Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 32 & 33

31st March 2024

• Attaining liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death is not a matter of chance. 
• Lord Krishna has laid out a well-defined pathway to liberation in the Bhagavad Gita. The first step towards liberation is to attain purity of mind through Karma Yoga, not through hasty renunciation or by continuing to act with ego.
• Habits are difficult to change. We are conditioned to behave in certain ways due to the force of habit and mindless engagement in life. 
• The knowledge we gain from the Guru and scriptures is only theoretical. It becomes our experience only when we take concrete steps to apply it in our actions and attitudes.
• Even one selfless action every day can be a good start. Once we apply it and see how it helps us overcome our ego, it will open the gateway to freedom.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 30 & 31

 30th March 2024

• "Can one fully renounce all actions?" This question leads us to ponder Lord Krishna's call for renunciation. 
• Swami Chinmayananda explains that just as a serpent is only dangerous when it has fangs, actions only lead to bondage when they are performed with selfish desires. On the other hand, actions performed without desire are not actions at all. 
• A true renunciate is not a parasite in society. He engages in selfless actions with enthusiasm and zeal, inspired by his love for God who resides in the hearts of all. 
• The flow of power to a lightbulb is imperceptible, but its presence is known through its effect. Likewise, God is imperceptible but experienceable. 
• A devotee who has well-developed faith and is free from all other desires can feel God's omnipresence and experience His presence. 

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 28 & 29

 29th March 2024

• A flower possesses form, smell, touch, taste, and even sound when its petals are broken. It represents the qualities of all five elements. However, my eyes can only perceive its form and not other qualities. 
• This applies to all of my senses - each one brings me a unique experience of the flower based on its given field.
• My mind can comprehend the flower in its entirety, including all available data and related memories. My intellect can make a decision whether to pluck the flower or leave it on the plant.
• My consciousness is not involved in the activities of my senses, mind, and intellect. Understanding this, a wise person remains a mere witness to all these activities.
• The unwise, who lack this understanding, tend to get attached to the activities of their senses and the objects of their senses.
• The wise should not disturb the mind of the unwise but should rather guide them toward elevating their mind through knowledge.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 26 & 27

 28th March 2024

• 
  "The ways of the wise are strange and perplexing," is the observation of a commoner. The wise do not see the world and react to situations in life the way we do. 
• Lord Krishna advises wise men not to confuse the minds of the ignorant by asking them to act without attachments, since the priorities of the unwise are worldly and ephemeral, not freedom and liberation. 
• To guide the world, the wise should exemplify detachment while proactively working like the rest. 
• Inherent nature induces everyone to act and achieve, only to enjoy and experience. Thus, everyone owns the action as one's own. This is ego.
• A dreamer suffers not because of the dream, but because he doesn't realize it is only a dream!

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 24 & 25

 27th March 2024

• The concept of Ishwara or God in Vedanta philosophy is unique. God does not command the forces of the universe or the inhabitants as a tyrant or a king. 
• Ishwara is the innermost presence in both the animate and the inanimate, much like electric power in all electrical gadgets. His presence does not influence or discourage the nature of anyone. 
• All living beings draw power from Him to express themselves, and they engage in actions according to their inherent nature. 
• Without His presence, the whole rhythm of the universe would collapse or come to a standstill. 
• Lord Krishna advises all wise men to dispassionately engage in all actions with enthusiasm and zeal for the welfare of all, just as others engage passionately in their actions.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 22 & 23

 26th March 2024

• Every morning after I wake up, I don't need to remind myself that my body and my house belong to me. Already I own them, so I don't need to work for them.
• Lord Krishna says that He has nothing to gain or lose in the world that is already His. However, He is on the battlefield with Arjuna to demonstrate that even a God works continuously for the welfare of His creation.
• Nature as a whole responds to God's command. What we take for granted, such as sunshine, seasons, and cosmic cycles, are under divine ordinance. None of us can claim to have power over these.
• This also applies to the Law of Karma. What we experience in this life is a result of our past actions. When we realize this divine ordinance, we not only accept what happens to us but also become vigilant about what we do now, which will have future consequences.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 20 & 21

 25th March 2024

• The lives of great men who practice detachment can be a source of inspiration for us to follow in their footsteps. Why would someone who has achieved total dispassion continue to tirelessly engage with the world? What is their purpose? 
• On the dawn of wisdom, our inherent tendencies can be redirected toward a new channel. For example, a journalist like Swami Chinmayananda went on to preach the Bhagavad Gita throughout his life, while Swami Shivananda continued to practice medicine to serve the poor.
• Great personalities have a significant influence on the generation. An honest politician, a proficient writer, a noble and successful businessman, a fearless warrior, etc., can inspire the world as much as a saint living in solitude. 
• All great men lived fully for a given purpose and proved to the world that dedicated action to uphold a goal and vision in life fulfills the purpose of being human.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 18 & 19

 24th March 2024

• Our happiness is entirely dependent on what happens in our lives, and when anticipated situations fail to meet our expectations, it can cause us grief and misery.
• We don't become disappointed or miserable from what we are detached from. Here, detachment doesn't mean staying away from something, but rather the absence of dependence.
• A wise person who has achieved total contentment within oneself chooses to perform all actions without feeling compelled or obligated. 
• It's important to take a moment to ask yourself whether the actions you do throughout your day are done out of choice or if you feel compelled to do them. 
• If you're doing something out of your own desire, try leaving it aside and see if it makes you restless. If it's your responsibility to take care of family commitments, do your best and leave the rest.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 16 & 17

 23rd March 2024

• A fruit tree does not consume its own fruits. This is the inherent nature of nurturing and caring for everyone, a quality that is found in the creation of the Lord. 
• The creation of the Lord expresses this selfless attitude of sacrifice, as it serves everyone without any discrimination. Emulating this selfless attitude of sacrifice is the noblest practice for us. 
• On the contrary, if we continue to exploit the resources of the world for our own pleasure and comfort, it is a sin according to Lord Krishna. 
• Nature never rests, and we too should work towards our goals until we attain a state of complete freedom from all desires. 
• Desires do not end with emptiness - they are fulfilled when we realize the blissful Self and attain a state of total satisfaction.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 14 & 15

 22nd March 2024

• 
  Yajur Veda (VI.ii.9.2) यज्ञो वै विष्णुः - sacrifice is equivalent to the all-pervading presence of Lord Vishnu.
• Many ancient civilizations believed that offerings to gods could bring prosperity to their lands. The Vedas stated that sacrifices bring seasonal downpours that help to fertilize the land.
• In turn, this would nourish all living beings by providing an abundance of food. Thus, the act of sacrifice was seen as a way to promote the welfare and prosperity of everyone.
• In today's world, we can apply this concept by using profits to help those in need of proper education and livelihood. This will nourish the community and produce more productive citizens who can work toward the common good.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 12 & 13

 21st March 2024

• In the ancient past, rituals were performed to strengthen the 'deva-s' with their powers through mantras and offerings. As a result, they fulfilled the desires of the ritualists.
• In today's world, the aim of every business is to make a profit. However, the question is, who benefits from this profit? The ideal situation is where both the buyer and seller benefit equally.
• Moreover, Lord Krishna highlights the importance of businesses benefiting society as a whole. This is because the resources in the community should develop alongside the individuals. This is what we call Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• Putting the community first before oneself not only ensures spiritual growth but also freedom from sins. This can start at home and extend to the entire creation!

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 10 & 11

 20th March 2024

• What our ancestors have done in their lifetime has been benefiting us. This had started from the beginning of creation.
• 
  The Total Mind, or prajapati, connects all individuals at a subtle level. How? Our daily actions have an impact on many people's lives, even if we are not aware of it.
• For example, a farmer who tills his paddy field does not know who will consume his harvest. However, his hard work and dedication provide a livelihood for many people around the world. This principle applies to every field of activity.
• The concept of yajna has two parts. Firstly, we should act with an attitude of service, relinquishing anxiety about personal gain and striving for the common good.
• Secondly, we must put in the necessary effort in our field of action, to achieve our full potential as well as of the field. 

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 8 & 9

 19th March 2024

• Duty refers to the obligations the world imposes on us, while responsibility is something we choose to take upon ourselves willingly. 
• Taking care of our body is a duty or responsibility? Until we recognize our responsibilities, we feel actions are a burden, leading to stress and discomfort while completing our tasks.
• In Vedic literature, the term "yajna" refers to the act of offering sacrifices to the gods as a way of expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received. Nothing is retrieved from the fire after everything is offered.
• In the Bhagavad Gita, the word "yajna" signifies all selfless actions that we perform for the benefit of others, both known and unknown. Therefore, we have a responsibility to serve the world with the attitude of yajna, as a way of expressing our gratitude to God.
• All other actions that are motivated by selfish desires and do not benefit others are considered to be a form of bondage. Such actions create unending vasana-s, leading to an endless cycle of birth and death.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 6 & 7

 18th March 2024

• "What happens to your car if you press both the accelerator and brakes at the same time?" This is similar to what happens when we try to restrain our senses while our mind is still running wild.
• External renunciation can be dangerous if the mind has not renounced its desires. At some point, the suppressed mind will break free, leading to dangerous consequences.
• If the mind has been trained to give up its desires for sensual objects, our actions in the world will not be driven by the desire for fulfillment. Only such actions can be considered "karma yoga."
• Only a detached mind can perform actions without developing vasanas (impressions on the mind). Thus, the difference between karma and karma yoga is solely the attitude of the mind - attached or detached!
• Karma dissipates energy, while karma yoga conserves energy for contemplation on the higher Self.

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 4 & 5

 17th March 2024

• The relationship between vasanas and bondage must be established for us to understand that we are bound by our own ignorance. 
• Vasanas are deep impressions that we carry with us from one life to another. They make us believe that we will find happiness in the objects we encounter through our senses.
• This belief creates a desire to experience those objects, which can only be fulfilled by taking action to acquire them. However, actions always lead to reactions, which in turn reinforce our vasanas. This cycle is what we call bondage or samsara.
• As a result, we are constantly prompted to engage in action without any choice. Unless we eliminate our vasanas through knowledge and devotion, mere renunciation will not help us to be free.
• Therefore, it is important to understand that by refraining from action while our vasanas are still alive, we cannot end our bondage. 

Gita reflection Ch 3 verses 2 & 3

 16th March 2024

• 
  The good and the pleasant are two aspects that touch everyone in everyday life. The good leads to liberation, while the pleasant provides immediate gain and pleasure.
• Our choices depend on the wisdom we have gained from our experiential knowledge. The choices we make in everyday life lay the foundation for our spiritual growth.
• In critical situations where we are unable to choose, we should seek the advice of wise men. Based on our temperament, they can guide us on how to proceed towards liberation.
• Krishna reveals himself as the primordial God when he clarifies that from the beginning of creation, two paths exist - the path of Knowledge and the path of Action, both leading to the liberation of the soul from the endless cycle of birth and death.
• For most seekers, both knowledge without action and action without knowledge will remain incomplete.

Gita reflection Ch 3 Introduction & verse 1

 15th March 2024

• A spiritual seeker should be given the freedom to inquire about the teachings of the scriptures and the Guru. This freedom is evident in all Hindu scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita.
• Only deep reflection will become the springboard for relevant questions, whereas blind following will not. 
• If the knowledge of the Self and abidance in It are the means for liberation, how does an action that naturally needs identification with non-Self become a path to liberation? 
• When does action (karma) become a means to spiritual growth (karma yoga)? Can every action qualify for this? Can fighting with enemies be a spiritual engagement? If so, how? 
• Actions produce results and also leave lasting impressions (vasana-s). How can release from these impressions happen by continuously engaging in actions?

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 71 & 72

 14th March 2024

• At the seat of contemplation, the seeker should affirm the nature of the Self as the true identity while simultaneously denying the non-Self. 
• True renunciation occurs when one sees the non-Self as not oneself without any doubt. This realization can only happen if one firmly holds on to the Self as indicated by the scriptures. 
• In the initial stages of spiritual practice, one may find oneself divided between the Self and the non-Self, but this is unavoidable. 
• The shift of identity from the non-Self to the Self doesn't happen suddenly; it is a gradual process. To help with this, the Bhagavad Gita advocates the path of Karma Yoga. 
• To remain firmly established as the Self at all times is the state of eternal peace while living.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 69 & 70

 13th March 2024

• 
  Do you enjoy watching the sunset and sunrise? Despite what we perceive, the truth is that the Sun never sets or rises. It is the Earth that rotates. Science has confirmed this fact, yet not everyone believed it at first. 
• Our understanding of the world around us is largely shaped by our subjective experiences and emotions. However, it is our intellect that allows us to correct our understanding of the truth, even if it contradicts our feelings.
• The perspective of an enlightened person may differ from that of others. What he sees is not necessarily what we see, and vice versa.
• When 0 is placed next to 1, it increases the value 10 times. Adding one more 0 increases it a hundred times. 
• Similarly, an enlightened person who has no desires experiences vast amounts of bliss, while remaining undisturbed by the desires that arise from the mind's past habits.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 67 & 68

 12th March 2024

• An unmanned vehicle is bound to crash sooner or later. Similarly, the life of a person whose mind is controlled by unruly senses is bound to fail. 
• Those who lack manners and etiquette need to be taught rules of do's and don'ts. Educated individuals, on the other hand, should be taught the difference between right and wrong. 
• Mature individuals, who have a clear vision of the goal of life, should be guided by the compass of immediate good and ultimate good. 
• The enlightened, who have attained the final freedom from all bondages, are beyond all of this. Their wisdom is unwavering and steady, and they are no longer troubled by the opposing forces that the world presents in every situation.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 65 & 66

 11th March 2024

• We don't just want relief from sorrow, but the complete absence of it. 
• Temporary relief can be achieved by getting what we desire, but true relief can only be found in a desireless state of mind, known as Prasada, where there is no agitation. 
• We experience a state of peace in everyday life when our thoughts are absent, such as during sleep. 

• When we are blindfolded and taken to a place and brought back home in the same way, we can't return to that place by ourselves. During sleep, our intellect is also absent, and we are unable to recognize the means to reach a peaceful, thoughtless, meditative state of mind. 

• Spiritual sadhana is the practice of keeping the intellect steady and alert while reducing the mind to zero. Studying helps to keep the intellect steady, while devotion to God inspires us to practice regularly.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 63 & 64

 10th March 2024

• Humans are considered superior among all living beings due to their ability to differentiate with the help of acquired knowledge and experiences. 
• The fall of humans to the level of animals is a self-created destruction, caused by one's own mindless slavery to senses.
• A man of self-perfection is a degree higher than even humans since he has obtained inner peace by overcoming the distractions caused by strong likes (राग) and dislikes (द्वेष). 
• He no longer controls the senses since they remain unattached even in the presence of objects of pleasure and pain.
• His mind is like a still and serene lake and not a running river!

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 61 & 62

 9th March 2024

• The Pure Consciousness that is reflected in the Buddhi is known as Reflected Consciousness (चिदाभास). 

• This reflection, passing through the mind and senses, allows contact with the objects of the senses, resulting in sensory experiences. 

• When we allow our senses to continually experience the objects, we become more attached, and develop desires, anger, delusion, and so on.

• Controlling the senses is not as simple as building a dam to control water flow. Temporary self-control offers only temporary relief from the agitation caused by sense experiences.

• Bhagavad Gita recommends mature self-control as a means of redirecting the flow of consciousness through the mind towards contemplation of God, rather than focusing on the objects of the senses. 

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 59 & 60

 8th March 2024

• It is strange how intelligent humans get attracted to and addicted to inanimate objects. The objects of the world are not attracted to us nor do they wish to own us. 
• When we become fascinated by any object of the senses, we tend to overlook their imperfections and impermanence. However, once we turn away from them, they no longer affect or attract us.
• Temporary abstinence from these objects does not mean that we have achieved true dispassion. It can be caused by a bitter experience, unavailability of the objects, or sickness. 
• Only when we experience the true freedom and bliss of the Self and eliminate our vasana-s, can we achieve permanent dispassion.
• If an immature spiritual seeker suppresses their senses, it can lead to violent behavior and a withdrawal from the path to freedom.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 57 & 58

 7th March 2024

• Detachment does not mean indifference. It means remaining undisturbed by the inevitable experiences of life. 
• Sorrows and joys come to us without our asking for them. Strangely, when we eagerly pursue joy, sorrows start to visit us regularly. 
• Every coin has two sides - one cannot exist without the other. If we choose to accept one side of the coin, we must acknowledge the other side as well. This is true of both the joys and sorrows of life. 
• Seeking pleasure through contact with sense objects is not a choice of the senses, but a habit of the restless mind. 
• True wisdom is achieved by mastering the mind and freeing oneself from the habit of constantly appeasing our sense appetites.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 55 & 56

 6th March 2024

• There is no direct relationship between fulfilling our desires and achieving happiness, although many people believe that there is. 
• Our desires are not a path to happiness. In fact, desires are often the result of our imagination projecting happiness onto objects or people. If we examine this idea more closely, we will realize that it is just a fanciful thought with no logical basis.
• Sometimes, we develop attachments (राग ) towards objects or people due to our imagination or because of habit. When we desire to own or possess something, it can lead to feelings of insecurity or fear (भय ) that we might lose it. This can cause anger (क्रोध ) to arise when obstacles prevent us from obtaining the object of our desire.
• Self-perfection is a lengthy journey for the soul that has been under the illusion of finding happiness solely from external sources. It would be a miracle to change direction and start seeking it within oneself, and this cannot be achieved without the blessings of the Lord and the Guru.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 53 & 54

 5th March 2024

• The Guru's primary role is to elevate the student's mind from trivial worries and concerns to the higher goal of Self-Realization. When one clearly visualizes this lofty goal, daily problems will fade away into insignificance.
• Trying to solve a zigzag puzzle without referring to the picture will make no sense. Similarly, without knowing the qualities and activities of a realized soul, one's spiritual practice will remain vague and unclear.
• Arjuna, in the Bhagavad Gita, wishes to understand the state of mind of the wise man in both complete absorption and in the transactional world. For most students, total withdrawal from the world is not the preferred choice.
• Imitating a wise man will not lead to wisdom. Wisdom only grows through conscious knowledge, from merely an intellectual concept to a personal experience.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 51 & 52

 4th March 2024

• The state of having an even mind is characterized by neither dwelling on past experiences nor longing for new ones from the external world.  
• The world has an infinite number of experiences that we may not have yet encountered. However, the root cause of all habits is our desire to experience temporary pleasure from external objects. 
• Once a habit is formed, it becomes difficult to overcome and gets ingrained deeply as vasana. 
• Vasana-s can be overcome by redirecting the mind towards engaging in the pursuit of samskara-s. 
• Although both vasana-s and samskara-s are part of our memory, vasana-s demand repetitive engagement that leads to indulgence, while samskara-s purify the mind whenever we engage in them.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 49 & 50

 3rd March 2024

• 
  The human psyche can be divided into four parts, namely the mind (मनः), the intellect (बुद्धिः), the ego (अहंकारः), and the memory (चित्तं). All four are essentially thoughts, but they differ in their character. 
• The mind is doubtful due to conflicting memories and tends to succumb to the ego's adamancy and arrogance. 
• The intellect, on the other hand, is decisive and has a steady vision of the goal of life, based on its gathered knowledge. 
• The Bhagavad Gita advises us to keep the intellect at the forefront while pursuing all actions. 
• When the Yoga of evenness of the mind is practiced diligently with the guidance of the intellect, instead of the adamant ego or the repetitive memory, it naturally leads to the Yoga of dexterity in action.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 47 & 48

2nd March 2024 

• The Bhagavad Gita reminded us to act mindfully in the present moment without worrying about the outcome. 
• It's important not to react based on past experiences or in anticipation of future experiences. 
• When we perform an action diligently, losing ourselves completely in it, the action itself becomes the result. 
• It's important to understand that external results are unpredictable since they don't solely depend on the actor and the action. Therefore, we should focus entirely on the action and let the result happen on its own. 
• In this sense, yoga can be defined as the evenness of the mind.

Gita reflection Ch 2 verses 45 & 46

 1st March 2024

• The world is a place where we can achieve what we want through work. Knowledge is knowing what to do, but success is possible only when we apply what we know to get what we want.
• Our work is a reflection of our wants. When our wants are few, we tend to work less. Conversely, we can keep working endlessly if we always remain dissatisfied. 
• We can find contentment when we realize that satisfying our ego will only lead to more wants and desires. It is like adding fuel to a fire that will never stop burning.
• To overcome our ego, the Bhagavad Gita advises us to stop feeding it and turn within to discover the ever-content Self. Once we accomplish this, the world can no longer offer us anything.
• A wise man works in the world not to fulfill what he wants or to feed his ego, but simply out of love for God, residing as his own Self, to whom he is forever indebted.