Vrindavan Bhagavad Gita Study Group

Summarized by:  A K Srinivasan Gyanakarmasanyasayoga Essence – The one who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is the wisest person; a perfect performer of all actions Fundamentals of Vedanta Identification theory – Like person watching a movie and starts to identify with the characters of the movie; the person starts the movie as a master and exits it as a slave of the character. This is a mistake. Vedanta says this is the same we do in real life as well. Consciousness aka Brahman or Purusha – it is the I or Ahum in us, the awareness in us. It is sat-chit-anand. It is the only reality. It is bliss absolute. Perfection incarnate. This is the great truth. Matter aka Maya or Prakurti – anything made of the 5 elements –Panchamahaboota – the whole world and BMI. Why am I not experiencing bliss now? Because your identification is with the imperfect BMI. So my experience will be the imperfection of BMI with which I identify.  Problem is with identification. So dis-id...

 Summarized by Sudha Radhakrishnan Opening Prayers, Breathing Exercise & Meditation Detailed recap of previous class, Ch - 4, Verses 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 We started the class discussion by reiterating Shri Ramana Maharishi’s quote, ‘When the doer is dead, the results of the action will not affect you’.   Who is the doer? The doer is someone who is always anxious about the results of his actions. How do we remove the anxiety? By thanking God for giving us the opportunity to do so in every step and performing all actions without any attachments.  In this process we remove ‘i’ in all our experiences, thereby increasing ‘I’ and promoting self growth. Discussion of Karmas: Prarabdha Karma: A bundle of karmas that we are born with and needs to be exhausted. Aagami Karma: A set of karmas that we accrue during our present lifetime.   Sanchita Karma: Mountain of karmas from our past lives.   Discussion of Jodiji’s question: How can knowledge bu...

Thanks to Anuji for the notes We started with our invocation prayers, followed by Pranayama and meditation. Then we recapped what we did last couple classes and went over the 12 types of yagnas (in short). Review of the Shlokas 37,38,39. Shloka 37:- Agni burns all the things put in the havan kund in the same way all the vasanas get burned with Gyana Agni. Sholka 38:- how yoga is a common term in Sanskrit. It is talking about purity of mind by prolonged performing of the karma yoga example formula pickle jar. We need to cleanse by karma yoga and purify with bhakti yoga. One who has attained this and will quickly attain the bhagawan. Sholka 39:- What kind of trust or faith should one who is learning must have towards the guru. The student who is learning gynana from the guru must always have nature of faith and any questions or enquiring he/she puts to the guru must be out of intention to learn and eagerness and not to examine the knowledge of the guru. Any question/enquire must b...

Summarized by  Yamini : We continued the discussion on different types of Yagnas. What is Yagna? For a novice Yagna might remind them of Havan Kund and the different sacrifices offered into it. As you dwell more into the spiritual teaching, you start to understand that Yagna is any sacrifice given for a higher goal. Even daily mundane actions can be turned into Yagna. Eg: Aahara Yagna, Praana/ Apana Yagna. In Praana/ Apana Yagna, you are sacrificing exhalation during inhalation and vice versa. Geeta Yagna is an example of Gnana Yagna  where we are offering sloka chanting to God. Gnana yagna is the highest form of all Yagnas. The concept of Geeta gnana yagna comes from sloka 33. Before that gruhastas were not allowed to learn about Geeta. But Gurudev changed that brought Geeta pravachanam into main stream so it is accessible to everyone. Karma yoga is also a Yagna, where you are sacrificing results of all actions to Brahman. Vedas mention more Yagnas than the 12 that were ...

Thanks to Anuji We started with our invocation prayers, followed by Pranayama and meditation. Then we recapped what we did last couple classes. We summarized about the 12 types of Yagnas and continued on. The reason we want to perform all the actions as yagna since we want to have a thankful way. Then we learn to be not attached to the results and also get to prasada budhi. Sadhana is nothing but some sort of inculcate these yagna. The prana is always misunderstood as breathing. Pranayama means breath controlling. Savasa- breathe inwards. Uchvasa- exhale. Main pranas- Pana (taking in) Apana (Letting out), Vyana (surrounding), Samana (digestion), udhana (ability to think higher). Prana when leaves- all the physiological activities are stopped. A Grihasta is required to perform 5 yagnas which help us to do the obligations or Runas to them. They are Daiya Yagna/Brahma yagna- Worshiping for deities. Swaadhaya Yagna- Self-study of scriptures. Pitru Yagna- anything done for ancestors. Bhoota...

  Class Summary of Bhagavad Gita - 11/26/2024 by Sudhaji Opening Prayers, Breathing Exercise & Meditation Detailed recap of previous class,  identifying the fire and materials being added for each Yagna. Yagna represents a ritualistic activity where there is a fire and materials being added to fire. In this context, yagna represents, "a self-dedicated activity performed in a spirit of service to the mankind".  In Chapter 4, verses 25-30, Lord Krishna describes 12 types of Yagnas, to help us realize Him in our daily activities.   Yagna Type Fire Materials being offered  (Ahuti) Daiva Istha Devatha Grains, Ghee, Mantras Brahma Supreme Truth - Brahman Ego/Self Indriya Sense organs (ears, eyes, mouth, nose,hands/legs) to the fire of control Sense objects (sound, forms, taste, smell, touch)  Samyama Fire of control - Meditation Feeding right things into sense organs with discipline along with action Dravya One who needs it Giving money, attention, time ...

Recap of the last class (thanks to Anuji).:- Attachment to results of the action and performing the actions without attachments. Basically not having sense of doer ship. Things around us determine the actions we are doing rather than the actions are for a greater cause. Verses 19-24 We tried to analyze the picture on the slide -Magnet attracts and aligns the paper clips in the order. Same way the yagnas will help us to get in order. Brahman is the infinite is limited in expression by each of our equipment. We continued with going over the Verses 25-30. 25- Some yogis worship the celestial gods with material offerings unto the. Others worship perfectly who offer the self as sacrifice in the fire of the supreme truth. 26-Others offer hearing and other senses in the sacrificial fire of the restraint. Still others offer sound and other objects of the senses as sacrifice in the fire of the senses. 27- Some, inspired by knowledge, offer the functions of all their senses and their life energy...