Class summary for April 21, 2026 - BG Chapter 8 Slokas 1-6 -Exercise

Summarized by Bala Dhandapani :

Class exercise
The following four questions were posed to the class on April 14 to discuss on April 21.
1)      Name 3 people in your life who fits the Giver category
2)      What does GOD mean to you
3)      What does Bhagavad Gita mean to you
4)      What does GURU mean to you.
The class started off with opening prayers, pranayama and meditation.
Many gave examples of a Giver from their family, friends, well wishers, Gurus they learnt from, Gurus they learnt about etc.  From the examples, some of the traits of a Giver are supportive, generous, calm, peaceful, negative comments not bother them, responsible, thinking of others, helpful, makes time for others, cheerful inspite of facing health issues.
What does Bhagavad Gita mean to you
Summary from the discussion:  Instruction manual how to lead our life, beginning of a spiritual journey, helps us to differentiate and clarify as to what is temporary vs. permanent, guide us to know the purpose of our life.  Eye opener, shows the path to life. 
What does GURU mean to you
Summary from the discussion:  Mentor, removes ignorance, if you are good student we can learn from anyone (example: we learn more from our kids), need a Guru to help with self realization.  Gives pointers.  Guru – simplifies complex things. 
What does GOD mean to you.
Summary from the discussion: Brahman/God is the experiencer, goal is to be one with God.  Not Maya.     
General discussion
As we age, our will weakens.  When we are young, we may not want to say many things and we suppress. As we age, suppression reduces and words comes out without suppression. Vasanas comes out during meditation – needs practice.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Summary of Karma, ViKarma and AKarma

Image
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...
Read more

Class Summary for Jun 17, 2025 - Chapter-6 Slokas 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Summarized by:   A K Srinivasan Class started with   opening prayers,   followed by a recap of last week’s class. The theme of preparing for meditation continues in these slokas.   Slokas 14-15 exhort the practitioner to have a disciplined mind, by controlling the sense organs. The concept of celibacy, loosely translated in English,   actually refers   to   controlling all   the sense organs, a state of brahmacharya, to still the agitated mind. Our senses are compared to a pot with 5 holes, the equivalent of our 5 senses, that constantly leak attention.  The ideal state to be in, in preparation for meditation, is to have a calm, fearless and serene mind, that is focused and in control.  One of the methods suggested to quieten an agitated mind is to do ‘ japa ’ by taking the name of your favorite deity, so that distractions are vanquished. This will also help in the intellect getting ‘fixed on Me’, the Brahman.   We can progressively...
Read more

Class Summary for Sep 12, 2023 - Chapter-1 Slokas 24 - 31

  Summarized by: Neelima Turga The class started with Opening prayers, followed by pranayam and a short meditation. The approach of the Bhagavad Gita is to first define the problem and then give the solution. The first chapter defines the problem, In the second chapter, Bhagawan gives the solution. The solution is further explained in detail in chapters 3 to 17 and finally chapter 18 is again a summary of all the teachings from the Lord himself. As we continue our journey with the Gita, we will be able to understand and appreciate this better.  We chanted shlokas 24-26 and saw the translation. Sanjaya continues to say that after Arjuna is addressed as Gudakesa, Lord Krishna takes the chariot to the middle of the battleground and places it right in between both the armies. There Arjuna could see all his fathers, grandfathers, uncles, teachers and all other relatives. Here, Arjuna is addressed as Gudakesha, which also means the one who conquered sleep. Sanjaya also talks about A...
Read more