varnashram

Topics:

• Varna-ashram system (the four castes and four life stages)
• Vedic conception of work and distribution of wealth

Additional topics:

• Becker’s “The Denial of Death” and it’s parallels to the teachings of Gita
• Agha, the terrible demon

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Mentioned in this podcast

Abbreviations used in these notes: BG for Bhagavad Gita

Books

• Bhagavad Gita As It Is
• Denial of Death by Ernest Becker

Verses

BG 4.13

cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ
guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ
tasya kartāram api māṁ
viddhy akartāram avyayam

cātuḥ-varṇyam — the four divisions of human society; mayā — by Me; sṛṣṭam — created; guṇa — of quality; karma — and work; vibhāgaśaḥ — in terms of division; tasya — of that; kartāram — the father; api — although; mām — Me; viddhi — you may know; akartāram — as the nondoer; avyayam — unchangeable.

According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. And although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the nondoer, being unchangeable.

BG 4.14

There is no work that affects Me; nor do I aspire for the fruits of action. One who understands this truth about Me also does not become entangled in the fruitive reactions of work.

BG 4.15

All the liberated souls in ancient times acted with this understanding of My transcendental nature. Therefore you should perform your duty, following in their footsteps.

Vocabulary

• varnashrama – the four castes and four life stages
• brahmin – member of the priesthood
• ksatriya – member of the warrior or administrative class
• vaisya – member of the merchant or farmer class
• shudra – member of the worker class
• brahmacharya – the celibate, student stage of life
• grihastha – the married stage of life
• vanaprastha – the retired stage of life
• sannyasa – the renounced stage of life

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Verses 16-18 of Chapter 4 talks about action, forbidden action, and inaction and the resulting karmic reactions. We discuss the different kinds of karma, how karma plays out over lifetimes, and whether or not we, as spiritual practitioners, are obliged to assume greater social responsibilities. We also discuss the psychology of karma.

Topics:

• Karma, vikarma, and akarma
• Yoga as a call to action
• The link between one’s psychology and karma

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Mentioned in this podcast

Abbreviations used in these notes: BG for Bhagavad Gita, SB for Srimad Bhagavatam

Books

• Bhagavad Gita As It Is

Verses

BG 4.16

kiṁ karma kim akarmeti
kavayo ’py atra mohitāḥ
tat te karma pravakṣyāmi
yaj jñātvā mokṣyase ’śubhāt

kim — what is; karma — action; kim — what is; akarma — inaction; iti — thus; kavayaḥ — the intelligent; api — also; atra— in this matter; mohitāḥ — are bewildered; tat — that; te — unto you; karma — work; pravakṣyāmi — I shall explain; yat — which; jñātvā — knowing; mokṣyase — you will be liberated; aśubhāt — from ill fortune.

Even the intelligent are bewildered in determining what is action and what is inaction. Now I shall explain to you what action is, knowing which you shall be liberated from all misfortune.

BG 4.17

The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is and what inaction is.

BG 4.18

One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.

BG 6.41

The unsuccessful yogī, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy.

BG 8.6

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kuntī, that state he will attain without fail.

BG 15.8

The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another, as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of body and again quits it to take another.

SB 10.14.8

My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.

Kumbha Mela – Currently, the world’s largest gathering of people. Over 100 million pilgrims from around the world will bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, Saraswati, and Yamuna rivers in India.

Vocabulary

• pranayama – yogic breathing techniques
• paramatma – “Super-soul,” God in the heart of each being as witness and well-wisher accompanying each soul through its many births
• karma – Material actions (performed for one’s own benefit or one’s extended circles)
• akarma – Actions offered in devotion to God, which consequently do not generate material reactions.
• vikarma – Actions performed that intentionally contradict scriptural guidelines of righteous behavior.
• yoga-bhrashta – Someone who practiced yoga in previous lives but did not complete the yoga path, and consequently is born into circumstances favorable to resuming yoga practice, e.g. into a wealthy or spiritually inclined family.
• tapas – A sacrifice of something personal for a higher good, e.g. of time for self-discipline, solitude, or prolonged meditation.

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