Class Summary for Oct 08, 2017 - Intro to Bhagavad Gita

Summarized by Partha Turaga:

We reviewed the basics that were covered in “Self Unfoldment” and the general scheme of conducting the class. Our class starts with Opening prayer, pranayam and Om chanting. 

Bhagwad Gita can be considered as one of the first books in the sequence of books namely, Bhagwad Gita, Upanishads & Brahma Sutras. 

 We started the class with some benefits we can get from the Bhagwad Gita class and internalizing it. 

• Bhagwad Gita starts with Arjuna Vishad Yoga - it demonstrates the confusions that we face in life. This can make any person deluded. Bhagwad Gita helps in understanding these delusions and prescribes a path to effectively counter it. It helps us understand our Dharma (Nature). It also helps in knowing yourself and growing spiritually - Self Actualization. It demonstrates that meditation is the way to counter your innate tendencies or Vasanas.
• In a more philosophical interpretation it helps us understand the play of God (Parmatma) and us (Jivatmas). It gives us means to reach parmatma. In the process it shows what the experience will be like and defines the characteristics of such people.

Bhagwad Gita has inspired many great souls in the past and it means different things to different people. Mahatma Gandhi called it a Gospel of Selfless action. It is a handbook of life. It helps in a balance between Subjective and Objective. Gita Dhyana Sloka verse 4 portrays Krishna as the Milkman, Arjuna as a calf, Upanishads as Cow, and Gita as the Milk - Signifying that the Lord is benefiting the whole word by using Arjuna as a means to that end. Another symbolism is about the image of lord Krishna as a charioteer reining the horses of a chariot and leading Arjuna into the battle. Lord Krisha (Intellect) is controlling the Horses (Senses)  through a difficult path (of Sense Objects) using the reins (the Mind) and guiding Arjun (ego) on the Chariot (Body) in this intense battle of Life. 

We then covered the Dhyana Slokas. There are 9 of them. It summarizes the essence of the setting, shows the greatness of Vyasa & Krishna, portrays the strength of the armies present, Greatness of gods and then sets the stage for the Bhagwad Gita to begin. 

We covered the first slokas and will go into details next week. Bhagwad Gita is in Bheeshma parva and is recited by Sanjaya, who is endowed with divine vision, to Dhritrashtra - the blind king of Kuru kingdom. 

Hari Om.