Class Summary for May 30, 2023 - Gita Dhyana Slokas

 Summarized by: Sudha Radhakrishnan 

  • Opening Prayers & Meditation

  • Quick recap of BMI Chart: 

Discussed how an experiencer (Body, Mind & Intellect) experiences objects, emotions and thoughts through the actions of a Perceiver, Feeler and Thinker respectively.  We also discussed how to go upwards and reach our supreme consciousness going past our innate tendencies called Vasanas.

  • Quick recap of Gunas:

Discussed the 3 types of Gunas - Satvik, Rajasik & Tamasik.

Discussed about being competitive and what Guna it falls under!

  • Learning Objectives of Bhagavad Gita:

Helps to control our mind and emotions through intellect.

Helps us stay content under all circumstances.

Helps us achieve excellence, by letting go of attachments to the results of our actions.

Helps us achieve oneness with the Supreme God

Helps us achieve objectivity,  like an actor on the stage who is free of any bias. 

  • Gita promises:

Boundless Energy

Exhilaration

Happiness

Fullness

  • Gita Dhyana Shloka:

This was compared to a preface of the book, and helps with the overall alignment of our body, mind and intellect to be able to receive the teachings of Gita. 

Composed by Saint Shri Madhusudhana Saraswathi.

Comprises 9 verses.

  • Verses 1 through 5 were chanted and meanings discussed briefly.

  • Verse 1 praises the Divine mother, and showers us with the knowledge of Advaitha philosophy.  Lord Narayana Himself teaches Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna in the middle of Mahabharatha war, and the teachings were captured by Saint Vyasa.

  • Verse 2 offers salutations to Saint Vyasa, through whose intellect we are able to get the knowledge of Gita.   

  • Verse 3 offers salutations to Lord Krishna, who is the holder of supreme knowledge and delivers the essence of Gita to us. 

  • Verse 4 draws the analogy as follows: Upanishads as the cow, Gita as the milk, Lord Krishna as the Milkman, Arjuna as the calf, and all the devotees who consume the nectar of Gita.

  • Verse 5 addresses Shri Krishna as the son of Vasudeva, the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanoora, the joy of mother Devaki, and to be the greatest teacher of the world!


  • Closing Prayers.



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