Greetings All, Gita, Chapter # 2, Samkhya Yoga: Swamiji starts off by reminding us that Vyasa now presents Arjuna as a seeker of moksha. The fundamental human problem characterized by Raga (Likes), Dvesha (Dislikes) and Moha (delusion) is also called Samsara. Due to attachment, when we lose a person or an object, it causes us […]
Greetings All, Gita, Chapter # 2, Samkhya Yoga: Before getting into details of Chapter 2, Swamiji refreshed our memory on the key concepts presented in chapter 1. He says the disease called Samsara plagues mankind. It is an internal and psychological disease. Raga (Likes), Dvesha (Dislikes) and Moha (delusion) characterize this Samsara disease. Often, not […]
Lecture 11 Notes : Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Summary 1/09/16 Swamiji gives a Summary of Chapter 1 and an Introduction to Chapter 2. Summary of Chapter 1 To live a healthy life – consider these 2 factors: 1. The surroundings should be hygienic so that it doesn’t cause diseases. This is an external factor; objective […]
Arjuna shows the close connection between the institution of family and a dharmic way of life. These are intertwined so closely that when one is affected, the other has an impact and then it spirals into a vicious cycle. If family is destroyed, then dharma is destroyed, and with dharma destroyed, the next generation of […]
Chapter 1 Sloka 38 यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्।।1.38।। यद्यपि though एते these न not पश्यन्ति see लोभोपहतचेतसः with intelligence overpowered by greed कुलक्षयकृतम् in the destruction of families दोषम् evil मित्रद्रोहे in hostility to friends च and पातकम् sin Swamiji explains that Vyasarcharya shows the intensity of Arjuna’s samsaara […]
Bagawat Geeta Class 8 Namaste! Summary of class on December 19th: Verses 29-34 continues with Arjuna’s emotion of shOka (sorrow) and VyAsa here wants to show the intensity of the sorrow. Arjuna is describing how he is physically affected (limbs drooping, mouth drying up, body trembling, hairs standing, the Gandiva slipping, skin on fire, mind […]
Namaste! Summary of class on December 12th: Swamiji says that no value can be followed unconditionally because every value has an exception. When everything else fails, himsa is allowed. Verses 24 and 25: ( Sanjaya said) ” Oh Dhrtarastra! Commanded thus ( to place the chariot in between the armies) by Arjuna, Krishna placed the […]
Namaste! Summary of Bhaghavad Gita class on 12/5/2015: Verses 14 – 23 Verse 14 – “Thereafter, Krishna and Arjuna, seated in a grand chariot with white horses, blew their divine conches.” After the Kaurava army signaled their readiness, it is the Pandavas’ turn to signal their readiness. Even though he is not the oldest, Krishna […]
Chapter 1- Verses 3 to 11 Duryodhana’s dialogue with Dronacharya continues- Verse 3 : Oh teacher! See this vast army of the Pandavas, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your skillful disciple. Verse 4: In this army there are many powerful archers who are equal to Bhima and Arjuna in war – Satyaki, the king […]
Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya ” MAMAKAH PANDAVAH CA EVA DHARMAKSHETRE KIM AKURVATHAH” (What did MY PEOPLE and also the Pandavas do in the Holy land?) Dhritarashtra was born congenitally blind. He also acquired inner blindness by his selfishness and excessive attachment to Duryodhana. Dhritarashtra, being blind, was not eligible for the throne and hence PANDU […]