Vrindavan Bhagavad Gita Study Group

Summarized by Prathima Srinath based on her understanding Karma, Vi-karma and Akarma Verse 17 states - karma, vikarma and akarma are all actions, and that the way of action is mysterious and there is more to understand about them. Below is my interpretation of verse 17 and Verse 18 based on the commentaries, of Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Sarvapriyananda, Sridhar Swami, and Sri Ramanuja Gita Bhasyam. Literally Karma, Vi-Karma and Akarma means: Karma: performing actions as prescribed by Vedic scriptures -Nitya and Naimittika Vi-karma: performing improper action, forbidden action Akarma: inaction, non-performance of action It is important to understand the real nature of action to know what they mean in the spiritual sense. What is the real nature of Action – Karma and Vi-karma? Sense organs, constantly in contact with external stimuli, keep sending impression to mind. The mind gathers new impressions and gets colored by the Vasana hoarded within and are translated into action through our...

Summarized by Yamini Recap: Discussion about how Chatur varnam  has been misconstrued to be caste system 4 Ashramas- brahmacharya, gruhasta, vanaprastha, sanyasa It is a good idea to get prepared for the next ashrama when you are in the present ashrama. Life cannot be strictly broken down into these ashramas, but each needs to gradually flow into the other. 4 Varnas: Division by occupation Brahmana : gaining and spreading knowledge Kshatriya : Fighting and taking risks Vysya: Business Shudra: Labor kind of work.(even in IT company people can be divided into varnas based on how they work) Bhagavan says have faith in me. I created the varnashramas for humans to perform in the right direction. I follow my duties but without being bound by actions, I am still a non-doer. Realization of moksha is based on doing the right action with the right attitude. Irrespective of the classification, you should do your duty and not get attached to these classifications. Explaining how Bhagavan is wa...

Summarized by Rajesh Summary of last class Faith (unshakeable faith in God) versus Belief Saw Gurudev’s videos and Prarabhda (free will) - we are given whatever equipment that we get but how we operate is our free will  Reviewed Verses 13, 14 & 15 Krishna is making reference to the 4 variants - it is like a division of labor based on capabilities and quality of thinking, but not birth.  The misconception has resulted in the caste system and resulted in lots of problems A person can go through the different varnas even throughout your life or even during a day Krishna also says he is not bound to any of the varnas There is nowhere that it’s been told that a brahmana’s kid has to be a brahmana.  The caste system could have wrongly taken up because kids generally would follow similar professions as their parents. We discussed about an example of a brahmana family who has 4 kids and 1 becomes a priest, 1 goes into the military, 1 becomes a businessman, etc.  This is ...