Everyday Geeta

December 1, 2013 In my last post, I discussed Śrī Kṛṣṇa's masterful marketing technique as seen in the Bhagavad Geeta. Now we will continue to see how He expertly seeks to keep us on "the path of virtue, courage and wisdom" . Śrī Kṛṣṇa is never shy as He waxes lyrical about the nature of the knowledge He is set to reveal in chapter 9. In 9-2, he describes the knowledge as a “ Royal secret, the King of all Knowledge, supremely purifying” ( राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम् - raajavidyaa raajaguhyaM pavitramidamuttamam.h) . He says it can be “ known by direct intuition ” (प्रत्यक्षावगमं - pratyakShaavagamaM) and “ easy to practice ” (सुसुखं - susukhaM).। There is reason to believe Śrī Kṛṣṇa because in 18-73, Arjuna declares unequivocally “ my delusion is destroyed ” (नष्टो मोहः - nashhTo mohaH). The delusion that inspired Arjuna to accept Śrī Kṛṣṇa as his teacher is gone and in keeping with Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s assurance, having gained this knowledge, Arjuna knows there is not...

November 29, 2013 There is an aphorism in Samskritam that says प्रयोजनमनुद्दिश्य न मन्दोऽपि प्रवर्तते (prayojanam-anuddishya na mando.api pravartate), "even a fool does not act without asking 'what do I gain from it'?" Dr Stephen Covey ’s seminal book on leadership, “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” is a wildly successful management best-seller. It is also one of my all-time favorite books on leadership because at its core, Dr Covey echoes the " You Change " message of the Bhagavad Geeta. According to Dr Stephen Covey, the 2nd habit that is crucial to success in Management guru is “Begin with the end in mind”. He expands further: Habit 2 is based on imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follow...

November 23, 2013 Recently, I discussed the redemption of the Vaishnava saint, Thirumangai Alwar as an illustration of Geeta 18-66. I was not satisfied that I had the right verse. I think I have now found the more appropriate verse: अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् | साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ||९-३०|| api chetsuduraachaaro bhajate maamananyabhaak.h . saadhureva sa mantavyaH samyagvyavasito hi saH .. 9-30.. Even if the most sinful worships Me, with devotion to none else, (or with single-pointedness) , he too should indeed be regarded as 'righteous, ' for he has rightly resolved. Param Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji in his commentary on the Holy Geeta elaborates on the first half of this verse thus: Not only does the Geeta throw its gates open to the sinners, but the Singer of the Divine Song also seems to have great missionary zeal to redeem all sinners, and bless them. Even those who are given to evil ways are not debarred from entering the field o...

November 17, 2013 Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi was a realized man who ceaselessly highlighted the importance of अात्म विचार (atma vichara) or Self-Enquiry. Thanks to Him, the phrase "Who Am I?" or "Naan Yaar?" (in Tamil) became quite fashionable in intellectual circles in the South. His core teachings can be seen in the publication "Who Am I?" . I came across a very nice discussion on solitude on Sri Ramana's facebook page. It goes to the core of some questions about solitude. SOLITUDE MEANS ONLY CONTINUOUS PRACTICE D: When I spent an hour or two on the hill yonder, I sometimes found even better peace than here, which suggests that a solitary place is after all more conducive to mind-control. B: True, but if you had stayed there for an hour longer, you would have found that place too not giving you the calm of which you speak. Control the mind and even Hell will be Heaven to you. All other talk of solitude, living in a forest etc., is mere prattle. ...

November 13, 2013 What a wonderful answer by Param Pujya Swami Tejomayanandaji to a very pertinent question? I saw this on facebook and I just had to share it.  https://www.facebook.com/SwamiTejomayananda/posts/10151976441280865:0   Question: How to achieve your dreams without the fear of somebody trying to stop you? Pujya Guruji: Really speaking, nobody can stop you. If you see a problem, you have stopped seeing the goal. If your mind remains glued to a goal, then come what may, who can pull you down? Actually, if someone is there to pull you down, there will be ten people there to lift you also. Why only see one side? See, what we lack is our own conviction, our own determination. We also expect the whole world to come and help us. It is not necessary.  I remember I read an incident in Gautama Buddha's life. He taught his disciple and then he wanted to check if the disciple was ready to teach Dharma to others. The dialogue went like this:  Buddha: When you go out ...

November 3, 2013 In verse 18-66, Śrī Kṛṣṇa guarantees that He will redeem (or liberate) anyone who surrenders unto the Lord considering Him to be the ONLY refuge. Yesterday, Shri Raghavan, my neighbor told me the beautiful story of Thirumangai Alwar, a Vaishnava saint from Tamil Nadu who is the case study for this guarantee. सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज | अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ||१८-६६|| sarvadharmaanparityajya maamekaM sharaNaM vraja . ahaM tvaaM sarvapaapebhyo mokShyayishhyaami maa shuchaH .. 18-66.. Abandoning all dharma, of the body, mind, and intellect, take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate thee from all sins; grieve not. This verse is among the most important ones in the Bhagavad Geeta. The story of Thirumangai Alwar provides a very interesting insight into this verse. Here it as shown in the Wikipedia entry for Thirumangai Alwar. According to the traditional account, he married Kumudavalli, a Vaishnava doctor's adopted daughter at a place T...

November 3, 2013 Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post