Bhagavad Gita 3.6: Being honest about our spiritual capabilities.
Topics include:
- Realistically assessing our daily practice
- A brief explanation of the four regulative principles
- An explanation of the Hare Krishna mantra
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Continue reading Chapter 3 of Bhagavad Gita As It Is
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Abbreviations used in these notes: BG for Bhagavad Gita
Books
Verses
karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya
ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate
Synonyms
karma-indriyāṇi — the five working sense organs; saṁyamya — controlling; yaḥ — anyone who; āste — remains; manasā — by the mind; smaran — thinking of; indriya-arthān — sense objects; vimūḍha — foolish; ātmā — soul; mithyā-ācāraḥ — pretender; saḥ — he; ucyate — is called.
Translation
One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.
Purport
There are many pretenders who refuse to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness but make a show of meditation, while actually dwelling within the mind upon sense enjoyment. Such pretenders may also speak on dry philosophy in order to bluff sophisticated followers, but according to this verse these are the greatest cheaters. For sense enjoyment one can act in any capacity of the social order, but if one follows the rules and regulations of his particular status, he can make gradual progress in purifying his existence. But he who makes a show of being a yogī while actually searching for the objects of sense gratification must be called the greatest cheater, even though he sometimes speaks of philosophy. His knowledge has no value, because the effects of such a sinful man’s knowledge are taken away by the illusory energy of the Lord. Such a pretender’s mind is always impure, and therefore his show of yogic meditation has no value whatsoever.
Other
The Four Regulative Principles
Students aspiring for initiation into the Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage are encouraged to follow these four behavioral guidelines:
- No eating meat, fish or eggs
- No intoxicants
- Limiting sexual activity to one’s life partner
- No gambling
Further, those interested in initiation into bhakti practice are encouraged to chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily. (16 times around a mala of 108 beads — 108 x 16 = 1,728 mantra recitations daily.)
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Vocabulary
- Mantra – Non-material sound, hymn, manas-traya: sound that liberates from the mind
Recommended Reading
Bhagavad Gita As It Is
Gita Wisdom: An Introduction to India’s Essential Yoga Text