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REALISATION
A 6 Session
Course on
Essence of
Vedas
(Bhagavad
Gita)
The Bhagavad-
gita is the main
source-book on
yoga and a
concise
summary of
India's Vedic
wisdom.
At the last moment before
entering battle, the great
warrior Arjuna begins to
wonder about the real meaning
of his life. Why should he fight
against his friends and
relatives? Why does he exist?
Where is he going after death?
In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna,
Arjuna's friend and spiritual master,
brings His disciple from perplexity to
spiritual enlightenment. In the course of
doing so, Krishna concisely but
definitively explains transcendental
knowledge; karma-yoga, jnana-yoga,
and bhakti-yoga; knowledge of the
Absolute; devotional service; the three
modes of material nature; the divine and
demoniac natures;
and much more…
Bhagavad-gita
As It Is is the
largest-
selling,
most widely
used edition
of the Gita in
the world.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction to Bhagavad Gita
2. The Science of Soul
3. Who is God? Why Different Gods, D
4. Material Nature, Time and Karma
5. Different forms of Yoga & The Topm
6. Practical Application of Bhagavad G
Session 1
Introduction to
Bhagavad Gita
Humans Vs. Animals
Different animals and birds have
different abilities
Eating, sleeping, mating and
defending is common to animals
and humans
Human can inquire about cause of
suffering and destination of life
Animals act by instinct; Humans
are endowed with free will
Quote
ahara nidra bhaya maithunam ca
samanyam etad pasubhir naranam
dharmo hi tesam adhiko viseso
dharmena hina pasubhir samanam
“The activities of eating, sleeping, mating and
defending are common in animals and
human beings. The human beings are
considered superior only when they inquire
about the Absolute Truth, otherwise they are
considered as good as animals.”
MAHABHARAT
Why am I
suffering? What is
the actual
destination of life?
3 Ways of Gaining Knowledge
1. Pratyaksa Praman: Empirical
sensual perception
We cannot obtain knowledge about the
Absolute Truth through material
senses because:-
a) Senses are imperfect
b) Senses put us into illusion
c) We commit mistakes
d) Cheating propensity
2. Anuman Praman: Theories
based on Evidence or process
of inference or hypothesizing on
the knowledge acquired by
direct perception
3. Sabda praman: Hearing from a
bonafide authority – knowledge
obtained through this process is
free from the four human
defects
THE INFALLIBLE VEDIC
WISDOM
• Vedic scriptures are called
as ‘Apaurusheya’ – they
have no human author.
• Vedas are directly word of
God revealed at the time
of Creation
Example of a manual
• When we buy a motor cycle, we get an
instruction manual explaining how to use
it
• Similarly, at the time of creation, God
gives us the Vedic scriptures for direction
on how to behave in this world
Examples
• Vedas long ago revealed that the earth is
round and it has 7 continents which
information was not known to most of
Europe even 500 years ago
• Plants have life is asserted by the Vedas
and is proved now to be true
• Vedas present accurate predictions of great
personalities who will appear in future with
great detail and accuracy
2 Systems of Knowledge
1. Inductive / Ascending Method:-
Not accepting any authority and
trying to find out truth by one’s
own endeavor or speculation
The Science
of Soul
back
What is Soul?
• The spark of life force that
activates every body
• The soul is compared to a driver
and the body to a vehicle
• The soul makes the body appear
alive and when the soul leaves
the body we say the person is
‘dead’
Scientific Proof of
the soul’s
existence
Common Sense
• When a person dies we say “He
has passed away”.
• Who has passed away? The
body of the person is still there.
• The fact is that the source of
life, the soul has passed away
from the body.
Intuitive Understanding
We know that the real self, the
‘I’ is distinct from the body,
mind and intelligence.
We speak of ‘my eyes’, ‘my
hands’ etc., This means
these things belong to
somebody, an owner.
Consciousness
It is the symptom of the soul.
Just like the sun spreads heat and light
all around, the soul spreads
consciousness all around the body,
from the tip of the toes and fingers to
the top of the head.
It is what distinguishes a dead body
from a living one
It gives the proof of the soul
Near Death Experience (NDE)
• Examples of findings show that the
mind is independent of the material
body and brain.
• Out-of-body experiences shows
that the person is able to observe
and relate to things that are
happening to his body from a
perspective outside the body
Past life memories
• Rigorous, unbiased researches have
been carried out on past lie
memories.
• By thorough investigation of the
details of the things described by the
person, like the place and people
they were associated in their last life,
we get evidences of the conscious
self that travels from one physical
body to the next
Although the above empirical
evidences confirm a conscious
self present in the body, still
speculative approach has its
own limitations. If one has to
wait for Science to provide
complete understanding of the
nature of the soul, and its
qualities, one may probably have
to wait a million years.
We can get clear
information about what
is life and what is
death from the
scriptures directly
without any mental
speculation.
Quote
avinasi tu tad viddhi
yena sarvam idam tatam
vinasam avyayasyasya
na kascit kartum arhati
“That which pervades the entire body is
indestructible. No one can destroy the
imperishable soul.” [B.G.2.17]
Quote
bhumir apo nalo vayuh
kham mano budhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha
“Earth, water, fire, ether, air, mind, intelligence
and false ego are My eight separate inferior
energies” [B.G.7.4]
The gross body is made up of the above
mentioned 5 elements and it is called as
‘Sthula sarira’.
The mind, intelligence and
false ego constitute the
Subtle Body. It is also called
as ‘Sukshma sarira’.
True ego is to understand
that ‘I am spirit soul, eternal
servant of Krsna’.
False ego is to think in
illusion that ‘I am this body’.
A conditioned soul is
trapped in the Gross and
Subtle bodies.
One who is free from
these coverings attains
the spiritual world and is
called a ‘Liberated Soul’.
Srila
Prabhupada
is such a
liberated
soul.
Quote
Apareyam itas tv anyam
Prakrtim viddhi me param
Jiva bhutam maha baho
Yayedam dharyate jagat
“Besides this inferior nature, there is
a superior energy of Mine, that are
all living entities who are
struggling with material nature and
are sustaining the universe.”
[B.G.7.5]
Both inferior energy (matter) and
superior energy (spirit soul) are
subordinate to the Supreme
Lord.
Knowledge of the Soul
The soul is Indestructible
The soul is an individual (B.G.2.12,
B.G.15.7)
Soul has form:- sac-cid-ananda
form
Spirit gives form to matter which is
asat-acit-nirananda
Soul is eternal (B.G. 2.20)
Spirit and Matter is an
incompatible combination
Soul is situated in the region of
the heart
Soul changes bodies
The size of the soul is 1/10,000
part of the tip of the hair
Am I God?
The Bhagavad Gita clearly
states that you are not God.
Bhagavad Gita also
unambiguously declares
you can never become God
even after liberation.
Quote
Dvav imam purusam loke
Ksaras caksaras eva ca
Ksarah sarvani bhutani
Kutastho ksara ucyate
“There are two classes of beings, the
fallible and the infallible. In the
material world every entity is fallible
and in the spiritual world every entity
is called infallible” [B.G.15.16]
Quote
uttamah purusastv anyah
Paramatmety udahrtah
Yo loka trayam avisya
Bibharty avyaya isvarah
“Besides these two, there is the
greatest living personality, the Lord
Himself, who has entered into these
worlds and is maintaining them”
[B.G.15.17]
Paramatma – Friend of
Jivatma
• Paramatma is the expansion of the
Supreme Lord who accompanies the
individual soul (Jivatma) who comes
into this material world in order to
take him to different bodies and to
take care of him and escort him. He
is situated within the heart of every
living entity and within every atom.
The
Paramatma
Quote
Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan
Atmasya jantor nihito guhayam
Tam akratuh pasyati vita-soko
Dhatuh prasadan mahimanam atmanah
“Both the Supersoul and the atomic soul are
situated on the same tree of the body within
the same heart of the living being and only
one who has become free from all material
desires as well as lamentations can be by the
grace of the Lord, understand the glories of
Soul.” [Katha 1.2.20]
Samane vrkse puruso nimagno
‘nisaya socati muhyamanah
Justam yada pasyaty anyam isam asya
Mahimanam iti vita-sokah
back
Message of God Presented
According to the Level of Audience
to Digest
High School
3 - 5 = -2
Maths
Kali Santarana
Upanishad
Bhagavad Gita
Srimad Bhagavatam
Kali Santarana Upanishad
One of the 108 Upanishads
The Upanishad to cross over
the ocean of Kali yuga
The Hare Krishna maha
mantra, mentioned in this
Upanishad to attain SELF-
REALISATION
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is
spoken by Lord Krsna at
the conclusion of
Dvapara Yuga not only
for Arjuna but also the
people of the ensuing
Kali Yuga
Srimad Bhagavatam
ALL
KNOWLEDGE ALL
RENUNCIATION
WHO IS GOD?
IN BIBLE: JESUS - SON OF
GOD
IN KORAN: MOHAMMED -
MESSENGER OF GOD
IN BHAGAVAD GITA:
KRISHNA -THE SUPREME
PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD
IS GOD PERSONAL OR
IMPERSONAL?
LIGHT /
BRAHMA
JYOTI
Brahmajyoti is
the effulgence
from the body
of the
Supreme
Personality of
Godhead.
Jnanis realize
this Brahman
aspect of
God.
Those who realize the
BRAHMAN feature of the
Absolute Truth is compared
to students interested in
studying the SUNSHINE or
energy of the sun
Students study the
sun disc through
it’s reflection in
the MIRROR
/ The knowledge of
the PARAMATMA
feature of the Lord
Yogi
meditating
on the
Paramatma
Students who can enter
into the sun PLANET is
compared to those who
realize the PERSONAL
feature of the Absolute
Truth
BRAHMA SAMHITA
Isvarah parama Krishna
Saccid ananda vigraha
Anadir adir govindah
Sarva karana karanam
“Krishna (God) is the supreme controller.
He has a form of eternity, knowledge
and bliss. He is the prime cause of all
causes.”
Srila Prabhupada
used the words
‘SUPREME
PERSONALITY OF
GODHEAD’ meaning
there is form and
personality instead of
saying just ‘GOD’.
Evidences for
Krishna’s Supremacy
Krishna says in
B.G. 10.8. that
He is the
source of all
spiritual and
material
worlds and
that everything
emanates from
Him.
KRISHNA: SOURCE
OF ALL QUALITIES
“Intelligence
Fearlessness
Knowledge
Freedom Nonviolence
from doubt and Equanimity
delusion Satisfaction
… Austerity
Forgiveness Charity
Truthfulness Fame
Self-control Infamy
Calmness
…
Pleasure
are created
Pain
by Me
Birth alone”
Death
B.G. 10.4-5
Fear
Krishna:
Father of
all beings
Krishna,
father of
all living
entities.
“aham bija
pradah
pita”
sarva-yonisu kaunteya
murtayah sambhavanti yah
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradah pita
TRANSLATION
“It should be understood that all
species of life, O son of Kunti,
are made possible by birth in this
material nature, and that I am
the seed-giving father.”
Krishna: Fountainhead of all
Avatars
There is mention of every
AVATAR of God in the
scriptures before He appears.
Lord Krishna is mentioned in
RIG VEDA.
Krishna is mentioned in
CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD as
DEVAKI NANDAN KRISHNA.
BUDDHA is mentioned
in Srimad Bhagavatam
before He appeared.
The Caitanya Upanishad
portion of the Atharva
Veda foretells the
appearance of Lord
Caitanya.
Krishna: Source of all
Demigods
KRISHNA & VISHNU
S.B.1.3.28. ‘ETE CAMSA
KALA PUMSAH…’ SLOKA
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
LEARN BY-HEART TO
KNOW THAT KRSNA IS
THE SOURCE OF
EVERYONE.
Traffic police
at work and
at home
“O Arjuna,
there is no
Truth
superior to
Me.
Everything
rests upon
Me, as
pearls are
strung on a
thread.”
Krishna: The Supreme
Knower
PAST SAMATITANI
PRESENT VARTAMANANI
FUTURE BHAVISHYANI
BG. 7.26
“Sarvam etad rtam manye”
“I accept
everything
You say
to be
true”
Speciality of
Krishna’s Appearance
and Activities
BG.4.9
Janma Karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti so ‘rjuna
Krishna knows
past, present and
future
Krishna and His body are Not
Different
Krishna appears in the world in
His original eternal form, with
two hands, holding a flute. He
appears exactly in His eternal
body, uncontaminated and
untouched by this material
world.
Avatara
The word
‘Avatara’ means
‘one who
descends from
the Spiritual Sky’
Purusa Avatars
Krishna first incarnates as the
3 Purusa incarnations:
(i) Maha Visnu or
Karanodakasayi Visnu
(ii)Garbodhakasayi Visnu, and
(iii)Ksirodhakasayi Visnu
Vishnu Tattva
• Krishna, Vishnu, Kurmavatar,
Matsyavatar etc.,
• Krishna and all Vishnu expansions
are like many candles equally
luminous;
• But Krishna is the original candle
• ‘krsnastu bhagavan svayam’
(S.B. 1.3.28)
Sambu Tattva
• Lord Siva, a specific
expansion of Krsna to
control tamo guna
• Just as milk is
transformed into curd,
similarly Siva is an
expansion of Krsna
• No jiva can become
Siva
• Siva is the greatest
devotee of Krsna
• ‘vaishnavanam yatha
shambhu’ (S.B)
Jiva Tattva
• Brahma, Indra, Vayu
etc., and all living
entities
• ‘All gods are equal’ is a
wrong philosophy;
there is only one God
Brahma, Indra are posts
as much as Prime
minister of India is a
post.
They are empowered
administrators of the
universe; They have
been appointed and
empowered by Krsna.
Demigods are empowered to
offer material benedictions
• Less intelligent persons
approach demigods for
material facilities
• An intelligent person
surrenders to Krsna, the
source of all demigods
How does a devotee deal with
the demigods?
• He understands that the
demigods are empowered
servants of Krsna who are
given a particular service to
do
• He is not offensive towards
demigods
A devotee sees the
demigods as part
and parcel of Krsna
and offers them
respect.
Krishna Demigods
1. Supremely conscious 1. Individually conscious
2. Always God 2. Posted temporarily
3. Can give liberation 3. Cannot give liberation
4. Supremely Independent to their worshippers
5. Possesses spiritual 4. Dependent on Krsna
body 5. Possess material body
6. Beyond the influence of 6. Under 3 modes
3 modes
Session 2
back
Everyone is full
of anxieties
because of the
material
existence.
Why am I
suffering?
Where do I
go after
this life?
KRISHNA
ANSWERED
THESE
QUESTIONS
AND
RELIEVED
ARJUNA
FROM ALL
MISERIES
• Who are we?
We are spirit souls.
Originally we were in the
spiritual world.
We had a spiritual body
made of sat-cit-ananda
(ETERNITY KNOWLEDGE
AND BLISS)
When we desire to enjoy
the material world, we get
a material body which is
made of 5 Gross Elements
– Earth, Water, Fire, Air,
Ether; 3 Subtle Elements –
Mind, Intelligence, False
Ego.
The spirit soul first
accepts a body that
is human in form
but gradually
degrades to animal,
plant and aquatic
forms.
Process by which a
soul transmigrates
from one body to
another is known
as Reincarnation.
Reincarnation
Life does not begin at birth nor
end with death
Widely accepted by philosophers
and scientists
Accepted by various religions like
Judaism, Christianity, Islam and
Sanatana Dharma
Scientific Proof For
Reincarnation
Science can never actually “prove”
anything
Research work done in this field
brings decisive proof of
Reincarnation
Truthful memories of previous
lives
A real case History
Relevance of Reincarnation
in our life
When Reincarnation is
accepted to be true
then it implies we are
not these bodies;
we are spirit souls.
What can the soul carry
with him?
1.Pious Activities
2.Sinful Activities
3.Devotional Service
(Bhakti)
Scapegoats Example
Similarly in this material world,
we get small amount of sense
enjoyment, but one fine day, we
are chucked out of the body.
Our life is a waste of
time and hard work if we
do not try to understand
the meaning of life by
asking questions like…
“What is Reincarnation?
Why does it happen? Who
or What is Reincarnated?
How long you have to wait
between births? Does it
happen to all of us, or only
a few?”
Sure way to understand
a machine is to learn
about it from the person
who built it.
Similarly, the direct way to
understand the machinery
of the universe—including
the subtle machinery of
reincarnation—is to learn
about it from the person
behind it.
One must enthusiastically
learn the truth from scriptures
like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad
Bhagavatam from a bonafide
spiritual master coming in an
unbroken chain of disciplic
succession.
6 Changes of Body
1. Birth
2. Growth
3. Maintenance
4. Production of By-Products
5. Dwindling
6. Death / Destruction
We cannot even
stop these changes
by scientific
advancement, where
is the question of
stopping death???
A moon appears to be
absent on a no moon day,
then the moon goes on
waxing…then full moon day
comes.
Is the moon changing? No.
It is because of our relative
position we call it as ‘full
moon’ or ‘no moon’.
Similarly, we identify
ourselves to the changing
body. Sometimes
childhood, boyhood, youth,
old age, death, sometimes
plant’s body, sometimes
animal’s body.
We are identifying
ourselves with all these
different phases of
material existence, but
actually we are
unchangeable souls.
Material Body – Changing
Dress for the Soul
Body only changes; the soul is
eternal
As a person puts on new
garments giving up old and
useless ones, similarly the soul
accepts new material bodies
giving up old and useless ones.
The External body is just a
like a coat for the soul
Spiritual Evolution
Originally Spiritual Being
Due to desire for material
enjoyment, soul comes down
Accepts Human body
Falls into lower forms of life
due to degraded activities –
into plants, animals and aquatic
forms
Quote
Brahma-Vaivarta purana says:
“One attains the human form of life
after transmigrating through
8,400,000 species of life by the
process of gradual evolution. That
human form of life is spoiled for
those conceited fools who do not
take shelter of the lotus feel of
Govinda[Krishna].”
Quote
Padma Purana says…there are,
9,00,000
species of
aquatic
life
2,000,000
species
of Plants
and
Trees
1,100,000
species
of
insects
1,000,000
species
of bird
life
3,000,000 species of beasts
400,000 species of human life
The meaning of “species”
used by biologists
applies to the gross
physical appearance of
the body.
The Vedic meaning is based
on the level of
consciousness of the
living being.
Biologists say that all human
beings belong to one
species, whereas the Vedic
literatures list 400,000
human species according
to consciousness of the
living entities.
In the lower of levels of consciousness,
a living entity, although in a human
body, behaves just like an animal.
In a higher level, his consciousness may
be slightly evolved and he may be selfish
for his family.
In a still higher level, he is concerned about
his, community, state, country, becomes an
philonthropist, social worker.
After many lifetimes one starts
to enquire about God.
The living
entity
develops
several
conceptions
about God in
many, many
lifetimes until
he comes to
Krishna.
The varieties of life
forms are products of
combinations and
permutations of the 3
modes of nature –
goodness, passion
and Ignorance.
The life forms are just like
temporary houses of different
shapes, sizes, in which the
living being, temporarily
resides. The price for obtaining
a specific form is KARMA.
The forms governed
by the 3 modes, puts
a constraint on the
qualities and activities
of living being’s
consciousness.
Although all animals are
in the mode of
ignorance,
they are influenced by
the modes of goodness
and passion in varying
degrees.
Cow is very
simple, mild in
behaviour,
influenced by
mode of
goodness to
some extent.
The ferocious nature of Lion
reveals it’s passionate
consciousness.
Camels are almost
completely in the mode of
ignorance.
3 Modes of Material Nature
1. Sattva Guna (Mode of
Goodness)
2. Rajo Guna (Mode of Passion)
3. Tamo Guna (Mode of
Ignorance)
He can do
whatever He
likes.
Since living entities are
tiny parts of God, we also
have His quality of
Independence—but only in
a minute quantity,
proportionate to our size.
According to our material
desires, our body acts either in
goodness, passion, ignorance
or some combination.
These desires spring from our
bodily concept of life.
The ways we try to fulfill these
desires are also material.
THE LAW OF KARMA:
THE INFALLIBLE
JUSTICE
MECHANISM OF
REINCARNATION
The soul resides within
two types of material
bodies– the gross body
and the subtle body.
These bodies develop
and function only
because of the presence
of the self within them.
Gross Body
The gross body is made up
of earth (solids), water
(liquids), fire (jataragni),
air (gases) and ether
(space and sound).
Gross body is called as
‘Sthula sarira’.
Subtle Body
• It is made up of mind, intelligence
and false ego.
• It is called as ‘Sukshma sarira’.
• Mind is store house of previous
experiences, unfulfilled desires and
thoughts
• Intelligence is the decision maker
• False ego is to think in illusion that,
‘I am this body’.
Subtle body and Gross body
are coverings on the soul.
Such a soul entrapped in these
coverings is called a
CONDITIONED SOUL. One who
becomes free from these
coverings and attains the
spiritual consciousness is
called a LIBERATED SOUL.
When the gross body
is worn out and
uninhabitable, the
soul and the subtle
body leave it. This is
what we commonly
call “death”.
The subtle body
contains the record of
all the living entity’s
thoughts, activities and
desires, and it is these
that determine the
soul’s next gross body.
By the laws of karma,
and under the direction
of Paramatma, the living
entity reincarnates in a
body just suitable to the
mentality – a change we
commonly call “birth”.
Just like air carries
fragrance of a rose,
the subtle body very
subtly carries the
soul to another
gross body at the
time of death.
According to the
condition of the mind at
the time of death, the
minute spirit soul enters
into the womb of a
particular mother
through the semen of a
father, and then…
The soul develops the body given by
the mother.
The soul can travel with the
subtle body under any
circumstances. OBE (out-
of-body experiences), NDE
(near-death experiences),
Hypnotic regression into
past lives, yogis’ siddhis
are therefore possible.
Bodies are Tailor-made’ to
satisfy soul’s desires
A tailor measures and
stitches a perfect suit
for us
Krsna is capable of
fulfilling every living
entity’s desires. There
are 8.4 million
species for us to
choose.
Within Srimad Bhagavatam is the
potential basis of great scientific
research work, for it explains
how subtle forms are generated
from the ethereal element, how
the tangible elements, namely air,
fire, water and earth are
manifested from the subtle form.
Mental activities, or
psychological
activities of thinking,
feeling and willing are
also activities on the
platform of ethereal
existence.
Mental existence transforms
into tangible form as soon as
there is an opportunity. So,
the soul being carried by the
subtle body, occupies a
womb depending on the
unfulfilled desires stored in
the subtle body.
Do you like to sleep a lot?
Example: Gopis
A person who has led a
materialistic life throughout
cannot think of Krsna even if he
endeavors to, at the time of his
death. How can a student who
has not prepared anything for his
exam get a distinction?
By seeing our sincerity in serving
Him, Krsna gives His
remembrance at the time of our
death. This is His special mercy.
Otherwise, death is a very
agonizing experience involving
intense pain and it is impossible
to think of anything.
So one should tolerate all the
impediments in spiritual life
and continue to chant,
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare,
so that at the end of one’s life
one can have the full benefit
of Krsna consciousness
Knowledge that one is not
the material body, but a spirit
soul, is not sufficient for
liberation. One must ACT on
the platform of spirit soul.
This is called Bhakti
(Devotional Service) which
includes...
Practical
techniques for
becoming free from
Karma and
Reincarnation
The first principle of
devotional service is
that one should
regularly chant a
fixed number of
rounds of Hare
Krsna Maha Mantra.
2. One should regularly study
the Vedic literatures especially
Bhagavad Gita and Srimad
Bhagavatam to develop a
thorough understanding of the
nature of the self, the laws of
karma, the process of
reincarnation and the means
for self-realization.
One should eat only
spiritualized vegetarian
foods.
One should avoid meat,
fish, eggs, intoxicants.
One should not engage
in illicit sex.
One can offer the fruits
of one’s work to God.
Work has to be done as
a sacrifice for Lord
Visnu. Otherwise work
causes bondage.
By following these simple
techniques , anyone can
become free from the effects
of karma. Conversely, if one
does not follow them, one is
sure to become entangled in
the actions and reactions of
material life.
Session 5
• Different forms of
Yoga and the
Topmost Yoga
system
back
What is Yoga?
• ‘Yoga’ in sanskrit means Union.
• It refers to the union, in love,
between the individual
consciousness and the Supreme
consciousness, the soul and the
Supersoul, i.e., the soul and
God.
Yoga: What it is not
• Mere physical
exercise for
shaping the body,
good health and
long life
• Emaciating
renunciate in
meditation
Man with some extra
ordinary powers
Varieties of Yoga
1.Karma Yoga
2.Jnana Yoga
3.Dhyana Yoga
4.Bhakti Yoga
Karma yoga
The process whereby
one performs his
work for God without
the selfish desire for
personal gain.
Jnana Yoga
The process of elevation
to spiritual
consciousness
through the cultivation
of philosophical
knowledge.
Astanga yoga or Dhyana
Yoga
A mechanical meditative
practice meant to
control the mind and
senses and focus one’s
concentration on the
Supreme.
Bhakti yoga
• The yoga of selfless, ecstatic,
devotional love of God, Krsna, as
Krsna Himself confirms: “Of all
yogis, he who always abides in
Me, with great faith, worshiping
Me in transcendental loving
service, is most intimately united
with Me in yoga and is the
highest of all” [B.G. 6.47]
H u m a n
L a w L A a bw i d
K a rJ m n aDi s n h i Bys a h n a i k s t a
S a k N a i ms k a a m a
Law Breakers (The Hard
Working Materialists)
• No Belief in God, rebirth or karma;
they say, “this world came by
chance”
• This world is all in all; there is
nothing beyond
• Sense Gratification is their goal [BG
16.11-12]
• Sophisticated animals conditioned to
the bodily concept of life
• Trying to find out better ways of Eating,
sleeping, mating and defending
• No discrimination between pious and
sinful activities
• Tirelessly endeavour for little sense
gratification
• “Those who are thus bewildered are
attracted by demoniac and atheistic
views. In that deluded condition, their
hopes for liberation, their fruitive
activities, and their culture of knowledge
are all defeated.” [B.G. 9.12]
Karma Kandis – Fruitive
Workers following Scriptural
Injunctions
Those who want to follow scriptures,
besides having regulated sense
gratification are called ‘Karma Kandis’
Any thought, word, deed not
connected to the Supreme Lord is SIN.
So they are not ‘sinful’.
Instead of involving in improper ways
of sense gratification and inviting
severe wrath of Yama raja,…
Regulate sense gratification by
following scriptures; worshipping
the respective demigods
This way attain gradual detachment
from sense gratification
Meant for gradual upliftment, but
they are not end in
themselves
Less intelligent people think that
the purpose of Vedas is to elevate
one to the heavenly planets
Trai-gunya-visaya veda
nistrai-gunyo bhavrjuna
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho
niryoga-ksema atmavan
“The Vedas deal mainly with the
subject of the 3 modes of material
nature. O Arjuna, become
transcendental to these 3 modes. Be
free from all dualities and from all
anxieties for gain and safety, and be
established in the self.
Real religious
principles are
‘nistraigunya’,
above the 3 modes
of nature, or
transcendental.
Liberation from Material
Bondage
• This world is a place of
misery as certified by
Lord Krsna Himself.
• One must work for
freedom from the cycle
of birth and death.
Temporary Stop-gap
Solutions
• Advancement in Science and Technology
aims at reducing the miseries of man and
providing comfort.
• For example, a fan is used to reduce the
miseries of sweating; a motor cycle is
used to avoid the miseries of pedaling a
cycle.
• If possible it wants to put an end to all
miseries of man
• But these advancements
only provides temporary
solutions to man’s
problems
• We will see these problems
once again come to the
surface in some other form
Once a man got a boil. A
doctor gave him some
ointment to apply on it. But
after sometime he got a similar
boil in another part of his body
and again went to the same
doctor who advised him to
apply the medicine whenever
the boil comes…
The poor man thought,
“Every time I get the boil,
it lasts for a week and I
have enormous pain. Is
there no way to put an
end to this problem
altogether?
He went to another doctor
who could understand the
root-cause of the problem-
impurity in the blood. He
treated the patient’s blood
and the patient was
permanently cured.
People do not know the
root cause of the
problem –
misidentification of
oneself to matter.
Yaya sammohito jiva
atmanam tri-gunatmakam
paro ‘pi manuti ‘nartham
tat-krtam cabhipadyate
“Due to the external energy, the
living entity,although
transcendental to the 3 modes
of nature, thinks himself as a
material product and
undergoes material miseries.”
The real problems of life
are:
Birth
Old age
Disease
Death
Birth
• Very painful
• For months, the fetus lies in a bow
like position bitten by hungry
worms in the abdomen of the
mother and eating it’s own stool,
hair, urine mixed with food and
jolted by sudden movements
Old Age
No one wants to grow old due
to so much suffering due to it
These days old people are
forced to go to old age homes
and don’t get any love
Mental problem; body does not
cooperate
Disease
One disease goes and next one
comes – Cancer, AIDS, etc.,
We may cure one disease for
sometime, but we cannot disease per
se
pain incurred through diseases is a
common experiences of anyone and
needs no explanation
Death
Garuda Purana says that
death is extremely painful
and one experiences a pain
equivalent to 40,000
scorpion bites.
One has to be forced out of
the body
“In the moment of death, one’s
eyes bulge due to pressure of
air from within, and his glands
become congested with
mucus. He has difficulty in
breathing, and there is a
rattling sound within the throat
… He dies most pathetically.”
[S.B. 3.30.16-18]
So it is very important to
have the perception of the
evil of birth, old age,
disease and death. So
unless one is utterly
convinced that material life
is utterly miserable, one
cannot take to spiritual life.
3-fold miseries of material
nature
In prison, food, water, clothing and
shelter are given but under
punishment;
The rebellious living entities are put
into the prison house of the material
world with all facilities such as air,
water etc., under the punishment of
the 3-fold miseries of material nature
Sanatana
Goswami
submitted to
Lord Caitanya on
behalf of us that
people respect
him as a great
scholar but he
does not know
who he is and
why is he
suffering.
3-fold miseries
Adhyatmika
Adhibhautika
Adhidaivika
Adhyatmika
• Refers to the miseries caused by
mind and body
• Sometimes the living entity
suffers bodily and sometimes he
is distressed mentally
• We experience this even in the
womb of the mother
Adhibhautika
Refers to miseries
caused by other
living entities
Even some small
insect can make us
miserable and give
us pain
Adhidaivika
Miseries are natural disasters that
originate with the demigods of
higher planets.
For instance, severe cold, hot
weather, thunderbolt, earthquakes,
tornados, droughts etc.,
Durga
• This material world is called
‘Durga’ which means fort.
Trident
The Trident of Durga represents
the 3-fold miseries.
Durga pierces the hearts of the
living entities with this trident, in
order to remind them that they are
presently staying in an artificial
place, which is not their original
home.
The miseries should give us an
impetus to take to spiritual life
seriously.
Mayadevi
/Durgadevi also is
a pure devotee of
Krsna and her
service is to
screen the living
entities and hand
over the pure
devotees back to
the spiritual world.
Both the spiritual master and
Mayadevi are working for the
same goal – to reclaim the
conditioned souls and take them
back to Godhead. The difference is
that the spiritual master gives you
knowledge and instruction to
progress in Krsna consciousness,
Mayadevi gives you slap/kick to
remind you what you are doing is
not correct.
Sukadeva Gosvami & Maharaja
Pariksit
The yogis are those who
understand the temporary
nature of this material
world, understand the role
of Maya and work for
liberation from material
bondage to return to
eternal life.
Those who care only for
satisfying their senses and
not care for the laws of God,
whether such an uncontrolled
person is cultured or
uncultured, educated or
uneducated, weak or strong,
his actions are always bestial.
The can never benefit anyone.
The law abiding beings are
classified into:
Karmis
Sakama
Niskama
Jnanis
Bhaktas
The Sakama-Karmis or
Fruitive workers want to
enjoy the results of their
labour
and
The Niskama-Karmis
renounce the fruits of
action.
The ladder of Yogic Process
Yogi’s meditation
Limitation of Astanga Yoga
Even 5000 years ago, when
circumstances in the world were
different, this yoga system was not
practicable
Arjuna who belonged to the royal family,
a great warrior, an intimate friend of
Krsna, said, “My dear Krsna, it is not
possible to follow this process of yoga
for the mind is restless and unsteady.”
It is not possible for an ordinary man
to leave home and go to a secluded
place in the mountains or jungles to
practice yoga in this Age of Kali.
Life is short and there is bitter
struggle for life
This system is generally impossible in
Kali yuga.
Those who are imitating this yoga
system in different modern societies
are certainly wasting their time.
Bhakti Yoga
Connecting oneself with Krsna
and reviving our relationship as
His eternal associate.
Includes 3 items:
(1) The Servitor
(2) The Served
(3) The Service
Krsna is the served, living
entity is the servitor and there
are 9 processes of devotional
service to the Lord and a
candidate can choose to
adopt any one, two or three
or all however he likes.
All services rendered to
Krsna are absolute.
Nine-fold path of Devotional
Service
1. Sravanam – Hearing – King
Pariksit
2. Kirtanam – Recitation –
Sukadeva Goswami
3. Smaranam – Remembering –
Prahlad Maharaja
4. Arcanam – Worshipping – King
Prthu
5. Vandanam – Offering Prayers –
Akrura
6. Pada Sevanam – Serving – Lakshmiji
7. Dasyam – Carrying out orders –
Hanuman
8. Sakhyam – Making friends with the
Lord – Arjuna
9. Atma Nivedanam – Surrendering
Everything – Emperor Bali
King Ambarish adopted all the above 9
items and he attain perfect success.
‘Step-By-Step Gradual
Development Process
and
Direct Process
to attain Pure
Devotional Service’
In the 12th Chapter, BG
entitled, “Devotional
Service” verses 8 to 12,
Krsna is offering various
opportunities for
conditioned living entities to
return back to Him
depending on their ability to
surrender.
“Just fix your mind upon
Me, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead,
and engage all your
intelligence in Me. Thus
you will live in Me always,
without a doubt.”
[B.G. 12.8]
A devotee…
Chants Hare Krsna and fixes his
mind constantly on the lotus feet of
Krsna
Offers Krsna food and directly
accepts the eatables, and becomes
Krsnaized by eating the remnants
Performs all activities connected
only to Krsna
Thus a devotee always lives in Krsna.
“My dear Arjuna, if you
cannot fix your mind upon
Me without deviation, then
follow the regulative
principles of bhakti-yoga.
In this way develop a
desire to attain Me.”
[B.G. 12.9]
Love of Krsna
• The constitutional position of living
entity is : ‘Jivera svaroopa haya
Krsnera nitya dasa’ ‘living entity is
an eternal servant of Krsna’.
• This love is dormant within the heart
just like a fiery coal is covered by the
contamination of ashes. It has to be
revived just like red hot coal is
revived by blowing off the ashes.
Under the direction of an
expert spiritual master, one
should follow certain
principles:-
one should rise early in the
morning
Take bath, enter the temple
Offer Prayers and chant Hare
Krsna
Hear Bhagavad Gita,
Srimad Bhagavatam
from pure devotees
Cook foodstuffs, offer
to the Deity, take
prasadam
and so on…
“If you cannot practice the
regulations of bhakti-yoga,
then just try to work for Me,
because by working for Me
you will come to the perfect
stage.”
[B.G. 12.10]
Those who cannot directly
take up regulated
devotional service, can
help the propagation of
Krsna consciousness by
offering land, capital, in the
publication of Krsna
conscious books etc.,
Offering money for
building temples,
publishing Krsna
conscious books
etc.,
“If however you are unable
to work in this
consciousness of Me, then
try to act giving up all
results of your work and try
to be self-situated.”
[B.G.12.11]
When one is not even
interested, or due to social,
familial, religious
considerations not able to
directly involve in the activities
of Krsna consciousness, and
gives charity to some social
institution like hospitals, he
gives up the hard-earned
results of his activities.
Opening Hospitals, Doing
charity, Planting trees…
“If you cannot take to this
practice, then engage yourself
in the cultivation of knowledge.
Better than knowledge,
however, is meditation, and
better than meditation is
renunciation of the fruits of
action, for by such renunciation
one can attain peace of mind”
[B.G.12.12]
The direct method is
devotional service in Krsna
consciousness.
The other method is the step
by step method involving
renouncing the fruits of one’s
activities, cultivating
knowledge, meditation and so
on.
As far as Bhagavad Gita is
concerned, the direct method
is stressed.
Everyone is advised to take to
the direct method and
surrender unto the Supreme
Personality of Godhead,
Krsna.
Bhakti Yoga:
The Culmination
of all Yoga
Systems
Tapasvibhyo ‘dhiko yogi
jnanibhyo ‘pi mato ‘dhikah
karmibhyas’ cadhiko yogi
tasmad yogi bhavarjuna
“A yogi is greater than the ascetic,
greater than the empiricist and
greater than the fruitive worker.
Therefore, O Arjuna, in all
circumstances, be a yogi”.
[B.G.6.46]
Yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
“And of all yogis, the one with great
faith who always abides in Me, thinks
of Me within Himself, and renders
transcendental loving service to Me –
he is the most intimately united with
Me in yoga and is the highest of all.
That is My opinion.”
[B.G.6.47]
STEP 4: Bhakti Yoga
Astanga Yoga + Loving Devotional Service
to the Supreme Lord, Krsna
STEP 3: Astanga Yoga/ Dhyana Yoga V
Renouncing fruits + knowledge + Control of
A
mind and senses by 8-fold path + Meditation
on Paramatma in the heart I
STEP 2: Jnana Yoga D
E T E R N EA T L E L R Y N A L L
L I B E R AC TO E N D D I T I O N
M O V I N NG O N - M O
( B I R D S & (B T E R A E S E T S
T H O S E T T H H O A ST E T T H H O A ST E T
S W I M I NF L W Y A I N T E TW R H A E L KS K O Y N
T H O S E T H A
W A L K O N L
4 0 0 , 0 0 0 3 S , 0 P 0 E 0 C , 0 I E0
O F H U M A ON F B B E EI
A R Y A A N A R Y A
C I V I L IU S N E C D I V I L I S E D
R I G H T U E N O R U I GS H T E O U S
R I G H T E
J N A NK I AS R
L I B E NR OA T E L DI B
D E S I KR ER F S O ND R EA S B I R H E
M Y S T I C P O WO EN R E S W
SESSION 6
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
OF BHAGAVAD GITA IN
OUR DAILY LIFE
back
Why Practice Krsna
consciousness?
• We are not this body; we are spirit souls
• Each soul has an eternal, dynamic
relationship with Krsna
• Our actual life is in the spiritual world
with Krsna
• There are variegated services like
singing, dancing, playing etc., with
Krsna
• This world is the prison house for
those inimical towards Krsna who
suffer repeated births and deaths
• Those who are intelligent take up
Devotional Service to revive their
dormant Krsna consciousness and
go back to Krsna
• KC is taught by Krsna Himself as
Lord Caitanya in Kali yuga through
Sankirtana movement
Krsna consciousness is not a
dull, dry and ritualistic religion
Krsna consciousness means
chanting the holy names, dancing in
ecstacy, feasting Krsna prasadam,
associating with saintly devotees,
serving Krsna in His Diety form,
appreciating the beauty of the
Dieites, understanding profound
philosophy, hearing about Krsna
and preaching His glories.
Krsna consciousness
• It is tried, tested and proven
method to achieve the
perfection of life
• Devotees develop all good
qualities through this - kind,
tolerant, humble, self-
controlled, peaceful and
pleasing to all.
Deity Worship
• Deity is the beautiful form of the Lord
either in the temple or at our home,
which enables us to see Him and
serve Him
• Arca Vigraha is an incarnation of the
Supreme Lord
• Arca Vigraha is a Deity of Krsna
which is installed according to the
sastric standards by a pure devotee
of the Lord
What form of Deity is to be
worshipped?
• Brahma Samhita
verses 30 and 31
mention the form of
the Lord to be
worshipped by us
Venum kvanantam aravindadalayataksam
Barhavatamsam asitambhuda-sundarangam
Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham
Govindam adi purisam tamaham bajami