Bhagavad Gita Course: Ch. 13–18 Review
Class Notes |May 29, 2018
Notes by Rubini Naidu
Jiva is the wave. Jagadiswara is the ocean. Bhagvan is the water. There is a unifying factor between the creator and the created.
Overview of Bhagavad Gita chapters:
- Chapter 1- Introduction
- Chapter 2- Table of Contents
- Chapter 3 to 14- Content
- Chapter 15- Summary
- Chapter 16 to 18- Appendix
Chapter 13:
Bhagvan shares that jnana is values. If you have values, you have jnana. The meaning of jnana is that which makes you quieter (not knowledge!) The quieter mind leads to a still intellect, which enables one to dissect the known and the knower.
Chapter 14:
Bhagvan explains that gunas can be virtures or vices. Our gunas are our blueprints.
We have 3 gunas. Tamas or laziness is low thinking and low living. Rajas or aggression is low thinking and high living. They believe pleasure, possession will bring hapieness. Sattva is high thinking and the living doesn’t matter!
If one is aware of their gunas, they can change!
Bhagvan says that once one has changed, they can transcend their gunas. This involves ultimately transcending sattva.
Chapter 15:
This chapter is a shasthra. A shasthra is that which is good for us as well as that which is comprehensive. In this chapter, goodness is encouraged in a comprehensive.
This chapter is a summary of all of Srimad Bhagvad Gita. We study the absolute and the relative, creation and creator.
Chapter 16: Swabhava, How I Am
Sanyasa is knowing what you are and knowing what you’re not. When knowing what is real and unreal, one’s action will lead to what is real!
Chapter 17: Shradha, Faith
How I am is expressed through shradha. Our shradha should be dedicated to:
- Yantra — equipment
- Tantra — technique
- Mantra — purpose
Chapter 18:
This chapter is a review.
Prince Arjuna asks how he can let go. He is honest enough to know he is holding on to the unreal.
Bhagvan instructs to let go by engaging in thyaga of raga. Raga means dependency. One should not depend on anyone or anything—and this becomes possible if one has clarity.
Bhagvan shares to Prince Arjuna: “You are Free! Don’t be sad.”
The Srimad Bhagvad Gita is completed by sharing that wherever there is Bhavan, there is freedom.
Bhagvan is vision. Prince Arjuna is lifestyle. Where vision and lifestyle come together there is freedom.
Vasu Srinivasan, Toronto Canada
Here is the summary of the 18th chapter.
Bhagavad geeta is a subjective science and hence should not be studied or internalized as an objective science. The main thrust of the Lords teaching is to see the Lord all around us and mainly in us. The jeeva without vaasanaas, the intellect etcetera is the Lord Himself !! Yet we want to see the Lord as separate from us and in the form of a murthy. The Lord says at the end to prince Arjuna ‘see me in your heart’.
The jeeva is like the wave,( kshetra) and Jagadeeshwara is like the ocean and Brahman is like water, when the jeeva and Jagadeeshwara become one ‘Ikya’.Brahmaikya’
The wave is nothing but water with a form. Once we go beyond the identification with the form (body) we realize that the lord and we are one and the same. The Knower is Kshetragna and once the realization comes one becomes birth less.
Jnaana is essentially values. One with values has a quieter mind and this makes the intellect quieter. A quiet mind and calm intellect are essential for spiritual growth.
The virtues and vices one has come from the ‘gunaas’. Gunaas are like ropes the good ones (satva ) help us to raise to high standard of thinking and the others tamo guna and rajo guna pull us down or distract us, cause agitation, not conducive for spiritual growth. Once we are aware of our gunaas we can sequentially change them for better ‘gunaas’. That is from tamo gunaa to rajo guna and then to predominantly satva guna.
Chapter 15 is considered as a shaastra by itself as it covers all the main points of the entire Geeta. In this chapter, The lord talks about The creator and the created( both God), the relative and absolute nature of the individual , the means of liberation by cutting down attachment with the weapon of viveka and vairaagya, and the goal of life.
Cutting down attachment is a very important lesson in chapter 15, every thing that is perishable or changing and not Real needs to be cut down with ‘sukshma viveka’.
All desire prompted actions-sakaama karma- are essentially selfish actions and need to be replaced with ‘nishkaama karma’ or selfless actions. This makes the mind more pure and prevents new vaasanaas from growing.
Aasuri sampathi is when we focus on our own benefit or gain, we need to cultivate more ,
‘daivi-sampathi’ qualities that are for the welfare of all ‘shreyas’ , the whole world is ‘God’ that is our one-ness with God.
What type of life we lead in our present life is the blue print for the next life-janma.
The 16th chapter focuses on svabhaava our divine virtues and demonic disposition, about bondage and liberation and overcoming kaama-krodha-lobha often mentioned in our studies. It also talks about the different paths to Self Realization
Bhakti-yoga, karma-yoga,and Dhyaana-yoga.
The 17th chapter focuses on shradha. Unless we put in right and sincere effort we will not get what we are aiming for ie peace. Our actions are to be dedicated to the higher, our thapa(austerity)- rightly invested and daana- sharing what we have properly are all crucial for our spiritual growth.
The 18th chapter is the largest chapter. The focus is on tyaga of attachment or ‘raaga’ this refers to dependence on possessions, people and our own body.
The nature of our actions is emphasized ie: vision or purpose of our actions, how one should dedicate actions to the lord without ‘phalaasakti’. To be contented, happy and more so humble, should be the aim.
If our effort is substantial then we will get guidance from a guru who will lead us to the scriptures and eventually we will be the recipients of Eashwarakripa.
In this chapter Lord Krishna is the Guru, and the whole vision and prince Arjuna represents Dharma and exemplifies the life style we need to adopt.
The discussion topic was very apt. We are afraid to make commitments for fear of failure (that will be painful for the ego ‘aham’) also due to tamo guna which is laziness and selfish .The rajo guna will question “what is there in it for me”?
Satva guna makes us work for others and ourselves again what is shreyaskara.
Notes by Vidya Pandit
The difference between subjective and objective science is that subjective science needs more honesty and focus on meaning. Subjective science involves an assimilation of the knowledge so as to bring about a change in ones life.
A study of the bhagwad gita encourages us to move on from needing to see Bhagwan in a physical form to feeling the presence in ones own madhyam.( in our own hearts)
From the study of chapters 7 to 12, we should evolve from:
knowing bhagwan to remembering, feeling, seeing envisioning and finally depending on Him.
chapter 13 teaches us about aikya or oneness.
The jeeva, and jagadeeshwara are one. This oneness when manifest, is Brahman.
The Jeeva is the wave, Jagadeeshwara is the ocean and Brahman is the water.
The kshetra or the field is the known
We need to be the Kshetradnya- the knowers..
The dnyana — knowing the values, is that which makes our mind quieter and intellect still.
chapter 14 — re the gunas
The source of all the virtues are the gunas. The virtues ae the ropes that pull us up and the vices pull us down.
We need to be aware of the gunas- tamas, rajas, satva within us. An awareness of this , is what can help us transcend.
chapter 15 tells us about what is the real world,( what is real and unreal), who we are , who is God, what transcends us and what is the relationship between us, the world and God
Desires generate actions that bind us. we should nip the desires to try and end the desire -action cycle
chapter 16 gives the message about how to live today , which dictates how one will live in next lifetime.
it refers to the divine and devilish qualities that are in every human being.
swabhava is classified into diva, asura and a combination of the two.
we should build on our dcivi sampatti.
asuras are those who focussed on their own gains.
extreme materialism is a devilish quality. that brings no happiness.
we need less sakama( selfishness) and more nishkama ( selflessness)
the divine qualities are the stepping stones to self realization and liberation.
chapter 17 emphasizes the effect of the food we eat, sacrifices we make, charity and we do towards our fellow humans. we should reduce tamasic and rajas actions and cultivate satvic actions
Svabhava and shraddha determines our actions
the food we eat- aahara- should be healthy for the body and mind
we should perform satvik yajna- for spiritual development, without material motives
we should maintain physical , verbal and mental austerity.
dana or charity should be for noble purpose, done at a proper time and done respectfully.
chapter 18-
the highest path of religion is unconditional love for lord Krishna .
satvik tyaga is needed.it involves doing ones duty and giving up attachment to any personal reward.
5 factors are involved in any action.
foundation, doer, instruments, energy and divinity.
the deeper aspect to any action should be the vision behind it, purpose, attitude with which it is done and the commitment.
we are not the doers
we are not the equipment
we are not the deserver
we should engage in our duty and offe r all to Bhagwan.
we should seek isvara, take refuge in him, submit all action and its results to isvara.
only this will help us transcend from the maya we are trapped in.
Only Bhagwans grace can help us make progress in our spiritual journey.
Vijayalakshmi Shreejay, Milwaukee, US
• What is the difference between an objective science and a subjective science?
o An objective science cannot be made subjective — it has a place in our life, in the world.
o A subjective science should not be made objective — we tend to externalize (external name/ form) vs. focus on our inner self/ our center — feel spirit in our hearts — God is in me — in my name and form. You are divine.
o Rebalance the objective and subjective aspects of your life
• Recap
o Ch 1 — Intro
o Ch 2 — Table of contents
o Ch 3–14 — Contents
o Ch 15 — Summary
o Ch 16–18 — Appendix
o Chapters 1–6: Focus on Tvam — Jiva (~wave)
o Chapters 7–12: Focus on Tat — Jagadeeshwara (~ocean)
o Chapters 13–18: Focus on Aikya (~ water) — oneness between creator and creation — experience Brahman
o Chapter 7 — Know the divine
o Chapter 8 — Remember the divine
o Chapter 9 — Feel the divine
o Chapter 10 — See the divine
o Chapter 11 — Envision the divine
o Chapter 12 — Depend on the divine
• Chapter 13 Review
o Kshetra — that which is known — field — Thoughts, emotions
o Kshetrajna — Knower
o Jnana — is values. If you have values, you have Jnana — subjective
o Jnana — that which makes you quiet — catalyst for intellect to be still
o Jnana helps us have the Viveka to discern between kshetra and kshetrajna
• Chapter 14 Review
o Source of virtues and vices — Gunas ~ rope — that pulls you up or down ~ Blueprint
o 3 gunas
1. Tamas — laziness — low thinking and low living
2. Rajas — aggression — low thinking, high living — focus on pleasure, possession
3. Sattva — quietude — High thinking, living does not matter
o Be aware of your gunas to change
o Once you have changed (tamas -> rajas -> sattva), then you can transcend the gunas (sattva)
• Chapter 15 Review
o Known as a shastra
o Message with 2 factors — encourages goodness/ dharma and comprehensiveness
o Goodness encouraged in a comprehensive way
o Absolute and relative, Creator and creation, Ignorance and forgetfulness
o Use shastra of Viveka to cut down ashasva (Maya)
o Sannyasa — embracing resignation (from that which is not me) — embrace the Absolute — who I am. Know what you are not and what you are. Change what you invest in. Shara -> Akshara
• Chapter 16 Review
o Sakama -> Nishkama (purity) -> Pramana (authority) -> Tyaga (let go of the known)
o Clarity -> Conviction -> Confidence
o Daivi sampatti — qualities of the divine — oneness
o Asuri sampatti — qualities of the demonic — focused on own gain
o Rakshasa sampatti — focused on others’ loss
o How you are today will determine your tomorrow
o Chapter 16 — focuses on svabhava (who I am)
• Chapter 17 Review
o Chapter 17 — Focuses on shraddha (faith)
o Invoke faith with the right inputs — people you associate with
o Our shraddha should be directed to yantra (equipment), tantra (technique) and mantra (purpose)
o Mantra should be focused on yajna (dedication), tapa (investment), Dana (selflessness)
o Sattva — selflessness, Rajas — selfishness, Tamas — self-harm
• Chapter 18 Review
o Review of contents of Bhagavad Gita
o How do I let go? Of the known, not real. Engage in Tyaga — of raga (attachment, dependence)
o Clarity of Karma — 5 components of action
o Be clear on vision/ purpose/ attitude/ Understanding/ commitment of karma
• Questions/ Comments
o The hardest working people I know. How — humble and happy
o Bring in more humility — less doership, deservership
o Invoke kripa — Atma kripa, Acharya kripa, Shastra kripa, Ishwara kripa
o Krishna to Arjuna — Do not be sad, You are free
o Krishna ~ Jnana (Vision), Arjuna ~ Lifestyle
o Vision + Lifestyle = Rest/ Freedom
Discussion Question
• What stops us from committing and what will start us to commit?
o Rajas — one’s own gain vs. Sattva — feeling of oneness.
o Focus on what you have vs. don’t have
Reflection Question (RAW)
Dream about Bhagavad Gita. Bring it from your conscious to subconscious mind.
Final Comments
· Next week (Jun 5, 2018) — Full review of Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta
· Sep 11, 2018 to Dec 10, 2019 — Meditation and Life — 200 students
· Jan 2020 — Upanishad course
· Social media impact — Vichara Gurukula
· Guru Dakshina
