Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita

Review of “Knowledge of Self”

AcknowledgementsThese notes are based on Purna Vidhya,

Vedic Heritage Teaching Programme.This material covers pages 34-43 of

“Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita” Part 12, written by: Swamini Pramananda Saraswati and Sri Dhira Chatanya.

Some material based on commentaries posted at: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org

Slides prepared by: V. “Juggy” Jagannathan.

Sri Bhagavan

said

Those who should not be grieved

for

grieve you words of wisdom, and you speak

Those from whom

breath has left (dead)

And, those from whom breath has

not left (alive)

do not grieve

wise

Verse 11 DiscussionWhat is deserving of grief?

The wise do not grieve

Source of sorrow

Pragmatic view

Bhishma and Drona have no compunction in fighting Arjuna – they know their duty - svadharma

Arjuna appears to be wise in his comments.

There was never a time that I did not

exist.

nor you (was time that you did not

exist)nor these kings.

and, not true, shall not exist

all of us hereafter (future)

Verse 12 Discussion

Atma Soul

Atma is everlasting – belief in re-incarnation of soul with different bodies

The use of double-negatives

Just as for an individual, there is in this body

Childhood, youth, andold age

So also, the gaining of another body

The wise person doesnot come togrief.

O – son of Kunti, Arjuna.

The sense organscontacts with thesensory world, indeed

Sita-usna-sukha-duhka-dahgive rise to cold andheat , pleasure andpain

anithyah - notconstant

coming and goingEndure them, O descendant of Bharatha .

Verse 14 discussionKrishna addresses Arjuna as both son of Kunti and descendant of Bharatha.He is saying, you have a great lineage on both your fathers’ side and mothers’ side – and Arjuna’s actions does not reflect well on that lineage.

Krishna basically is saying don’t be fooled by sensory perceptions which are transitory. Endure them (titiksasva).

Verse 14 discussion – Life LessonsEquanimity in facing all situations – pleasant and unpleasant. Means controlling emotions and not give into excessive joy or grief or anger.

All situations are transitory.

Don’t worry about situations that you don’t control.

Does not mean you should not do your duty.

Does not mean you should not try to rectify an unpleasant situation or enjoy a pleasant situation – just be cognizant that they are temporary.

To whom

indeed

do not affect

ete - these two (sukha and dukkha)

person

Arjuna – bull among men – prominent among men

The same in pleasure and in pain

One who is discriminating

He, for gaining liberation (moksa), is fit.

Verse 15 discussionKrishna is saying to Arjuna, a wise person does not get affected by happiness or sorrow. Such persons are fit to reach heaven.

* Pura – in purusa (person) implies full of noble qualities. Being un-affected by life events and sensory perceptions is a noble quality.

* Notes based on: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-02-15.html

Verse 15 discussion – Life LessonsPrescription:

Results in afterlife:

Fit to reach heaven.

Results in this life – pragmatic and practical

A life devoid of stress and all the attendant problems.

Equanimity in facing all situations – pleasant and unpleasant. Means controlling emotions and not give into excessive joy or grief or anger.