Gita Wisdom - Teachings for the Modern Day Yogi

Archives for June 2018

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June 28, 2018 – Long Island Series, Week 12 – [BG 4.1-4.3] In the Beginning…

Until now, Krishna has not given any hints as to his true identity. In Chapter 4 Krishna reveals he taught this ancient knowledge to the sun god at the dawn of the millennium.

Additional topics include:

  • An explanation of the invocation om namo bhagavate vasudevaya
  • The power of the Gita teachings for good and evil
  • The role of faith in understanding the Gita

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Homework

Read verses and purports from Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 4 Verses 4 through 6 [BG 4.4 – 4.6]

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Abbreviations used in these notes: BG for Bhagavad Gita

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Verses

BG 4.1

The Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvān, and Vivasvān instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikṣvāku.

BG 4.2

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.

BG 4.3

That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend and can therefore understand the transcendental mystery of this science.

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June 21, 2018 – Long Island Series, Week 11 – Dhruva

Chapter 3 of the Gita points to the pathology of conditioned life and obstacles on the spiritual path. This class includes a summary of the Vedic story of Dhruva, the boy king who found God through meditation. Additional topics include:

  • How our spiritual knowledge can help us navigate life’s challenges
  • The role of guru

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Homework

Read Chapter 4 verses 1-3 and purports of Bhagavad Gita As It Is

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Books

Recommended Reading

Bhagavad Gita As It Is
Gita Wisdom: An Introduction to India’s Essential Yoga Text

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May 24, 2018 – Long Island Series, Week 9: Leadership [BG 3.21]

Bhagavad Gita 3.21: The importance of good qualities in a leader.

Topics include:

  • Developing good qualities
  • Krishna’s instructions on meditation

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Homework

Continue reading Chapter 3 of Bhagavad Gita As It Is
Find an article and analyze it from a bhakti perspective

Mentioned in this podcast

Abbreviations used in these notes: BG for Bhagavad Gita

Books

Verses

BG 3.21

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

Synonyms
yat yat — whatever; ācarati — he does; śreṣṭhaḥ — a respectable leader; tat — that; tat — and that alone; eva — certainly; itaraḥ — common; janaḥ — person; saḥ — he; yat — whichever; pramāṇam — example; kurute — does perform; lokaḥ — all the world; tat — that; anuvartate — follows in the footsteps.

Translation
Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

Purport
People in general always require a leader who can teach the public by practical behavior. A leader cannot teach the public to stop smoking if he himself smokes. Lord Caitanya said that a teacher should behave properly before he begins teaching. One who teaches in that way is called ācārya, or the ideal teacher. Therefore, a teacher must follow the principles of śāstra (scripture) to teach the common man. The teacher cannot manufacture rules against the principles of revealed scriptures. The revealed scriptures, like Manu-saṁhitā and similar others, are considered the standard books to be followed by human society. Thus the leader’s teaching should be based on the principles of such standard śāstras. One who desires to improve himself must follow the standard rules as they are practiced by the great teachers. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also affirms that one should follow in the footsteps of great devotees, and that is the way of progress on the path of spiritual realization. The king or the executive head of a state, the father and the schoolteacher are all considered to be natural leaders of the innocent people in general. All such natural leaders have a great responsibility to their dependents; therefore they must be conversant with standard books of moral and spiritual codes.


Vocabulary

  • Bhava – Ecstatic love for God
  • Guru – Gu-darkness, ru-dispeller. Guru is one is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance. Guru also means heavy (with knowledge).
  • Saucha – Purity. Refers to cleanliness inside and out.
  • Sisya – Disciple. One who voluntarily submits to discipline in spiritual life

Recommended Reading

Bhagavad Gita As It Is
Gita Wisdom: An Introduction to India’s Essential Yoga Text

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