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8/14/2019 BhagavadGita Seminar
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The Bhagavad-GitaThe Bhagavad-Gita
OverviewOverview
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The search forThe search forhappinesshappiness
All activities are performed inAll activities are performed inhope of happinesshope of happiness
Many anxieties:Many anxieties: College educationCollege education JobJob FamilyFamily
RetirementRetirement DEATH (the biggest anxiety)!DEATH (the biggest anxiety)!
Always looking for reliefAlways looking for relief Vacation --- a break!Vacation --- a break!
As humans, we can question theAs humans, we can question thecause of our unhappiness iscause of our unhappiness is
there permanent happiness?there permanent happiness?
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Humans vs. AnimalsHumans vs. Animals
Four (4) things in common:Four (4) things in common:1.1. EatingEating2.2. SleepingSleeping
3.3. MatingMating
4.4. DefendingDefending
Humans do these activities in moreHumans do these activities in moresophisticated manner but activity is samesophisticated manner but activity is same
Finer/more refined intelligence allows usFiner/more refined intelligence allows us
to question & search for true happinessto question & search for true happiness
Use human intelligence to solve theUse human intelligence to solve the realrealproblems of life, otherwise how are weproblems of life, otherwise how are wedifferent from animals?different from animals?
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Real Problems of LifeReal Problems of Life
Birth Disease Birth Disease Old age Death!Old age Death! For example, childFor example, child
born cryingborn crying
Other reasons which prevent happiness
Their nature (not relative applicable toALL): Common to all
No one wants it
No one can avoid it
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Threefold miseriesThreefold miseries
AdhydaivikaAdhydaivika (material nature)(material nature)
AdhybhautikaAdhybhautika (other living entities)(other living entities)AdhyatmikaAdhyatmika (body & mind)(body & mind)
We look towards science for solutions
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Scientific SolutionsScientific Solutions
Most scientific solutions are notMost scientific solutions are notpermanent solutions:permanent solutions: Cosmetic industry (old age)Cosmetic industry (old age) Cryogenics (death looking forCryogenics (death looking for
eternal life)eternal life) Prozac (mind/ depression) evenProzac (mind/ depression) even
teenagers are using itteenagers are using it
While generally helpful,some scientific solutions
are worse than theactual problem: Cars pollution Industries oceans
flooded with wastes Cell phones make
lives busier / can cause
cancer
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Happiness from the Senses (eyes,Happiness from the Senses (eyes,
ears, nose, tongue, skin)ears, nose, tongue, skin)
Temporary andTemporary and DisappointingDisappointing ((i. e., piece ofi. e., piece of
gumgum))
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Spiritual books of India tell us thatwe cannot achieve real
happiness from the senses or
from scientific advancement --
real happiness comes from
within -- and these spiritual texts
implore us to seek out that
source of inner happiness
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Two basic divisions of spiritualTwo basic divisions of spiritual
knowledge of Indiaknowledge of IndiaSRUTI (heard)SRUTI (heard) 4 Vedas:4 Vedas:
RgRg SamaSama
YajurYajur AtharvaAtharva
BrahmanasBrahmanas AranyakasAranyakas
Upanisads (108)Upanisads (108)
SMRTI (remembered)SMRTI (remembered) PuranasPuranas ItihasasItihasas
Ramayana & MahabharataRamayana & Mahabharata
(includes the Bhagavad-(includes the Bhagavad-Gita)Gita)
We want to focus on the Bhagavad-Gita, the essence of all
spiritual literature
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Bhagavad-Gita Indias timelessBhagavad-Gita Indias timeless
classic on all facets of spiritualclassic on all facets of spiritual
knowledgeknowledge Song of GodSong of God Put into written form 5,000 years ago Put into written form 5,000 years ago
previously rememberedpreviously remembered
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Topics of the Bhagavad-GitaTopics of the Bhagavad-Gita
Describes:Describes:atmaatma (the Soul)(the Soul)yogasyogas and their purposesand their purposeskarmakarma (duty or action)(duty or action)reincarnationreincarnation (life after death)(life after death)sanatana dharmasanatana dharma (eternal duty(eternal duty
of the living entity)of the living entity)
prakrtiprakrti(material nature)(material nature) isvaraisvara (the Supreme Lord)(the Supreme Lord)
Universal teachings not only for Indians/Hindus
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Extraordinary personalitiesExtraordinary personalities
reflect on the Gitareflect on the GitaMahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)(1869-1948)
The Bhagavad-Gita calls on humanityThe Bhagavad-Gita calls on humanity
to dedicate body, mind and soul toto dedicate body, mind and soul to
pure duty and not to become mentalpure duty and not to become mental
voluptuaries at the mercy of randomvoluptuaries at the mercy of random
desires and undisciplined impulses.desires and undisciplined impulses.
Albert Einstein
(1879 1955)
When I read the Bhagavad-
Gita and reflect about how
God created this universe,
everything else seems so
superfluous.
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Extraordinary PersonalitiesExtraordinary Personalities
reflect on the Gita (cont.)reflect on the Gita (cont.)Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson (1803 (1803
1882)1882)
The Bhagavad Gita is an empire ofThe Bhagavad Gita is an empire ofthought and in its philosophicalthought and in its philosophicalteachings Krishna has all the attributesteachings Krishna has all the attributes
of the full-fledged monotheistic deityof the full-fledged monotheistic deityand at the same time the attributes ofand at the same time the attributes ofthe Upanisadic absolutethe Upanisadic absolute
Dr. Albert Schweitzer
(1875 1965)
The Bhagavad-Gita has a
profound influence on the
spirit of mankind by its
devotion to God which is
manifested by actions
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Setting the scene / Why theSetting the scene / Why the
Gita was spoken?Gita was spoken? Mahabharata leading up to the GitaMahabharata leading up to the Gita Pandus death Dhrtarastra in chargePandus death Dhrtarastra in charge
of Pandavas, but favored own childrenof Pandavas, but favored own children Pandavas poisoned/house burned/Pandavas poisoned/house burned/
wife insulted/cheated/exiled for 13wife insulted/cheated/exiled for 13yearsyears
Kingdom refused/attempted peaceKingdom refused/attempted peacefailedfailed
Battlefield of KuruksetraBattlefield of Kuruksetra Arjuna refuses to fight and turns toArjuna refuses to fight and turns to
Krishna for instructions.Krishna for instructions. Thus a conversation ensues betweenThus a conversation ensues between
Krishna & ArjunaKrishna & Arjuna
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En d Of Pa rt On end Of Pa rt On e