Class Summary for Oct 11, 2020 - BG - Chapter-4 Slokas 1-6

 Summarized by: Vidya Shivkumar

We started the class with our Prayers, Meditation , Pranayama . Did a recap of our 1^st class which gave the summary of the chapter 4. 

We went through Verses  1-6

Theme : Brahma Vidya Knowledge

Supreme Lord gave knowledge  to Vivasvan  (Sun God) -> Vivasvan taught it to Manu -> Manu taught it to  Iksvaku (Rama’s lineage ). 

1.     This shows the path of knowledge flow through parampara of Kshatriya . 

2.     Krishna emphasizes why Arjuna is a kshatriya ,Krishna’s devotee friend. 

3.     For the First time Krishna talks like/As Brahman , Else HE has always referred to himself as Sakka (Friend) . 

4.     Arjuna diplomatically poses a question – right way to inquire from Guru.

5.     Direct reference to reincarnation  / rebirth ( Eg Small child not knowing about his future) . 

6.     To experience the result of out past actions we have to take rebirth. 

7.     Lord talks about He being Unborn , Understructable who has manifested & hence can remember everything in his own maya . 

8.     Differentiation between Human birth & Avatara. 

*Humans fall helplessly out of ignorance , Avatara descends purposely to dispel ignorance . 

*Humans are made of Paanch Bootha , Avatara is made of Maya . 

* Humans as born to exhaust karma , Avatara is born to protect Dharma . 

* Human rebirth is based on Papa & Punya where as Avatara is getting reincarnated by HIS Will Choice). 

Avatara are not bound by the cycle of papa and punya. 

Jeevatma doesn’t have choice they have to take rebirth.

Arjuna has never seen this side of Krishna , He is in Awe. Arjuna tells Krishna that his Equipment is not able to understand how is it possible for Krishna to give this Yoga to Sun God . (How not to talk down to)

We went through few examples of how to ask question to Guru & about Rebirth.

Eg : 1 Guru & 2 Disciples : You can meditate anywhere . One Shisya ask Can I smoke when I Meditate? Guru replied “No”

Other one ask Can I Meditate even When I smoke? Guru replied “Yes “

Context is how you are asking the question. 

Eg 2: In our Gmail we delete the old emails . Similar to our lives we do not remember our old lives . Lots of things has happened in our past . Human brains is designed in such as way that lot of things are not remembered, designed for forgetting . 

 

Subject Anaysis : Growing beyond/ out of action is what we strive for . 

Class Summary for Oct 4, 2020 - Intro to BG - Chapter-4

Summarized by: Shilpa Sail 

Started the class with meditation as it helps us to calm our minds and preps us for the class. 

Class rules were explained and a quick recap of chapters 3 and 12 was provided.  

We started with a high-level summary of chapter 4. 

Chapter 4 covers the way to engage in this world and then how to dis-engage from this world. 

The chapter can be divided into the following parts- 

• 1-8 Glory of Gita and the Avatara Purusha (Lord Krishna) 
• 9- 17 Atman and Action 
• 18- 23 Actions that do not bind the enlightened 
• 24 – 30 The twelve yajnas (sacrifices) 
• 31 – 37 Yajnas culminating into wisdom 
• 38 – 42 Gain wisdom( The ultimate truth or the ultimate freedom) 

The chapter delves into how we should live with the yajna attitude which will culminate into gaining knowledge and that will be the path to attain the ultimate wisdom. 

Vedas are really vast. It is not very organized. It is advised that we read the Veda antas which is also called the Upanishad that contains the summary of the Vedas. Upanishads do not cover Karma yoga as they are jnana kandas, not karma kandas. Hence, Bhagavad Gita can be considered as a supplement to the Upanishads as it covers Karma yoga. 

The karma part is not covered in Upanishads as only permanent things are discussed in Upanishads. Both the action(karma) and the result of action are temporary, hence the Upanishads do not cover that. 

This chapter is the transition from Karma to Jnana to reach self-realization. How to think and go beyond action is covered in chapter 4. 

Saying is not the same as realizing the ultimate truth. Gaining knowledge is not enough. It needs to be combined with realization. 

 

The class concluded with closing prayers.