Essence of Bhagavad Gita 3 session course

Essence of Bhagavad Gita 3 session course

Revision of Session 1 Nature of material world. Be prepared to face the problems. Understanding the nature of happiness. Senses, mind, intelligence and living force. Elevating consciousness is the solution to problems and a way to obtain real happiness.

Revision of Session 2 Identity interaction with matter. Karma Re-incarnation. Life as a preparation to reach our final goal.

Source of knowledge Every living entity desire to know curiosity. NASA spends millions of dollars every year. What is our origin? Where did we come from? How was the universe created? What determines birth in a particular circumstance? Is there an underlying intelligence or consciousness that is beyond the marvel of the laws of nature, physics and biology?

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 2. Deductive / Descending Method:- Knowing things by hearing. Not experimental knowledge.

1. pratyakña - sensory perception 2. anumäna - logical inference 3. çabda - the words of a reliable authority According to Vedic principles, there are three different types of evidences. Everything must be proved by evidence. So these are primarily three evidences. Pratyakña, direct perception, pratyakña; anumäna; and çruti. Çrémad-Bhägavatam 6.1.46 -- San Diego, July 27, 1975

(sensory perception) prati means near or through, and akña means the eye or the senses when one of our senses contacts its object & our mind chooses to give the received sensation attention, knowledge has been created a) external by senses b) internal by mind (emotions, pain, pleasure, love, hate)

Four human defects 1. Bhrama - confusing one thing for another illusioned (identification of the body as the self ) 2. Pramäda - inattentiveness, commit mistakes 3. Vipralipsä - the desire to deceive others, tendency to cheat 4. Karaëäpäöava - weakness of the senses, imperfect

If pratyakña, direct perception, would have been perfect, then there was no need of sending these boys to school to hear from the teacher. But this is very scientific, çabda-pramäëa. >>> Discussions with Syamasundara Das

(logical inference - knowing after, reason, logic) the mind's attempt to know what is beyond the reach of sense perception based on repeated (generalized) experience or authoritative verbal testimony one arrives at some probable general principle called vyapti the instrument of knowing an unperceived fact on the basis of its being known to accompany another fact that is perceived

From newspapers and radio we also understand that such and such events are taking place in China and India and other places all around the earth. We're not experiencing these events directly, and we don't know that such events are actually taking place, but we accept the authority of the newspapers and radio. We have no choice but to believe authorities in order to get knowledge. And when the authority is perfect, our knowledge is perfect. (Raja Vidya)

the words of a reliable authority (Vedas) 1. reveals knowledge of subjects which lies beyond our sense perception or inference 2. everyone relies on such knowledge in day-to-day life even those who proudly declare that they have no faith in authority 3. everyone s mental & intellectual development depends on sound vibration 4. most powerful tool for conveying knowledge from one person to another, especially if they are greatly separated by time or space (which is almost always case in spiritual matters)

ORIGIN OF VEDAS Atharva Veda states that Lord Sri Krishna instructed Lord Brahma KRISHNA BRAHMA NARADA CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU A C BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI

Transcendental Sound Vibrations

Theory of Relativity Kakudmuni 5000 yrs ago Description of embryo in scriptures Matches modern day science Vedas predicted the birth of great personalities Buddha Chanakya Ashoka Christ Mohammed

Volumes of literature giving scientific evidence of the knowledge of the Vedas. How scientific is the science as known to us?

Science certainly has made tremendous progress but real problems of ecological disruptions, health & psychological problems, violence, hatred, etc has just increased. We are not saying science as we know is useless but our point is that we need to integrate modern science with spiritual knowledge. Spirituality is the highest science through which we can directly know the true nature of reality.

Vedic sciences open the door to a cosmic intelligence - to a sense of self and reality that is universal, not bodily-based but rooted in awareness, love and bliss. We are meant to function as a species to involve to a higher consciousness, not simply enjoy at a mundane level. Linking individual consciousness with universal consciousness gives an access to a much deeper level of knowledge.

Essence of Bhagavad Gita What does BG say about spiritual nature? Creation? Creator?

We are in the material world which is MISERABLE & TEMPORARY What is the solution?

After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.

Yet there is another unmanifest nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested world. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is.

Spiritual World Blissful Eternal Free from all inebriety Our eternal home, where we all originally belong to.

What about Creator? 1. ARGUMENT FROM NUMBERS Quotes by Scientists

For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story (of the big bang) ends like a bad dream. For the past three hundred years, scientists have scaled the mountain of ignorance and as they pull themselves over the final rock, they are greeted by a band of theologians who have been seating there for centuries. (Robert Jasthrow, Professor at Columbia University and Founder and Director of the Goddard Space Center)

"The exquisite order displayed by our scientific understanding of the physical world calls for the divine. Vera Kistiakowsky (MIT physicist) "We know that nature is described by the best of all possible mathematics because God created it. Alexander Polyakov (Soviet mathematician)

2. ARGUMENT FROM NATURE i. ORDER A casual universe Anthropic Principle a. Earth b. Water c. Sun d. Air

2. ARGUMENT FROM NATURE ii. DESIGN All bodies have specific designs according to their needs a. Girafee b. Bats c. Humming Bird d. Camel e. Spider

2. ARGUMENT FROM NATURE iv. LAWS a. Gravity b. Electro Magnet c. Seasons d. Planetary Movement

3. ARGUMENT FROM PURPOSE a. 4 things imperative while creating a. Purpose b. Design c. Raw materials d. Construction Crew A Clock & Child

4. ARGUMENT FROM URGE For every urge there is fulfillment in nature

5. ARGUMENT FROM PAROCHIALISM Have you been everywhere to prove He s not there?

6. ARGUMENT FROM INFINITE REGRESS i. What caused the Big Bang? ii. How u know this? iii. Any experience of creative explosion?

7. ARGUMENT FROM FAULTY PERCEPTION Defective senses can t see objective reality 3 DEFECTS 1) Same object appears to be different to same person 2) Same object appears to be different to different person

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

Yogi meditating on the Paramatma

Anyone possessing all the opulence in full is naturally ALL ATTRACTIVE Krsna means all attractive in Sanskrit ALL RICH ALL FAMOUS ALL KNOWLEDGE ALL STRONG ALL BEAUTIFUL ALL RENUNCIATION

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.

Krishna says in B.G. 10.8. that He is the source of all spiritual and material worlds and that everything emanates from Him.

DIFFERENT YOGA PROCESSES KARMA, DHYANA, JNANA & BHAKTI

Bhagavad Gita 16.1-3 Chart No. 25 Art of Giving (Towards other) l Merciful l Compassionate l Friend l Magnanimous l Equal to all l Truthful l Performs welfare for others l Respectful Art of Being (Towards self) l Humble l Surrendered l Desireless l Fixed l Controls six bad qualities l Grave l Silent Characteristics / Signs l Clean l Mild l Without material possessions l Peaceful l Indifferent l Eats only as much as required l Without inebrieties l Without false prestige l Poet l Expert l Faultless

Bhagavad Gita 6.32, 9.11-19, 9.20-25 Chart No.10 Nature l Follows authority of guru, sadhu and sastra l Expert-knows how to connect everything to Krsna l Truthful l Pure-internally and externally l Behavior - non-envious, friend to all l Selfless l Compassionate l Simple Philosophy l Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything comes (BG10.8) l He is the supreme enjoyer, supreme proprietor and ever well wisher (BG 5.29) l The living entities are his eternal fragmental parts simultaneously one with and different from Him (BG 15.7) l Matter is His separated material energy which controls deluded living entities (BG 7.4) l By engaging everything in Krsna s service, one becomes liberated to go back to Godhead (BG 2.51) l Goal of life is pure devotional service and Krsna prema (BG 11.55) Mentality and Attitude l Humble l Free from false ego l No sense of false proprietorship l Equipoised amidst dualities (BG 12.13-20) l Free from attachment, fear and anger (BG 4.10, 2.56) l Attached to Krishna's service in association of devotees l Self controlled (BG 12.13-20) l Servant of everyone (BG 5.7) l Satisfied by experiencing higher taste (BG 2.59) l Does not like to waste time l Unbreakable determination (BG 18.33) l Mind and intelligence fixed on Krsna (BG 12.13-20) l Acts as Krsna s instrument to please Krsna (BG 11.33) Action l Always chanting Krsna s glories (BG 9.14) l Performs devotional service l Acts as duty to set example (BG 3.21) l Not dependent on ordinary course of activities (BG 7.14) l Dependant on Krsna s mercy (BG 7.14) l Preaches to enlighten suffering humanity (BG 12.13-20) l Always enlightening one another and conversing about Krsna (BG 10.9) Result l He escapes the cycle of birth and death l He attains real happiness and fulfillment. l He return home - spiritual world

Conclusion Summary Our real self spiritual identity. Material world place of suffering. Don t take the problems of this world too seriously this too will pass. Act as a matter of duty as an activity towards our final destination. Things are meant to be used and people are meant to be loved. Be kind and compassionate to every living entity. Don t be envious, do not find faults.

Be grateful for what you have and express that gratitude. Attitude of gratitude. Modes of material nature are very strong. Six enemies are real enemies. Regular practice of principles of bhakti: Mantra meditation, association, books think about spiritual concepts, values; you are what you eat. Prioritize your life based on teachings of Bhagavad Gita.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS REALIZATIONS THANK YOU