Krishna - Uddhava Conversation

Krishna - Uddhava Conversation 

Why did Krishna not save the Pandavas when they played dice with Duryadhana & Shakuni?

Wonderful explanation by Krishna himself:

From his childhood, Uddhava had been with Krishna, charioting him and serving him in many ways. He never asked for any wish or boon from Sri Krishna. When Krishna was at the verge of completing His Avatar, he called Uddhava and said,‘Dear Uddhava, in this avatar of mine, many people have asked and received boons from me; but you never asked me anything. Why don’t you ask something now? I will give you. Let me complete this avatar with the satisfaction of doing something good for you also’.

Even though Uddhava did not ask anything for himself, he had been observing Krishna from his childhood. He had always wondered about the apparent disconnect between Krishna’s teachings and actions, and wanted to understand the reasons for the same. He asked Krishna, ‘Lord, you taught us to live in one way, but you lived in a different way. In the drama of Mahabharat, in the role you played, in your actions, I did not understand many things. I am curious to understand the reasons for your actions. Would you fulfil my desire to know?’

Krishna said, ‘Uddhava, what I told Arjuna during the war of Kurukshetra was Bhagavad Gita. Today, my responses to you would be known as ‘Uddhava Gita’. That is why I gave this opportunity to you. Please ask without hesitation.’

Uddhava starts asking – ‘Krishna, first tell me who is a real friend?’ 

Krishna says, ‘The real friend is one who comes to the help of his friend in need even without being called’.

Uddhava: ‘Krishna, you were a dear friend of the Pandavas. They trusted you fully as Apadhbhandava (protector from all difficulties). Krishna, you not only know what is happening, but you know what is going to happen. You are a great gyani. Just now you gave the definition of a true, close friend. Then why did you not act as per that definition. Why did you not stop Dharmaraj (Yudhishtra) 
from playing the gambling game? Ok, you did not do it; why did you not turn the luck in favour of Dharmaraj, by which you would have ensured that dharma wins. You did not do that also. You could have at least saved Dharmaraj by stopping the game after he lost his wealth, country and himself. You could have released him from the punishment for gambling. Or, you could have entered the hall when he started betting his brothers. You did not do that either. At least when Duryodhana tempted Dharmaraj  by offering to return everything lost if he betted Draupadi (who always brought good fortune to Pandavas), you could have intervened and with your divine power you could have made the dices roll in a way that is favorable to Dharmaraj. Instead, you intervened only when Draupadi almost lost her modesty and now you claim that you gave clothes and saved Draupadi’s modesty; how can you even claim this – after her being dragged into the hall by a man and disrobed in front of so many people, what modesty is left for a woman? What have you saved? Only when you help a person at the time of crisis, can you be called ‘Apadhbandhava’.  If you did not help in the time of crisis, what is the use? Is it Dharma?’  As Uddhava posed these questions, tears started rolling from his eyes.

These are not the questions of Uddhava alone. All of us who have read Mahabharata have these questions. On behalf of us, Uddhava had already asked Krishna.

Bhagavan Krishna laughed. ‘Dear Uddhava, the law of this world is: ‘only the one who has Viveka (intelligence through discrimination), wins’. While Duryodhana had viveka, Dharmaraj lacked it. That is why Dharmaraj lost’.

Uddhava was lost and confused. Krishna continues ‘While Duryodhana had lots of money and wealth to gamble, he did not know how to play the game of dice. That is why he used his Uncle Shakuni to play the game while he betted. That is viveka. Dharmaraj also could have thought similarly and offered that I, his cousin, would play on his behalf. If Shakuni and I had played the game of dice, who do you think would have won? Can he roll the numbers I am calling or would I roll the numbers he is asking. Forget this. I can forgive the fact that he forgot to include me in the game. But, without viveka, he did another blunder. He prayed that I should not come to the hall as he did not want me to know that through ill-fate he was compelled to play this game. He tied me with his prayers and did not allow me to get into the hall; I was just outside the hall waiting for someone to call me through their prayers. Even when Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva were lost, they were only cursing Duryodhana and brooding over their fate; they forgot to call me. Even Draupadi did not call me when Dusshasan held her hair and dragged her to fulfil his brother’s order. She was also arguing in the hall, based on her own abilities. She never called me. Finally good sense prevailed; when Dusshasan started disrobing her, she gave up depending on her own strength, and started shouting ‘Hari, Hari, Abhayam Krishna, Abhayam’ and shouted for me. Only then I got an opportunity to save her modesty. I reached as soon as I was called. I saved her modesty. What is my mistake in this situation?

‘Wonderful explanation, Krishna, I am impressed. However, I am not deceived. Can I ask you another question’, says Uddhava. Krishna gives him the permission to proceed.

'Does it mean that you will come only when you are called! Will you not come on your own to help people in crisis, to establish justice?’, asks Uddhava.

Krishna smiles. ‘Uddhava, in this life everyone’s life proceeds based on their own karma. I don’t run it; I don’t interfere in it. I am only a ‘witness’. I stand close to you and keep observing whatever is happening. This is God’s Dharma’.

‘Wow, very good Krishna. In that case, you will stand close to us, observe all our evil acts; as we keep committing more and more sins, you will keep watching us. You want us to commit more blunders, accumulate sins and suffer’, says Uddhava.

Krishna says.’Uddhava, please realise the deeper meaning of your statements. When you understand & realise that I am standing as witness next to you, how could you do anything wrong or bad. You definitely cannot do anything bad. You forget this and think that you can do things without my knowledge.  That is when you get into trouble. Dharmaraj’s ignorance was that he thought he can play the game of gambling without my knowledge. If Dharmaraj had realized that I am always present with everyone in the form of ‘Sakshi’ (witness), then wouldn’t the game have finished differently?’

Uddhava was spellbound and got overwhelmed by Bhakti. He said, ‘What a deep philosophy. What a great truth! Even praying and doing pooja to God and calling Him for help are nothing but our feeling / belief. When we start believing that nothing moves without Him, how can we not feel his presence as Witness? How can we forget this and act? Throughout Bhagavad Gita, this is the philosophy Krishna imparted to Arjuna. He was the charioteer as well as guide for Arjuna, but he did not fight on his own.’- This is when we realize that Ultimate Sakshi/ Witnesser within & without us and we Merge in that God-Consciousness

We discover our Higher Self- The Pure Loveful & Blissful Supreme Consciousness

Hindi wordplays ( Hindi phrases, transliterations to ponder on)

Mala ya Maya??? Are we doing nam jap with Mala or in Maya ?

Khojna & Kho Jana ??? Are we seeking or are we lost ?

Mein Hoon Na - Question or statement??? Think about it????

Diya & Bati ? Oil burns or wick? Does oils burn thru the wick or the wick with the help of the oil??

Bhag Lo , nahi to Bhag Lo ( Participate or run away) 

Gita teachings & famous Quotes : Chap 17 - Faith

Chap 17 : Faith

• Faith can move mountains 
• Let your Faith be greater that your Fears. ( Martin Luther King)
• Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. (Martin Luther King, Jr.) 
• Pastor Tim Hall - The world says, “Seeing is believing” – Faith says, “Believing is seeing”.
• Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark (Rabindranath Tagore)

Sanyas , an FAQ.

What is Sanyas?  Is it...
- Giving up work ? No
- Giving up fruit of action? Not really, because fruit will happen. Action will lead to an outcome.
- Giving up expectation of kind of fruit? Yes. Relinquishing desire for a certain outcome.
- Attachment to fruit? Kind of
- Renounce any attachment to fruit ? Yes
- Going away from action, to forest? No
- Staying amidst world, un disturbed by fruit? Yes

Another word play : GPS

GPS for the spiritual beings:

God (ko) Paane (ka) Sadhan

Govind Pujya Sada

God Prapti Sulubh

Guide (on) Path (of) Self Realisation

God Param Satya

Gyan Pooja & Sadhna

Guru Priy Sadaa

Gun Prakriti Sansaar

Gratitude Patience Surrender

Guru Pujya Sada

Gain & Pain -  Same

Go -  Praying & Smiling

God Peace & Self

MEDITATION ON THE GITA

GITA DHYANAM MEDITATION ON THE GITA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3IZpTwSUc4)


Om paarthaaya pratibodhitaam bhagavataa naaraayanenaswayam, Vyaasena grathitaam puraanamuninaa madhye mahaabhaaratam; Advaitaamritavarshineem bhagavateem ashtaadashaa dhyaayineem, Amba twaam anusandadhaami bhagavadgeete bhavadweshineem.

1. Om. O Bhagavad Gita, with which Partha was illumined by Lord Narayana Himself, and which was composed within the Mahabharata by the ancient sage, Vyasa, O Divine Mother, the destroyer of rebirth, the showerer of the nectar of Advaita, and consisting of eighteen discourses—upon Thee, O Gita, O affectionate Mother, I meditate!

Namostu te vyaasa vishaalabuddhe phullaaravindaayatapatranetra; Yena twayaa bhaaratatailapoornah prajwaalito jnaanamayah pradeepah.

2. Salutations unto thee, O Vyasa, of broad intellect and with eyes like the petals of a full-blown lotus, by whom the lamp of knowledge, filled with the oil of the Mahabharata, has been lighted!

Prapannapaarijaataaya totravetraikapaanaye; Jnaanamudraaya krishnaaya geetaamritaduhe namah.

3. Salutations to Lord Krishna, the Parijata or the Kalpataru or the bestower of all desires for those who take refuge in Him, the holder of the whip in one hand, the holder of the symbol of divine knowledge and the milker of the divine nectar of the Bhagavad Gita!

Sarvopanishado gaavo dogdhaa gopaalanandanah;
Paartho vatsah sudheer bhoktaa dugdham geetaamritam mahat.

4. All the Upanishads are the cows; the milker is Krishna; the cowherd boy, Partha (Arjuna), is the calf; men of purified intellect are the drinkers; the milk is the great nectar of the Gita.

Vasudevasutam devam kamsachaanooramardanam; Devakeeparamaanandam krishnam vande jagadgurum.

5. I salute Sri Krishna, the world-teacher, son of Vasudeva, the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanura, the supreme bliss of Devaki!

Bheeshmadronatataa jayadrathajalaa gaandhaaraneelotpalaa; Shalyagraahavatee kripena vahanee karnena velaakulaa; Ashwatthaama-vikarna-ghora-makaraa duryodhanaavartinee; Sotteernaa khalu paandavai rananadee kaivartakah keshavah.

6. With Kesava as the helmsman, verily was crossed by the Pandavas the battle-river, whose banks were Bhishma and Drona, whose water was Jayadratha, whose blue lotus was the king of Gandhara, whose crocodile was Salya, whose current was Kripa, whose billow was Karna, whose terrible alligators were Vikarna and Asvatthama, whose whirlpool was Duryodhana.

Paaraasharya vachah sarojamamalam geetaarthagandhotkatam; Naanaakhyaanakakesaram harikathaa sambodhanaabodhitam; Loke sajjana shatpadairaharahah pepeeyamaanam mudaa; Bhooyaadbhaaratapankajam kalimala pradhwamsinah shreyase.

7. May this lotus of the Mahabharata, born in the lake of the words of Vyasa, sweet with the fragrance of the meaning of the Gita, with many stories as its stamens, fully opened by the discourses of Hari, the destroyer of the sins of Kali, and drunk joyously by the bees of good men in the world, become day by day the bestower of good to us!

Mookam karoti vaachaalam pangum langhayate girim; Yatkripaa tamaham vande paramaanandamaadhavam.

8. I salute that Madhava, the source of supreme bliss, whose Grace makes the dumb eloquent and the cripple cross mountains!

Yam brahmaa varunendrarudramarutah stunwanti divyaih stavaih, Vedaih saangapadakramopanishadair gaayanti yam saamagaah, Dhyaanaavasthitatadgatena manasaa pashyanti yam yogino, Yasyaantam na viduh suraasuraganaa devaaya tasmai namah.

9. Salutations to that God whom Brahma, Indra, Varuna, Rudra and the Maruts praise with divine hymns, of whom the Sama-chanters sing by the Vedas and their Angas (in the Pada and Krama methods), and by the Upanishads; whom the Yogis see with their minds absorbed in Him through meditation, and whose ends the hosts of Devas and Asuras know not!

Gita Mahatmaya is the Glory of the Gita written by Sripad Shankaracharya and is chanted before or after recitation of the Gita

Who should read the Gita

Gita & Ashtvakra Gita

Recently got introduced to this amazing text 

Background 

Gita : Krishan to Arjun, in midst of battle ground, when Arjun a knowledgeable person is deluded

Ashtvakra Gita (AG) : Ashtavakra to Janak, in the palace as Janak wants to learn about self & liberation.

There is a lot of similarities amongst the 2 since both are talking about self as part of Divine.

AG is all about the non dualistic philosophy. It is recommended to be read after one has read the Gita and a couple of other scriptures. 

Blogs & Sites to visit for Gita study

http://simplebhagvatgita.blogspot.sg/

http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Articles/faq.html

http://www.gita-society.com/childrengita.pdf

http://bhagavad-gita-blog.blogspot.sg

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bhagwat-Gita-Blog/122940751074102

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vedanta-Vision/111891745549976?fref=ts

http://gita-blog.blogspot.it

Working for God or a Corporate

Well humans usually work for someone...self, family business, government or a corporate or God.

If working for self, or family business with a commercial & business attitude, everything is for a gain. Everything a transaction and focus on profitable actions etc. All profits, problems are our own. Starts with me, mine and remains there.

Working in Govt or hospitals , only few do it with service attitude, most just do a job to get a salary.

When you work in a corporate, you can be a humble realistic & simple employee, who simply does his job with honesty and gets his salary. Treats the office, table, chair, laptop etc as companies property and uses them appropriately . Uses them to perform his duty and knows only his to discharge his duties. Imagine an employee thinking all the things / tools given to do work as his own...misusing them etc... will certainly get him into trouble.

Now imagine doing whatever we do and consider ourselves as the people of God sent to planet Earth to do the tasks ....and the home, education, health, skill, opportunity etc.... all is given by God to do that....Got you thinking???? When you do this all gain, credit, complaints , problems, belong to God...we are just doers. This is a recession proof, problem proof and simple path....Think about it.

Learning from scriptures.

They say one who wants to learn even from fold around him. And one who doesn't will not gain even in presence of great masters.


A story to share

Man  A was reading Ramayan waiting for his train at the station. Man B says what you are reading this old book when there are so many magazines etc to read. Man A continues reading quietly and Man B reads his magazine then takes a walk & returns. Man A is still reading Ramayan, and B commented, so many eateries here and you still reading...and goes away. Man A continues reading. Man B returns with chips & magazines , train arrives and they both board. As luck would have it they are both seated close to each other & Man A starts his reading again, and B is about to pass another comment and realises he left his wife at the platform & shrieks. Man A quietly responds, if you had read the Ramayan, you would have known that when getting on to boat, Ram ji makes Sita get on first ......

So Ramayan teaches us discipline & etiquette & what is right in all situations in life.  Now we know where opening the door to ladies owes its origin....

Another summary of Gita....(copy paste from a fellow Gita Student)

Chapter 1:

Plot Summary:

The first chapter in the bhagavad gita is simply showing us the setting as it is all about what the Pandavas see on the battlefield

Just before the Battle one of the five pandavas undergoes an emotional crisis and doesn't want to fight his cousins, teachers, family. But Krishna (God) explains to him that it is his duty to fight for righteousness. If he dies then he would have a dutiful death and if he won then righteousness would prevail.

Learning Summary:

- Forsaking your duty will result in more pain and disharmony than death

- Even during times of confusion, if we are holding God's hand, learning will emerge.

Chapter 2

Plot Summary:

In this chapter instead of sympathizing with Arjuna, Krishna explains to him the importance of his duty and helps him overcome his weakness in his heart so that he can do what is necessary to win his inner emotional battle

This conversation also leads to krishna becoming Arjuna’s spiritual guide/master. He will eventually guide and answer arjuna’s questions that will lead to him  to establish himself in equipoise and then perform his duties

Learning Summary:

- Atma cannot be destroyed or created

- We can only focus on our action not their outcomes

- Your Duty always brings you joy and peace

- We must become a sthitpragya (one that controls his/her senses and is self-contented)

- We should avoid desires and worldly pleasures and focus on our duties and karma

Chapter 3:

Plot:

Arjuna is still confused. He thinks that sankhya -yoga means that one should retire from active life and practice penance and austerities. But Krishna says, “no. Fight! But do it in a spirit of renunciation and offer all the results to the Supreme. This is the best purification. By working without attachment, one attains the Supreme.”

Performing  actions for the pleasure of the Lord guarantees material prosperity and freedom from sinful reactions. Even a self-realized person never gives up his duty. He acts for the sake of educating others.

Arjuna then asks the Lord what it is that causes one to engage in sinful acts. Krishna answers that it is lust which induces one to sin. This lust bewilders one and entangles one in the material world. Lust presents itself in the senses, mind, and intelligence, but it can be counteracted by self - control.

Learning Summaries:

- There are two ways to attain culmination, Gyan Yog (Path of Knowledge)  or Karma Yog (Path of Action)

- Karma Yog (Path of Action) is considered superior to Gyan Yog as it takes more effort to live a life and dedicate all actions to God rather than to mediate for life.  

- You are always doing some action

- Since you are always acting you should invest that time into actions that will benefit all  

- Everyone is born to attain the supreme goal and if not they have  wasted their lives and will return to the birth - death cycle.

- God has created this world not for himself but for us to experience life and attain the supreme goal

- Egoistic People think they are doing the action but really humans are just the doers of Gods actions

- You should always keep your senses under control or you will waiver when it comes to your duty  

- Desires and Anger are the enemies of karma yog

(*Discontinued plot summaries as there isn’t much of a development in the plot from after Chap 3)

Chapter 4:

Learning Summary:

• God is unborn, inimitable and the regulator of all beings
• When one comprehends true perception they connect with god at a divine level
• One must be aware of how their ancestors performed their duties so that they can follow their foot steps and perform their duty
• Do your duty happily but don't expect any happiness from the outcome
• Everything is Bhrama! Self realisation is simply accepting and becoming a part of it
• The prasad from spiritual yagna is bliss & joy
• One who has attained true perception is not distracted
• One must give up skepticism to become a karma yogi

Chapter 5:

Learning Summary:

• Karma Yoga is considered superior to Sankhya Yog as it takes more to act and live your life then simply meditate
• The characteristics of a Karma Yogi : Intellect (takes right decisions) , Controlled Mind (detached) , Controlled Sense (In control) and identification of consciences
• One who has established their divinity attains lasting peace
• Renouncing all actions and attaining self control establishes one in peace

Chapter 6:

• One who does his work without expecting the fruits of the results is a true karma yogi
• One should concentrate and control their senses
• One who sees God in everything will never lose God
• You need to discipline your mind and body for meditation

Chapter 7:

• There is nothing but God, we are all a part of him
• He is in the water, in the sun, in the air we breath, God is everywhere
• God is the intelligence in the intelligent and the glory in the glorious
• God is neither a part of Satva, Rajas and Tamas nor are they a part of him
• 4 types of people worship god: the desperate, the seeker of wealth, the seeker of wisdom and the man of wisdom (Jnani)
• The Jnani is the best one and is favoured by god as his mind and intellect are established in god
• The ignorant don’t recognise God as an imperishable, unborn , supreme deity
• God knows all beings in the past, present and the future

Chapter 8:

• Brahman is the indestructible
• Adhyatma is one’s own self
• Adhibhuta is all perishable object
• Adidev is not changing , always there like the Sun
• Great souls have reached God with the highest perfection and have been relieved of the birth, death and rebirth cycle.

Chapter 9:

• This chapter is about the yoga of supreme knowledge

• This knowledge is sovereign, holy, secret, easy to practice and imperishable
• In order to get close to God we must have constant and firm faith in him
• All of the beings that don’t abide by God, just haven’t realized God
• Those you don’t have faith in God remain in the birth and death cycle
• During the “end” all enter God’s Prakriti and then at the beginning of creation God sends them forth again.
• The world is constantly destroyed and then recreated
• You can worship anything as everything is a part of God, whether that be rivers or plants
• Even if a sinner worships God with exclusive devotion he will become a saint as he has rightly resolved.
• For God, all beings are equal

Chapter 10:

• This chapter is about the yoga of divine glories
• Even the sages and saints don’t fully know the Supreme
• Those that know of God share this realization
• Ek Roop - 1 God
• Anek Roop - Many Gods
• God has existed forever, he is the beginning, the middle, the end, the before the beginning, the before the end.
• God is everything (objects, places, people, time)

Chapter 11:

• This Chapter is about the Yoga of the Divine Form
• In this chapter Arjun is cleared of all doubts and requests to see the lord's divine form if he deems fit

In this part arjun sees the lord and there are multiple descriptions but none can be so accurate so chose to leave it out

• Krishna (The Lord) gives Arjuna the divine eye as human eyes cannot see the lord
• Arjuna then see’s how the lord is everywhere
• Arjuna sees the annihilation of both armies in the lord        

Chapter 12:

• In this chapter Arjun compares Bhakti Yog with Gyan Yog
• Arjun wants to know which method of devotion are better: 
  
  

  1) Direct Devotion without form

  
  

   2) Devotion and Worship through a form

  
  
• God tells him that Bhakti yog is easier for most to achieve in comparison to gyan yog but they both reach the same goal.
• God Describes how to practice devotion:
• Establish intellect in God,
• dedicate action to God,
• relinquish fruit of action ,
• dedicate work to God
• God treats everyone the same (sinners and devotee’s)

Chapter 13:

• Kshetra is the field where one can work out ones karma.
• One who realizes this sublime truth is called Kshetrajna the knower of absolute truth.
• Lord Krishna briefs Arjuna about different forms of Kshetras and that internally all Kshetras had same entity
• A believer of wisdom of sages and saints of different era who gained enlightenment in their lifetime, believer of various Vedas and Brahma Sutras must also believe in concept of Kshetra and Kshetrajna.

Chapter 14:

• Someone who is aware has the ability to balance their Guna’s hence change the course of their lives.
• In order to attain liberation one must stop being lazy and take action, but the action has to be for the greater good of humanity

Chapter 15:

• This chapter is about Purushothama Yoga
• One must understand that everything has come from the universal source (God)
• With the example of a tree:
• The Roots are the supreme spirit
• The trunk is Atma or Brahman
• Cosmos are the branches
• Holy books / scriptures are the leaves
• Individual souls are the fruits & flowers.

Chapter 16:

• We all have good and bad qualities  
• We have to enhance the 26 divine qualities mentioned in this chapter

• Some divine qualities are :
• fearlessness
• honesty
• Some wrong qualities consist of:
• Ego
• Jealousy
• Pride
• Anger
• If we don’t change our habits and start to posses more of the divine qualities we will be walking on the path of ignorance

Chapter 17:

• Everything and everyone is made up of the three gunas
• Satogun
• Rajogun
• Tamogun
• Faith is built on the 3 gunas
• Your character/ behavior is impacted majorly by the dominant presence of one of the Gunas

Chapter 18:

• Renunciation is a method through which someone can attain liberation
• True sanyasa is giving up ego
• What is renunciation? Renunciation is giving up all of the fruits of action to god
• What is Sanyas? Sanyas is giving up a desire prompted by an action of some sort
• All actions are dominated by the presence of one Guna (eg. Satvick Action)
• We must just put in our best effort and receive the results as God’s wish
• Where there is a man like Arjun - who is ready to do his duties (gaandeevdhaari Arjun), and where there is God - the ishwar of all Yog (Yogeshwar).......prosperity, divinity, purity and bliss will prevail