Vrindavan Bhagavad Gita Study Group

Summarized by: Yamini Recap of last class :  Recognizing that the self is the same in everybody. Examples about the dog that walks into the mirrored room and then it thinks that there are different dogs and starts barking. We are also similar In the sense that we are not able to recognize or see that the self is the same in everyone.  Another one was about how when your hand pokes your eye, you're OK with that. But if somebody else does that you will be angry, so. Once we need to reach that level where we are able to see everything like as the same. But that's possible only with proper sadhana.  A sadhaka considers an elephant, a deer, a dog and finally a dog eater in the same way. A dog is the most faithful thing, eating it is he worst thing a person can do. Seeing that kind of person same as others needs a higher intellect. Another story is about Nandev who gets the darshan of God when he is young without a guru, so he thinks guru is not needed. But then the circumstanc...

Summarized by: Bala Dhandapani Chapter 5, True Renunciation After pranayama and meditation, recap from March 11th  class was summarized. Karma Yoga – perform your action, accept the results as Prasadha Buddhi Karma Sanyasa Yoga – even the action becomes a Prasadha Buddhi.  One always need to be in a Meditative state not only while performing meditation.  Class watched the following video’s of Gurudev Sloka 16 Summary:  On a cloudy day one may think that there is no Sun and it is dark.  How do we see the cloud, not with a torch light or by lighting a matchstick, we see the cloud through the light from the Sun.  Similarly, ignorance is also manifested through the consciousness.  Sun (consciousness) is still revealed – not as a direct experience.  Through nidityasanam one can remove the cloud of ignorance, ie when the clouds/thoughts are quietened. Gurudev’s quote:  Names and forms are nothing but a ripple upon the Infinite Self Sloka 17 When on...

Summarized by: A K Srinivasan The class started with opening prayers, pranayama and meditation followed by a summary and recap of last week’s class.  Recap and discussion from last class: A Karma yogi is ready to give up enjoyer-ship or the ‘my’-ness, while Karma sanyasi is ready to give up doer-ship    or ‘I’ ness.  One must perform actions but treat the result with ‘prasadabuddhi’ and eventually progress to treating the entire action as prasadam.  The crush of pilgrims to Tirupati temple example was discussed. At the end of the darshan, devotees often tend to quickly transform from a state of devotion to the Lord to being aggressively choosy about the prasadam they receive when they are presented with choices. Instead, the right attitude would be to treat the entire experience as prasadam.   We should strive to give our 100% knowing it is not you who is doing the action. When you have realization of ‘oneness’, all transactions will be from Brahman to...

Summarized by: Neelima Turga The class started with opening prayers, pranayama and meditation. We did a brief recap of last week's class and continued with today's class. Karma sanyasa yoga is where we are internally detached, Externally we are living in this material world and interacting with it all the time. In Karma yoga a person is wilfully trying to detach mentally and rise above raaga and dvesha. But once gyana is attained, the process of detachment is automatic.The higher purpose is found and nothing else ties one down. Karma yoga is the path that purifies one's mind and helps you to continue on the path of gyana.  We watched a couple of Gurudev's videos.  A realized person knows that actions are coming from me, but "I " am not doing them.  Just like a person in a moving car or an airplane reaches the destination along with the car or airplane, without actually doing anything, He moved only because the car moved. Or like a person watching a dan...

Bhagavad Gita chapter 5 Study group - 02/25/2025 - Summarized by Anuradha Bhaskar Recap:- Arjuna’s confusion on whether it is karma yoga and karma sannyasa yoga. Bhagwan recommends Karma yoga. Doing the duties with the right attitude is more important. The grihastha is allocated many duties and is expected to perform the Karma yoga- no attachment to results. Gyana yoga- no attachments to doer ship. For both the underlying thing is Bhakti. Pratima ji’s explanation:- chapter 1:- Arjuna is lamenting and he is worried that hinting of knowledge of sankhya. With the Evenness of mind two important things emerges is knowledge and wisdom. How does a wise man behave and what are the characteristics. With the controlled mind and controlling the senses- when man attains wisdom he has control of senses. Action-wisdom- controlling the mind – controlling the senses (with the support of knowledge) In chapter 3 -We have action and knowledge. Knowledge beyond In chapter 4:- action is source for Gyana an...