Class summary for Mar 24, 2026 - BG Chapter 7 Conclusion and Q&A with Br. Akalka-ji

Summarized by Rajesh:

What is Gnyana and Vignayana?

Gnyana - how we perceive/see things?  I see a pot

Vignyana - what is the essence of the thing that i see?  I see clay



Apara Prakriti & Para Prakriti

  • lower nature = gross manifestation, material, Maya
  • upper nature = consciousness
  • when we only see the gross manifestation (lower nature) and not the upper nature, that is why we suffer


Effect is limited but Cause is limitless.

Cause cannot be limited by Effect - the pot does not limit the clay and the various forms it can take.


Pearls on a string example - the thread can exist without the pearls but the pearls depend on the thread for support.


Sun and earth.  Between Sun and Earth, it is dark.  The only time we see the sunlight is when it is reflected off something - like objects on earth or the moon.

In the same way, thoughts are illumined by Consciousness.


I am the strength in the strong.  We can find strength without kama & raaga.


Gunas - obscures the Self but the Gunas cannot exist without the Self.  Maya = Satvas, Rajas & Tamas.


Four types of devotees - those who approach God in different ways, depending on the Gunas.


Those who do these evil things, they have been carried away by Maya.  Our anger & hatred toward them traps us in the Maya as well.



Questions

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Difference between knowing God and realizing God?  Theoretical knowledge versus practical knowledge?

Knowing that a mango has fragrance, it is yellow, the shape of it.  But knowing the facts is different from experiencing by actually tasting the mango.


How do we see God, even in adharmic people?

Dhristi - our sight

Vyavahara - our interaction

Example of how we interact with petting zoo animals versus how we interact with tigers.

Example of Arjuna who saw Duryodhana and was ready to fight.  Then he sees his teachers (Dronacharya & others) and feels sorrow, and doesn’t want to fight.  Krishna tells Arjuna that neither perspective is correct.

Higher vision of dharma - what is the right action to take.

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Summarized by Anuradha Bhaskara:

What is Gyana and what is Vigyana?
The discussion on the Question: - What is Para and Apara Prakriti explain.
Few Points which we were covered on this topic are as below.
Gyana- it is how the knowledge is present.
Vigyana- helps us to understand the Gyana.
What is Lower Nature- Gross manifestation is nothing but lower nature.
Apara Prakriti represents the material nature i.e nothing but the 5 basic elements ( earth, water, fire,
air,space) plus the Gross mind Plus the Intellect plus Ego.
Budhi is the intellect.
Manah is the Mind
Ahakara is the Ego.
This Apra Prakriti is nothing but the Maya
Para Prakriti is the Purusha which is the Higher Prakriti.
The effect is limited and the cause is unlimited. Bhagwan is the Cause.
We went over the example of Clay and the Clay pot. Clay exists as its own and also exists in the Clay pot.
Once the clay pot is dismantled or crushed it takes back the original form of the clay.
Akalka ji joined our session and few points covered by her over the Chapter 7 are as below
The kshetras are connected only thru Bhagwan just like how a pearl beads are connected thru the string
which is invisible but is the driving force or connector of the beautiful necklace.
Any object in the universe is Jada without the Consciousness.
Sun’s nature is to give the light and energy. Its light is not realized until an object is there to reflect it.
So also the Prabha of the moon is due to Bhagawan’s presence.
Bhagawan exists in all the lower as well as the higher natures of the prakriti.
balam balavatam chaham kama-raga-vivarjitam dharmaviruddho bhuteshu kamo 'smi
bharatarshabha. He is the Strength in the Strongest. This is one of the beautiful pharses by Bhagawan.
The Gunas obscure the vision of the Bhagwan.We all know it in general but we don’t know it in
Particular which was a very beautiful statement given by Akalka ji and this is the same with Bhagwan
and the Gyana.
Maya is covered by the three Gunas( Satwa, Rajas and Tamas) and due to these gunas are four types of
devotees who approach Bhagwan in different ways.
Then Akalka ji went on to talk about How to get out of Maya.
The whole value lies in understanding the supreme knowledge.

A question was asked on how do we know god?
The best example or the explanation which was shared was
How can one know the Mango? Where the seed of the mango comes from and where it is grown and
what kind of variety it is? These are all theoretical knowledge but only when one tastes the mango then
they get the actual knowledge of the touch, feel and above all the taste of the mango. In case of
Bhagawan also is the same only thru experiencing one can know the Bhagawan.
In the same way due to reflection of light on any object we know that object exists it is the same with
the supreme lord with in us.
The intellectual understanding is different from realization . The intellectual knowledge is easier than
the realization.
The vision should always be me and always see the higher vision of the Dharma.
The purity of the saint is better than the innocence of the child as the innocence can be removed but
purity always remains.

It was as always a wonderful Q&A and review with Brn.Akalka ji.

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Summarized by Bala Dhandapani:

Gnanam and Vigjnanam

Jnanam; When you see a pot, knowledge is the one that shows us that thing is a pot

Vigjnanam: is to know that the pot is nothing but a clay

 

Apara Prakruti:  Bagawan’s lower nature,  gross manifestation

Para Prakruti:  Bagawan’s higher nature,  consciousness

Apara Prakruti causes suffering

A strong person is visible,  Strength is invisible – when ego is absent, one will find strength

Difference between Knowing and Realizing God

Example: Mango – color, shape etc of a mango are factual.  This is knowing the attributes of a mango.  To understand what a mango really is – one needs to taste it- that is realization.

Answer to a question- How to see God in everyone

Interaction will be different, example given was that our interaction with the animals in a petting zoo will be different with that of animals in a cage.  


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