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Bhagavad Gita: Synopsis of Chapter 1 and 2​
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(April 3, 6 & 7, 2019: Discussion at ISKCON Silicon Valley.)

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Bhagavad Gita: Synopsis of Chapter 1 and 2​​

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  • Atheist vs Devotee:

    • “God is nowhere” says Atheist

    • “God is now here” says Devotee..

      • same words, same things, same situation - just a difference of perspective 

  • Per Bhagavad Gita, to offer forgiveness to wickedness is foolishness.

  • Results are a function of our karma + past karma (timing) + Gods blessing, summarized as:

Results = Karma + Time + Divine Grace

  • if just “Work is worship” then donkey will be the biggest worshipper..

    • so, Work + Buddhi Yoga (detached inspired) = Worship

    • devotionalize the mundane work.

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  • Our relation with Krishna:

what we are born with = Sri Krishna’s gift to us

what we become in Life = our gift to Sri Krishna

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  • Therefore dont lament.

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  • Practical advice for Householder:

    • just taking care of children doesnt make one spiritual..animals do that too..

      • its only when we care for their soul and elevate their soul thats only when it makes one spiritual.

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  • How to direct desires to Krishna?

    • Desires are not endlessly rising lines. Desires are endlessly recurring waves.

      • so to keep mind balanced, dont give in to fear of the need to control it..

      • it will go down on its own..no need to repress desires overtly and actively..just resist till the crest..it will subside after that.

      • replace the source of desires with a higher purpose which is Sri Krishna

      • Sri Krishna is the ocean where all the rivers of desires go but cant disturb..

      • But if we make ours consciousness as mere puddles of spirituality then rivers of desires flood them.

      • desires cannot be driven out of the mind..they can be ‘crowded’ out of the mind

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  • What to do when miseries dont seem to get over?

    • Bhagavad Gita 2.14: just try to tolerate ups and downs in life sincerely..for at the time of death, our sincere efforts to expand our consciousness allows us to be candidates for higher elevation in our spiritual journey..at the hands of Sri Krishna.

​मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदु: खदा: |
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत || 2.14||

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"The contact between the senses and the sense objects gives rise to fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress.

Like seasons they are temporary, Hence just tolerate them without being disturbed."

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  • Ksatriyas are trained to not show weakness and pain because if pain and weakness is displayed thats when opponent knows where to hit to hurt

  • emotional pains are far greater than physical pains

  • enlightment is generally preceded by pain

  • Defining questions of great epics:

    • Ramayan - what are characteristics of an ideal person?

    • Srimad Bhagavtam - what is the duty of person about to die?

    • Bhagavad Gita / Mahabharata - what is duty? what is dharma? 

      • Bhagavad Gita 2.7 provides this answer

​कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभाव: पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेता: |
यच्छ्रेय: स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् || 2.7||

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" O Lord, I am confused about my duty, and am besieged with anxiety and faintheartedness.

I surrender to you as your disciple. Please instruct me for certain what is best for me."

  • Sri Krishna doesnt give guidance without sincere seeking on part of disciple..

    • this happened in Bhagavad Gita 2.7 where Arjuna surrendered and sought guidance..

    • Sri Krishna is not in person with us but he guides via 

      • innate enlightenment (eureka moment)

      • via an enlightened person or medium

  • Dharma = not religion = sense of direction, purpose, drive in life (righteousness)

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  • If God is all controller then what is our Freedom of choice?

    • Well, Sri Krishna is supreme controller- True.

    • but he is not the sole controller..he gives us the freedom of control.

      • if we want to make mistake he doesnt stop us.

      • At the same time, if we want to focus our mind to Sri Krishna, he doesnt stop us either..he welcomes us.

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  • Why are actions important?

  • Because “what we believe is seen through the way we live”..meaning actions speak louder

 

  • What is the meaning of offering work as Devotional service? 

    • It is the conscious remembrance of Sri Krishna and offering our effort and work towards a certain goal to God as service irrespective of the results. 

    • It is summarized as, “Krishsnaya iti Samarpayami, Narayanay iti Samarpayami”

      • meaning I surrender everything to Krishna, to Narayana.

 

  • Trust is the basic requirement for relationships. Human relations are fragile. Subject tChristinanityods and emotions. They can break anytime. Whereas the Spiritual relations with God are always there. They never break. They are most reliable hence they are permanent. Yet the unsteady mind that sees only the material world and not the invisible spiritual world never gets a clue of it.

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  • A brief objective comparison of the concept of soul in Christianity vs Hinduism.

  • In Christianity, even though they talk of ‘soul’ they dont differentiate it from the body..there is no consciousness without the body..there is no real conception of reincarnation..The belief there is that when you will be resurrected the soul & the body will be together.

  • ​In Christianity, soul is a metaphorical entity (it refers to a part of body that is invisible…) 

    • animals have consciousness not soul..in Christianity spirit and soul is different..current Pope said if dog serves faithful Christian, he will go to heaven.

  • Catholics are more philosophical than Protestants.

     

  • in Bhagavad Gita or Hinduism, soul is metaphysical..(meta=above, physical= body..so above the body…)

  • In Bhagavad Gita, 2.22, body is a tool for the soul..Gita does not reject the importance of body (critics of Gita can say - if soul is everything, why do anything for the body? or material prosperity?

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