Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita

Review of “Knowledge of Self”

AcknowledgementsThese notes are based on Purna Vidhya,

Vedic Heritage Teaching Programme.This material covers pages 44-53 of

“Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita” Part 12, written by: Swamini Pramananda Saraswati and Sri Dhira Chatanya.

Some material based on commentaries posted at: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org

Slide deck prepared by: V. “Juggy” Jagannathan.

Instruction teamV. “Juggy” JagannathanAshutosh DasSubra NatarajanK. Subramani

omfor the sake of Arjuna

taughtby Lord

Narayanahimself

by Vyasa

faithfully collected and reported

by the ancient

sagein the middle

of Mahabharatha

advaita-amrta-varsinim: showering the nectar of

nonduality

the Goddes

s

astadasa-adhyayinim: of

eighteen chapters

O Mother youI repeatedly

invoke

O Bhagavad

Gitabhava-dvesinim:

destroyer of the life of becoming

Review of previous class

Verse 16

For the unreal, there is never any being. For the real, there is never non-being.The ultimate truth of both of these is seen by the knowers of truth.

* In the unreal there is no duration and in the real there is no cessation; indeed the conclusion between both of these have been analyzed by knowers of the truth.

* Source: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-16.html

Verse 16 - Discussion

asat – that which does not exist independently; that which is material; perceived by sense organs; transitory; not permanent

sat – that which exists independently; that which is eternal; imperishable;

Verse 16 discussion – Life LessonsEverything you see and perceive in life is temporary. Nothing, but the soul, atman is permanent.

Given that, don’t excessively celebrate or give in to sorrow or grief.

Endure life stoically and always, do your duty. And, that is the path to ensure self-realization of the soul – moksha/heaven.

From a practical standpoint, knowing that everything is temporary, allows one to bear difficult times (we know that it will end some time) and be balanced during good times (knowing that too will end).

Verse 17

* Know that by which this entire body is pervaded, to be indeed indestructible.

No one is able to cause the destruction of the imperishable soul.

* Source: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-17.html

Verse 17 Discussion and Life Lessons

Underscores the concepts presented earlier:Soul is indestructible – permanent.Body is perishable – impermanent [next verse].

Endure life stoically and always, do your duty. And, that is the path to ensure self-realization of the soul – moksha/heaven.

Verse 18

perishable – only the material body

nityasya – eternal in existence

uktah – is factually

the embodied soul

Verse 18

anasinah - indestructibl

e

aprameyasya – and infinite

therefore

fight – do your

duty

descendant of Bharata - Arjuna

Verse 18

These bodies of the embodied one (the self), which is not subject to change, indestructible, and not available as an object of knowledge, are said to be subject to end. Therefore, O descendant of Bharatha, fight.

* Source: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-18.html

*

Verse 18 DiscussionAll bodies are subject to end.

Atma, that dwells within a body is not subject to destruction.anasinah – indestructible; apremayah – infinite; unknowable

Hence, Krishna concludes:No reason to be sad.Things that die, die.Things that are dying, die.Things that remain permanent, remain permanent.Therefore fight (do your duty). What is to be done is to be done.

Does anyone know the meaning of “Namaste”?The divinity within me salutes the divinity within you.

Verse 18 Discussion and Life Lessons

Underscores the concepts presented earlier:Soul (atma) is indestructible – permanent.Body is perishable – impermanent.

Endure life stoically and always, do your duty/dharma [fight in the case of Arjuna], without the desire for any of the results. And, that is the path to ensure self-realization of the soul – moksha/heaven.

Verse 19

anyone who

soul

thinksis the slayer

and anyone who thinks the

soulis slain

Verse 19

they both

soul does not slay

do not know

nor is it slain

Verse 19

* Source: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-19.html

Verse 19 discussion

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Kesava Kasmiri's CommentaryIn this way after establishing the immortality of the soul, Lord Krishna informs Arjuna that for anyone to believe that it is possible for the soul to be slain or anyone believing that they can be responsible for the slaying of the soul, are both in complete ignorance. Not being able to fathom the intrinsic nature of the soul they cannot realize that the soul is never the instigator of any action nor is the soul ever the recipient of any action.

* Source: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-19.html

Verse 19 discussion

The references to slaying is contextual only – and refers to ksatriya (warrior’s) dharma.

Vedic injunctions actually state: na himsyad bhutani – meaning no creature shall be harmed – a central tenet of Hinduism vegetarianism – and fundamental to Jainism.

Verse 19 Discussion and Life Lessons

Underscores the concepts presented earlier:Soul (atma) is indestructible – permanent.Soul just exists – it does not cause any action nor is it

the object of any action

Gita teachings are aimed at fundamentally removing sorrow and grief in one’s life and replace it with a calmness and bliss. This state can be achieved, teaches Gita, by realizing the temporary nature of body and the permanent nature of soul and focusing on always doing one’s duty and not worrying about the results.