Vrindavan Bhagavad Gita Study Group

  Summarized by   Sucheta Dighe: Maniji started the discussion by talking about last week's yagnas. where swamiji said that even if the scriptures are for everyone, their meaning changes for each one of us as we are at different places in our journey.  Saiji mentioned the importance of a good guru who understands our spiritual level and guides us accordingly. Even if we do not understand the Brahman, the meditation, etc, if we continue with our sadhana, we will reach our goal. The sadhana could be as simple as remembering Rama's name when you wake up and when you go to sleep; or as hard as reciting HIS name throughout the day, while working, etc. Don't give up, do it consistently. Swamiji said that we are all lucky to do what we are doing in terms of this sadhana. It reflects on our past life's karmas too. Swamiji, during his Q and A session answered a question about faith by asking us to test God by putting our problems at his feet and telling him to solve them. Invari...

Summarized by   Sucheta Dighe: After the recap of the last session, Saiji explained that when Krishna uses the pronouns ME and me, the capital ME means the all-pervading Brahman and the lowercase me is the physical form of Krishna. Krishna says that "I" am the one that answers your prayers to the different forms/Devas/Gods you worship and blesses you with what you want, provided you have put enough efforts in your work as well as your prayers. The "I" here is the Brahman. Maniji - We say that Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life. Although it sounds clichéd, Sadhguru says that Hindus respect and worship nature, animals, humans and everything in this universe which is a creation of the Almighty. It is a way of life because we respect life in all forms and we appreciate it. Video - Verse 22 - Self - effort That individual, by that newly and now grown faith in himself that he is pursuing, he becomes fascinated in pouring out more and more sincere energy and vit...

Summarized by Bala: After pranayama and meditation, recap from February 3rd was summarized. What does the Lord love, Gyani for certain, also the one who surrenders to him – Eka Bhakthi Slokas 20, 21 and 22 When one’s wisdom is carried away by a desire, the person may worship other Gods/Devas (not the Brahman).  If the devotee worships with faith to the devas, the Lord will fulfill those desires (limited) One needs to understand that although the desires are fulfilled, it is actually provided by the Brahman alone. Make a slight shift in our focus from a Materialistic world (Manoranjan) onto the real self (Atmaranjan). Theme When a small child is provided the options of a chocolate/candy and currency notes (as an example),  the child may pick the candy for instant pleasure and does not realize the value of the currency.  We should choose wisely.  All the options are provided by the Lord.  It is up to each one of us to pick the correct ones. Faith and Belief is som...

Summarized by  Yamini: Recap: By Narada muni’s  story we understand that Sravanam, Mananam and Nidhidyasanam are all very important. What we can perceive with sense organs are impermanent things and what we cannot perceive are permanent. When it comes to desires, our mind should be like the wood which doesn’t get affected by the magnet and not like iron which absorbs the magnetism of desires. Always keeping the Lord in mind helps to pull away from desires brought through senses. Non-Virtuous (Evildoers) are the ones that do not think about God and are not seeking the ultimate knowledge. The 4 stages of mukti are Salokyam, Samipyam, Sarupyam, Sayujyam. We should hold on to God in this chaotic world like we hold on to the rope while dipping in the roaring waters of Ganga. We cannot attain moksha with just bhakti, gyana is also needed to realize the brahman in us. Like the singer concentrating on tanpura’s ‘Sa’ to bring him back, we have to keep Lord in my mind and bring ourselve...

Summarized by  Sucheta Dighe: Class started with the recap of the previous session -   • Discussions on Para and Apara prakriti Para - formless, undefined, exists in everything  Apara - anything that is definable • Discussion on Brahman What is Brahman? It is undefinable. It is the life in us. Rashmi ji explained her thoughts. • Ashaji mentioned that life is defined by the number of breaths. There is a fixed number of breaths that are assigned to everyone. This week's session started with Jodi ji chanting verses 17, 18 and 19 Explanations of the verses - • Verse 17 - Of them the wise, ever steadfast and devoted to the One, excels, for, I am exceedingly dear to the wise and he is dear to Me. • Verse 18 - Noble indeed are all these; but the wise man, I deem as My very self; for steadfast in mind he is established in Me alone as the Supreme God. • Verse 19 - At the end of many births the wise man comes to Me, realizing that all this is Vasudeva (the innermost Self); such a ...

Summarized by Yamini: Class started with a recap of previous class and then we deep dived into some topics of interest and conflict. The class ended with a reiteration of the importance of karma yoga and sadhana package in our daily life. Recap: Chapter 7 14,15,16,17 Para -> Chetana and apara-> achetana. Nirguna and nirvikara, saguna and savikara. Steve jobs wearing same clothes everyday to eliminate unnecessary chores Discussion about relating para prakruti to screen and apara prakruti to the movie. Eshwara is known and unknown.  Eshwara has no form that we can feel. Just like we can describe an event or experience as much as we want , but until we go through the same experience, we cannot understand the true feeling.  How Krishna describes the problem with humans, how maya hinders them from realizing him. Trying to look for permanent happiness in the impermanent is apara prakruti. Types of people - Asuras are the lowest form, Sukritin are the punyawan that acknowledge ...