Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 17 & 18

16th September 2024

A person who is devoted to God achieves inner and outer balance by constantly loving God. From his perspective, everything in the world is a manifestation of God.

Because of this inner stability, the devotees do not rejoice, worry, lament, or crave; they accept both good and bad without any regrets. 

Even when interacting with others, they maintain a sense of equanimity, treating friends and foes alike. 

Because they have completely surrendered to God's will, they have no attachments or ego and therefore remain the same in the face of honor and dishonor, cold and heat, as well as in times of happiness and sorrow.

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 15 & 16

15th September 2024

A true devotee consciously emulates the qualities of the Lord. Pujya Gurudev said: 'Love is sustained in constant identification with the beloved!'

As the Lord is the very embodiment of compassion, so too is His devotee who remains undisturbed by the world and also does not disturb the world by actions and words. His devotee is free from joy, impatience, fear, and anxiety.

How does the devotee remain undisturbed? Desires and actions disturb the mind which causes all selfish engagements in the world.

When a devotee finds his fulfillment in the remembrance and worship of the Lord, he remains free of desires, all undertakings, and fear. He also becomes impartial, dexterous, and pure-hearted.

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 13 & 14

14th September 2024

Many people consider themselves devotees of God because of their regular visits to places of worship, performing rituals, celebrating religious festivals, and practicing certain austerities.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna asked a related question at the beginning of a chapter: 'Who is your devotee?' Lord Krishna begins to answer by saying, 'He who does not hate any creature, who is friendly, compassionate, equanimous, forgiving, and in whom there is an absence of ego and possessiveness.'

This answer may surprise many believers as it does not mention any rituals, worship, or religious tenets. 

Lord continues His answer: 'He is my dear devotee who is a yogi, content, self-disciplined, and who has firm conviction with his mind and intellect dedicated to Me.'

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 11 & 12

13th September 2024

Even engaging in actions related to God is not easy for many. For most people, worldly duties and responsibilities take top priority, making it hard for them to engage exclusively in worship. 

But the compassionate Lord understands this predicament. He said: "If you are unable to perform actions for Me, continue to engage in your worldly duties but give up the results for Me while keeping your mind centered on Me."

As mentioned earlier, mindless practice does not lead to the purification of the mind or perfect attunement of the intellect. The Lord reiterated, "Knowledge is superior to practice indeed!"

However, knowledge should not stay as mere intellectual understanding. Meditation is superior to knowledge. Even the practice of meditation is fruitless if one has not renounced the results of action. Therefore, renunciation, which is superior to even meditation alone, can lead one to true peace.

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 9 & 10

12th September 2024

The path to liberation or God-realization is unique for each person. Each soul's thoughts, feelings, experiences, and knowledge are distinctive. 

Lord Krishna acknowledges the difficulty in focusing the mind on God and suggests practicing conscious repetition of thoughts about God as a way to establish a steady focus. 

He emphasizes that spiritual practice should not be done mindlessly or mechanically and that the main purpose of all rituals is to keep the mind steadily focused on God.

Additionally, he suggests that if one is unable to practice repetition of thoughts on God, then performing actions related to God such as worship and puja can also lead to perfection.

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 7 & 8

11th September 2024

"Where is my mind now? We should often ask ourselves this question. We might be surprised to discover that our mind is either wandering or lost and buried in worries and anxieties.

Lord Krishna assures Arjuna, 'Those who give their minds to Me, I quickly deliver them from the ocean of the world, with all its uncertainties and death.'

The mind is the seat of emotions and intellect is the seat of decisions. When emotions overpower us, our decisions become partial; when we make decisions without any feelings, we become rigid and inflexible.

The intelligent union of the mind and the intellect is possible when we offer both to the Lord. With the Lord in our hearts, we can invoke emotional intelligence. Lord Krishna states that such a person will remain with Him forever without any doubt."

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 5 & 6

10th September 2024

Ever since we were born, we have strongly and unquestionably identified with our bodies. Interestingly, no one has ever explicitly told us that we are the body!

After studying the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, when we decide to explore and experience the unmanifest nature of Brahman, we come up against a formidable obstacle: the ego, which has kept us bound to the body.

The journey will be very challenging if we have not loosened the grip of the ego. However, if we follow the simple instructions given by Lord Krishna, we can weaken the ego. 

He instructed Arjuna, "Dedicate all your actions to me. Accept me as the Supreme, and meditate upon me with one-pointed attention."

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 3 & 4

9th September 2024

The faith required is the same, but those who worship the attributeless nature of God, known as Brahman in the Upanishads, need additional qualifications. 

This is because the mind is fickle and it's hard to maintain steady attention on the unmanifest, all-pervading, incomprehensible, changeless, constant, and immovable nature of Reality. 

Aspirants should have complete control over all the sense organs and equanimity of mind. 

Those who are thus qualified will attain the Lord while continuously engaged in the service of the entire creation.

Gita reflection Ch 12 verses 1 & 2

8th September 2024

There has long been a divide between philosophers and believers regarding the nature of reality. Philosophers view God as a formless or universal presence, while believers see God as having a form.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna, having witnessed the cosmic form of Lord Krishna, asks a crucial question: 'There are those who worship you as one with attributes and others as immutable and unmanifest. Who is best among the two?'

Both groups ultimately seek to realize the same divine essence. The key qualification for this is faith.

Lord Krishna responds: 'Those who meditate on Me by fixing their minds on Me with steadfast devotion and possessing supreme faith – they are considered to be the most perfect yogis according to Me.'

Gita reflection Ch 11 verses 54 & 55

7th September 2024

 

Is it possible for anyone to experience the vision of God's all-pervading presence? Yes. The main requirement is to have unwavering devotion to God.

 

Lord Krishna assures us that a devoted person can 'Know,' 'See,' and 'Enter' into Him. 'Knowing' comes from listening to the spiritual teacher and understanding the presence of God in one's own heart. 

'Seeing' is achieved through the practice of meditation, where one consistently attempts to dwell in the Self. 'Entering' is the ultimate merging into the Self in the state of 'Samadhi' - total absorption.

 

At the end of this chapter, Lord Krishna reminds Arjuna to continue his spiritual practice by working for God and accepting Him as the goal of life. Through devotion and detachment, one can develop all-encompassing compassion for all living beings, which will help him reach God.

Gita reflection Ch 11 verses 52 & 53

6th September 2024

When we see a pot, we don't know who made it. Why? Because the maker of the pot is not part of the pot! Similarly, all things in this world are separate from their creators.

However, in the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna demonstrated through the Cosmic form that He and His creation are inseparable.

This cannot be visualized by the gods living in the denizens! Lord Krishna informs Arjuna that he is blessed to have seen this Oneness of the creation and the creator!

This vision is impossible by studying Vedas and practicing austerity, charity, and sacrifice. These are meant only to purify the mind, which can eventually develop true devotion and ardent love for God.

Gita reflection Ch 11 verses 50 & 51

5th September 2024

Through Self-knowledge one can see Reality as is. Thus subjective knowledge would reveal one's own Real Self without any change. यथा रूपं सत्यं तथा सदृशं ज्ञानम् 

Conversely, when a devotee approaches the Lord to have His vision, the Lord would reveal according to the wish of the devotee यथा भक्तस्य भावः तथा भगवदाकारः 

Lord Krishna out of compassion for Arjuna showed him His form which Arjuna knows Him as before. Seeing that form Arjuna felt relieved.

He said, 'Seeing You in your human form and having regained my nature, my mind has become calm and collected.'

Gita reflection Ch 11 verses 48 & 49

4th September 2024

Why is it difficult for anyone to see the Lord's cosmic form? Although He is the Self of all beings and always available, He remains hidden. 

He can only be known through His grace when an individual turns their attention towards the Self and away from external distractions. 

The Lord cannot be perceived in the human world through the study of Vedas, sacrifices, gifts, rituals, or severe austerities. 

Lord Krishna consoled Arjuna and freed him from fear and bewilderment after showing His terrible form. He then transformed Himself back to His earlier, familiar form that Arjuna had known since birth.

Gita reflection Ch 11 verses 46 & 47

3rd September 2024

Arjuna expressed his desire to see the human form of Krishna after witnessing the Cosmic form of the Lord. He felt that he could not connect with the Cosmic form as easily as with the human form of Krishna. 

Arjuna specifically requested to see the Lord's four-handed form with a crown, mace, and disc. 

The Lord explained that His Cosmic form had never been seen by anyone else before and manifested through His yogic power. 

Krishna's ability to change His form at will is due to His illusory power called Maya, and only those who completely surrender to Him can understand this power of illusion.

Gita reflection Ch 11 verses 44 & 45

2nd September 2024

Who will forgive the other for their mistakes? Not a stranger but parents out of love and attachment will forgive their children. So too a friend or a true lover.

Arjuna pleads to the Lord to forgive for his thoughtless behavior by treating him as a child, friend, or beloved one. He salutes Him by fully bowing down.

Though Arjuna had requested the Lord to show the cosmic form, upon seeing Him he is stricken with fear. For, he had never expected to see the unpleasant end of the Universe demonstrated by the Lord.

Just as the child of a police officer would like to see the father without his commanding attire while at home, Arjuna submits to the Lord to show the usual form that he is familiar with by discarding the cosmic form.

Gita reflection Ch 11 verses 42 & 43

1st September 2024

Arjuna took the Lord for granted and had a friendly relationship with Him, without realizing He was the Lord of the Universe. 

Now, he regrets his oversight and asks for the Lord's forgiveness for not acknowledging Him properly while walking, eating, and in both private and public settings. 

After witnessing the Lord's cosmic form, which is indescribable, Arjuna recognizes Him as the Father of the Universe and the Guru of all gurus, deserving of worship.

Arjuna praises Him as unmatched, possessing the unparalleled power to create, sustain, and destroy the entire creation.