The Essence of GitaBhaskarananda Das

What is Gita? How should we approach Gita? The five main topics of Gita

Atma/SoulPrakriti/ Material EnergyKarma/Action-reactionKrishna/The Supreme GodKala/The Time

What is relationship between us and Krishna?

How to reach Krishna? Two practical ideas to take home

today

Agenda

Guide to humanity Solves the four main problems

of life i.e. birth, death, old age and disease; end of miseries

Essence of all Vedic scriptures Knowledge of soul Knowledge of Supreme Lord

Sri Krishna Re-establishes our relationship

with Krishna Teaches how to get eternal

and permanent blissful life back

What is Gita?

Follow the instructions ‘as it is’ just like patient following doctor’s complete instructions without speculation

Should at least theoretically accept Krishna as God

Krishna told Gita to Arjuna because he is devotee as well as friend(4.3)

Should be heard from a pure devotee from and is in parampara(4.1, 4.2)

Hearing from a non devotee is like milk touched by a serpent; can spoil one’s spiritual progress

How should we approach Gita?

Analogy-- Vehicle(body) and driver(soul)

We are not the body, mind, intelligence and ego(compare with dead body)

Material energy and spiritual energyMaterial energy- eternal but changingSpiritual energy- eternal and constant

Soul is conscious living entity: unborn, eternal, unbreakable, constant, indestructible, immutable, ever-existing (past, present and future)(2.20,2.23,2.24)

Soul changes bodies like we change clothes(2.22)

Atma/Soul

Affects us in three modesGoodness(Sattva)Passion(Rajas)Ignorance(Tamas)

We associate with three modes by its influence.(14.5)

Sattva—illuminating, pure, free from sinful reactions, peaceful, knowledge, birth in higher planets, without false ego, steady, determined, unwavering in success or failure etc.

Prakriti/Material Energy

Rajas-fruitive actions, great attachment, uncontrollable desire, intense endeavor, hankering, misery, greedy, envious, moved by sorrow or joy etc

Tamas –ignorance, darkness, foolishness, inertia, madness, illusion, birth in animal kingdom, expert in insulting others, lazy, morose, working against scriptures, cheating, obstinate etc

Difficult to overcome influence of material energy (7.14)

Prakriti/Material Energy

When soul is affected by material energy

Karma –action and reaction in three modes

Good and bad actions have reactions; good karma causes to enjoy in heavenly planets and come back again to earth.

There is no accident or chance Determines the next life or

body; could be any one of 8.4 million species

Karma/Action

Every page of Gita tells Bhagavan—Strength, fame,

beauty, knowledge, renunciation and power—has unlimitedly

Accepted by Narada, Vyasa, Bhishma, Prahlada, Dhruva, Asita, Devala, Shankaracharya, Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, Vishnu swami, Nimbarka etc

Completely independent; Is never under material influence(7.12)

Krishna, The Supreme god

Is creator of everything, material and spiritual(10.8)

Nothing above him(7.7)He always exists. Not that he

takes human form now and then disappears.(7.24)

Neutral He is paramatma(15.15)Supreme enjoyer(5.29)

Krishna ,The Supreme god

We are eternal parts of Krishna(15.7);Equal in quality but not in quantity

We have unique personal relationship with Krishna

He is supreme father to every one(14.4)

He is our best friend, ever well wisher(5.29)

He rewards us according to our level of surrender and mood(4.11)

Relationship between us and Krishna

Hear about Krishna, his name, his form, activities, powers, energies (4.9)

Think of Me, become My devotee, worship me; surrender un to me(18.65,18.66)

Devotional service to Krishna is sanatana dharma of the soul

Yukta vairagya(use everything in Krishna’s service)

How to achieve Krishna?

Think of Krishna and at the same time perform your duties(8.7);not necessary to give up duties Eg mother thinks of her baby

while cooking Associate with his

devotees(10.9) Follow the footsteps of

acharyas Never take birth

again(15.6)

How to achieve Krishna?

Chant Hare Krishna Maha mantraHare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Chant always-kirtaniya sada harihDriving, cooking, shopping etcRecommended process for KaliyugaAny one can perform this

Eat only the food offered to Krishna(3.13)Patram pushpam phalam toyamOffer with devotion

Two practical ideas to take home

Gita Mahatmya# 7(Padma Purana) As told by Lord Shiva to Parvati Devi ekam sastram devaki-putra-gitam eko devo devaki-putra eva eko mantras tasya namani yani karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

one book- Gita one God– Krishna

one mantra-Hare Krishna one work- Krishna’s service

Summary