Bhagavad Gita Course: Ch. 7–12 Review

Class Notes |May 22, 2018

Notes by Deepika Allana, New Delhi, India

REVIEW OF CHAPTERS 1–6 (FROM LAST WEEK REVIEW)
What is the difference between samsara and sambandha. The difference is meaning.

• Samsara: where there is no meaning.
  — ->Could be professional, with family, our own health.
  — ->Most of us are in samsara because the path of least resistance is to just do.
  — ->We are seduced into anartha (that which has no meaning).
• Sambandha (well connected): where there is meaning.
  — ->Meaning connects me to Bhagwan/my nature.
  — ->Meaning demands us to think/exert more. If I don’t want to think/exert, why should I bring meaning into my own home?

This is why enlightenment takes so long. BUT in actuality, if someone has the right association, it becomes a catalyst to engaging in right action which is catalyst to right attitude.

• Then we no longer think in terms of time, we think along lines of sincerity. How sincere we are will determine whether there is meaning/association.
• The best association is with Bhagwan. Even more than gurushishaparampara (trying to direct to God).
• To have the association, you have to go deeper. When you go deeper, you align more with humility. The purpose of why we breathe/think, is to become more humble
• The is continues until we can’t get any more humble, and that is oneness. Even in dwaita, there is twoness.

CHAPTER 7

Introduction: This is a transition chapter. A person who is stuck in samsara, there mind is always wondering around jagat (the multiverse), but then they begin to think. About what? The jiva. Ch. 1–6 focused on jiva (individuality). The evolution of that is to wander around jagadeeshwara (totality).

• Shifting focus from jnana to vignana (knowledge to wisdom).
• Shifting focus from murti to madhya (instead of seeing God outside of oneself, we start to see God inside of oneself).

Bhaktas
We are all bhaktas. There are 2 types:

• Type 1: has a relationship with God because stuck in adversity (beggars)
• Type 2 (more evolved): has a relationship with God out of prosperity. They are in prosperity and grateful to God for these blessings.
  — ->Shishu (disciple): evolution of a bhakta is to be a shishu.
  — ->Jignasu (one who wants to know God): They know the purpose of living is jagadeeshwara.
  — ->Jnani (best among Type 2 bhaktas): the one who does know God, which means they know they are God) — from dwaita to adwaita.

How do we evolve from a bhakta to a shishu, to Jignasu to jnani? We need grace from our own efforts (kripa).

• You should feel you are the hardest working person you know (invoking kripa).
• Those who are changing their thinking — how should I think, what type of action

Vichara becomes catalyst for pramana (knowledge becomes authoritative.) Knowledge that is not authoritative is just information.

CHAPTER 8

Prince Arjuna is no longer focused on adversity/prosperity. He is a jignasu. Compare him from Ch. 1 to Ch. 8 — nothing he thinks about in Ch. 1 matters anymore. He asks the 7 QUESTIONS. The most relevant is What is karma?

Karma

• Karma is kshara that leads us to akshara.
• Kshara is that which is changing. Changing is leading us to changeless. If articles, beings things not leading us to changeless, then useless.
• Bhagwan Krishna teaches Arjuna how to do this — need to evolve around veda, tapa, dhana?, yagna.
  — ->Veda: insight — revolve around veda because gives you insight
  — ->Tapa: to invest in oneself — make the best use of body/mind intellect
  — ->Tana of Dhana??? — what to do with you investment? Share selflessly
  — ->Yagna: training should lead to yagna — to be dedicated. To God, to enlightenment.

Kriya yoga — if one is truly going to engage in kriya yoga — the Vedas are the beginning of it. So much of what we know about yoga now doesn’t involve study.

What happens after death?

At the end of Chapter 8, Arjuna asks: if I die, what will happen to me? Prayana kali — Path of moon and sun.

• Who takes path of the Moon — someone who lives for valuables, that which is inert and dark.
• Who takes path of the Sun — someone who follows what we study. Values/consciousness/light. How I live today will decide my tomorrow. All my tomorrows will determine my next life. Follow this path and there is no reason to fear.
• Fear of death — if you are afraid, you are not dead, if not dead, then can’t be afraid. Nobody knows the experience of death, other than enlightened masters beyond death. If dead, then have no experience, so what are we afraid of? A person living a life of values has no fear.

Arjuna wants more — not satisfied with life and death for the body.

CHAPTER 9

Bhagwan Krisha explains Raja Vidya (king of knowledge) — What is our only deed? Happiness. To be independently joyous.

• What knowledge is leading us to this? Economics, cooking, being parent — none of this directly leads to independent joy. It is this knowledge that leads to independent joy.
• Nothing in the Gita is exaggerated. The greatest secret. The science is beyond the equipment we have (body/mind/intellect).
• Some people believe they are engaging in contemplation but haven’t studied. What are they contemplating on?

Bhagwan shares the knowledge. Referring to creation, he says

“I am not in them, they are in me”

• Think of it as thoughts. Awareness doesn’t depend on thoughts. Thoughts depend on awareness.
• After that Bhagwan says:

“They are not in me either”

• Takes us to the deepest depth. Sharing that there is no thoughts/duality. There is only being. Sat/Chit/Ananda.
• Arjuna loves this and enamored by this. He wants to “be” But HOW? Bhagwan Krishan says bhakti.
• Ch. 9 has good shlokas on bhakti.
• Bhagwan Krishna says to depend on that which is independent. Then you will slowly become independent too. HOW? By knowing that which is independent.
• The more you know Bhagwan, the more you love bhagwan.

Fall with the fall, flow with the flow. If we learn to do this, he won’t get hurt.

Arjuna wants to know- Bhagwan — where are you?

CHAPTER 10 — Begins Vibhuddhi yoga

• Bhagwan expresses God with form and name (vibhudhi).
• Through vibhuddhi, you have to get to yoga.
• With Vibhuddhi, focus on creation. With yoga, focus on the creator.
• Yoga is still the means. Yoga should be leading us to focus on the taatva (beyond creation is concsiousness).
• Vibhuddhi to yoga to taatwa.
• This chapter focuses on creation.
• Bhagwan Krishna feels enthusiastic to share and share and share because Arjuna is a sincere student. There are so many examples.

CHAPTER 11

Bhagwan Krishna is taking us in our evolution from sight to insight. From enquiry from mountains/rivers/time, to inquiry (within myself). Shows all vibhuthis in Chapter 10, but in Chapter 11, Bhagwan deletes time, space, matter. Deletes dwaita. Gives us a taste of adwaita (oneness).

• Bhagwan tells Arjuna to be an instrument. Your whole life, you have been the doer. The evolution of the doer is instrumentship. The evolution of instrumentship is be-ership.
• Nimitamatra- training to be-ership is instrumentship.
• Arjuna loves Bhagwan Krishna more and more. When you love someone, you want to be with them.

CHAPTER 12

• Bhakti yoga- He has faith.
• Arjuna asks Bhagwan Krishna- how can I be closer to you?
• QUESTION: Should I be closer to you as God (the creator) OR as consciousness (Brahman)?
• ANSWER: Bhagwan Krisha says that the way to be closer to me is to be natural.
  — ->What is most natural?
  — ->To have a relationship with God. All of us need to understand deeply, sadhana should be natural.
  — ->If you are listening well, you will naturally become reflective. You will naturally engage in contemplation (niddhidyasana).
  — ->Can be deep in contemplation when running. Don’t need to turn lights off, away from people. Contemplation should be natural. Contemplate by listening.
  — ->How to listen? By following dharma. Right association/action/attitude. Don’t have to contemplate in commercialized way.
• Bhakti: defined as depending on God.
  — ->If you can’t depend on God, then practice depending on God.
  — ->If can’t practice depending on God, then dedicate your efforts toward God.
  — ->If you can’t dedicate your efforts towards God, then accept the results of your actions.
• To help us engage in all of this, Chapter 12 is focused on virtue developments.
• Lots of virtues were shared. We highlighted 8 in this class. I will review aniketha.

Aniketha (the one who is homeless): the one who does not depend on article/beings/circumstances for comfort. The one who is comfortable in their own skin, so comfortable in all other skins. If you don’t have this virtue, the vice that grows is tambhidvaa (hypocrisy). Fake personality for others when not comfortable with self. We are studying depth — to keep unmasking and keep unlearning.

Know, see, feel, envision, depend on God.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: What is most disheartening about following Dharma?

Personally, Vivekji is in a difficulty. One of the Chinmaya Mission centers which applied for charity status, was rejected. Right now, on a macro-level, Chinmaya Mission is applying policy to take away the change in credibility for Acharyas like Vivekji because they are married. They will not be allowed to use the title Acharya anymore. Bhagwan’s work will be done by Bhagwan. For Vivekji, that is what freed him from going back to an empty mind.

LAST WEEK RAD

Change all backgrounds to dialogue of Bhagwan Krishna and Arjuna. One who sees the Creator in Creation, only that person sees. Everyone else is engaged by instinct. Notice light when wake up. We realize that the light is because of the presence of divinity.

THIS WEEK RAD

Do whatever it takes to cry for Bhagwan. If can’t cry for Bhagwan, cry to Bhagwan.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Certificates: Many of you completed courses and have not received the certificates. Email CIF so they can send you a certificate. They are given to Vivekji to be given to us. Many of us have completed all questionnaires for Gita course. All sorts of people have been able to complete the questionnaires so it is possible. Don’t think that you can’t.

Next week: This is our 52 class. Next week we complete the review. 54 class, we will complete the Gita course once and for all.

Dakshina: In Ch. 3- Bhagwan shared a harsh word — stenaha (thief). Someone who is ungrateful for the gift that they are given. When one leaves the gurukula traditionally, every earning that comes into their life, they send some back to gurushishaparampara. In Chapter 9, when we offer dakshina, we take a coin and dip in water — symbolizes our sweetness offering our bhakti, with our gratitude. Ch. 17, we studied how, with all that comes into our lives, 1/3 for today, 1/3 for tomorrow, 1/3 to share.

When first started doing seva a long time ago, Vivekji had a revalation that Vivekji wanted to be like Swami Chinmayanda. Vivekji wanted to make this knowledge accessible to all, to the public. We have a team of people working on Vivekji being a TED international speaker. People want and need this.

Vivekji would like to develop more classes. These courses should be accredited. The biggest dream is for Vichara Gurukula to also become a traditional gurukula — like historically, when 6 year olds are part of the gurukula. When kids go through this, their parents have to also. Vivekji wants vichara gurukula to be a physical place, not just virtual. The best investment we can make is to offer dakshina to Swami Chinmayananda. Vivekji is an amplifier, working to be a conduit of this knowledge. Think of what you save money for, and what you use money for. No deeper investment than to offer dakshina, for dreams to become reality.

How to offer dakshina: Go to VG, you can mail a check, there is a link to credit card. Getting donation receipt. https://medium.com/vicharagurukula/guru-dakshina-8fec576842a2 -

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Review Session 2 May 22 2018

By Trevor Allen

What is difference between samsara and sambanda — meaning; no meaning former, meaning latter

Most of us are in samsara because we just do

Meaning means thinking and exertion

If someone has right association then they will do right action and thus with right attitude

Best association is god which means going deeper and align with humility which allows oneness

This is shared in Ch 1–6

Ch 7 focus on tvam

Focus shifts from knowledge to wisdom, from murti outside to god inside

We are all baktas and there are two types

Atrha — in adversity — beggars

Ararti — in prosperity — average people

More evolved is disciple — wants to know god

Then jnana — knows god

Need grace to get to jnana and this is achieved through own efforts only

The knowledge becomes authoritative rather than just information

Ch 8 seven questions

What is brahman, adatama, karma, adibuti, adideva, adiyagna, paryanakale

Karma is sara leading to aksara. If changing is not leading to infinity then it is not karma just labour

Veda gives insight into you and life and leads to tapa best use of BMI then dhana then yagna and thus dedication

Kriya yoga is not yoga

Pryana kali — what happens when I die

Depends on when you die. Path of light is values and will make you not afraid

Noone knows experience of death so why worry

Ch 9 King of knowledge

What is only need? Happiness. Only path to independent joy is this knowledge

BG has no exaggeration

Knowledge is beyond BMI — cannot infer spirit — do not be shallow — dive deep

I am not in them they are in me. Thoughts depend on awareness not reverse

There is no duality just being. Depend on that which is independent and slowly you will become independent.

Dependency can only happen if you know the independent

The more you know god the more you love god

Ch 10

Vibbuti — god with name and form

Yoga — focus on creator

Tatva — focus on formless god

Of all knowledge I am the knowledge inside

Of all munis I am vyasa

Ch 11 move from sight to insight

Change from enquiry to inquiry

Krishna shows his form

Showing that Arjuna is not killing he is just an instrument because of stani — all is as it should be

When you love someone you want to be closer

Ch 12 Arjuna has faith now

Should I be closer to you as creator or god

Be natural which will bring you closer to god

Sadhana will naturally lead to reflecting and thus contemplation

Bhakti is depending on god and if you cannot then practice, otherwise dedicate actions to god else accept results as prasada

Aniketa — homeless which means one does not depend on three P’s and is comfortable with themselves

Hypocrisy — act what they are not

Know god, remember, feel see and be god

Disscussion — What is most disheartening about following dharma?

Vivek reply — when following dharma difficult situations arise like mission refused charity status, change to his credibility because of change s to definition of who can be called acharya

Dyarsaya risi son of atri risi and nanuysa who are the ideal couple. Incarnation of shiva — name means dirty clothes and shows he is beyond body. Need to be simple like him.

Raw — cry for/to god

Stenaha — theif — ungrateful for gift they have been given

Be more generous than you have been in past

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Bhagavad Gita — May 22nd 2018 notes
By Uma Gorti

Introduction:

What is the difference between Samsara and Sambanda?

Samsara — where there is no meaning

Sambanda — There is meaning , well connected — not just a relationship

Anartha — no meaning, artha — meaning

Meaning drives us to exert more. We talk about enlightenment, which takes years ( billions of years).

Right association is a catalyst for right action, right action is a catalyst for right attitude.

We should inspect — as to how sincere we are in our quest for enlightenment.

Best Association with Bhagwan can be achieved through association with Guru, who

directs us to God.

Purpose of why we breathe — to become humble

When there is only me there is Conceit

Where there is oneness there is no conceit.

Chapters 1- 6: talk about TVAM

Chapter 7 : Less about TVAM, more TAT

Bhagvan asks to evolve from Jnana to Vignana, from Murti to Madhyama.

Instead of seeing God outside , see inside.

One who is in Samsara, involved in the worldly — Jagat

Once you start to think about Jagadeeshwara — there is peace.

Bhagvan begins Chapter 7 by talking about the different types of Bhaktas :

Arta — who approaches God when in adversity

Artharthi — one who approaches God, for his desires ( in Prosperity).

The evolution of a Bhakta to become a Sishya.

Jignasu — one who is curious to know God ( not in Prosperity or Adversity )

We need Kripa to know God, we have to seek Kripa through our efforts.

How should we change : Vichara becomes a catalyst for Pramana.

If we do not practice, knowledge would be information.

Arjuna is compared from Chapter 1 to Chapter 8

Mumukshu — He want to be free.

Chapter 8 :

Arjuna asks 7 questions about

Brahman , Adhyatma, Karma, Adhibhuta, Adidaiva, Adiyagna and Prayana kale

Karma — Kshara( changing) leading to Akshara ( to Infinity) . If our action is not leading us to

Infinity, it is only effort (Shrama).

Bhagwan asks Arjuna to be involved in

Veda ( gives insight )

Tapa — invest in ourselves,

Dana ( share selflessly) and

Yagna — To be dedicated to God

Similar to what Rishi Patanjali talks about in the Yoga Sutras in Chapter 2 :

– Kriya Yoga , Svadhyaya and Ishvara Pranidhana

Veda is beginning of Kriya Yoga

Ishvara Pranidhana — seeing God in the people around you, then there is dedication to life.

Bhagwan talks about Prayana Kale — two paths

Path of the Moon — someone who lives for valuables

Path of the Sun — someone who lives for values

How I live today will determine tomorrow.

A person of values has no fear of death.

Follow the path of the Sun.

Chapter 9

Knowledge of Self leads to Happiness

Listen carefully.

Raja Guhya — Royal Secret

You cannot infer about spirit.

We need to go deeper into ourselves.

Bhagwan says : I am not in them, they are in me.

Think of thoughts — Awareness does not depend on thoughts, thoughts depend on awareness.

They are not in me either. There is only Sat Chit Ananda

It is only possible through Bhakti — depend on that which is independent.

Slowly we become independent, the more we know Bhagwan.

The first Satsang of Chinmayananda — Spoke about Fall with the Fall, Flow with the Flow.

The more we know Bhagwan, the more we love Bhagwan.

Chapter 10 Vibhuti Yoga

God with form and name is Vibhuti.

Through Vibhuti get to Yoga, focus on Creator. Yoga should lead us to ‘TAT’.

From Creation -> Creator

If someone is sincere , we try to give more

Vidyanaam Adyatma

Muninam Vyasa

Padavana Dhananjaya

Chapter 11 : He is taking us from Sight to Inquiry

He shows Arjuna the Vibhuti in Chapter 10

Deletes Space/ Time

Shows Advaita.

Apparently confident, Arjuna asks to be taken to the middle of both Pandavas and Kauravas.

Nimmitamatra : You have been a doer -> Evolution to Instrumentship. Beyond this is STHANE

All is perfect where there is ‘Be — ership’.

Chapter 2: When he surrenders he has faith. Should I be closer to you as Bhagwan or to you as consciousness. Way to be closer — be natural — Being

Sadhana — should be natural . If you are reflecting well , you will engage in Nidhidhyasana

Contemplation will be natural if we are following Dharma.

Bhakti depends on GOD

Depend ->Practice -> Dedicate-> Surrender

Chapter 12 : Talks about virtue development

We spoke about 8 virtues : Aniketa — one who is homeless

Nikita — one who is homeless, one who does not depend on articles, beings for comfort.

If we do not have this virtue than DAmbitvam (hypocrisy

Know God, Remember GO D, Depend on GOD, see GOD.

Discussion Question :
What is most disheartening about following Dharma ?

1. Following dharma is not easy, sometimes there are physical and time barriers

2. Discipline is the most important barrier. We are not consistent in doing it. We are shaken because of things

In Ramayana — Hanuman accompanied by Nal , Neel and Jambavan.

Spoke about Durvasa muni ( son of Athri and Anasuya) , he likes them.

He is an incarnation of Durvasa — dirty clothes, beyond body, goes to Raja Ambarisha , beyond body.

Be a Tapasvi like him .

Be a simple thinker, Simple actions .

Yaha Pashyati Saha Pashyati.

Someone who is a seer , sees divinity.

Cry for Bhagvan, cry to Bhagwan.

Stena : Thief

Someone who is undgrateful for the gift.

It is a practice to dip a coin and dip it in water.

Sweetness, to be generous

Offer Dakshina to Bhagvan Sri Krishna.

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Class Notes for 05.22.18 — Review of Bhagavad Gita Chapters 7–12

By Vidya Ganti

Summary — What Bhagavan shares with Arjuna in Chapters 1–6 –

Most of us are stuck in samsara, leading meaningless lives, not wanting to put in any thought, nor effort to bring meaning into our lives. However, if we have the right association, we will indulge in the right action with the right attitude, bringing more meaning into our life, and this meaning will connect us to Bhagavan, our nature. Our best association is with Bhagavan. The deeper we go to associate with Bhagavan, the humbler we become, and the humbler we become, the more it leads us to “oneness”.

Chapters 7–12 — Focus shifts from Tvam or Prince Arjuna to Tat or Bhagavan.

Review of Chapter 7 — Jnana-Vijnana-Yoga

Bhagavan Krishna is asking Arjuna to evolve from

Ø Jnana to Vijnana, knowledge to wisdom

Ø Murti to Madhyamaha, from trying to see God outside of oneself to seeing God inside of oneself

Ø Jagat — articles, beings, circumstances, to jeeva, the individuality to Jagadeeshwara, the totality

We are all bhaktas, falling into four different categories, from less evolved to more evolved -

Ø Arta — turns to Bhagavan only in adversity

Ø Artharthi — turns to Bhagavan for prosperity

Ø Jijnasu — evolves from bhakta to a shishya as he wants to also know Bhagavan

Ø Jnani — the one who knows Bhagavan, the one who is Bhagavan

We can only evolve with the grace of the Lord. His krpa is invoked with our efforts, leading to vichara, the thought of changing ourselves, which then leads us to pramana, knowledge that is authoritative, not just informative.

So, should’nt we be making the message of the Bhagavad Gita pramana for ourselves?

Review of Chapter 8 — Akshara-Brahma-Yoga

Prince Arjuna is a jijnasu who wants to know Bhagavan now. He is a mumukshu, someone who wants to be free, so he asks Bhagavan Krishna seven questions –

Ø What is Brahman?

Ø What is Adhyatma?

Ø What is Karma?

Ø What is Adhibhuta?

Ø What is Adhidaiva?

Ø What is Adhiyajna?

Ø What is Prayanakale?

What is Karma? — Karma is kshara, that which is changing, leading us to akshara, that which is changeless, that which is infinity. If the changes in our lives do not lead us to infinity, then it is not karma, just shrama, labor.

Karma = Becoming to being.

To involve in karma, Bhagavan says we need to revolve around –

Ø Veda — gives us insight into life, into ourselves

Ø Tapa — to invest in ourselves with this insight

Ø Dana — share selflessly this investment

Ø Yajna — all three leading us to dedication — to God, to life, to enlightenment

End of Chapter 8 — Bhagavan explains about Prayanakale — what will happen to us when we die -

Ø The path of the Moon — someone who lives for valuables follows this dark path

Ø The Path of the Sun — someone who follows the path of light, which is values, is Consciousness

Follow the path of the light as how we live today will determine our tomorrow, and all our tomorrows will determine our next life. No one knows the experience of death, so what is one afraid of?

There is no fear of death if one is living a life of values.

Review of Chapter 9 — Rajavidya-Rajaguhya-Yoga

Bhagavan Krishna shares this raja-vidya, the king of knowledge -

Ø knowledge to be independently joyous

Ø knowledge that gives us happiness directly

Ø knowledge that is not an exaggeration, but the truth

Ø knowledge that is the royal secret, raja-guhya

Bhagavan then shares “The Knowledge” — I am not in them, they are in Me — Awareness does not depend on thoughts, but thoughts depend on awareness.

Going deeper — They are not in Me either — there are no thoughts, no duality…only being — only Sat, Chit, Ananda.

Prince Arjuna asks — How can one “Be” and Bhagavan says through Bhakti. If we depend on that which is independent, then slowly we become independent too. The power of knowledge is such that the more we know Bhagavan, the more we love Bhagavan, and become independent.

Review of Chapter 10 — Vibhuti-Yoga

Prince Arjuna now asks — Bhagavan, where are you? Chapter 10 thus focuses on Bhagavan’s vibhuti, Bhagavan expressing Himself with a nama, name and rupa, form. Vibhuti will then take us to yoga. Vibhuti focuses on the Creation and yoga focuses on the Creator. Yoga then leads us to Tattva as beyond Creation is Consciousness.

- Vibhuti to Yoga to Tattva OR Creation to Creator to Consciousness

Some highlights of Bhagavan’s vibhuti are –

Ø Vidyanam adhyatma — Of all the knowledges, I am adhi atma, the knowledge of that which is inside — Vedanta.

Ø Muninam Vyaasa — Of all the munis, I am Vyaasa — the one who wrote the Bhgavad Gita.

Ø Pandavanam Dhananjaya — Of all the Pandavas, I am Prince Arjuna.

If we learn to really look at Creation, Bhagavan is always with us.

Review of Chapter 11 — Vishwarupa-Darshana-Yoga

Chapter 11 focuses on the Creator. We now evolve from sight to insight, from enquiry to inquiry. In Chapter 10, Bhagavan shows all of His vibhutis in His Creation and in Chapter 11, Bhagavan deletes dvaita — space, time, matter — and brings us all together in advaita.

In Bhagavan’s virata rupa, Prince Arjuna sees Acharya Bhishma, and Acharya Drona being sucked from the battlefield through Bhagavan Krishna’s mouth. Bhagavan is showing Prince Arjuna that neither is he going to kill anyone nor be killed as he is but an instrument of God.

Nimittamaatram — Be an instrument — one of the most powerful teachings of the Bhagavad Gita — to evolve from doership to instrumentship.

Sthane — All is as all is. All is perfect, and where there is perfection, there has to be divinity, or Brahman. What lies beyond instrumentship, is “be-ership”, just being. Our training to “be-ership” is instrumentship.

Review of Chapter 12 — Bhakti-Yoga

Prince Arjuna is now in love with Bhagavan Krishna and wants to be closer to Bhagavan. He has evolved from belief in Chapter 2 to having faith in Chapter 12. Prince Arjuna now wants to know how he can be closer to Bhagavan, how he should worship Bhagavan — Bhagavan as the Creator or Bhagavan as Consciousness, as Brahman?

Bhagavan says the best way to be closer to Him is to be natural, by finding our own relationship with God.

Our sadhana should be natural. If we are listening well, then we will naturally engage in mananam, reflection. If we are reflecting well, then we will naturally engage in nidhidhyasanam, contemplation.

We can listen well by following dharma, by living our responsibilities with dedication, with the right association and with the right attitude.

Bhagavan gives us various options to practice Bhakti –

Ø Depend on God, otherwise

Ø Practice depending on God, otherwise

Ø Dedicate our actions to God, otherwise

Ø Accept the results God gives us for our actions

The focus of Chapter 12 is virtue development that will help us engage in Bhakti. One virtue highlighted in this review — Aniketa, the one who does not depend on articles, beings and circumstances for his comfort, one who is comfortable in his own skin, and with all other skins.

Dambitvam — hypocrisy, the vice that manifests when one lacks aniketa, when one acts as someone he is not as he is not comfortable with himself.

Know God, remember God, feel God, see God, envision God, depend on God — summary of Chapters 7–12.