Essence of the Gita

Prayer

àpÚpairjatay taeÇveÇEkpa[ye,}anmuÔay k«:[ay gItam&tÊhe nm>.

prapannapärijätäya totravetraikapäëaye |jïänamudräya kåñëäya gétämåtaduhe namaù ||

Background

• Pandavas and Kauravas

• Arjuna’s life of a warrior

• War for dharma

• Bhishma and Drona

• Attachment, sorrow and confusion

• Refusal to fight

• Surrender to Krishna

Central teaching of the Gita

“na anuñocanti panditäù”Wise people do not have sorrow.

(Gita 2.11)

What does it mean?

• Problems will be there.

• Sorrow need not be there.

• Happiness and sorrow are attitudes.

• My happiness does not depend on people, objects or situations.

Steps towards the goal

• Krishna teaches in three steps

Prayer

àpÚpairjatay taeÇveÇEkpa[ye,}anmuÔay k«:[ay gItam&tÊhe nm>.

prapannapärijätäya totravetraikapäëaye |jïänamudräya kåñëäya gétämåtaduhe namaù ||

Steps towards the goal

• Krishna teaches in three steps

• àpÚpairjatay - prapannapärijätäya• taeÇveÇEkpa[y -

totravetraikapäëaye• }anmuÔay - jïänamudräya

Step 1 – Devotion

• àpÚpairjatay - prapannapärijätäya– Bestower of boons to devotees

• Devotee– Devotion is possible only by following dharma

• Offer all actions as gift to God– Do well what you do

• Accept results as gift from God– You get what is best for your inner growth

Step 2 – Discipline

• taeÇveÇEkpa[y - totravetraikapäëaye– Holding a stick that is used to control cows

• What is freedom?– Freedom of senses and mind is bondage– Freedom from senses and mind is real freedom

• How to train the senses and mind?– Discipline in eating, reading, sleeping, etc– Practise japa and meditation

Step 3 – Knowledge

• }anmuÔay - jïänamudräya– Holding the jnaanamudra

• Thumb – God

• Index finger – I

• Other three fingers – World

• God is more important than the world.

Step 3 – Knowledge …

• }anmuÔay - jïänamudräya

• Thumb – God

• Index finger – I

• Other three fingers – Body, mind,intellect

• When I realize that I am different from body, mind and intellect, I am one with God.

Central teaching of the Gita

“na anuñocanti panditäù”Wise people do not have sorrow.

(Gita 2.11)

Prayer

àpÚpairjatay taeÇveÇEkpa[ye,}anmuÔay k«:[ay gItam&tÊhe nm>.

prapannapärijätäya totravetraikapäëaye |jïänamudräya kåñëäya gétämåtaduhe namaù ||