Pragmatic Bhagavad Gita: Unlocking the Practical Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita with Krsnadaasa

An insightful revision of Chapter 6 with participation from student volunteers.

Shri Krishna provides an insightful response to Arjuna's question on what happens to the yogi who does not succeed in this lifetime? We also discuss about the importance of yoga and the 5 pre-requisites to succeed in yoga.

Shri Krishna further explains the techniques for mind management and succeeding in Dhayana Yoga. We also discuss how we can develop faith and conviction and discuss various questions and Vedantic answers to them.

In depth coverage of Advaita Vedanta and the concept of Anantam Brahman who is beyond the limitations of Desha, Kala and Vastu. Shri Krishna explains deeper aspects of Dhyana yoga in these verses, including concepts of Sankalpa, Vikalpa and Pratyahara.

Shri Krishna continues his explanation on various topics of Dhyana, Dharana and the intricacies of Maya that we have to understand before we can overcome it.

Shri Krishna starts explaining key requirements and importance of Dhayana Yoga in shlokas 10 to 17.

One of the most profound set of shlokas that teaches the art and science of mind management. These are extremely powerful and empowering lessons that should be understood and internalized to aid our spiritual evolution.

Shri Krishna explains Dhayana Yoga, the yoga of meditation and self discipline in this chapter. We cover topics like samatvam, importance of handling desires, the nature of desires, etc.

Revision of complete chapter 5 with full participation from the students.

Reiterating the importance of self purification The verse 5.25 emphasizes the spiritual enlightenment where ‘sages’ or ‘ṛṣayaḥ’ attain ‘brahmanirvāṇa’ or unity with the Ultimate Reality, Brahman. Shri Krishna speaks about individuals whose impurities and sins, ‘kṣīṇa kalmaṣāḥ,’ are completely eradicated. Only such purified individuals can truly comprehend their inherent nature. Shri Krishna spoke...

Divine Presence Everywhere Shri Krishna says that a truly wise and self-realized individual perceives the same divine essence in all beings, regardless of their external differences. This understanding is rooted in various spiritual teachings and scriptures.  Just as the ocean views all its waves as one, and gold sees no difference in various ornaments made from it, the wise see the same divine es...

Verse 5.14 - 5.17We think we are the doers, but we are not There's an old Indian parable about a puppet show. The puppets in the show dance and act based on the strings controlled by the puppeteer. To an observer, it might seem like the puppets are performing the actions, but in reality, it's the puppeteer controlling them. Similarly, we, as individuals, might feel that we are in control o...

Verse 5.10 - 5.13 Practice detachment like a lotus leaf In 5.10, Shri Krishna says that " One who performs their duty by dedicating their actions to the divine, abandoning attachment, remains unaffected by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains untouched by water. " Shri Krishna speaks about a few key terms here: Dedicating Actions to the Divine (ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि / brahmaṇyādhāya karmāni...

The importance of bhava or intention As discussed in chapter 4, the ‘bhava’ or intention is extremely important and that is what either creates bondage or liberates us from it. Even when we are performing puja for example, what matters is not the physical actions we perform but rather the bhava that matters.  Krishna has said that even when we are performing our social duties, as long as we do it...

Introduction to the 5th chapter After Krishna has explained karma yoga in chapter 3 and jnana yoga in chapter 4 in so much detail, our friend Arjuna has another big question for Krishna. In the BG there are 16 major questions asked by Arjuna to Krishna and verse 5.1 is the 5th question from Arjuna. We will go over all 16 questions below. Before that, we can talk about what chapter 5 is all about. ...

Revision of chapter 4. All the questions answered by volunteer students. Many thanks to all of them. Grateful for all the love and support of this Satsang family.

Asking questions vs questioning the teacher While studying verse 4.1, we discussed ascending knowledge and descending knowledge. Ascending knowledge is knowledge gained by people based on their trial and error and with limited scope. Whereas, descending knowledge is given by people who are subject matter experts. The Vedas and Bhagavad gita are examples of descending knowledge where God himself ha...

Success in Bhakti is based on atma-samarpan In the previous verses, Shri Krishna mentioned the various yogas, austerities, penances etc that spiritual aspirants practice, and how success in all of them was based on personal will power. And then Shri KRishna explained the difference between them and Bhakti Yoga where the success is based on surrender (atma-samarpan) and directing our senses towards...

Prerequisites for succeeding in Nishkama Karma Yoga In the last few verses, we learned the importance of nishkama karma as it was the only way to engage in inaction and avoid the karmic reactions of our actions. Shree Krishna explains a few key traits of pure devotees who have mastery over their minds and are capable of nishkama karma.  Nirashih - Free from expectations Yata Chittatma - Full contr...

The varnas created by Shri Krishna Shri Krishna says that he created the four categories of occupations according to people’s qualities and activities. What we need to understand is that Krishna, as he is saying, created these categories of occupations based on the people’s qualities or gunas, not based just on birth. In olden times, even the son’s of kings had to prove themselves and pass various...

Shri Krishna and His Yogamaya In 4.6 Shri Krishna says that “Although I am unborn, the Lord of all living entities, and have an imperishable nature, yet I appear in this world by virtue of Yogmaya, my divine power”. There are many people who believe that God is ‘only’ formless. So they doubt Krishna saying “He was born like a human and died like a human, so how can He be God”. Here Krishna is expl...

Strengthening Arjuna’s faith in Shri Krishna’s teachings Shree Krishna is sharing profound wisdom with Arjuna to strengthen his faith in the teachings. He encourages Arjuna to eliminate any doubts in his mind using this enlightening knowledge. Krishna then urges Arjuna to rise and fulfill his duty as a warrior. In Chapter 4, Shri Krishna explains that the knowledge he is imparting is not something...