we reach nirvana, or in the least a better after life ?!

Chapter 8 Lesson 2

In verse 16 Krishna says: All the worlds, including the world of Brahma , are subject to return again ( re incarnate) but he who reaches Me, has no rebirth ! ‘
But I ask : how do we reach that state ?
Krishna says: ( Verse 11)
Close all gates ( could mean senses, and/or, also the openings that we have , that are taught to be closed in Yoga practices) confine the mind in the heart, and passion- free , enter the goal ( that of not re-incarnating , into this world of joy and sorrow, but enter Him ( Bliss and Peace infinite)
In verse 12 Krishna says : ‘After closing all the gates, and confining the mind in the heart, and fixing the life breath in the head , engaging in the practice of concentration, uttering the one syllable ‘Om’ and remembering Me, he who departs thus , leaving the body attains to the Supreme Goal.
In verse 15
Krishna says: Having attained Me these great souls , do not again take birth , which is the place of pain and is non eternal’
And I say : Amen 😊🙏

PS There is a saying : ‘Manush deh ko tarsey Dev’
Meaning that ‘high level souls’ yearn for human birth ! ‘
How come ?
Because the high level souls ( Devtas) may have reached a very high level state of being , but they have not reached the ‘Ultimate State’ and for that , the way is to incarnate in the human body and go through all the lessons of joy and sorrow (and concentration and meditation) that we humans are subjected to …
So rejoice human fellow beings and continue learning the lessons that life teaches us with Shraddha and Saburi ( Faith and Patience ) 🙏

Chapter 8 Lesson 3

Do you know why the west is turning towards the east for Spiritual answers ?
Well, for one, it is because most of our Scriptures are all written with questions and answers like in the Bhagvad Geeta.
ie We are allowed to question … secondly what our ancient Rishis ‘saw’ maybe while in a spiritual trance is being unearthed , as we go along, by quantum physics…
In verse 17 ,
Krishna talks of Brahma’s day ( comprising of a thousand Yugas )
and Brahma’s night!
(Comprising of a thousand Yugas)
According to Google :
A Yuga is a cyclical, cosmic age in Hindu cosmology, representing different epochs in the evolution of humankind and the universe. There are four Yugas—Satya (Golden), Treta (Silver), Dvapara (Bronze), and Kali (Iron) Yuga—that form a cycle, or Mahayuga, with human consciousness, spiritual understanding, and virtue diminishing in each subsequent age. Humanity is currently believed to be in the Kali Yuga, the final and most decadent of the four ages.
To continue ,
In verse 18
Krishna says:
‘From the unmanifested , all the manifested worlds proceed at the coming of the ( day of Brahman ) and at the coming of the night of Brahman they all dissolve into what is called the Unmanifested.
In verse 19
Krishna says that even the multitude of beings born again and again are dissolved helplessly into the coming of night , and come forth again at the coming of day .
In verse 20
Krishna says :
But verily, there exists higher than the Unmanifested , another Unmanifested Eternal , who is not destroyed when all beings are destroyed!
In verse 21
Krishna says:
They who reach the Unmanifested, ( the Highest abode) do not return to the Samsara ( re incarnate)
In Verse 22
Krishna says :
That Highest State, is attainable by unswerving devotion to Him alone, within whom all beings dwell and by whom all this is pervaded. 🙏
For verse 23,24, 25,26 Krishna talks about those who die during the bright fortnight, and the dark fortnight … for the above, I shall quote from the commentary of Swami Sivananda:
The bright path to the gods is taken by the devotees. The dark path is taken by …. Those who perform , with expectation of fruits or rewards , and hence perforce those humans have to return … Think about it… and thus ends Chapter 8 of the Bhagvad Geeta 🙏

PS: The above is referred and understood in Quantum Physics as the ‘Big Bang’ when the Universe manifested…
Quantum Physics also talks about a Vacuum , a Nothingness that existed before the Big Bang … which here Krishna refers to as Unmanifested!
I have heard ( I may be wrong but Narad Muni was absorbed into the Unmanifest
To return when the Universe manifested again !

I just asked AI about Narad Muni … here is the reply:
Narada Muni’s absorption into the universe during its collapse is indeed mentioned in Hindu scriptures. According to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Narada Muni entered the body of Lord Narayana during the universe’s annihilation and re-emerged when the Universe was created.

About the ‘ Vacuum’
I spoke about, Astronomical observations evidence the expansion of the universe, at an accelerating pace, until it spreads thin and its matter is absorbed into Black Holes (the coming of the night) whereby the Universe maybe understood to be Unmanifested.

Chapter 9 Lesson 1

This chapter is awe
inspiring , and difficult to understand ( I must warn you 😊) and therefore when Scientists are baffled by the laws of Quantum Physics, I feel enthralled that my Krishna spoke about similar baffling concepts …
So here goes:
Verse 1, 2, 3, 4

Krishna says to Arjuna: ‘’I shall declare to you the secret, the knowledge, that combined with experience ( Self realisation or Enlightenment) I share with you , because you are a qualified aspirant endowed with faith !
This Kingly Science is realisable by direct intuitional knowledge by the righteous .
But those who have no faith return to the path of this world of death.
All this world is pervaded by Me in My Unmanifest aspect, all beings exist in Me but I do not dwell in them…
I say: Read the last line again … how can we possibly understand that ‘all beings exist in Him , but He does not exist in us ? When He has earlier mentioned that He dwells in us?
I would look at it, as again He does not consider Himself the Doer… or that once we as a drop of the Ocean , become the Ocean , we become One with Him , so how can he then , exist in us?
This is the way I understand these words, but we are often told that this puny intellect that we own is not really capable of understanding these lofty concepts , so I would say, for the time being , just let’s continue hearing what more Krishna has to say … and as He himself says ‘have faith, and perseverance ‘
More tomorrow!🙏

Ms Maya Shahani elaborates: Krishna does not exist in the “self” because he is the “Self”
As long as we identify ourselves as the “self” he cannot be within us. But the moment we identify ourselves as the “Self” we become Him , the Unified field of Consciousness. And that is what God ( Krishna) is .
According to Quantum Mechanics the Unified field of consciousness is smaller than matter. It becomes a field.
Just like a football is within a field. But the field can never be within a football.
Our smaller self is like a football within our larger Self, the Field .

Chapter 9 Lesson 2

In verse 22 of Chapter 9
Krishna promises : To those men who worship Me alone, thinking of no other, of those ever united, I secure what is not already possessed and preserve what they already possess!
I say : One has to think about the above deeply … ‘who worship Me alone’ I would interpret , that as after having put in one’s full efforts, surrender to the Lord!
The Lord says ‘of those ever united’
I would interpret , as being kind to all, knowing that we all reside in the Lord…
As Hindus say:
Vasudeva Kutumbakam ‘
We belong to the family of the Lord!
In the previous verses from verse 5 to verse 22 of Chapter 9 , I would like to quote from Swami Sivananda’s interpretation:
‘Now the Lord proceeds to describe His nature as the all comprehensive Truth.
He is everything that is visible and invisible.
He pervades everything that exists.
He creates everything .
He sustains everything, and when final dissolution takes place absorbs everything into Himself.
He manifests them again when the next creation begins.
All beings who are ignorant of this knowledge, are caught helplessly in this cycle of birth and death.
In the midst of this creation, preservation and dissolution of the universe, the Lord stands as a witness, unaffected and unattached. He is the sole director , sustainer, and supervisor of His cosmic Prakriti ( Nature)
Ignorant beings are not able to recognise the Lord.
Although these ( not nice) beings assume a human form, their nature is that of demons.
The God realised Mahatma , on the other hand , is a man of knowledge and perceives Him indwelling all beings and creatures.
He beholds the underlying unity of existence in all names and forms!
More tomorrow 🙏

Chapter 9 Lesson 3

In verse 23
Krishna declares that those who endowed with faith worship other gods are actually worship Him… though it may be by the wrong method…
(I would interpret the above that we may be thankful for the comfort that the fan , air conditioner , washing machine give us, but actually they work because of the source ie the Electricity! )
In Verse 24 Krishna states : For I alone am the enjoyer and also the Lord of all sacrifices ( efforts to achieve something) but they do not know Me in essence ( in reality) and hence they fall ( return to this mortal world)
In verse 25
Krishna states :
Whoever offers Me with devotion and a pure mind ( heart) a 1 ) patram a leaf,
2) pushpam, a flower,
3) Phalam, a fruit
4) Toyam a little water , I accept this offering !
And I say : Whew 😅
After telling us the difficult ways of achieving Him thank God He has made it simple!
But then look at how these above 4 offerings may be interpreted ( I heard about it somewhere, and I loved the interpretation)
So if one offers him a Patram ( a leaf)
A leaf knows how to float , (one should not sink under the burdens that life places on us )
A pushpam ( a flower) .
A flower knows how to blossom , to give fragrance.
A phalam ( a fruit)
A fruit has to wait before it comes and ripens . A fruit teaches us to wait, to have patience.
Toyam ( water)
Water cleans, its nature is purity !
Verse 27, 28, 29, 30
31, 32
Krishna continues to say : Whatever you do, do, as an offering to Him! ( I say, like the Gopis did)
Krishna continues : If you do the above, you shall be freed from the bonds of action, which yield good and evil fruits and you shall come unto Me.
To Me, there is none hateful or dear, but those who worship Me with devotion , even though sinful, though of various castes , genders, soon become righteous and attain to eternal peace, because my devotees are not destroyed, are in Me and I am also in them. ( I guess they become One , Ek Omkar)
And thus ends the 9th Chapter of the Bhagvad Geeta!

Chapter 10 Lesson 1
Krishna tells Arjuna that even the Devas and highly evolved souls,fail to understand how He projects Himself as the Universe and all its manifestations … and Arjuna agrees and in
Verse 14
Arjuna says: I believe all that Thou sayest to me as true, O Krishna !
Verily O Blessed Lord, neither the gods nor the demons know Thy manifestation ( origin)
And I say: Even the scientists are not able to know ( as of today) the origin of the Universe, so I would add dear friends , who are we , to even try to understand… but we can love, right….? So many of us claim ‘we don’t know our wife/ husband, we don’t know what makes our loved ones really tick… but we can love them right?
But for those who are still curious as what the Lord says, He says :
Verse 3,4, 7, 9, 10,11
He who knows Me as unborn and beginning-less…
he is liberated from all sins who has wisdom, non delusion, forgiveness, calmness, happiness…
The above get established in unshakeable Yoga ( union with God )
The true devotees of the Lord are wholly absorbed in Him , surrendered to Him, and through single minded devotion , they are granted the power of discrimination ( the discrimination that leads them from unreal to real! 🙏

PS How many of you know the following prayer ? my request : Chant it often when confused:
‘Asato Ma Sadgamaya” is an ancient Sanskrit mantra and a Shaanti Mantra (Mantra of Peace) from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, a revered scripture in Hinduism. The full mantra:
Aum Asato Ma
Sadgamaya,
Tamaso Ma Jyotir gamaya,
Mrityur Ma Amritam gamaya,
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti hi
translates to: “Lead me from the unreality (untruth) to reality (truth). Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. Om Peace, Peace, Peace”. This prayer is recited to foster spiritual growth and achieve inner peace.

Chapter 10 Lesson 2
In verse 12
Arjuna accepts the descent of the Supreme ( in a human form) but
In verse 17
Arjuna wants to know , in what aspects of Him should Arjuna think of the Lord.
Now the Lord describes His divine glories.
In verse 39 ,40
Krishna states :
There is no end to my Divine glories… Whatever is the seed of all beings, that also I Am , there is no being , whether moving or unmoving that can exist without me!
From Verse 19 to verse 38
Krishna states how He is the seed, ‘best among’ and the essence of all beings, moving and unmoving …
( My suggestion is you please read all that Krishna says in these verses … since He describes characters , that maybe one needs to explain about, and for each character we will have to move on a different long tangent 🙏)
But here, let me tell you about some of the examples that Krishna presents:
Krishna states:
Among the senses I am the mind, among the words , I am the syllable Om, among the divine Sages, I am Narada, among the purifiers, I am the wind, among the streams , I am the Ganga , among the sciences , I am the Science of Self, I am the inexhaustible and everlasting time…among Sages, I am Vyasa…
Krishna states in Verse 40,41, 42
There is no end to My divine glories O Arjuna ! But this is a brief statement by Me of the particulars of My Divine Glories!
Whatever ‘being’ that is glorious , prosperous, that , know thou, to be a manifestation of a part of My splendour .
Just know, that I exist , supporting this whole world by one part of Myself!

And thus ends the 10th Chapter of the Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta! 🙏

Chapter 11 Lesson 1

In my mind , this Chapter is the crowning glory of the Bhagvad Geeta when at the request of Arjuna , Krishna reveals to his dear friend, His Cosmic Vision!
In Verse 8,
Krishna says:
But thou art not able to behold Me with these thine own eyes , I give thee the divine eye ( maybe what we call the third eye?)
I say: This Chapter is awesome and I beseech you to read the whole chapter on your own, however, I shall quote from Swami Sivananda’s summary:
The vision is at once all comprehensive and simultaneous. In every direction Arjun sees the Lord as the entire universe . All the created worlds, gods, beings, creatures and things stand revealed as the One Gigantic Body of the Lord.
His will alone prevails in all things and actions .
The Lord exhorts Arjuna to fight, he being only an apparent cause of the destruction of his enemies.
In verse 46 Arjuna begs the Lord to assume once more His usual form , as he is not able to bear the pressure of the sudden expansion of consciousness and is filled with fear.
In verse 47, 48,52,53
Krishna reiterates that this vision cannot be had through any amount of austerities , study, sacrifices or philanthrophic acts.
In verse 54, 55
Krishna states :
But by a single minded devotion can I , of this form, be known and seen in reality and also entered into , O Arjuna!
He who does all actions for Me, who looks upon Me as the Supreme, is devoted to Me , who is free from attachment, who bears no enmity towards no creature , he comes to Me, o Arjuna !
And thus ends Chapter 11 of the
Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta . 🙏🙏🙏

PS In my mind all studies , austerities , philanthropic acts are important, but if ( they are done to enhance the ego , they will not take you to the Lord… ) single minded devotion and faith are an absolute requisite to achieve Oneness with the Lord! As we shall learn in the next Chapter 12 🙏

Chapter 12 Lesson 1
This particular chapter is the one most recited and learned by heart… ( rote) and it is no wonder , because after being awed by ‘seeing’ the Cosmic form of the Lord , Krishna asks Arjuna to just be devoted to Him (the Lord) … !
So logically the
Verse 1 of Chapter 12 starts with Arjuna questioning
Krishna : Who amongst your devotees is better? The ones who worship the Unmanifest , the Imperishable or those , who are devoted to You?
In Verse 5
Krishna says : It is indeed very difficult for the embodied ( those who live in the body, believe the body to be their true identity, the common human beings) to worship or set the mind on the Unmanifested)
And therefore in verse 6, 7 ,8 ,9, 10, 11
Krishna says:
To those, whose minds and intellect are set in Me, who worship Me, regarding Me as the Supreme goal …verily I become ere long, their saviour out of the Ocean of Samsara! ( world of illusions, Maya)
If you unable to do the above, then by constant practice , or by being intent on doing actions for My sake ( like the Gopis of Vrindavan did) or renounce the fruits of action with the self controlled ( do your best and leave the rest 😊) seek to reach Me !
And now comes my often quoted verse 12 of chapter 12 where Krishna states :
Better than ‘practice’ ( rituals ) is knowledge,
Better than knowledge is meditation,
Better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of actions ( because ) peace immediately follows !‘
And I say : Think about it…for what reasons does the mind get agitated?
We want the fruits of our actions … and it is natural, but if one concentrated on the work at hand, and give it our best efforts, then one will be at peace! This is something that I am constantly practicing and believe me, the more one excels at it , the more peaceful one feels 😊🙏
More tomorrow!

Chapter 12 Lesson 2
From verse 13 to Verse 20 Krishna tells us, which of His devotees are dear to Him .
So here goes :
He who hates no creature, friendly and compassionate to all, free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, forgiving , ever content, steady in meditation, self controlled , possessed of firm conviction , with the mind and intellect dedicated to Him, He by whom the world is not agitated, and who cannot be agitated by the world , freed from joy, envy, fear , anxiety, free from wants, pure, expert, unconcerned and untroubled, renouncing, neither rejoices nor hates , same to foe and friend, in honour and in dishonour , same in cold, heat, pleasure and pain, free from attachment, he to whom censure and praise is equal , homeless( I believe that He means, does not have a home for negative emotions) who is silent, content with anything, he who is of a steady mind and full of devotion ….
And in verse 20 Krishna reiterates:
They verily who follow this immortal Dharma (law or doctrine) as described above , endowed with faith , regarding Me as their Supreme Goal , they , the devotees are exceedingly dear to Me!
And thus ends Chapter 12 🙏🙏🙏

PS: please do not dismiss the above , saying : I cannot own all the above qualities… I would like to tell you that the above chapter is often recited , maybe to encourage us to imbibe the above qualities, albeit ahista ahista, slowly slowly, if we want be dear to the Lord !🙏

Chapter 13 Lesson 1
In this chapter the Lord gives us wonderfully revealing insights into the human individual.
In verse 1, 2, 3
Arjuna asks: I wish to learn about Nature, the knower of the Field ( the body) knowledge and that which ought to be known.
Krishna answers:
This body O Arjuna is called the field, he who knows it is called ‘the knower of the Field’ ( sages )
Now the Lord states that He is the Knower of the Field in all Fields!
In verse 4 , 5, 6
Krishna says that He will explain what the Field is , in brief !
Sages have sung of it in many ways , in various chants…
(They have sung of ) the great elements ( Earth , water, fire, air and ether) egoism, intellect, the 10 senses and the 5 objects of the senses)

Chapter 13 Lesson 2
In the verses 7 to 12
Krishna declares what constitutes true knowledge ( in my mind, it is again , more or less a repetition of what He said in the last Chapter 12 , of the qualities that devotees should possess to become dear to Him eg humility, unpretentiousness, forgiveness, steadfastness, self control …( I would urge you to read the other qualities that constitute ‘true knowledge ‘ from the Bhagvad Geeta)
In verse 14 to 19
Krishna describes the Mahapurush… ( The Great Being)
Krishna says :
With hands and feet everywhere, with eyes, with heads and mouths everywhere , with ears everywhere He exists in the world enveloping all , He devours, He generates…( and again I urge you to read from the book, but it suffices to know that He declares that He is All Being, All doing , All knowing …)
In verse 23,24
Krishna states:
The Supreme Soul in this body is called the spectator ( Sakshi, Witness)
The permitter, supporter, the enjoyer, the Great Lord and the Supreme Self!
He who thus knows the spirit and matter together with the qualities, in whatever condition he may be, he is not born again !

Krishna says : The Supreme Soul in this body is called the Spectator ( the Sakshi)
So in my mind , we have the body , we have the mind with the senses, and the organs that help the senses perform their actions, we have the ego which feels , that it knows it all…but here Krishna declares , that we also have the Supreme Soul as the Spectator in the body !
So the way that I would interpret the above is to join up with the Supreme Spectator, and observe what we do, what we say, how we hurt, how our ego works … become a Sakshi to our very actions!
It is what in simple terms is called ‘Become aware’ and as Shakespeare says : ‘This above all, to thine own self be true ‘
And I say: Let us stand aside and truly observe ourselves , We may fool the world , but let us not fool ourselves! ( of what we truly are )

Chapter 13 Lesson 3
In verse 25,26,27
Krishna says:
Some by meditation, some by knowledge ,behold the Self, in the Self by the Self .
Wherever a being is born, ( whether moving or unmoving, he is born from union between the Field and its Knower

Let us analyse what Krishna says above.
You see, He is giving us various options to realise our True Self… He has spoken about basically ‘being good’ doing good…
He has explained about surrendering the fruits of action…
(Do your best and leave the rest) He has spoken about devotion and surrender… Last lesson He spoke about Spectator , becoming a Sakshi , becoming aware… He has spoken about the Field, ( The body) the Knower of the Field (ie its emotions , organs of action…
So now putting everything together, He is saying that by meditation, knowledge , (karma , devotion) … you behold that the Self (which exists) in the Self , by the Self!
Clearer?
And then He says all beings ( moving or unmoving) I guess (sentient and non sentient ) , are born from union with Body and Supreme!
In verse 28 , 29, 30
Krishna says that He who sees the Supreme Lord existing equally in all beings , and all actions are performed by Nature , goes to the Highest Goal!
Think about it !
Or sleep on it 😊
More tomorrow!

Chapter 13 Lesson 4
So I am sure that some of you reading this ( Geeta little by little) are familiar with the concept of ‘Vedanta’, which basically teaches, that, as Krishna states : The ‘Supreme Lord’ exists equally in all beings’
In Verse 31, 32, 33,34
Krishna states:
When a man sees the whole variety of beings as resting in the ‘One’ and spreading forth from ‘That’ alone , he then becomes ‘Brahman’!
( In my words when one reaches the states of seeing and knowing that all springs from ‘That’ ( He uses the word ‘That’ because I guess that there is no word to describe the Ultimate Truth) and one sees the whole creation as resting in the ‘One’ then, that one becomes Brahman ( merges with God)

Krishna continues in verse 32 :
The Imperishable Supreme Self , though It dwells in the body, neither acts, nor is tainted , because it has no beginnings or qualities.
And in verse 33
Krishna compares the ‘Self’ with the ‘ether’ which is not tainted because of its subtlety.
And in verse 34
Krishna states that just like the one sun illumines the whole world, so also the Lord of the Field illumines the whole Field!
And in verse 35
Krishna states:
They who, by the eye of knowledge , perceive the distinction between the Field and its Knower , and also the liberation from the Nature of being, go to the Supreme !
And thus ends the Chapter 13 of the Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta !

Ps: I guess ‘to be liberated from the ‘Nature of being’
Is to state like Moses did when he said ‘I Am that I Am ‘
And I quote from Google :
The phrase “I am that I am” (or “I am who I am”) was spoken by God to Moses during the burning bush incident, as recorded in the Book of Exodus 3:14 of the Bible. It serves as God’s name and reveals His eternal, self-existent nature, a profound truth that Moses was to convey to the Israelites as a message of God’s eternal presence and support. 🙏

Chapter 14 Lesson 1
In Chapter 14
Krishna reveals the three qualities that compose the Cosmic Nature .
All things created are subject to their influence and irresistible power.
The individual Soul is also bound to the body by these 3 qualities .
1) ‘Satwa’ is the highest quality among the three.
It is pure, stainless, luminous , healthy
2) Rajas makes us ‘act’ and binds us to attachment and action.
3) Tamas results in lethargy , delusion , ignorance. It binds fast to heedlessness, indolence and sleepiness.
In verse 1,2,3,4
Krishna declares the Supreme Knowledge which is known to Sages, and by which neither is one born at times of Creation , but are united in Him!
Krishna says that His womb is the great Brahma, in which He places His germ, from which all beings are born.
So Krishna is the seed giving Father, of whichever forms, are produced or from any womb one is born !
In verse 5,6,7,8 ,9
Krishna talks about the 3 Gunas ie Satwa, Rajas, Tamas that we spoke about in the beginning of this note.
I say: We all are composed of the above qualities or Gunas so how do we achieve the highest ‘state’ of ‘Satwa’ ?
In Verse 10
Krishna says :
Satwa must overpower Rajas and Tamas !
I say : The way that i understand the above , is that if we overpower our inertia , laziness, sleepiness ( Tamas)
And act ( over power Rajas with Truth and purity )
We start climbing the ladder from Tamas , to Rajas , to Satwa!
So much for now!
More tomorrow!

Chapter 14 Lesson 2
In the last lesson, we learned about Satwa Rajas and Tamas
In verse 11
Krishna says:
When through every gate (sense ) in the body , the wisdom light shines, then we know that Satwa is predominant !
In verse 12
Krishna states:
When ( because of ) the undertaking of actions for greed, (arises) restlessness, longing, then we know that Rajas is present.
In verse 13 Krishna states:
Darkness, inertness, heedlessness, and delusion , these arise when Tamas is predominant.
Now in verse 14 ,15, 16
Krishna states that if one dies when Satwa is predominant then he attains to the spotless world of the knowers of the Highest. The fruit of Satwika is pure.

If he dies when Rajas is predominant, then he is born among those who are attached to action and is born in the womb of the senseless. The fruit of Rajas is pain.

In verse 17, 18
Krishna says that from Satwa arises knowledge, greed from Rajas and heedlessness and delusion from Tamas .
Those who are seated in Satwa go upwards, the Rajasic dwell in the middle, and the Tamasic, abiding in the function of the lowest Guna ( quality ) go downwards.
In verse 19,
Krishna states that one has to cross beyond these three Gunas. (qualities)
Swami Sivananda explains : The realised Sage goes beyond all these qualities , for although it is Satwa that enables us to reach God , even this quality will bind us, if we are attached to it .
And in verse 20 Krishna states when the human has crossed beyond these three Gunas , then he is freed from birth, death, decay and pain and attains to immortality!
More tomorrow 🙏

Chapter 14 Lesson 3
In verse 21,22
Arjuna asks Krishna : What are the marks of him who has crossed over the three qualities of Satwa Rajas and Tamas?how does he conduct himself , and how does he go beyond the three qualities of Satwa, Rajas, Tamas?

Krishna answers in verse 22, 23, 24, 25,26
He who serves Me with unswerving devotion , he crosses beyond the qualities, and is fit for becoming Brahman …( Now Krishna tell us how one, who has gone beyond the 3 qualities behave)
Krishna continues by stating that, he who who neither hates nor longs for activity, light, delusion, but sits unconcerned (of Satwa Rajas and Tamas ) he is alike in pleasure and pain , dwells in the Self, to whom a clod of earth, stone , gold are alike and who is firm , same in censure and praise, to whom the dear and unfriendly are alike…same in honour and dishonour , he is said to have crossed the qualities …
In verse 27
Krishna declares that He is the abode of Brahman , the Immortal and Immutable, He is of Everlasting Dharma and (full) of Everlasting Bliss!
And thus ends the Chapter 14 of the Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta 🙏
And I say : yeh kab hoga? When will we be unconcerned of pleasure and pain , honour, dishonour?
So I say:
Just ‘Know!
Have ‘Faith’
in what the Scriptures proclaim !
‘Act’ according to your Dharma and pure understanding’ and patiently ‘Chalta Chal’ meaning keep taking a step at a time until we learn to run and reach to the waiting arms of the Lord!
More tomorrow!

Chapter 15 Lesson 1
In verse 6 Krishna talks about His Supreme abode , where neither the Sun nor the Moon shine… and if one gets to go there, one returns not!
The 15th Chapter is entitled the ‘Puushottama Yoga’ or the Yoga of the Supreme Person !
In this Chapter Krishna tells us ( and I quote from Swami Sivananda’s explanation) about the ultimate source of the visible universe, from which all things have come into being .
Lord Krishna refers allegorically to this universe being like an inverted peepul tree, whose roots are in the Para Brahman or
The Supreme Being and whose spreading branches and foliage constitute all the things and factors that go to make up the universe.
This mysterious upside down tree is a product of His inscrutable power of Maya.
Because it is ‘Maya’ it has a marvellous ‘apparent appearance without having actual reality’ … one who truly understands the nature ( which is Maya, and has no apparent reality) goes beyond Maya ( illusion )
In verse 10 , 11
Krishna says that the deluded do not see Him , but the Yogis striving for perfection and who possess the eye of knowledge behold ( perceive, see ) Him …
I say, the way that I perceive the Chapter 15
Is that this universe is like an inverted peepul tree…why?
Because it has its roots in the ‘Above’ the ‘Purushottama’ the Supreme Being…
In verse 2
Krishna says that below and above spread the inverted tree’s branches , nourished by the buds , Gunas ( qualities , Satwa Rajas Tamas) and below the world of men, stretch forth the roots, ‘originating action’
I continue : though we , beings, with our senses , and actions originate from the tree which has its roots in the ‘Above’
The tree and the roots , branches, fruits … are all part of Maya and have no apparent reality ( this is what Vedanta teaches) and one who ( Krishna says ( repeatedly , maybe to bring a point home) in verse 5…
Krishna says: Free from pride and delusion, victorious over the evil of attachment , dwelling constantly in the Self , their desires having completely turned away , freed from the pair of opposites (pleasure, pain) … these undeluded reach the eternal goal!
I say Krishna is showing us various options, directions to reach Him…
Like a Guru of Gurus , He shows us various paths, but the path has to be intimately traveled by us 🙏 More tomorrow!

Chapter 15 Lesson 2

In verse 12,13,14
Krishna states that the light that resides in the sun , moon, fire and illumines the world is His
He nourishes the herbs, and His energy permeates the earth and supports all beings… and He is the ‘fire’ that abides in living beings and is associated with the Prana and Apana breath and digestion… chand now comes my favourite Mantra of Chapter 15 … verse 15
I was told by a Swami that if one has had a misunderstanding with a loved one , or even a non loved one, one needs to chant the verse 15 of Chapter 15 where Krishna states:
And I am seated in the hearts of all.
Memory and knowledge are from Me, as well as their absence. I Am the author of the Vedas, knower of the Vedas and That which has to be known by all the Vedas.
More tomorrow 🙏

PS: I mentioned in the above note that I was told by a Swamiji to chant the above Mantra if a misunderstanding had occurred . I do understand why the Swamiji said that… it is because Krishna clearly states that He lives in the hearts of all in verse 15…but be careful ! 😊 because I believe that by chanting the above Mantra, the truth of what is in your heart will be delivered to the misunderstanding heart ! So if your heart is really true, then do go ahead and chant the above mantra to remove misunderstanding… but if you are to blame for the misunderstanding then I guess that the truth of what is in your heart, will be conveyed …but then this is my interpretation 🙏😊

Chapter 15 Lesson 3
Verse 16, 17, 18, 19 , 20
Krishna states that He is declared the Highest Purusha in the world and in the Vedas.
All beings are perishable in the world and the ‘Kutastha’ is called the Imperishable.
But distinct is the Supreme Purusha called the Highest Self.
He is the Lord , who pervades the three world and sustains them .
Krishna tells Arjuna that He has taught him the most secret science and one who knows Him as the highest Purusha and worships Him with his whole being ( heart) becomes wise and all his duties are accomplished!
And thus ends the Chapter 15 of the Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta ! 🙏

Chapter16 Lesson 1
Swami Sivananda says in the summary of the 16th discourse of the Geeta:
Lord Krishna brings out quite clearly and unmistakably the intimate connection between ethics and spirituality, between a life of virtue and God realisation and liberation. Listing two sets of qualities of opposite kinds, the Lord classifies them as divine and demoniacal ( undivine) and urges us to eradicate the latter and cultivate divine qualities.
Verse 1,2,3,5,6
Krishna states :
The divine nature is deemed for liberation ( and that it consists of : fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, alms giving, control of senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, straightforwardness, harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion towards beings, uncovetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness, vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride.
The divine nature is deemed for liberation and the demoniacal for bondage. Grieve not , O Arjuna thou art born with divine properties !
And I say : how many of the divine qualities listed above have we tick ✅ marked dear reader friends ? And tomorrow Krishna will tell us about the demoniacal qualities , let’s keep our pencils sharpened! 😊
More tomorrow 🙏

Chapter 16 Lesson 2
Verse 6
Krishna says : There are two types of beings in this world- the divine and the demoniacal. I have described at length about the divine , now hear from me about the demoniacal.
Verse 4
The qualities that they possess: hypocrisy , arrogance , self conceit, anger, harshness, ignorance
Verse 7
Krishna says: The demoniacal know not what they do and what to refrain from , neither purity , nor right conduct nor truth is found in them .
Verse 8
Krishna continues:
They ( the demoniacal)
say ‘ the universe is without truth, without (moral) basis , without a God…
Verse 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Holding this view , these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds come forth as the enemies of the world for its destruction .
Filled with insatiable desires , full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, holding evil ideas through delusion , they work with impure resolves.
Giving themselves over to immeasurable cares ending only with death , regarding gratification of lust as their highest aim and feeling sure that that is all , bound by a hundred ties of hope , given over to lust and anger, they strive to obtain by unlawful means hoards of wealth for sensual enjoyments
( those of demoniacal nature) feel : This has been gained by me today ; this desire I shall obtain , this is mine and this wealth shall also be mine in future , that enemy has been slain by me and others also I shall slay . ( they feel) I am the Lord , I enjoy
I am perfect , powerful and happy, I am rich and born of a noble family , who else is equal to me? I will sacrifice . I will give (charity) I will rejoice.
Thus deluded many a fancy , entangled in the snare of delusion , addicted to the gratification of lust , they fall into a foul hell!
Verse 17, 18, 19 , 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Krishna continues :
These cruel haters , worst among men in the world , I hurl these evil- doers into the wombs of demons only .
Krishna continues:
Given over to egoism , power , haughtiness, lust and anger these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies and those of others .
Entering into demoniacal wombs, and deluded birth after birth , not attaining Me , they thus fall , O Arjuna into a condition still lower than that .
Triple is the gate of this hell , destructive of the self-lust, anger and greed; therefore one should abandon these three.
A man who is liberated from these three gates to darkness , O Arjuna ! practices what is good for him and thus goes to the Supreme goal!
He who having cast aside the ordinances of the scriptures acts under the impulse of desire, attains not perfection , nor happiness nor the Supreme Goal.
Therefore let the scripture be the authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done . Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures, thou shouldst act here in this world .
And thus ends Chapter 16 of the Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta 🙏

Chapter 17 Lesson 1
Remember how we learned about the 3 qualities ? Satwic Rajasic and Tamasic ?
In verse 1
Arjuna asks Krishna:
What about those who, setting aside spiritual injunctions, yet perform worship through faith ?
Krishna replies that the faith of each is in accordance with his nature.
As a man’s faith is, so is he.
Krishna goes on to explain that food, sacrifice, austerity , and alms giving is three fold… ( depending on the person’s nature)
Verse 8, 9, 10
Krishna continues:
Foods which increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, cheerfulness, ( good apetite) are dear to the Satwic people !
The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, very hot, pungent, dry and burning are liked by the Rajasic .
That which is stale , tasteless, putrid, rotten, and impure is the food liked by the Tamasic !
Tomorrow’s Krishna tells us how various other acts could be Satwic, Rajasic or Tamasic .
A quick reminder:
Satwic is good, pure, highest kind of nature.
Rajasic is more based on ‘actions’
Tamasic is the deluded, ignorant, lowest kind of nature …
I say even different times of the day can be Satwic , Rajasic , Tamasic …
In the early morning we are at our Satwic best ( mostly we do not enjoy , loudness of any kind )
Midday , we are at our Rajasic ( where our acts or actions are predominant.
And evening we are more Tamasic when our baser nature , lethargy , deluudedness, is predominant. But this is the way I see it…
More tomorrow

Chapter 17 Lesson 2
In yesterday’s note Krishna says : as a man’s faith so is he.
I would interpret the above, that man acts according to his Gunas , his qualities…depending upon whether he is predominantly Satwic, Rajasic or Tamasic. I use the word ‘predominantly’ because I believe that man has all these qualities, albeit in different proportions .
In verse 11, 12, 13
Satwic austerity ( a state of hardship and lack of comfort ) practiced with faith , without desire for fruits, rewards, in accordance with spiritual injunctions, is considered ‘Satwic austerity’
The above type of austerity comes along with serenity of mind , good heartedness, self control and purity of nature …
I say : When going through good times or so called ‘bad times’ remember to say : ‘yeh bhi guzar jayega’ meaning : this too shall pass’
Krishna continues to say that Rajasic austerity is performed for gaining respect, honour, and attachment to desire.
Tamasic austerity is practiced with foolishness, involving harming others…. !
The way I understand the above , is that any so called good action, like charity , can be performed depending upon one’s nature .
Satwic charity , is performed without the desire of any reward.
Rajasic charity to gain name and fame .
Tamasic charity to exploit and harm and take advantage .
I do hope that the above is clear.
To sum up what Krishna says in Chapter 17 I shall quote from the summary of chapter 17 by Swami Sivananda. He states : Thus in all things like sacrifice, worship, charity, penance, etc; these qualities become expressed in accordance with the kind of faith in which the person concerned is based. They produce results in accordance with the quality of the doer’s faith . These acts done with the right faith lead to supreme blessedness. When done without any faith whatsoever , all these actions become barren and useless. ‘
In verse 23
Krishna states: By ‘Om Tat Sat’ were created the Brahmanas , the Vedas, and the sacrifices ( actions)
The way i understand the rest of the verses of Chapter 17 is utter Om Tat Sat’ to aim to perform your acts to become Satwic… the prayer I guess should be : I pray that the acts performed should be without the aim of reward! And Om so it is! That which Is Truth or the Reality!
And thus ends Chapter 17 of the Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta ! And I congratulate those who have been with me thus far… the last Chapter, which will be Chapter 18 will be in many ways a summary of the previous discourses… Om Tat Sat 🙏🙏🙏❤️

Chapter 18 Lesson 1

Chapter 18 is called the ‘Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation’

Verse 1
Arjuna asks the Lord to tell him about the truth of Renunciation as also of abandonment.
Krishna states that the sages understand ‘Sanyaas’ to be the renunciation of ‘action with desire’ , whereas the ‘wise’ declare the ‘abandonment of the fruits of all actions’ as ‘Tyaga’ ( renunciation )
Allow me to remind you of verse 12 of Chapter 12 ( also one of my favourite verses) where Krishna says ‘ Better than practice ( rituals ) is knowledge, better than knowledge is meditation , better than meditation, is renunciation of the fruits of action , Peace immediately follows !
Think about it !

In verse 5 , 6
Krishna says :
Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be abandoned , but should be performed leaving aside attachment and the desire for rewards .
And yes ! Krishna states that that is His certain and best conviction!

In verse 11
Krishna says:
Verily it is not possible for an embodied being ( a human in the body) to abandon actions entirely !
And I say even a man who gives up the world , would have to strive for some kind of sustainment… also people who leave the world, because of ‘troubles that afflict the world’ cannot leave the mind behind … which will continue to afflict the person !
I am certain that there are some true Sanyasis who truly have left actions to devote their life to contemplation and sharing their knowledge… but I guess , the above message of Krishna is , for the majority of humankind , and particularly the message is to Arjuna who Krishna is urging to not shirk from his dharma of being a soldier and householder , specially the husband of Droupadi, who has been so acutely humiliated!
But this is the way that I see it!
More tomorrow!

Chapter 18 Lesson 2
Krishna says in Verse 19
The three fold impulse to action is
Knowledge , the Knower and the knowable .
I say: Pause ! Think!
You are reading this , maybe you could be called the Knower, the Bhagvad Geeta is the Knowable , and its knowledge is the Knowledge of the Geeta …
Now Krishna says :
In Verse 20, 21,22
Krishna says:
That by which one sees the one indestructible Reality in all beings , not separate in all the separate beings- know that knowledge to be Satvic !
But that knowledge which sees in all beings various entities of distinct kinds , as different from one another -know that, that knowledge to be Rajasic .
But that which clings to what has no foundation in Truth, that is declared to be Tamasic !
I say : Now Krishna tells us about how an action, agent, intellect, firmness, pleasure can be Satwic , Rajasic or Tamasic ( please do read the relevant verses , if you will from the Bhagvad Geeta)
But here I would like to share about ‘pleasure ‘
Krishna says in Verse 37
That which is like poison at first , but in the end like nectar – that pleasure is declared to be Saatvic !
I say pause ! Think !
One example: when you are first told to sit still, meditate , most people fidget and do not like it … think of it , as any truly good thing for you that you start to practice… going to school, studies, discipline , exercise, you do not like at first … it is like poison …. But as we move on … it becomes something indispensable to us… it becomes like nectar …. How often have we said to ourselves: I hated that period in my life, but today I see it as the best thing that happened to me!
Remember Shravan ( hear , read) manan ( think about it ) and nidhidhyasan ( ponder deeply upon it )
More tomorrow 🙏🙏🙏

Chapter 18 Lesson 3
In verse 38, 39,
Krishna says :
All beings on earth and heaven are not free of the three qualities born of nature.
I say : I understand the above as that we all have Satvic , Rajasic , Tamasic qualities in us , but I guess in different proportions.
In verse 41
Krishna states :
Brahmans , Kshatriyas , Vaishyas and Shudras , have their qualities distributed according to the qualities born of their nature .
I say: Read the last verse carefully …
The caste system was not necessarily hereditary , it was according to what, their duties ( professions ) were .
These professions were chosen , according to the qualities, born of their own nature .
I would look at the above verse in two ways:
1) The Brahmin ( teacher ) Kshatriya ( warrior , soldier) the Vaishya ( the merchant) the Shudras ( menial worker)
All the above professions were interchangeable like in today’s world …
Also depending upon their nature , and what they were inclined towards, or what they were capable of… therefore, they could/would choose their profession! Maybe like ‘vocational guidance’ of today’s world.
And in verse 42 to 46
Krishna goes on to describe the nature of the person who choose their profession according to their nature .
In verse 47
Krishna says :
Better is one’s duty ( dharma) though destitute of merit, than doing another’s duty ( dharma)
I say: Here , I believe that Krishna is addressing Arjuna whose dharma as a soldier and householder is better, than going to the hills as a Sanyasi …
And I guess that applies to all of us… we must be true to whatever we truly are… our profession should also be akin to our nature … but this is the way that I would interpret Krishna’s words. 🙏
More tomorrow 🙏

Chapter 18 Lesson 4
From verse 48 to verse 63 is in many ways a summary of the portions of the Geeta that we have done thus far….
Any time that you may want to go for a summary of what The Lord Krishna teaches us in the Geeta, you could read the Chapter 18 by yourself .
In verse 61, 62
Krishna reminds us that the Lord dwells in the heart of all beings , and that we should fly unto Him for refuge with all their being!
I say again : Do the best you can , and fly to the Lord for refuge !
And now comes my most most favourite verses addressed to you and me?
In verse 68,69
Krishna says:
He who with Supreme devotion to Me will teach this supreme secret to my devotees , he shall doubtless come to Me !
Nor is there any among men, who does dearer service to Me, nor shall there be another on earth dearer to Me than he!
In verse 71
Krishna states :
The man who hears this, full of faith and free from malice, he, too, liberated , shall attain to the happy worlds of those of righteous deeds!
And now Arjuna says :
Destroyed is my delusion, as I have gained my memory ( knowledge) through Thy Grace, O Krishna! I am firm, my doubts are gone. I will act according to Thy word!
And I say to you my dear Readers , that I hope and pray that that is what we can say too , what Arjuna says to Krishna ! 🙏
The Bhagvad Geeta ends with the words uttered by Sanjaya who is recounting the Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta to Dhritrashtra , the king and father of the Kauravas .
Sanjay says :
I am convinced that wherever there is Krishna , the Lord of Yoga , wherever there is Arjuna , the archer , there resides firm policy prosperity, victory, happiness ! And thus ends the 18th discourse of the Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta entitled :
The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation!
🙏🙏🙏

A few words to thank you

Thank for giving me the opportunity to tell , you in the simplest way that I could, the Supreme knowledge of the Bhagvad Geeta.
I hope that you will go through it again and again , because I promise you that every time , it will deliver to you a different message , depending upon what you are going through in your life …
I will be in touch with you, to ask you if you would like me to continue to share with you any other divine information!
But my suggestion would be to go to my website and read ‘Pages from the Bhagvad’ next !
You will find it under books on my website. …
It is customary to recite : Haraye Namaha 3 times , to pray for forgiveness in case of any mistake committed during the dialogue between you my dear readers , and me….
Until soon! God bless you all my humsafars! My fellow travellers on the Path! 🙏🙏🙏