rmadbhagavadgt

Chapter 1
1 Om! May the blessing and inspiration of Sri Sri
Lahiri Mahasaya and his chief disciple Sri Sri
Panchanan Battacharya, guide me as
I Yogi
Prabhu Ji now humbly make a brief presentation of
the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita in the light of
Kriya Yoga.
2 The Bhagavad Gita begins at the stage where
Buddhi (Arjuna, the human intelligence) is in the
middle between two opposing armies, hesitating
between fulfilling his dharma or to take the path of
renunciation (sannyasi).
3 Buddhi aims to find an effective strategy to
combat the powerful army of illusions, [represented
by the Kurus,] and reach Peace and Happiness.
4 No one can reach the spiritual knowledge without
accepting the Guru as the charioteer of his life. At
the request of Arjuna, Krishna,[ who is the Guru and
the path of Kriya Yoga,] leads the chariot to the
middle of the battlefield.
5 The insight and the judgment of Arjuna fail before
the voices he hears around him. He thinks, what
benefit will I have to fulfill my dharma - the duties of
my social order (Kshatriya) and life stage (ashrama),
along with my sacrificial obligations? What
happiness or joy can I receive from practice works
and pious deeds?

6 On the other hand, how can I be happy taking

sannyasa (renunciation) and abandoning religious
practices and regulations of my own varna and
ashrama?
7 Men who leave the family religion go to hell! So
proclaim our holy books.
8 "No, I do not know which way to go to defeat the
mighty armies of material illusions." So saying,
Arjuna drops bow and arrows in their hands, all
delivered to the distress and despair that consume
his heart.
Chapter 2
1 Krishna - the path of Kriya Yoga - Encourages
Arjuna (the man) to confront the inner struggle, not
through renunciation (sannyasa) or by merely
following the formal religious activities, but through
a change in perspective.
2 A Human Being is dragged and chained to the
cycle of birth and death only because of avidya
(ignorance), which is the non-discrimination
between Purusha (the Self) and Prakriti (the NotSelf).
3 Infinite, omnipresent and unchanging is the
Purusha, the Universal Essence that resides in all
beings as his own self.
4 Thou shalt know that the body, the senses, the
mind, the ego, the happiness derived from sensory
organs, the elements from the ether in descending

scale, and the whole world. All are modifications of

the three Gunas of Prakriti (the non-Self).
5 Kriya Yoga reveals the true nature of Purusha, to
make you aware of the mind and ego, the body's
actions, the sense organs and the Prana, as distinct
objects of Self (Purusha).
6 Putting
shifts the
that Pure
one's true

yourself inside the Purusha . Kriya-Yoga

focus of the form world (Prakriti) toward
Being who is in himself. [Realization of
nature]

7 The State in which the Purusha stands alone,

resting in its own nature, is called Paravastha.
8 If you do not believe in the Spirit or the Eternal the Purusha there is no reason to abandon
yourself to affliction and sorrow. Practice Kriya Yoga
as a religious duty (dharma), and the gates of
heaven are open for you.
9 With a clear mind, without waiting for results,
comply with your social and religious obligations. Be
not concerned with success or failure. Do not fall,
into idleness and inaction, as easily happens to
those lost in the illusion of expecting a reward for
their
actions.
Perform
all
works
without
expectations.
10 In the path of Kriya Yoga, there is one object in
which the mind can concentrate safely, very unlike
other ways, filled with multiple branches, numerous
rules and different purposes.

11 The gurus and priests of formal religion inculcate

in people's minds that the highest ideal is a heaven,
where everything is pleasant, They invent various
ceremonies, rules and regulations and talk a lot of
rewards that await those who observe them, and
punishments that befall those who do not observe.
12 It is, however, knowing that they are in error;
unknown to them is the path of Yoga, and strange to
them are the heights of spiritual awareness.
13 Looking for rest, reside in the consciousness of
your Self, the Eternal Truth. Let go of worldly cares
and greed of material possessions. Concentrate on
yourself, through Kriya Yoga, and do not give into
the illusions of the finite world.
14 Do not be uneasy with the questions about the
philosophical and religious doctrines, or with
disputes over rites, ceremonies and other
dispensable ornaments of the spiritual idea dress.
15 Become free of others' opinions, both of which
are in the holy books as the scholars or those who
dare to interpret what they do not understand;
instead, set your mind on more serious
contemplation of the Spirit (Purusha).
16 Arjuna said: What are the distinctive signs that
characterize the Kriya Yogis that are fixed in
contemplation of the Real Being (Paravastha)?
17 Krishna speaks: The mind of the Kriya Yogi is not
troubled by adversity or prosperity: accept both
adversity and prosperity without attachment. In
them, hath no anger, fear, or passions.

18 With equanimity support the vicissitudes of life,

so many favorable as unfavorable. Do not surrender
to excessive joy, or sadness.
19 The Kriya Yogi who has reached the state of
Paravastha is similar to a turtle that shrinks into its
home . He is able to divert your senses of the
objects, produce impression, and collect them in
Pratyahara.
20 The Kriya Yogi who has found his Real Self within,
does not long for sense objects nor is ensnared by
these objects. He has achieved Peace and in this
Peace he finds the release of all the sufferings and
pains of life.
21 This is, O Arjuna, the state of union with the Real,
the blissful state of spiritual consciousness. And
whoever remains in the state of union with the Real
at death, goes directly into Divinity, in Brahman.
Chapter 3
1 Arjuna said: if Kriya Yoga is superior to the duties
prescribed by formal religion - the obligations with
the varna and ashrama, rituals and sacrificial
ceremonies, vows (vratas), abstinence, worship,
charity and other religious duties why do you
encourage me to continue fulfilling my duties
prescribed?
2 Tell me, please, in clear and certain phrases, which
is the path that will lead to peace and satisfaction?
3 Krishna said: In this world, there are two paths
intended to relieve the man of the cycle of birth and

death - the path of Sankhya (the discernment of

Purusha and Prakriti, through Kriya Yoga) and the
path of Dharma (the fulfillment of duties
occupational and religious)
4 Deluding himself who thinks that taking vows of
sannyasa (renunciation) and dodging the actions,
escapes the results of action. Who gets nothing, can
not enter the state of Eternal Peace. Renunciation
(sannyasa) does not lead to perfection.
5 Activity is inherent in the material modes (Gunas)
of nature (Prakriti). No one can fail to do something.
6. One is worthy to be called Saint one who fulfills
the duties to the family, children, occupation, rishis,
ancestors and all living things - out of pure love,
without expecting rewards.
7 Do well what you do in the world; and fulfill your
tasks; take up the work that you will find, Perform
all work to the utmost of your ability. Without work,
you can not even keep the physical body.
8 Listen, Arjuna! Men are clinging to this world
because they act only for themselves, by
selfishness. Therefore, perform the work and all
religious duties as a sacrifice to Viu; otherwise, the
work produces bondage in this material world.
9 It is vain and shameful the life of the man who
lives only for his own satisfaction, and does nothing
to favor and thank the Lord Viu, the demigods, the
gurus and the overall society.

10 But for one who practices Kriya Yoga with

attachment and devotion exclusive to the Atman, for
him there is no duty prescribed. He has no
obligation to sing the Gayatri mantra at the
scheduled hours, offer yajas (sacrifices) and other
duties.
11 Sometimes a Kriyavan fulfills the social and
religious formalities just to set an example and
educate people in general. He does what must be
done; however, unselfishly and without personal
considerations.
Chapter 4
1 In this chapter, Krishna teaches that he (Guru) is
Viu itself. Viu taught the doctrine of union with
the Brahman (Kriya-Yoga) to Vishvavan, the chief
solar deity who resides in Aditya Loka (Hiranyaloka).
Vishvavan taught it to Manu (the progenitor of
mankind), who transmitted this doctrine to Ikshvaku,
the founder of the solar dynasty.
2 Kriya Yoga was known to the Rishis, but, in course
of time, Kriya fell into oblivion.
3 Viu is higher than the birth; he is innate and
eternal, but it appears in this world through his own
power.
4 Who recognizes the Viu in his appearance [with
Form] do not need to reincarnate more, having left
his mortal body, he comes to live with him in his
blissful kingdom.

5 Who, practicing Kriya Yoga, goes to Viu firmly

and set your mind in His form is purified by the
sacred flame of Penance and Wisdom, and free of
the attraction of earthly objects, reaches bhava,
which is Pure Love.
6 The brahmanas worship Lord Viu by means of
fire sacrifices (yajna).
7 Others sacrifice the senses in the fire penance
(tapasya).
8 Some sacrifice their possessions in the fire of
charity, and others sacrifice their intelligence by
studying the scriptures and the words of gurus.
9 Some sacrifice their Prana in the fire of Kriya
Yoga.
10 All will to taste the nectar of their sacrifices and
advance toward the supreme abode.
11 One who offers no sacrifice, finds no merit in this
world or the next.
12 Better, than the sacrifice of objects and things,
is the sacrifice of intelligence and knowledge,
because without the knowledge that is transmitted
by the Guru, no one can make any sacrifice, let
alone Kriya Yoga.
13 Try to learn Kriya Yoga through a bona fide
spiritual master. Ask questions with submission and
follow guidance with humility. Only those who have
experienced the perfection of Kriya Yoga can convey
the true knowledge.

14 In this world, there is nothing so sublime and

pure as divine knowledge. This knowledge is the
very ripe fruit of Yoga. It produces the bhva
necessary to achieve the bliss within.
15 The man with faith studies (svadhyaya) the
words of the sages and masters, who makes it a
daily practice, quickly attains the supreme peace.
16 For the ignorant and faithless persons who doubt
the words of the sages and masters, there is no
happiness in this world or the next.
Chapter 5
1 Then Arjuna spoke to Krishna, "O Lord, now you
praise renunciation of works, sometimes the
practice of works. Tell me, of both, which is the
superior? "
2 The Lord said: Both renunciation of the dharma
(take sannyasa in order to devote himself
exclusively to meditation on the Atman) and the
practice of dharma (without departing from Atman)
lead to salvation; however, the one who fulfills his
duties (dharma) without departing from the Atman
is the best.
3 O Arjuna, know that the true sannyasi is one who
does not hate or want anything, because in the
Atman is found the source of all happiness; he is
entirely free from material bondage.
4 Only the ignorant say Sankhya (the philosophical
discernment between Purusha and Prakriti) is

different from Kriya Yoga. However, the sages say

that both have the same purpose.
5 No one can be happy just to renounce all activities
and does not mind with Kriya Yoga.
6 He who practices Kriya Yoga and has a selfcontrolled and purified soul, and is compassionate to
all living entities, even in busy work, never gets
entangled.
7 The Kriyavan who knows the truth of the Self
(Purusha) know that it is not he who acts, but it is
their nature (Prakriti) who see, smell, feel, eat, walk
and breathe. For him, the renunciation of the actions
(sannyasa) and the practice of the works according
to the dharma are the same.
8 Having released the sense of "I am the doer", the
kriyavan performs the actions of body, mind and
senses without attachment and selfish motives.
Renouncing all action and inaction, he does not seek
reward, but keeps quiet, in peace, without wishing
to act and without cause action, however, is ever
ready to do his part in the action, when duty calls.
9 When the mind, faith and refuge of someone are
all fixed in the Atman, through the knowledge he is
purified by completely of fears and will direct for the
path of liberation.
10 He sees with the same vision a learned, a cow,
an elephant, a dog and an outcast.
11 In fact, he is already situated in the state of
transcendence known as Paravastha.

12 Similar detached one is not attracted to the

pleasure of the material senses, but is always in
trance of Kriya Yoga (Paravastha), enjoying his own
Atman. Thus, he feels the unlimited happiness of
union with Brahman.
13 Repelling all external sense objects, with your
gaze fixed between the two eyebrows, suspending
the movement of Prana and Apana in the sushumna
(kevala kumbhaka), and thus controlling the mind,
senses and intelligence, and being free from desire,
fear and anger, certainly such a Kriyavan i is already
released from the cycle of birth and death.
Chapter 6
1 Krishna said: One who performs all acts required such as the duties of varna and ashrama, and mahayajas - without desiring reward is at the same time
a Sannyasin and a Yogi, and not one that simply
wears orange clothes and does not fulfill any duty.
2 Learn that which is called Sannyasa is Kriya-Yoga,
because no one can get to be a Sannyasi who has
not renounced attachment to external things
including breathing.
3 In the first steps of the path of perfection, it is
taught that the aspirant should practice the
prescribed actions to gain the best merits (make
offerings in the fire, recite passages from the Vedas,
chanting the Gayatri, offer libations of water, etc.).
4 It is said that someone is advanced in Kriya Yoga,
when having renounced all material desires, one
remains in contemplation of the Atman.

5 With the help of the mind, one must free

themselves and not deteriorate. The mind is a friend
of the soul, and his greatest enemy as well.
6 To the Kriyavan
Atman, your being
pleasure and pain,
handful of earth, a
same.

who has found peace in the

is quiet in the cold and heat,
honor and dishonor. For him, a
precious stone or gold are the

7 The Kriyavan should sit at an isolated spot, with

your body and your mind under control, free from
desires and feelings of possessiveness and
surrender completely to meditation.
8 So sitting with the torso and head straight and
motionless, fixing his eyes between the eyebrows,
with the tongue curled back in khecari, the Kriyavan
practice pranayama in order to cleanse your chakras
and activate sushumna nadi. Thus, with a calm
mind, without fear, one should meditate on the
oneness of Atman and Brahman within the heart.
9 Through the practice of Kriya Yoga, the yogi
achieves mystical union with Brahman and is
released from material existence.
10 The perfection of Kriya Yoga is not attainable for
one who eats too much or for one who fasts too
much, nor one who sleeps too much or sleeps too
little.
11 For one who is moderate in his habits of eating,
sleeping, having fun and work, the discipline of Kriya
Yoga frees you from all material sufferings.

12 When the Kriyavan retains the mind fixed in the

Atman, and does not look for any desirable object,
then this state is called Paravastha.
13 Like the flame of a lamp does not waver in a
windless place, so the mind of
Kriyavan in
Paravastha always remains fixed in his meditation
on the Atman.
14 When arises in the heart and mind the conviction
"I am the Atman", or "I am Brahman", and the flow
of thoughts (and even breathing) ceases altogether.
When he experiences that happiness which is
beyond the senses and can be understood only by
the pure intelligence; when he considers that there
is no gain greater than what he gained, and nothing
can disturb that peace and contentment, not the
greatest sufferings. This state is called Samadhi or
Supreme Paravastha.
15 Kriya Yoga should be practiced with firm resolve
and inexhaustible fervor, without departing from the
path.
Abandon all material desires born of
imagination and control from the mind. Keep control
over of the senses.
16 Gradually, step by step, with intelligence
saturated by the conviction "I am the Atman," the
yogi should be fixed on the Self only and should not
think of anything else.
17 Whenever the changing and uneasy mind starts
to wander, it must be braked and placed under the
domain of meditation "I am the Atman."

18 The yogi whose mind is fixed on the Self indeed

reaches the highest perfection of spiritual
happiness. Realizing his qualitative identity with the
Supreme through meditation "I am Brahman" he
becomes free from all past sinful actions.
19 Always busy in meditation practice, even during
the hours of external activity, kriyavan is always in
contact with the Brahman. Upon getting rid of all
material contamination, reaches the highest
happiness.
20 I say to you that the one who sees the Atman in
everything and the whole universe in the Atman, the
Atman never abandons and will never be abandoned
. One will forever be linked to the Atman, because
only the experience of the Atman is real and eternal.
21 Such a yogi who remains in the consciousness of
"I and Brahman are one," always remains situated in
Brahman in all circumstances.
22 Arjuna said: O Krishna, what happens to one who
has faith, but does not reach the perfection of Kriya
Yoga? Will perish, perhaps, as a cloud shattered by
the winds? Answer me, O Krishna, because you
alone can give me guidance and dispel my doubts.
23 Krishna said: No, my dear, he will not be
destroyed, neither in this world nor in future,
because who does good will never perish.
24 After the death of the body, such a soul goes to
heaven of the righteous, and staying there for
countless years, takes birth again in a home of pure
and good people.

25 Or he may be reborn into a family of Yogis, even

if the birth is difficult to obtain in this world.
26 There he retrieves the acquired mental state in
his previous life, and again strives for perfection.
27 The Kriyavan is greater than the ascetic
(sannyasi); is also higher than the scholar (pandit)
one well versed in the scriptures, and is superior to
priests (brahmana) who deal with Vedic rituals;
therefore, be thou KriyaYogi, O Arjuna!
28 And among all Kriyavans one that is dedicated
with faith to the Atman, on the Atman thinks within
himself and always feel the Atman presence is
considered the highest of all!
Chapter 7
In this chapter, Krishna describes the nature of
Brahman as the Supreme Purusha, the Supreme
Godhead, the original source of everything and the
fundamental essence of all beings in the universe.
1 There are 4 classes of religious people - the
distressed, the inquisitive (which seeks the truth),
who seeks material gains and the Jnani (the walking
on the path of knowledge).
2 Among them, the Jnani which shows exclusive
devotion to the Atman is the best. Since the
Supreme Purusha is very dear to him, and he is very
dear to the Supreme Purusha.
3 It is very rare to find such great soul for whom
"Vasudeva is everything." Only after many repeated

birth and death, is that someone comes at this

stage.
Chapter 8
1 One who practices Kriya Yoga should always
remember of Atman and meditate on union between
Atman and Brahman. At the same time he must
fulfill their prescribed duties.
2 If he finds it difficult to meditate on the Nirguna
Brahman, the kriyavan should look for and meditate
on Kutastha Chaitanya whose form is luminous like
the sun and is situated beyond this material nature.
3 One who, when it comes to the death and with the
power of his practice of Sat-cakra-yoga (Kriya Yoga)
fixes Prana on the Ajna and meditates with full
devotion on the Kutastha Chaitanya certainly
reaches the Supreme Purusha.
4 Dharana (concentration) of Kriya Yoga close all the
doors of the senses and fix the Prana on the Ajna
cakra (through kumbhaka), while making Thokar
with the mind fixed in the heart.
5 The Kriya Yogi that when leaving the body,
vibrating the sacred syllable OM, while residing in
the Supreme Purusha, surely reaches the Supreme.
6 For someone who always remembers the Atman,
supreme realization is very easy to obtain, because
of their constant and daily practice of Kriya Yoga.
7 After reaching the Supreme Purusha, the great
souls never return to this temporary world, which is
full of miseries.

8 Beyond this material Nature (Prakriti), there is

another nature that is unmanifested eternal,
transcendental. It is supreme and is never
annihilated. When this entire universe is annihilated
- starting with the highest level (where reside the
demigods) and going to the lowest - that Nature
remains unchanged.
9 The abode of the Atman are made of this ParaPrakriti (Nature or Energy Transcendental). What is
described as unmanifest and eternal, what is known
as the supreme destination, that spiritual condition
which one never returns after reaching it- this is the
Supreme Abode of Atman.
10 The Purusha (or Atman) is greater than all, and
can only be achieved by exclusive dedication to
meditation "I am Brahman". Although present in His
abode (besides Prakriti), the Atman is all-pervading
and can be perceived as a feeling of "I" inside the
heart.
11 The fruits of Kriya Yoga are superior to all that
can be achieved by performing yajnas (fire
sacrifices), penance, charity, pious work. The simple
fact of performing Kriya Yoga (with the mind fixed on
the Purusha), one surely reaches the Supreme
Abode of the Atman. Therefore, O Arjuna, always
practice Kriya Yoga!

(To be continued)