My understanding of Bhagavat Geeta Chapter 6 (Yog Journey, Mind, and Re-birth)

Chapter 6 answers questions about Yog, renunciation and techniques for controlling the mind.

One who does work without desire for its fruits is Yogi and renunciate (Sanyasi), not the one who merely renounce prescribed Vedic activities. Yog is renunciation.

For the one who has attained perfection in Yog, Sanyas(renunciation of prescribed duties or cessation of action) is means, action is means for person who is desirous of perfection in Yog. One achieves perfection in Yog when he is not addictive to desires of fruits of action and gratification. One who achieves perfection is Yog displays certain characteristics such as he is free from all dualities, is not affected by joy or grief, love or hate, praise or ridicule... restrained and regulated... eats and sleeps moderately... Aahar Vihar of Astanga Yoga are mentioned in this chapter.

Perfect place and position to do Yoga is also defined, then there is mention of position for starting the Yoga and performing Padmasna and starting meditation by trying to stop mind from wandering. Thinking of a person is given importance by stating that a controlled mind is one's best friend while an uncontrolled one is worst enemy. Continuous practice can ensure mind (Chitta) doesn't run here and there, continuously focusing Chitta on God(Param-Atma) leads to a conquered mind.

Attaining perfection is Yog is difficult and attaining complete perfection in renunciation is more difficult, so what happens to a person who attains near perfection or half perfection. Lord Krishna clarifies this by stating that one who is on path of Yog gets a privileged birth in next life. Good Karma is carried forward, such a person achieves moksha very easily in next life.

Important concepts in Chapter 5:

1. Physical Yog to spiritual Yog – a complete journey that leads to moksha.
2. Conquer the mind.
3. Good Karma is carried forward.

In 30 percent of inquiries about Yoga, people just look for meditation without trying even one single Asana, this chapter of Geeta answers the inquiry...

---------------------------------

Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.AashiYoga.com/

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

Yoga classes in Bangalore

---------------------------------

My understanding of Bhagavat Geeta Chapter 5(Action, spiritual knowledge and purification of mind)

Chapter 5 is to explain Karma Yog and Jnana Yog in detail. Arjuna is confused with Lord Krishna's recommendation for renouncing the work and then praise for work of devotion. So asks naturally which one is better for him.

Lord Krishna explains that both are good for liberation, but work as a devotional service is better. One who neither desires nor hates the fruits of action is considered as renounced and is completely liberated from material bondage. Both are same and fruits of both results to achievement of supreme God.

Going through the path of renouncing the action is difficult so it is better to go through the path of action without attachment. Action is performed for purification of mind, and the one who perform the action with pure mind achieves the supreme God.

Is God responsible for fruits of actions?

Materialistic and divine spiritual knowledge?

One who, neither elates the pleasing nor laments the unpleasant, is free from delusion... and some more characteristics of person who has achieved spiritual knowledge. One's mind has to stop getting affected by external sense objects. Method of concentration or meditation is described, with fixing the eyes between eyebrows to stop the mind from wandering in order to achieve spiritual knowledge.

Important concepts in Chapter 5:

1. Achieve Jnana through Karma
2. Purification of mind.
3. Entry to meditation to achieve spiritual knowledge and attain divine peace.

---------------------------------

Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.AashiYoga.com/

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

Yoga classes in Bangalore

---------------------------------

My understanding of Bhagavat Geeta Chapter 4 (action, inaction, good-bad and the ultimate truth)

Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that HE told this imperishable Yog to Sun to, Sun to Vivasvan, Vivasvan to Manu and Manu to Ikshavaku. This knowledge traveled through generations and after a long time, now it has disappeared from the world. And Since Arjuna is HIS devotee and friend, HE is is telling this to Arjuna. And this Yog is secret.

Why is Yog secret?

Lord Krishna told that HE and Arjuna have gone through may lives, but Arjuna doesn't remember those while HE remembers. HE comes to earth to protect noble people and to establish Dharama whenever required. Lord Krishna also explains prescribed duties as per Vedic classification.

One who knows the difference between Karma, Akarma and Vikrama, gets freedom from cycle of life and death. These differences are mysterious and hard to understand. (I will write about differences later)

A focused, self-controlled person with faith, who performs his Vedic duties achieves the self-realization. One has to go through the path of Karma to achieve Jnana! One achieves Moksha after in this state.

Important concepts in chapter 4:

• Avatar
• Karma(Action), Akarma(Inaction), Vikarma(Prohibited)
• Jnana: Achieve ultimate truth by being realized and performance of Karma

---------------------------------

Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.AashiYoga.com/

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

Yoga classes in Bangalore

---------------------------------

My understanding of Bhagavat Geeta Chapter 3 (Karma)

Chapter 3 is about Karma Yog. Here Lord Krishna explains importance of performing one's duty, way to achieve supreme God even with performing one's worldly duties.

Arjuna is confused between Karma Yog and Jnana Yog. He gets the feeling from previous chapter that Jnana Yog is supreme, and if it is so, why Lord Krishna is asking him to engage him in Karma. Lord Krishna explains him importance of Karma and explains that there are 2 types of people who realize the self, 1) who renunciate everything and follow spiritual path 2) who engage in performing worldly duties without attaching their mind to its fruits.

He further explains, renunciation is not enough to achieve self-realization, it is important to control senses from within. Forceful control of senses doesn't lead to self realization. All humans are bound to work out of impulses born out of materialistic nature and therefore no one can refrain from work. People follow great, so if great people stop working, all will follow that. Lord Krishna says that He doesn't need anything and He is not required to do anything, even though He follows his duties. If He doesn't follow his duties world will follow him and no one will work.

Lust is born out of material modes of passion, all living entities are covered with different degree of lust. Mind and intelligence are home to lust and hide real knowledge. Lust is greatest enemy of human, so by realizing the Atma one should free himself from delusions.

Important concepts in Chapter 3:

1. Engage in Karma.
2. Free your mind from worldly pleasures and output of Karma.
3. Control the senses; concur lust and free oneself from delusion.

In direct contrast to modern theory of motivation Chapter 3 asks to engage in work just for duty without getting attached to rewards. Will this work (or has this worked) for masses is questionable as there are examples of individuals supporting each. Will there(or are there) only few who follow this path?

---------------------------------

Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.AashiYoga.com/

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

Yoga classes in Bangalore

---------------------------------

My understanding of Bhagavat Geeta Chapter 2 (perform the duties and be realized)

Chapter 2 called essence of Geeta, is about Atma (The Soul), Karma Yog and Jnana Yog.

Chapter starts with Arjuna becoming a disciple of Lord Krishna and telling him that he is not cowardice, but he sees sin (pap) in killing some of the revered people. Lord Krishna explains to him that he must perform his duty without any inhibitions and he should be not be worried about killing as Soul never dies. Soul is eternal and it changes body similar to people change cloths, when cloths are old. No one can kill the Soul!

Lord Krishna also explains Arjuna about Karma Yog and asks him to perform his duty of waging a war, as only some fortunate warriors (Khhatriyas) get this opportunity. Lord Krishna tells that Arjuna must not worry about the outcome but focus on performing his duty, since result of war is not in his hands. If he dies in the war, he will go to heaven as a martyr, and if he wins he will enjoy worldly pleasures.

Arjuna is suggested to fight without getting attached to worldly attractions, being realized and still perform the duties.

Arjuna is still not sure so he asks how does a person with realized person (sthir buddhi) looks like. And Lord Krishna explains him characteristics of a realized person. A realized person is not affected by worldly happiness and sorrow, he doesn’t becomes angry, he is not affected by cold or hot and so on... He is the one who has attained natural control over his senses. One who becomes realized, attains the supreme God!

There is a large possibility that someone may interpret Karma Yog in wrong way and justify any of his doings. I think, that was the reason for Sage Ved Vysa to keep Jnana Yog in the same chapter and describing details of a realized person.

Important concepts in Chapter 2:

1) Atma is amar (The Soul is eternal).

2) Karma Yog is about performing one’s duty without getting attached to its fruits.

3) Jnana Yog is about becoming a realized by having a natural control over senses.

Try out Chapter 2 quiz of Bhagavat Geeta at:

http://www.aashiyoga.com/index.php/quiz?task=quiz&quizId=8

---------------------------------

Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.AashiYoga.com/

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

Yoga classes in Bangalore

---------------------------------

My understanding of Bhagavat Geeta: Chapter 1 (feelings, emotions and attachments)

1^st chapter of Bhagavat Geeta is about Arjuna's dejection from war and explaining the reasons. From his point of view Arjuna has noble reasons to believe that war is not worth. He explains this beautifully to Lord Krishna:

Bhagavat Geeta starts with Dhritarashtra asking Sanjaya about happening of the war field:

Dharma-kshetre kuru-kshetre samaveta yuyutsavah
mamakah pandavas caiva kim akurvata sanjaya (1)

After explaining all the warriors in their poses to start the war, focus shifts to Arjuna and Lord Krishna.

drstvemam sva-janam Krisna yuyutsum samupasthitam
sidanti mama gatrani mukham ca parisusyati (28)

Arjuna tells Lord Krishna that after looking at all the relatives and friends ready for war he is feeling low and is not in a position to continue the war. He further says that he doesn't see good in killing people who were close to him once and had bestowed some favor to him earlier. He is more dejected by view of his teacher Dronacharya and Bheesma Pitamah. He doesn't want kill these people even for kingdom of three loks (heaven, earth and underground), so asked why should he kill for just earth. By killing all the men of a dynasty, dynasty gets plagued and society becomes impure and such people go to hell forever. He is shocked that all wise people are ready to kill just for sake of getting kingdom and worldly pleasures. He doesn't want to fight even if Kaurava's kill him. He sees more good in getting killed without putting a fight.

With this Arjuna goes to back seat of his chariot and sits in no mood of a war.

In Chapter 1, Arjuna displays feelings, emotions and attachments that are common to any man in such a situation. His thinking has probably originated from various teachings about being a noble gentleman or from spiritual contradictions of worldly and heavenly things. 

------

Aashi Yoga Research Academy

www.AashiYoga.com

Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation

------