The Teachings of Bhagavad Gita

1. The Bhagavad Gita: A Timeless Guide for Spiritual and Practical Life

The Bhagavad Gita, more commonly referred to as Gita, is a part of the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata by sage Veda Vyasa and consists of 700 verses which are considered to contain Brahm Gyan—Supreme Knowledge.

Divine dialogue. The Bhagavad Gita unfolds as a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This sacred text addresses fundamental questions about life, duty, and spirituality, offering guidance that transcends time and culture.

Universal relevance. Despite its ancient origins, the Gita's teachings remain profoundly relevant to modern life. It provides insights on:

• Managing stress and anxiety
• Making ethical decisions
• Finding purpose and meaning
• Developing self-awareness
• Cultivating inner peace

Practical wisdom. The Gita doesn't advocate renunciation of the world but teaches how to live skillfully within it. It offers practical advice on:

• Performing one's duties without attachment
• Developing emotional resilience
• Cultivating a balanced mind
• Achieving excellence in work
• Living in harmony with oneself and others

2. Understanding the Nature of Self and Reality

I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the Om syllable in Vedas, sound in ether and the paurusam or ability of men.

The eternal self. The Gita introduces the concept of the atman (soul) as distinct from the physical body. This eternal, indestructible self is part of the supreme consciousness (Brahman).

Layers of existence:

• Physical body (Sthool shareer)
• Subtle body (Sookshma shareer) - mind and intellect
• Causal body (Kaaran shareer) - storehouse of karma

Nature of reality. The Gita presents a holistic view of reality, where:

• The material world is a manifestation of divine energy
• Everything is interconnected and part of a larger whole
• The ultimate reality (Brahman) is beyond sensory perception but can be realized through spiritual practice

3. The Path of Selfless Action: Karma Yoga

Do your work as an offering or sacrifice for Me. In this way, it will not bind you and you will be elevated.

Work as worship. Karma Yoga teaches that every action can be a form of spiritual practice when performed with the right attitude.

Key principles of Karma Yoga:

• Perform duties without attachment to results
• Act for the welfare of all beings
• Dedicate all actions to the Divine
• Maintain equanimity in success and failure

Benefits of Karma Yoga:

• Purification of mind
• Development of selflessness
• Reduction of ego
• Cultivation of inner peace
• Progress towards self-realization

4. Cultivating Knowledge and Wisdom: Jnana Yoga

When a person is beyond doubt, when his mind is situated within and when he is always working for the betterment of society, then he will never incur sin. He will be with Me.

Self-inquiry. Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge and wisdom, emphasizing intellectual and philosophical approaches to spirituality.

Key aspects of Jnana Yoga:

• Discrimination between the real and unreal
• Self-study and contemplation
• Understanding the nature of consciousness
• Realizing the unity of all existence

Stages of knowledge:

1. Hearing (Shravana)
2. Reflection (Manana)
3. Meditation (Nididhyasana)
4. Realization (Aparoksha Anubhuti)

5. The Power of Devotion: Bhakti Yoga

Those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.

Love divine. Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotional love, emphasizing surrender to the Divine and cultivating a personal relationship with God.

Forms of Bhakti:

• Listening to divine stories (Shravana)
• Chanting divine names (Kirtana)
• Remembering the Divine (Smarana)
• Serving the Divine (Pada-sevana)
• Worshiping the Divine (Archana)
• Offering oneself to the Divine (Atma-nivedana)

Benefits of Bhakti Yoga:

• Purification of emotions
• Development of unconditional love
• Overcoming ego and pride
• Attaining inner peace and joy
• Realizing union with the Divine

6. Transcending the Modes of Material Nature

The three modes bind the imperishable soul to the body, O mighty-armed Arjuna. They are virtue, passion and ignorance.

Understanding the gunas. The Gita explains that all of material nature is composed of three modes (gunas): sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance).

Characteristics of the gunas:

• Sattva: purity, knowledge, happiness
• Rajas: passion, desire, restlessness
• Tamas: ignorance, delusion, inertia

Transcending the gunas:

1. Recognize their influence on thoughts and actions
2. Cultivate sattva through spiritual practices
3. Gradually move beyond sattva to pure consciousness
4. Realize one's true nature as beyond the gunas

7. Developing Divine Qualities and Overcoming Demonic Tendencies

Those with a divine nature are fearless (abhaya), practice austerity (tapa), self-control (dama), gain knowledge (gyan yoga), do charity (daan), perform sacrifices (yagya), study scriptures and live simple lives.

Cultivating virtues. The Gita encourages the development of divine qualities to progress spiritually and live harmoniously.

Key divine qualities:

• Fearlessness
• Purity of mind
• Self-control
• Truthfulness
• Compassion
• Humility
• Forgiveness

Overcoming negative tendencies:

• Recognize and avoid the three gates to hell: lust, anger, and greed
• Cultivate self-awareness to identify demonic qualities
• Practice self-discipline and spiritual practices to transform negative tendencies
• Seek the company of virtuous people and spiritual guides

8. The Importance of Faith and Food Discipline

Faith is of three kinds depending on the person's material nature. It can be of goodness, of passion or of ignorance.

Power of faith. The Gita emphasizes the importance of faith (shraddha) in spiritual life and its influence on one's character and choices.

Types of faith:

• Sattvic faith: leads to spiritual growth and liberation
• Rajasic faith: motivated by material desires and ambition
• Tamasic faith: based on ignorance and superstition

Food and spirituality. The Gita recognizes the connection between food and consciousness, offering guidance on proper nutrition.

Food categories:

• Sattvic: fresh, natural, nourishing foods
• Rajasic: spicy, stimulating, processed foods
• Tamasic: stale, impure, harmful foods

Spiritual benefits of proper diet:

• Purification of mind and body
• Enhanced clarity and focus
• Support for spiritual practices
• Promotion of overall well-being

Last updated: August 11, 2024