bhagavad gita chapter 3 summary
TRANSCRIPT
Maximum Happiness to the Maximum Number of People for the Maximum Time
CHINMAYA MISSION BOSTON
The Holy Geeta
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga – Path of Action - Summary
• Always DO the RIGHT ACTION with the RIGHT ATTITUDE
• RIGHT ACTION
Refrain from ‘prohibited’ actions (niseda)
Perform ‘obligatory’ duties (nitya) and ‘occasional’ duties (naimitikka)
Reduce selfish actions (sakama) prompted by personal desires
Action is superior to inaction
• RIGHT ATTITUDE
Work Is Worship – Spirit of Sacrifice or ‘Yagna’
Lead with PASSION – others will follow
Give up the ‘Ego’ (e.g., child pushing the car, Namboodiri running in a
moving train)
Strive for a ‘Higher Goal’ (e.g., salt in a spoon of water vs salt in a pond)
Act without
o Regrets for the past
o Expectations of the future
o Excitement in the present
Act without ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’
Act as per your ‘Dharma’ - better to do our own duty (dharma) imperfectly
than another’s perfectly
Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga – Path of Action - Summary
• Always DO the RIGHT ACTION with the RIGHT ATTITUDE
• RIGHT ACTION
Refrain from ‘prohibited’ actions (niseda)
Perform ‘obligatory’ duties (nitya) and ‘occasional’ duties (naimitikka)
Reduce selfish actions (sakama) prompted by personal desires
Action is superior to inaction
Chapter 3 – Verses
Play verses 1-8
Hierarchy of Actions
Video on WikiLeaks
Group Discussion
Form two groups and discuss if the actions on Julian Assange is correct or not.
1. Group #1: Argue that Julian is doing a service to the World and is doing the
right action
2. Group #2: Argue that Julian is NOT doing the right action and is dis-obeying
the laws of all nations by ignoring the confidentiality of documents
Chapter 3 – RIGHT ATTITUDE
• Always DO the RIGHT ACTION with the RIGHT ATTITUDE
• RIGHT ATTITUDE - Work is Worship
The world is bound by actions driven by ego and ego-centric desires
but not by those done in a spirit of sacrifice
Yajna (Sacrifice) = common endeavor, selfless, for the good of the many
Chapter 3 – What is the Yajna spirit?
1:58:50 Chap3 – DVD 1
Chapter 3 – Selfless Service – CNN Heroes
CNN Heroes – Selfless Service
Chapter 3 – Verses
Play verses 9-16
Wheel of Life (1)
Food
Beings
Action
Sacrifice
Rain
Wheel of Life – We are all ‘Connected’
Food
Beings
Action
Sacrifice
Rain
Chapter 3 – Verses
Play verses 17-30
Summary
• Always DO the RIGHT ACTION with the RIGHT ATTITUDE
• RIGHT ATTITUDE - Work is Worship
Actions for the welfare of others (selfless actions – Yajna spirit)
Not attached to the actions
Renouncing all actions in me
Video – Chip Conley - Measuring What Makes Life Worthwhile
Spirit of Sacrifice
19. Therefore always perform actions which should be done, without
attachment, for, by performing action without attachment, man attains
the supreme
Vasanas
Desires
Thoughts
Actions
Results
Chapter 3 – Without unsettling the minds of Ignorant people
29. Those deluded by the qualities of nature, (GUNAS) are attached to the
functions of the qualities. The man-of-perfect knowledge should not
unsettle the ‘foolish’ who are of imperfect knowledge.
26. Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached
to action; he should engage them all in actions, himself fulfilling them
with devotion.
Chapter 3 – Renouncing All Actions in Me
30. Renouncing all action in Me, with the mind centered on the Self, free from
hope and egoism (ownership), free from (mental) fever, (you) do fight.
Chapter 3 – Verses
Play verses 31-43
Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga – Path of Action - Summary
• Always DO the RIGHT ACTION with the RIGHT ATTITUDE
• RIGHT ACTION
Refrain from ‘prohibited’ actions (niseda)
Perform ‘obligatory’ duties (nitya) and ‘occasional’ duties (naimitikka)
Reduce selfish actions (sakama) prompted by personal desires
Action is superior to inaction
• RIGHT ATTITUDE
Work Is Worship – Spirit of Sacrifice or ‘Yagna’
Lead with PASSION – others will follow
Give up the ‘Ego’ (e.g., child pushing the car, Namboodiri running in a
moving train)
Strive for a ‘Higher Goal’ (e.g., salt in a spoon of water vs salt in a pond)
Act without
o Regrets for the past
o Expectations of the future
o Excitement in the present
Act without ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’
Act as per your ‘Dharma’ - better to do our own duty (dharma) imperfectly
than another’s perfectly