Vrindavan Bhagavad Gita Study Group

  Summarized by Jayanth Venkata:  The class started with opening prayers, pranayama, and meditation, followed by a recap of the previous 2 classes before moving into the Chapter 8 Verses 23-26 for today. We started by chanting the verses 23-26 and saw the translation, which referenced that those who passed during Uttarayanam  achieved Shukla Gati (Light path) to Heaven. We took the Bheeshma example where he held on to his life until this was possible, and transcend the cycle of life and death. Shukla Gati and Krishna Gati (Dark Path) are just different pathways to heaven. Please note that there is a lot of symbolisms in these 4 Verses, and doesn’t literally mean that you have to pass on during certain seasons/ months. We had a conversation on how the scale of time across the different Lokhas are very different. Hinduism is the only religion that was more able to accurately predict the age of the Universe. Pathway beyond life: Depending on our actions in this life, meri...

  Summarized by   Neelima Turaga:  The class started with opening prayers, pranayam, and meditation, followed by a brief recap of the previous class before moving into this week's shlokas.   As part of the recap, class began with a discussion about the age of the universe — specifically the concept of Brahma's day and night, where a single day of Brahma (a Kalpa) spans 4.32 billion years, and a complete cycle of 2,000 Kalpas (a Mahakalpa) marks even Brahma becoming unmanifest before creation begins again. Carl Sagan mentioned in his TV series  Cosmos , that Hinduism is the only religion or philosophical tradition whose timescales even approach modern scientific estimates of the age of the universe. This shows that the Rishis of ancient India could look far beyond at that time.  However, getting caught up in such concepts distracts from the true purpose of these teachings: understanding the cycle of birth and death ( samsara ) and finding a way to transcend ...

Summarized by   Anu Bhaskara We started the class with opening prayers and mediation . We recapped  what we covered in the   previous  class. To the  Brahman  loka - is  a  one way ticket-  it is called as  krama mukti . When thoughts come it is the  creation.  when  we keep the thoughts it is Vishnu and when we let it go  delusion . in the same way is creation  preservence  and delusion Vasana is  brahman  +  antrayami   i.e  gross  va sana . Our will functions according to our vasanas. Antaryami  makes us do the free will.  it  is all dependent on  how powerful is our  Prarabhada  is as well . We moved to the next set of  shlokas . Verses 17,18,19 Yakta  state :-   Vasanas creates  the thought  as soon as the day  starts.it is the  waker  state. As soon as we wake up we are mostly in  a  blank stat...

Summarized by   Anu Bhaskara We started the class with prayers and mediation... We recapped the last class. Whole world is like dream. We need to be the witness of the dream. We watched Gurudev’s videos. Those whose thoughts have become Anaya chetaha. When we want to sleep and rest we give up everything for that want of sleep. Practice itanything is achievable. Since we don’t want brahman hence we don’t practice it. Such an individual who is constantly practicing to him krishna says he is easily available for him. When we have anxiety we cannot sleep, we can glide into sleep only when we are not anxious. Don’t be afraid of failure.  Dreamer is the only walker. He only is the true divine. Knowing that he is true divine wakeup and continue playing this game of life. Video 204:- Arjuna is an intellectual sceptic. The intellectual attitude of the sceptic will be as below is what Swamiji explains. People will say they will give benefit of doubt and say maybe , is it worthwhile, Aft...

Summarized by   Anu Bhaskara We started our class with Prayers and Meditation. A Quick recap of the previous class was done. Below is few points. Reciting OM constantly is called Abhyasa Yoga. Shankaracharya gave the mention about this. Focus can be abstract and brahman can be everywhere. Saying No in the path of attaining brahman is something which we must practice. It is always about choosing the two right choices. The more sadhana the easier it helps us in making choices. While making choices, it must be a pleasure and not pain or stress. It will take time and effort that the choices we make it will help us grow spiritually and take us closer to Brahman. An example was shared by one of our group members on how things fall in place when your desire is right and how intense you have. How the universe and cosmos help to make it happen. If you really want something, then it will definitely happen. We moved on with Chapter 8. Verses 11, 12, 13. We went over the subjective Analysis- P...

Summarized by   Sucheta Dighe Recap of the last session Verse 9 – Anusmaredya - Continuous contemplation on Him. Such an entity is attained by the practice of yoga. Ex. If you are talking about an apple, explaining what are the physical features etc., in the end you say it is that which you can pluck from a tree in Simla. Giving pointers to the Brahman by saying that one needs to focus only on that at the time of death. Explanatory of verses 11, 12, 13 repeated The goal is twofold. One is to help you attain that which is unfathomable. On the other hand, it is telling you what to do to attain moksha. Discussion on Brahmacharya - brahmarcharya is control over the senses and desires. “The reason that the American Navy does so well in wartime is that war is chaos and the Americans practice chaos on a daily basis.” — Karl Dönitz Ch. 8 – Verses 11, 12, 13 Theme: • Pre-requirements for meditation      o Freedom from emotions or desire-based activities      o ...