Gita Simplified & with stories : Chapter 6

What is this chapter about

• The Path of Meditation
• Dhyan Yoga : Communion thru meditation

Summary of chapter

• Apart from the path of knowledge & duty, 3rd path is meditation.
• Yogi is one united with God. Has control over senses and sees all with an equal eye.
• Mind is ones best friend and worst enemy. Meditation helps control & calm the mind.
• Discipline of mind and body required for meditation.
• Guru Nanak has said : Master the Mind & you can master the world. "Man Jeetya, Jag Jeetya"
• Also in Gurbaani there is "Alap Ahaar, sulabh si nidra", which is about moderation in food & ensuring good rest in sleep & regulated lifestyle.
• Meditation & Prayer or spiritual practice never goes waste. If one does not reach God in this birth, then the credit for all prayers, knowledge & meditation are carried forward to next birth and one is born in circumstances that help in the spiritual progress. 
• DISPASSION / VAIRAGYA
• Seeing all as God's creation, feeling compassion for all and always having mind set on God, makes a perfect Yogi. Beyond duality and is unified with everything!
• Meditation should be simple & natural and is needed for spiritual progress.

Shlokas references

• 45 shlokas 
• 6.5 our own self is our best friend and worst enemy 
• 6.10 - 6.18 : Simple tips about meditation : sitting, contemplating, controlling senses, discipline....
• 6.16 : moderate sleep & food 
• 6.23 - 6.28 : meditation leads to bliss & liberation
• 6.31 : seeing God in everyone & everything
• 6.33 - 35 : fickle mind can be controlled by dispassion and practice needed
• 6.41- 6.44: Yogabrishta, one who did not achieve highest level & completes/ progresses in next / future births

Key message from the chapter 

• Start with karam yog for chitt shiddhi, attitude of prasad budhi and then meditate to progress
• Meditation is a tool to be in Yog with God.  Meditation is preparation to be Yogi.

Summary in poetry 

You and only you are your friend and enemy

Elevate the spirit on your own journey

Honor and dishonor life will throw

Treat them equal, they come and go

Eat, sleep and act in moderation

Helps to reach your final destination

He is with ME and very aware

Who knows and sees ME everywhere  

Control your mind, restless for sure

Practice and dispassion, you ensure

Faith and worship come what may

He is the most devout, I would say

A story related to the message

Related Story of Dhruva and his determination

King Uttanpada had two wives. His first wife, Sunity, was the daughter of a tribal chief. His second wife, Suruchi, was the daughter of a rich king. Sunity had a son named Dhruva and Suruchi's son was named Uttam. Dhruva was the elder of the two, so it was his right to become the next king.

But Suruchi was very selfish; she hated her stepson Dhruva and wanted her son Uttam to be the ruler. Uttanpada loved Suruchi more than Sunity because she was beautiful. Under her influence, he ordered Sunity and Dhruva to leave the palace.

Mother and son started living in a small hut near the forest. Sunity told Dhruva stories about God and Dhruva always thought about God.

One day, Dhruva went to the palace and saw Uttam sitting on his father's lap. But when Dhruva tried to do the same, Suruchi stopped him and said, "There is no place for you on your father's lap. Only my son can sit on his lap." Dhruva looked at his father hoping that he would stop Suruchi and take him on his lap. But his father did not say anything and ignored him.

Deeply hurt, Dhruva returned to his mother. Weeping bitterly he asked her why he had no place on his father's lap and why they had no place in the palace.

Sunity had no answer to her son's questions. Dhruva said, "You told me that God is good, he helps those who pray to him. I will go and find God, he will certainly give me my place." Dhruva decided to go to the forest and pray until God appeared before him. In the forest, he met Narada Muni, who was worried that a five-year-old boy like him would face many difficulties in the forest. He warned Dhruva that wild animals could eat him up. But Dhruva was determined to find Lord Vishnu. Impressed by his determination, Narada taught him how to survive in the forest. He also taught him the mantra "Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya' by chanting which he could please Lord Vishnu.

For many months, Dhruva prayed in the forest, and faced many difficulties. He even stopped eating. With every breath, he chanted the mantra in praise of God. Finally, Lord Vishnu was pleased with his determination and appeared before him. He not only granted Dhruva a place on his father's lap, but also a permanent place in the sky after his death.

When Uttanpada heard that his son was living in the forest, he was sorry for his actions. Narada Muni told him that his son had performed difficult prayers in the forest and was blessed by Lord Vishnu himself. When Dhruva returned, Uttanpada was waiting for him at the gates of his kingdom. He took his son lovingly into his arms. He brought him and Sunity back to the palace. Uttanpada immediately made Dhruva the king, saying that the boy who could face such a young age, could easily rule the kingdom. Uttanpada himself went to live in an ashram.

Dhruva became a wise king and ruled for many years. He spread the message of peace and justice in his kingdom. When he died, he became a star in the sky. This star, called the pole Star or Dhruva Tara is still seen shining in the sky. It is the only star that has a permanent place and does not change its position in the sky. All the other stars and constellations move around it throughout the year. Travellers look up to the Dhruva Tara in the night to find their way.

Related posts on this blog

• Why Meditate
• Seeing God in each being

Gita Simplified & with stories : Chapter 5

What is this chapter about

• Path of Renunciation
• Karam Sanyas Yoga 

Renunciation does not mean give everything up & sit in a corner or going away to mountains, it means understanding that Nature / God is the planner & having things executed via you. Knowledge helps one understand that you are here on Earth as God wants you to do certain things.

This chapter is about comparing Sankhya & Karam Yoga to dispel Arjun's confusion between the two.

Summary of chapter

• Sanyas means giving up (worldly things & personal motives), but a karamsanyasi is the one who gives up for himself and continues to work for the society, understanding that God designed for him to do so.
• Karamyog prepares one for Self knowledge. And Self Knowledge leads to renunciation
• In this chapter Krishna says that following Karam Yoga with focus on God is the easier of the 2 paths, though both reach same goal.
• Sanyas seems easy, but giving up everything and just contemplating and reaching God is not for everyone. 
• Sankhya Yoga demands that we see world as Mithya & be contemplative. Karam Yoga demands we live in world and all actions are informed.
• Karamyoga is path of action, practises with discipline and mental renunciation.
• Joy starting with sense object via sense organ is short lived and will lead to some suffering.
• Happiness from within is longer term and towards liberation
• Being unattached to action and doing it to the best ability as service to God and his creation , gives inner joy and leads to liberation. 
• Action is superior to contemplation. 
• There are only 13 types of action

1. seeing
2. hearing
3. touching
4. smelling
5. walking
6. winking
7. sleeping
8. eating ( and 4 ways to consume : gulp, drink, suck, chew)
9. emitting
10. breathing
11. grasping
12. conversing
13. giving up

Shlokas references

• Only 29 shlokas
• 5.10 Being unattached like water on Lotus leaf
• Seeing God in one & all (5.18). We tend to be biased & judgemental.( once this understood, garuntee to reach God)
• 5.19:  When there is no doubt in mind regarding Brahman, sameness in all, then cycle of bith & death breaks
• 5.22 : Happiness from sense objects is temporary & leads to sorrow
• 5.24 When illuminated from within , is liberation.
• 5.26 : realised soul

Key message from the chapter 

• Giving up the DOERship attitude is important
• Attitude for the action binds and forms karma, not the action itself
• When joy is felt within and not dependent on anything, it is true & everlasting joy
• To live with inner joy and constant connection to God is liberation : liberation from desires, attachments, sorrows, fear, anger, lust.... 

Summary in poetry 

Renunciation and Action, ways are two

            Which one is better, guide me through

Superior to renunciation

I say it is unattached action

With subdued senses and life so pure

Anyone can reach ME, this is for sure

Even wise men perform deed

To purify their souls indeed

Ever clear in their equal vision

They are ever on their mission

A story related to the message : Adi Sankaracharya

Adi Sankarāchārya (or Sankara) is the author and promoter of non-dualistic philosophy of Vedanta. It states that entire universe is nothing but an expansion of God. He was born in the state of Kerala in the year 788 A.D. By the age of eight, he had learned all four Vedas, and by the age of twelve, was well versed in all Hindu scriptures. He is believed to be Lord Shiva in human form.

He certainly was a Self-realized man. But at first, he had the feeling of duality, of high and low caste. His faith in the absolute God (Brahma) was not very firmly established in his heart.

One day, he was going to the Shiva temple in the holy city of Banāras after bathing in the holy Gangā river. He saw an untouchable, a butcher, carrying a load of meat. The butcher came on his way and tried to touch Sankara's feet in respect.

Sankara shouted angrily: “Get out of the way! How dare you touch me? Now I have to take a bath again.”

“Holy sir,” said the butcher, “I have not touched you, nor have you touched me. The pure Self cannot be the body or the five elements out of which the body is created.” (There are more details in Chapter 13.)

Then Sankara saw the vision of Lord Shiva in the butcher. Lord Shiva had Himself come to Sankara to firmly implant the non- dualistic philosophy in him. Sankara was a much better person from that day by the grace of Lord Shiva.

This story illustrates that equality with all beings is difficult to practise all the time. To have such a feeling is the mark of a truly God-realised person or a perfect Samnyāsi.

A poem that relates to 5.22 "Even This Will Pass Away."  http://www.spiritualeducation.org/library/poem/this_will_pass_away

Related posts on this blog

• Apple products
• Connecting to God

Gita Simplified & with stories : Chapter 4

What is this chapter about

• Yoga of Knowledge in Action 
• Renouncing Action with/in Knowledge
• Transcendental Knowledge

Summary of chapter

• This chapter touches upon how this knowledge was first imparted to Sun God and then lost & this current form is when Krishna spoke to Arjun. The 10 avatars are mentioned and that all holy wise saints are sent by God for the good of mankind.
• The chapter mentions the order / sections of society : It is a system to organise society by a set of classification. It was meant to be a classification based on Guna & Karma. (In recent times corrupted to classification by birth). Modern grouping : Birds of feather flock together 
• Head - Intellectuals - Thinkers - Visionaries (SRT)
• Hands - Action oriented - for others Warriors / Leaders  (RST)
• Tummy - Action for self - Consume / Eat / Bhogi -  Business (RTS)
• Feet - Inaction - Lazy/ no ambition -  Workers / Serving (TRS)

• This chapter also deals with forms of God as deity's that we are familiar with.
• It mentions that Lord fulfils our wishes and desires but only if we work towards it and ask with a pure heart. (4.11). God deals with us the way we deal with him.
• Working like a gyani
• Only pray & no work is like begging. And working and no prayer is like slavery
• Pray & work and dedicate to God , is the way to go
• Karma : Action & Reaction / cause & effect theory. 
• Actions will create bondage if done for self or for fruit
• When doing actions not as doer but as representative of God, we don't earn any good/bad karma.
• Sacrifices and yagnas done with knowledge & for the larger good are beneficial. 
• Birth & Death cycle to consume all desires / vasanas and then Moksha to merge into God
• Gyan tapas requires effort. Growing old, hair growing etc happens on its own. But knowledge requires self effort.
• Worshipping a deity is common and when done with faith 
• Having a Guru for spiritual knowledge is important

Shlokas references

• 42 shlokas
• 4.7 : the famous shloka of "Yada Yada ye dharmasya..." when there is adharm, people are away from their true divine nature, selfishness prevails, society is deteriorating...I will come to help sort things out
• 4.11 : Different strokes for different folks. 
• 4.12 : Working towards education, job, marriage, kids...we work towards it and it gets done. So work towards moksha also.
• 4.13 : Order of society
• 4.19 - 23 : Actions of a Gyani
• 4.24 : Everything is Brahman for a Yogi. The food, the farmer who grew it, or mother who cooked it, the fire that digests it....
• 4.25 - 31: talks about sacrifices and Chanting, Jap, reading scriptures etc. (4.17 talks about forbidden actions)
• In 4.33 mentions that sacrifice thru knowledge is superior to all material sacrifices.
• Knowledge helps exhaust our past life karma. Seeking and then implementing knowledge (4.37) The fire of knowledge reduces actions to ash. Knowledge is the purifier just like fire
• Seva is socially beneficial & Sadhna helps in seva.  People doing seva are blessed by lord with self knowledge (4.39)

Key message from the chapter 

• When necessary, Lord comes to earth for benefit of mankind to set things in order. Establish DHARMA

• Selfless service & self knowledge, burns past karmas & frees the soul from cycle of birth and death

Summary in poetry 

You do not know ME fully yet

I am the Real and the Light

When Right is in its very decline

I manifest in forms, all divine

I appear at MY will, time and again

To restore peace, I ascertain

Leave your desire, fear and anger

Follow your way with all the fervor

Every path is dear and pleasant

If pursued with pure intent

Action and inaction, it is a world of choice

Always listen to your inner voice

A man’s life sans oblation

Leads him away from salvation

A story related to the message

Related story 1 is of  Eklavya about praying to a form with great faith.

Long ago there lived the Pandavas and the Kauravas, the princes of Hastinapura. All the princes were taught archery by Sage Dronacharya. The Pandava prince, Arjuna was Drona’s favourite student. Ekalavya, a poor commoner boy also wanted to be Drona’s pupil but Drona refused to teach him. And blessed him that practise with determination & you will excel.

Ekalavya was a determined boy & felt blessed by Drona. He carved a statue of Drona on a tree trunk in the forest and started practising in front of it and offered flowers to the statue. Time went by. One day the princes and their teacher came to the same forest. As Arjuna aimed at a particularly difficult target, an arrow pierced the target. Shocked, the boys and their teacher looked around. They saw Ekalavya, who went up to touch Drona’s feet. “Who is your teacher?” Drona asked. Ekalavya quietly led him to the statue. Drona did not want anyone to be better than Arjun. He thought for some time and said, “If I am your guru, give me my gurudakshina.” “Surely, sir,” bowed Ekalavya. “I want your right thumb, replied Drona. Ekalavya wordlessly cut off his right thumb and laid it at Drona’s feet.

This story is really about his faith. Eklavya meditated in front of the statue, presented his problems and found his solutions. The bit about the thumb has many interpretations including that his tribe was from another kingdom etc.

Related Story 2 of King Janak : The Rajrishi, who ruled as a king & worked/lived as a rishi. He lived in the palace , but was not attached to the luxury and totally committed to his duty as the king and all actions were for others & for the good of his kingdom.

Related Story 3 of man who could run very fast. Once there is a robbery in his village and people tell him to run after the robber. He runs, overtakes him, get tired and the comes back. Others look surprised and asked. His response, I did not know I was to catch him, was asked to run so I ran!!! Action without knowledge cannot use a mans skill.

Related posts on this blog

• Dharam Arth Kaam Moksh

Gita Simplified & with stories : Chapter 3

What is this chapter about

• Karam Yoga : The path of social service. When work is worship, it is selfless, for a larger cause and no attachments & expectations from the work or its outcome.
• Reaching God / realisation thru Karam Yog ( Path of selfless action)  is recommended in this chapter.

Summary of chapter

• Arjun seeks to understand what is better Karam yoga or Sankhya yoga?
• Karam Yoga principles can be followed by anyone & everyone. It is SIMPLE, just a little effort to get started
• Working for selfish reasons does not bring true happiness. (Is like sinning brings short term pleasure). Actions bind us to its outcome unless done as an offering to God or for his service or as sacrifice.
• There is a mention of the 5 supreme Yagnas
• Actions speak louder than words. Students learn best by experiments & demonstration! Best leaders lead by example. Action is key.
• All work is good. Its alignment to your nature and your positive & selfless attitude in doing it , makes you happy & peaceful. No job is big or small, what is important is how you do it, what is the goal and the intention behind it.
• This chapter details the primordial nature the 3 gunas :-  Satwa, Rajas & Tamas
• Desires is the cause of all suffering was quoted by Buddha and holds true as for all selfish, evil desires at all times. Desire fulfilled gives birth to more desires. And unfulfilled leads to anger & depression.
• Knowledge of self is covered by layers of desires & controlling senses will help fight this enemy
• Body, senses, mind, intellect & self.: Sense superior to body, mind controls senses, only intellect can manage mind & Self is supreme. 
• Animals usually have 1-2 senses well developed and hence can be attracted / distracted by them Like Moth to light and fire where they die. Fish to food and it gets hooked and caught . And so on. Humans have all senses well developed, hence surrounded by distractions!
• Controlling desires can be done by knowledge and awareness.

Shlokas references

• 43 shlokas
• 3.6 : If controlling only action organs and mind dwelling on sense objects means sense organs completely out of control
• 3.9 : we are bound by our actions unless done as a sacrifice (yagna)
• It is sinful to enjoy with offering to God. And enjoying the remnants (or as prasad) is free of any sin. 3.13
• 3.19 performing duty is supreme
• 3.22 All 3 loks nothing I really need to do, but I am still busy giving soul the opportunity to have spiritual experiences and reach me.
• 3.30 surrendering actions to lord, 3.31 released from karma
• 3.37 : Rajas gives rise to desire and leads to anger. However Rajas guided by Satwa will have a different impact
• 3.38 : smoke covers fire, dust covers mirror and membrane covers embryo, the world is enveloped by desire!

Key message from the chapter 

• Karam Yoga is superior to Gyan Yoga as the actions are submitted to God and are for social good
• Gunas (SRT) combination / balance is important. Rajas and Tams need to be guided by Satwa
• Controlling sense organs & hence desires is important, as they are obstacles in the path of self knowledge. 

Summary in poetry 

Knowledge and Action, ways are two

Which one is better, guide me through

Everyone is so bound to act

No one can deny, it is a fact

Do your job with all your might

If it is detached, it is so right

Free of ego do your best

For the benefit of the rest

Sacrifice is the way to go

To reach the Supreme as you know

Based on which the Creation rests

This is how the Universe works

Know your strength, trade and skill

Make your destiny with your will

Your own task, do it with charm

Others’ role, it will only harm

Rest not until you fulfil your duty

Seek your Self in all its very beauty

A story related to the message  Sir Alexander Fleming 

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life." "No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years after ward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill. Someone once said: What goes around comes around. Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like no body's watching.

What goes around comes around, universal law of karma. 


Related posts on this blog

1. Choices and action are key
2. Actions for benefit of society
3. The law of Karma

Gita Simplified & with stories : Chapter 2

What is this chapter about

• Sankhya Yoga : The path of knowledge
• This Chapter is when Krishna speaks! (2.2)
• Gita Updesh starts with 2.11

Summary of chapter

This chapter is said to be like the contents of Gita summarised. Or an index to the rest. Note all that is said here is repeated in the following chapters.

• First Krishna talks about soul & body and how atma is forever & body a temporary abode and the famous lines that atma cannot be killed, cut, dried, burnt, touched and so on that it is constant and everlasting. Body is born, hence must die.
• An illustration to explain.....Water!!! We know states of water : liquid, solid & vapour. We know forms: lakes, rivers, snow, ice, clouds, steam. And most of us can relate to the water cycle as well. Now a river has a start and end and so does the cloud or lake. And maybe one can define the begining and end of rain as well.  But can someone say where the water cycle begins? or where water started??? does it start with the ocean or ends there?   Any form or state, its still water really. Same for the soul.
• Second he tries to explain that warriors don't step back from war & he should fight as that is his duty as warrior. He will be ill famed to walk away from war.
• Third, introduces KaramYoga, selfless action, doing things for others benefit
• Fourth he mentions about Sthir Pragya , the wise man who is always in equanimity
• In this chapter its explains about the sense organs ability to distract & our ability to control them.
• The famous shloka 2.47 teaches us that inaction is not possible. And our ability and control is only to act and not beyond that.  The key teaching being focus on effort.
• The beautiful merging of the river to the ocean without causing any change in the ocean is compared to the equanomous person not disturbed by others is mentioned in 2.70

Shlokas references

• 72 shlokas
• 11-30 : about you are a soul not body (25 : soul is incomprehensible)
• 31-37 : reminding Arjuna about his duty as a warrior 
• 42 - 46 : about Vedas , self less action
• 47 : Right to action and no right or control or attachment to fruits
• 55 - 72 : characteristics of a God realised person (58 : example of tortoise, for withdrawal of senses)

Key message from the chapter 

• Krishna tries to explain & convince Arjun in many ways
• duty to fight
• giving up will make him infamous
• then explains he will not kill anyone as souls are imperishable
• self less action for others

Summary in poetry

Pity, you are meek and weak

Who fears future is so bleak

Know your might and the grace

A great warrior of your race

I am really torn asunder

My Lord, here I surrender

You know what is best and right

Guide me through this dark night

Hear me say the Truth in brief

Abandon indeed all that grief

Differ how they Body and Soul

Know this reality as a whole

Prescribed duties you fulfil

With single focus, if you will

Mind not the results in every age

It will lead to mere bondage

With senses controlled, wise men say

It is all but a Divine Play

Pleasure and pain life may bring

Glories of Lord they always sing

Two main evils desire and anger

Enlightened know how to conquer

They lead their lives, quiet and peaceful

Filled with joy, serene and blissful

A stories related to the message

The famous story about shooting the eye of the bird teaches us about being focused is relevant to this chapter. (For those who do not know, an Archery teachers asks his students to shoot the eye of the bird. Then he asks each one what you see. One saw the bird on the branch. Another saw that as well as the tree & clouds and so on. The perfect student only saw the eye of the bird...the target!) With focus on target, single mindedness & full attention, one achieves the goal. While at archery lesson ...be in teh moment..listen to teacher and focus on target

Another story is about THE PREGNANT DEER - a beautiful story about focus on action & faith in God !

In a forest, a pregnant deer is about to give birth.

She finds a remote grass field near a strong-flowing river.

This seems a safe place.

Suddenly labour pains begin.

At the same moment, dark clouds gather around above & lightning starts a forest fire.

She looks to her left & sees a hunter with his bow extended pointing at her.

To her right, she spots a hungry lion approaching her.

What can the pregnant deer do?

She is in labour!

What will happen?

Will the deer survive?

Will she give birth to a fawn?

Will the fawn survive?

Or will everything be burnt by the forest fire?

Will she perish to the hunters' arrow?

Will she die a horrible death at the hands of the hungry lion approaching her?

She is constrained by the fire on the one side & the flowing river on the other & boxed in by her natural predators.

What does she do?

She focuses on giving birth to a new life.

The sequence of events that follows are:

- Lightning strikes & blinds the hunter.

- He releases the arrow which zips past the deer & strikes the hungry lion.

- It starts to rain heavily, & the forest fire is slowly doused by the rain.

- The deer gives birth to a healthy fawn.

In our life too, there are moments of choice when we are confronted on αll sides with negative thoughts and possibilities.

Some thoughts are so powerful that they overcome us & overwhelm us.

Maybe we can learn from the deer.

The rest was not in her hands & any action or reaction that changed her focus would have likely resulted in death or disaster.

The priority and duty of the deer, in that given moment, was simply to give birth to a baby.

Ask yourself,

Where is your focus?

Where is your faith and hope?

In the midst of any storm, do keep it on God always.

He will never ever disappoint you. NEVER.

Related posts on this blog

• Action and its fruit
• Right & duty
• FEAR
• The popular Fruits of action Shloka  (47 chapter 2)

Gita Simplified & with stories (a series of posts)

I have been romancing with Gita for over 12 years and in the last 2+ years made over 340+  posts relating to Gita teachings on this blog.

Upcoming is a series of posts is an attempt to compile & share my notes and understanding of each chapter in the following structure :

• What is this chapter about
• Summary of chapter
• Shlokas references
• Key message from the chapter 
• Summary in poetry ( Source: from a Facebook post)
• A story/stories related to the message ( Source : Mostly The International Gita Society, as it has a Gita for kids with these stories, please visit http://www.gita-society.com/childrengita.pdf )
• Related posts on this blog

Gita Simplified & with stories: Chapter 1

What is this chapter about 

• Observing the armies on Battlefield
• Arjun Vishad

In this Chapter the great war is about to begin, as a result of the various wrong choices & actions over the years of the many people involved. This chapter is all about Arjun's last minute doubts and confusion regarding the war.

Summary of chapter

• An introduction to all the many warriors assembled there and what they represent. 
• At the battle ground Arjun sees family in the enemy side and is confused. 
• A bit of ego : wants to see who I am going to fight.
• There is Arjuna's confusion, of what is right? What will he gain from doing what is right, ref the war??
• Finds excuses for not fighting. Pleads all kinds of reasons ranging from don't want kingdom, war will cause destruction, will not be able to live with the guilt and so on & on
• Wants to withdraw from the war!
• We learn how we can be distracted from our goal or from doing what is right. How attachments cause us to move away from what is right.  

Shlokas references

• 46 in all, and mostly Arjun talking except a couple by Sanjay 
• 1-11 : about armies & 12-19 about conches
• 20 -27 : Arjun's reasons for not fighting 
• 1.31 - 1.46 : Arjuna gives various reasons not to fight. as he is overcome by attachment
• Emotional imbalance lead physical dis orientation (1.36) and inability to act rightfully 

Key message from the chapter

• Its Arjuna whining & trying to find an excuse not to fight (Like kids trying to bunk school when not ready for a test, or young girls saying will not leave her parents to get married ever!!)
• He talks intellectually that why have war, death & the misery will come from it. He is deluding from the fact that why the situation for war came about? and why it is important to punish and terminate, eliminate the sinners. (Can a country really run without Police & Army to take corrective & protective actions?!)
• In attachment & confusion, ability to take correct decisions is lost
• Attachment wrecks duty

Summary in poetry 

Everything is in vain

Arjun cried out in pain      

How do I kill my kith and kin?

Oh my God, it is a sin

I do not want to play this game

It will only bring me shame

Let me not indulge in this war

I cannot take this any far

A story related to the message

Once there was a saint who always spoke truth. A wealthy man being chased by a thief hides near his cottage in the forest. The thief asks the saint about the wealthy mans location.

Now this is a story of a saint who in keeping his vow (& image) to always speak the truth tells the robber (who kills & steals) the location of a wealthy man;  who is then killed & robbed. Was the truth worth it?

In Gita there is a reference to what is true & what is right. Knowing what is right has variables of past or impact on future.

The Mahabharat episode about Ashwathama dying & Yudhistir saying part of the truth loud and clear and rest in a whisper ....was that lies? white lies? truth????

One needs to understand that between Dharma's which is the higher principle. As in the case of the saint Truth or Ahimsa? As for Yudhistir, a mixed up truth to Guru versus winning the war to establish Dharma in the world.

Think about it ...

Related posts on this blog

• Honesty 
• 2*2=4 and TRUTH 

A Crow

A crow lived in the forest & was absolutely satisfied with his life. Then, one day he saw a swan."This swan is so white, he said, & I am so black." 

This swan must be the happiest bird in the world.He expressed his thoughts to the swan. "Actually," the swan replied, "I was feeling that I was the happiest bird around until I saw a parrot, which has two colors. I now think the parrot is the happiest bird in creation." 
The crow went to the parrot. The parrot said, "I lived a very happy life,until I saw a peacock. I have only two colors, but peacock has multiple colors" 

The crow then visited a peacock in the zoo.
"Dear peacock," the crow said, "you are so beautiful. Every day thousands of people come to see you. When people see me, they shoo me away. 
I think you are the happiest bird on the planet." 
The peacock replied, "I always thought that I was the most beautiful and happy bird on the planet. But because of my beauty, I am entrapped in this zoo. I have examined the zoo very carefully, & I have realized that the crow is the only bird not kept in a cage. 
So for past few days I have been thinking that if I were a crow, I could happily roam everywhere like A Free Bird"

ALGAE

The concept of ALGAE  , obstacles in life...
Anger
Lust
Greed
Attachment
Ego

Krishna & Gopis

This can be interpreted as
1. Lord & his devotees
2. One Krishna & Many Gopi's ( Many gopi's could be the many levels of existance, many roles that we play ...)
3. One Krishna is constant and Gopi's are the thoughts ...
4. One Krishna is Sun ( Constant & Illuminous) and Gopi's are the planets around it
5. One creator, many creations

and so on....

Also another interpretation is that the Gopi's understood that God is with me and hence after Raas Leela each found herself to be dancing with Krishna. Krishna appeared as dance partner to each one to let them experience that he is with them .

Krishna as a consultant

Imagine that all that Krishna is saying in Gita is like management consultant talking to a CEO.

He is kinds of helping you see your strengths and weaknesses. Helping you re align to your very purpose. Reminding you that the organisational (read higher) goals is what you need to work for. Facilitating your understanding of investing for long term (read right versus wrong, as right wins in the long run)...and so on.

To understand Krishna's teachings one can view him as a teacher, friend, guide or consultant!

Truth & Lies..and in betweens

Truth is Good & Lies is bad is a universal law.

Then there is white lies ...simple ones like your dress is lovely , the dish is awesome .....no thank you I am full...and the drawing is beautiful...things that are said to please someone or to motivate someone ...or to be polite....and so on.

Various white lies are acceptable in all our lives and teaching the fine differences between same to kids ( or even to adults) can be challenging.

The Mahabharat episode about Ashwathama dying & Yudhistir saying part of the truth loud and clear and rest in a whisper ....was that lies? white lies? truth????

There is a story of a saint who in keeping his vow to speak the truth tells the robber the location of a wealthy man who is then killed & robbed.  Was the truth worth it?

In Gita there is a reference to what is true & what is right. Knowing what is right has a many variables of past or impact on future. But truth is never changing.

One needs to understand that between Dharma's which is the higher principle. As in the case of the saint Truth or Ahimsa? As for Yudhistir, a mixed up truth to Guru versus winning the war to establish Dharma in the world.

Think about it ...

For example ... it is 10 am ...this is true for Singapore time zone but not the rest of the world.
A clock that is not working will still show the correct time 2 times every day....

We all say killing is wrong, and there are many examples like when killing is right : killing a terrorist to save many others, or killing a hijacker for similar reasons.

Awareness & Distraction

Being aware is good, but being distracted is not.

Being aware during a meeting that its running late is good but being distracted by that and loosing focus leads to wasting time & resources.

Similarly being aware of a friend being around while in gym is Ok but having the urge to talk with her or thinking of all the things you need to tell her is being distracted from the present and hence not doing gym properly.

In class being aware of what needs to be done after school is fine, but thinking about it in class is being distracted.

Being aware of your favourite dish being prepared for dinner is pleasant, but being excited too much about it and not being able to focus on home work is distraction.

Being aware and not distracted is a sign of maturity and spiritual growth.

Once we know its becoming a distraction we need to control our minds/thoughts.

Protecting from Terrorism

Countries spend a humungous amount in protecting themselves from terrorist attack. The underlying truth is that the terrorist needs to be successful once and the defence and intelligence need to succeed 100%.

Imagine each person doing similar efforts to protect oneself from loosing self control or negative thoughts. The world would be soooo different.

Many Lives Many Masters

The title is that of a book and could also hold true for a pet cat!

Just read the book. Its about messages from the spirit world that a psychiatrist receives via & while treating a patient.  The messages are universal truths and for me were familiar as I have read them in the Gita. There is a mention about the soul and body, about how a soul needs to accomplish its task, about each one having some divinity that needs to be used for a larger cause. There is even a reference to the divinity inside to be like a diamond with many facets and each of us is different because of the dust covering many facets !

It is indeed an interesting read because it shows how the universal truths are sent to individuals ready to receive it!