For Seekers by Seekers

All our activities/ work happen at three levels - body, speech, mind. Listen to the specific practices that Gita suggests us to do for each of these!

In this episode, we discuss 'cut, wash and clean' - the 'mantra' given by a Guru to an aspiring seeker and what it means. Why is it to be followed in a 'guru ashrama' and why can't we follow this in our daily life and still call it Karma Yoga? We discuss the words, kripana and hetu and explore the context of these words. We dive deeper into practical significance of Karma Yoga: donating, more bene...

Chapter 17 slokas 7-10 divides people into three categories (mindset) - Sattvic, Rajasic, Tamasic and vividly describes what type of food each mindset prefers.

2.48.249. 2.50 Samatvam yoga uchyate - equanimous So, what is work? What is obligatory work? Does karma refer to any desire driven action? Is it only obligatory work that is referred as ‘work’ /karma or desire driven action or both? Is the ‘I feel guilty if I did not do something’ a good test for what our obligatory duty is? How do you deal with supporting an old parent and also child? We feel con...

Gita GD 47 Karmanyevadhikarasthe moved from faith to logic /science. Not having expectations -> so much more /profound; efforts are in our control, not results. Flow is part of KY Being in the present. Being in the present, not worrying about past or the future - is KY. Should we ignore our past experiences if we have to live in the present? What if someone brings up what we did in the past if the...

With the launch of our book, Wellbeing through food & discipline | The Chaturmasa Diaries, we organized a Q&A session. Please listen in to the authors sharing their experience of what Chaturmasa is, and the benefits. If you want to buy the book:  https://www.amazon.com/Wellbeing-Through-Food-Discipline-Chaturmasa/dp/1639403515

Understanding the concept of gunas - tapestry of this universe. Understanding gunateeta concept - beyond the three gunas - is there something? What is it? How to progress from tamasic to rajasic to sattvic and then beyond? Importance of food to develop sattvic mind. Karma kanda, karma yoga, jnana kanda - what is the difference? Just by jnana kanda, can we achieve life's purpose? Do we need karma k...

What is sin of omission - pratyavaya dosha? What’s the benefit or shortcomings of the material pursuits? Is karma yoga the practice we should follow for avoiding any sin of omission? If so, what result does it give us? Did Gandhiji want independence or he did not? So, was he karma yogi? Is karma yoga not having any wants? No expectations? Is ‘no expectations’ is truly ‘expecting no expectations’😀...

Equipoise, doing likes / dislikes or being balanced, should we buy a lottery ticket?

We continue our discussions on Swadharma, True Identity, Self Identity and practical tips on how to explore and expand our own sense of self. The real swadarma is the Aatman - and drop all other things that you are thinking as swadharma How do we connect Swadharma and Swaroop? If we don't do our Swadharma, we can ever be at peace. It is going to be restless/guilt. If you follow the path of Swadhar...

May 30 Sl 2.31-40 --- What is swadharma and how to find our own in the current context? - What we enjoy doing? - Samanya dharma (common) and vishesha dharma (special) Caste system - is not by birth; by natural proclivities (swabhava) What was Buddha's swadharma - as a prince or a mendicant?  SPji's instruction - do things that come naturally to you; that make you happy & also that makes o...

May 23 Sl 2.26-30 [Contd] Expectations met - relationship strengthens;  When not met - relationship weakens We slowly understand there is nothing called 'unconditional love'; there is always a quid-pro-quo expectations. When we include others in our sense of identity - then it bothers us. Mother's love - how inclusive it is with the kid - because mother does not think the kid is any different...

If you want to listen to a healthy debate (part 1) on reincarnation theory - why we should accept, why we can't accept and what is the view of about 20 people who have background in engineering, sciences and trying to make sense of the world with a 'framework' they can apply to solve the mysteries of the universe - this is the group discussion you must listen to. Few things you will enjoy listenin...

Ch 2.23 24 25 ---------- - Who actually wrote the Gita? - Why is it fair to suffer if I don't know what I have done to suffer now? - Discussions on karma - sukha, dukha....consequences - We continue on discussions on death. - Is death gory? Painful? For whom? - Last thought /desire while dying and its impact. - The melange of prarabda, sanchita and agami karma - how do they work? - Should I contin...

This group discussion centers on the concepts covered in sloka 2.20, 2.21 - There is something else between physical body and 'Soul/Atma' that never dies. - Demystifies death - Six stages of existence -  - Why don't we go back to an older birth? Why can't we remember previous births? - Is our karmas and balancing karmas a most convoluted balance sheet like a family owned business? - Past does...

Gita 4/25 Slokas 2.18, 19 --------------------- What travels after death? Soul (Atma) does not travel anywhere because no space, time, object constraints. Is body not important? There are actors, sportspersons who take extreme care of their bodies - how should we interpret it? What does unknowable mean? Why can't we understand Atma with the usual organs of perception? Atma is Aprameya:Unknowable t...

Gita GD 4/18/2021 2.16, 17 There are a few slokas which were tough for Ganesha when Vyasa was telling, so Ganesha had to think before writing. These are some of those tough slokas. Atma is 'sat' and rest is 'asat' - Om Tat Sat. Sat: Not limited by space, time, object limitations. Asat: Exact opposite of Sat (child of a barren women, flowers in sky...) Mithya: You can experience it but does not hav...

Gita GD Discussions 4/11/2021, Slokas 2.14, 2.15 Millions of experiences are collapsed to five inputs + mind. Perceiving these as good/bad/pleasant/unpleasant is based on mind. We need to develop titiksha. Titiksha - forebearance; strength. Titiksha also is a result of our prarabdh. Stories about non-retorting snake & mudslinging match with pigs shows the need to understand correctly and actin...

In this GD, Bhagavan SriKrishna gives the solution to the fundamental problem of humankind. The various topical problems we have (related to health, wealth, relationships, ups & downs we face) all have a root cause in ignorance. The ignorance is OUR FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM. When the fundamental problem is solved, topical problems automatically resolve! Srikrishna addresses the 'summary of the solu...

In this group discussion, we try to assess Arjuna's mental state and understand the psychological changes that goes on in his mind. We also reflect on our own context in the modern times and find that there are several commonalities: - We talk a lot when we are confused, in the hope that we arrive at a right solution to the problem. - We do get confused with what is right, wrong Few observations w...

Arjuna opens up a floodgate of emotions. He is anxious for victory in battle and he got into a neurosis - fear of death of his clan & fear of losing. Arjuna tries hard to get Krishna to acknowledge and we discuss why Krishna ignores him - LISTEN & SILENT are anagrams and Krishna is SILENT and LISTENing. He does not teach as yet. Arjuna gives many arguments - wants the kingdom, does not wan...

First 17min: Practice of Gita Chanting before GD We continue to discuss Arjuna's metamorphosis. An external calamity impending - the fratricidal war that would wipe out the entire Kuru clan and friends like Yadavas, triggered a chain of thought in Arjuna. Despite raring to fight the Kauravas for over 14 years - becoming determined to fight a Dharmic war, Arjuna experiences a change of mind. He sud...

Tumultous is the word we would use to describe Chapter 1 of Gita - Arjuna Vishaada Yoga. Till sloka 28, it is mostly description of the battlefield - the external context that makes a chicken out of Arjuna, the great warrior. Sloka 1 describes Dhritharashtra, the blind king's mindset. Blinded by his attachment to his 100 sons, he knows that Dharma will win, but hopes for his sons' victory. Externa...

Namaste! My name is Rajesh Sengamedu I am a seeker, yoga & meditation practitioner Bhagavad Gita has inspirations to change our life. I want to share sloka 47 from Gita Chapter 2, to inspire us into action. कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 2.47 || A very, very popular, yet most misunderstood verse. This sloka talks of the reality of roles, righ...

­­­Namaste! My name is Rajesh Sengamedu I am a seeker, yoga & meditation practitioner Bhagavad Gita has inspirations to change our life. Sloka 48 from Chapter 2 is how we can apply the wisdom of yoga in our daily life in every activity /work we do – build a China wall of detachment towards the results of our work while clinging fast /being totally attached to the work we must do! योगस्थ: कुरु...