Class Summary for Feb 25, 2018 - Chapter-2: 1 to 3

Summarized by Partha:

Bhagwad Gita chapter 2 - 

Yoga of knowledge is considered by many as a synopsis of the entire Bhagwad Gita. Some scholars consider that the original Bhagwad Gita ended with slokas of chapter 2 and the further chapters were elaborations done by other rishis. 

These are inspiring and invigorating slokas that bring Arjuna back from the stupor he was in. The following can be considered as the rough breakup of the slokas in this chapter: 

Slokas  1  - 10 :   Arjuna’s continued depression and subsequent surrender to the Lord. 

Slokas 11 - 46:    Sankhya / Brahma Gyana 

Slokas 47 - 60:   Karma Yoga 

Slokas 61 - 70:   Bhakti Yoga 

Slokas 71 - 72:   Sanyasa Yoga/ Yoga of renunciation 

Bhagwad Gita also portrays how one should handle a patient under distress. Krishna had allowed Arjuna to vent out all his emotions, his verbose convoluted reasonings, till he reaches a point of complete distress. And when out of desperation Arjuna seeks Krishna’s help, he readily offers it. In the slokas 11 - 46 he  describes Sankhya Yoga or the Brahma Gyana. This is the highest philosophy and in a sense can be compared to “Surgery” performed on the patient (Arjuna). Later, he expounds the Karma Yoga. This is the philosophy of action and can be compared to “Secondary Medicine” provided to the patient. In the next set of slokas he tells Arjuna the Bhakti Yoga. This is the yoga of devotion and can be compared to “Supplemental Medicine” provided to the patient. The last few slokas are about Sanyasa Yoga or Yoga of renunciation. 

We should note that there are multiple paths described in chapter 2. Each of these paths have their relevance at different circumstances and for different personalities. The same concepts are explained in more detail in subsequent chapters.

We should also note the objective of a serious student of Bhagwad Gita is not to pass judgement on the state of Arjuna and admire the advice of Krishna. We should understand that even the great warrior like Arjuna could shatter. We should understand the philosophies explained by Krishna. Bhagwad Gita in general and chapter 2 in particular, is not just about reading, it is about attempting to live the principles described in it. 

Summary of verses 1-3. 

Bhagwad Gita chapter 2 starts with Sanjaya describing the continued sorrow state that Arjuna was in. He had cast away his bow & arrow. The veneer of battle hardiness was removed. He sat exposed, agitated and teary eyed in front of Krishna. 

Krishna, seeing the sad state of Arjuna, taunts Arjuna. He does not understand why Arjuna is in such an perilous “un-Aryan” like state. (Aryan in this case come from the root Arya in sanskrit that mean noble/good).  He scolds him for being in this dejected and disgraceful state. 

He continues on to compare him with an impotent person. Warning him to not act like one. Asking him to cast off the weakness. Telling him to stand up and fight. Krishna addresses Arjuna as "Paran-tapa" - the destroyer of foes. 

Krishna’s strong stern remarks could be designed to bring Arjuna out of the weakness he was in. It could also be designed to make him completely surrender to him.

Subjective Interpretation: The debate Arjuna had with himself in chapter 1 can be subjectively compared with the pseudo ego and intellect at play. Each trying to justify a wrong behavior. While this is going on inner conscience does not interfere. It is only when both the pseudo ego and the intellect give up, and when the mind seeks refuge in the supreme, it is then that inner conscience comes out to rescue. On our complete surrender does the inner conscience do a course correction and bring us back. 

Meditation Tip: a similar thing can happen when meditating. You could have multiple thoughts and tendencies surfacing up. We should wait and watch. Reacting to these would mean drifting in their current. Under this bombardment, we should make a mental note of this and allow them to subside till we reach the inner self. 

Class Summary for Feb 4, 2018 - Chapter-1: 40 - 47

Summarized by Sudha:

Please see below, the summary for verses 40-47 of Chapter 1:

In these shlokas, Sanjaya continues to narrate about Arjuna’s confused state of mind. 

The underlying theme shifts from himself to that of other men facing him in the battleground.

He argues that when families are destroyed, their moral integrity and religious traditions also perishes, leading to an era of impiety.  He further adds that this situation would force women of the destroyed family to become corrupt, thereby causing un-restricted mingling of men and women from different strata.  From this action, will stem incompatible societal cultural traits.  He continues to lament that he will live in hell, and will continue to garner sin when he kills all his kinsmen for the sake of the kingdom.

Mentally exhausted from the long drawn internal conflicts, he throws aside all his weapons and concludes, that he’d rather die unarmed in the battlefield.

Subjective Analysis:

Sometimes one may feel helpless against the various tendencies controlling oneself. This is natural and one should not give up under these circumstances.

Tip:

During meditation, sometimes it may become impossible to focus. In such cases, chant Lord’s name (do Japa).  

Class Summary for Jan 28, 2018 - Chapter-1: 32-39

Summarized by Neelima:

After doing a quick recap of shlokas 24 to 31, we proceeded to shlokas 32-39.

Arjuna continues to be in this weak mental state and is trying to find reasons to not fight the war. He says he does not desire the kingdom or any pleasures, and what is the use of winning the kingdom, if all are at war. There are teachers, fathers, sons and relatives, whom he would not wish to kill, even for the three worlds, leave alone the kingdom, and even if they are willing to kill him. He is suddenly feeling pity and compassion, which seems to be misplaced.

Krishna is here referred to as "Govinda", which means, winning back the earth.

Arjuna continues to the extent of saying that there is no use killing the felons or "aatataayin', other than to garner sin. He very well knows that the Kaurava brothers committed every one of the six crimes that qualify a person to be a felon, and deserves to be killed as per the dharmashastras, yet he tries to take shelter behind the principles of ahimsa. Arjuna further concludes that there is no use killing the kauravas and other relatives and one can never be happy doing that and he would not stoop to that level. He also indicates that he needs to be different than Duryodhana and Kauravas, and not fight like them. 

An interesting comparison was also discussed. Arjuna equated to the mind and Krishna to intellect. The mind tends to get tumultuous and fickle, but  there is the intellect deep within that guides oneself.

Class Summary for Jan 21, 2018 - Chapter-1: 24-31

Summarized by Partha:

We did a recap of the previous slokas in Chapter-1 (Sloka-1 to 23)

Then we proceeded to Slokas-24 to 31.

These few verses start describing the emotions that overtake Arjuna as Krishna gets the chariot between both the armies at the behest of Arjuna. In his wisdom, Krishna bring the chariot closer to  Bheeshma & Drona than other kings assembled in the vast Kuru army.  Arjuna sees the entire army in front of him. In the army he sees his fatherly figures, grand fatherly figures, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends & fathers-in-law. 

The veneer of confidence of arrogance that made him 'command' Krishna to get the chariot closer to army was now removed. The anger that was directed against Duryodhana and Dhritarashtra made him eager to fight. Now, seeing so many of his closed and loved ones in the enemy line-up that could be collateral in his fury against Duryodhana, he gets overwhelmed with emotion.

Arjuna is also referred as 'Partha' - this could mean son of Pritha (Kunti) or someone is Mortal. In these few lines, his mortal side is accordingly getting depicted.
Arjuna seeing this laments that the assembled kinsmen are emotionally affecting him physically too. He limbs are weakening and mouth is drying up.

This set of verses show the beginning of emotional breakdown of Arjuna. The mind is getting disturbed and body loses its strength.  The trigger for this seems to the sight of his loved ones in the Kuru army. Maybe Krishna deliberately brought his chariot closer to Bheeshma and Drona to overwhelm or test Arjuna's mental capacity.
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Summarized by Inder:

Verse 24 - 26

Objective Meaning:

As requested by Arjuna, Krishna placed the chariot in between the two armies. Here Arjuna is referred to as Gudakesha meaning the one who has conquered sleep / laziness. Krishna Bhagwan is Hrishikesha, the one who has mastered the senses.

Krishna purposely placed the chariot infront of Bhishma & Drona and said to Arjuna to take a look at all the Kaurava's gathered on the battle field. Here Arjuna is also called as Partha meaning made of clay/earth(mortal).

Arjuna saw his Grandsires, teachers, kith and Kin in both armies which shook his confidence. 

Subjective meaning :

In life, when you take on any challenge, at some stage you will face confusion. The results will depend on how you deal with the confusion. Choose the path of good over pleasant.

Verse 27 - 31

Objective meaning:

These verses show lack of Arjuna's mental preparation before the war. As soon as he saw his kith and kin, he realized the full extent of sacrifice the society would have to make. This state of Arjuna's mind may have been the result of Dhritarashtra's clever message to him, before the start of the war, to consider the cost of winning the war by killing his near and dear ones.

Arjuna then tells Krishna about the physical changes he is noticing in himself like limbs failing, mouth parched, body quivers, the bow is slipping from his hand and his skin is burning. In this state of mental confusion, Arjuna's emotions have overcome his intellect and he has competely forgotten his duties and the evil deeds of the Kurus.

Subective meaning :

There will be times when self control will succumb to emotional tendencies.

Class Summary for Dec 3, 2017 - Chapter-1: 15 - 23

Summarized by Narayan Vishnubhotla:

We recapped the previously discussed shlokas – Chapter 1: Ver 12, 13, 14
Objective Analysis:
Up until now, Duryodhana was desperately attempting to boost the egos of the great warriors and
family patriarchs who have decided to side with him, either due to loyalty or due to compulsions, in the kurukshetra war.
But the very words that meant to boost the confidence was leading to despair among the assembled
warriors. Duryodhana began to sound defensive and was descending into a state of confusion.
Bhisma, sensing the despair, decided to jolt everyone from this state by blowing his war conch. For he knew that, if left alone, each of them would plunge more deep into despair and would eventually
become ineffective.

Subjective Analysis:
We could correlate the state of the warriors with our battle with tendencies. If let unhinged, we easily
get preoccupied with these tendencies and have a constant struggle in satisfying them. We are
compelled to act upon them. This preoccupation would eventually make us unproductive.
Bhisma’s action of blowing the conch can be correlated with our need for deep silence. We need to
silence the tendencies to limit the frequency of its occurrence and the resulting preoccupation. We need to bring out the absolute deep silence.

We continued our discussion by reviewing the verses 15, 16, 17, 18

Objective Analysis:
In these verses, Sanjaya continued to portray the environment that was slowly building up tension.
Krisna and Pandavas, one after the other started blowing their superior conches to let everyone know
that they are ready for the war. Sanjaya was very meticulously mentioning the names of each conch to emphasis pandava’s might.
Hrisikesa (Krisna) blew Pancajayana
Dananjaya (Arjuna) blew Devadatta
Vrkrodara(Bhima) blew Paundra
Yudhisthira blew Anantavijaya
Nakula blew Sugosa
Sahadeva blew manipuspaka
Sanjaya continued to describe a few of other great warriors who aligned with pandavas.

Subjective Analysis:
Sounds from the conches of pandavas can be correlated to mix of five elements
Sahadeva: Smell – Earth
Nakula: Taste – Water
Arjuna: Sight – Fire
Bhima: Touch – Air
Yudhistira: Hearing – Sky
Krisna’s conch sound is the absolute harmony of the elements.

Verses: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Objective Analysis:
Up until now, through Sanjaya, Vyasa has set the stage for what is about to come. Sounds emanating
from conch’s of the great warriors sent tremble across. From this point on the main part of Bhagwat
Gita is about to begin.
Sanjaya continued to describe the might of Pandava’s maharathis and saradhis in the hope that
Dhrutharashtra realizes that his sons are no match to this might.
As in the modern days, there were markings that distinguished accomplished warriors from ordinary
soldiers. Chariots of these hero’s had flags with images to distinguish them. Arjuna had Kapi (Hanuman) on his flag.
Now that armies on both sides are ready in their war formations, Arjuna asks Krisna to take him to a  position from where he could review the enemy lines.

Subjective Analysis:
Vyasa’s description of each persona was to subtly indicate the state of the mind. For example, Kapi on Arjuna’s chariot flag can be correlated to state of Arjuna’s mind.
Just as kapi, our mind keeps wandering in many directions. This wandering compels us to act on these thoughts. Sometimes these actions give us satisfaction, but most times it leads to unhappiness if
desired outcomes are not realized.
This is where consciousness helps. Just as sound from krisna’s conch is considered absolute harmony,
consciousness helps you to control the kapi (wanderings).
Meditation helps mind to take a witness role to observe the thoughts and not to act on each one of
them or to be overcome by them.