Tag: Gita
As I was accompanying my daughter seeking donations door to door for her Girl Scouts book drive project, a few thoughts crossed my mind. I thought of growing up in India where for my every birthday, my parents would donate to an orphanage or to a blind school. If during the year, we found some … Continue reading Gita: The Right Kind of Charity
Even though it is commonplace to use and chant the symbol OM in yoga and meditation studios scattered all over the world, the word OM itself refers to something much more sublime. It refers to the almighty, the infinite, the imperishable, the indefinable, the indestructible, the all pervading, the supreme soul, the universal consciousness, the … Continue reading What is OM?
Nothing has inspired my devotion, love and reverence as much as the sacred Hindu text of Bhagavad Gita. It has filled me with so much love that I feel the need to share it with you. I hope there is at least one teaching from this book that will touch you and inspire you. You … Continue reading In Reverence of Bhagavad Gita
This chapter provides the setting for "Gita". The setting is a battlefield of Kurukshetra (India) and the entire book is a conversation between Arjun (human) and Shri Krishna (Avatar of God ). Avatar in Hinduism means God taking birth in an earthly form. Symbolically, the battlefield is within each of us when we are confused … Continue reading Bhagavad Gita Teachings – Chapter 1: A Conversation In Search of Answers
Soul is Eternal and Body Perishable Never was there a time when I or you or others did not exist and never will there be a time when we will not exist (Verse 12) The soul within us stays the same even though our body changes from childhood to adulthood to old age. At death, … Continue reading Bhagavad Gita Teachings – Chapter 2: Path of Knowledge
There are two paths to self-realization - Path of Knowledge for thinkers and Path of Action for doers (Verse 3) Action is Superior to Inaction Refraining from action does not release one from karmic reactions (results of actions) nor does it bring about knowledge (Verse 4) We cannot be without action even for a moment. … Continue reading Bhagavad Gita Teachings – Chapter 3: Path of Action
Whenever there is Decrease in Righteousness and Increase in Unrighteousness, God will Manifest Although I am unborn and indestructible, yet I appear by virtue of my divine power (Verse 6) When there is decline in righteousness and increase in unrighteousness, I appear (Verse 7) To protect the virtuous and destroy the wicked, I appear age … Continue reading Bhagavad Gita teachings – Chapter 4: Free Yourself from Expectations
Doing your Duty is Superior to Renouncing Actions Both doing the action (Karma Yoga) and renouncing it (Sanyas) lead to God. But doing action selflessly as your duty (Karma Yoga) is superior to Sanyas, which is renouncing all actions (Verse 2) Those who do not detest or crave, and are equanimous in the face of … Continue reading Bhagavad Gita Teachings – Chapter 5: Do Your Duty
Those who fulfill their obligations and renounce its outcomes are true Sanyasis and Yogis. Not those who renounce all actions, including their duties (Verse 1) Sanyasi's are those who have renounced worldly pursuits with the intent of dedicating their life to spirituality Yogis and Sanyasis are same in that they both renounce material goals (Verse … Continue reading Bhagavad Gita Teachings – Chapter 6: Path of Meditation
God is the Source of All Creation and Dissolution With your mind completely and undoubtedly attached to me, take refuge in me. This is how you will know me (Verse 1) Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and ego are eight parts of my material energy (nature) (Verse 4) This material nature is my … Continue reading Bhagavad Gita Teachings – Chapter 7: Your Faith Shapes Your Rewards
A Mothers Chronicle 