Gita Summaries: Chapters 1-11 - Vedanta

Swami Paramarthananda on Gita – Summaries of Chaps 1-11
Do something physical (Bang a pillow, clean the house, go to the beach and shout)
Keep the mouth engaged (drink water or have a gum!!!)
b) Suppressed anger can lead to psychosomatic illness. Find the cause of anger. Each
time you fight with someone on a trivial matter and start dating back to 1985
incidents, it means that these conflicts have not be resolved.
Kama jayah means not expecting anything from this world; any expectation leads to
desire and then the chain of samsara.
The next disciplines Lord Krishna mentions are:
- Sravanam (where you only receive knowledge from a guru and no questions; just
have faith in guru and scriptures). Systematic and consistent study on these 7
subjects: nature of jiva, nature of world, nature of god, what is bondage, causes of
bondage, what is liberty and causes of liberty.
- Mananam (reflect on the teaching and ask questions humbly to clear doubts; this is
at an intellectual level)
- Nididhyasanam (assimilation of knowledge at an emotional level; there should not
be even 1% doubt. Any doubtful knowledge is no knowledge at all; will you ever touch
a live-wire which is probably 99% safe).
Chapter 6 — Atmasyanyama-yogah
(The Yoga of Self-Control)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The essence of the Gita and the essence of the Vedas is the same; which is moksha alone
is Parama Purushartha [Supreme Goal]. It does also talk of Artha/Kama/Dharma but
these are secondary purusharthas. Therefore we can conclude that Gita is moksha
sadhana [means to liberation] only.
Jnanam is the only means of moksha praapti [attainment]. Arjuna in the battlefield
faces the problem of Ragah–Duhkha–Moha; which is nothing but dependence on external
factors. Sorrow arises when the external factors are not favourable. The mind is
overpowered by attachment and greed, and the intellect clouded. It sees dharma as
adharma and vice versa. Attachment- grief- conflict is a vicious cycle.
One must understand clearly that material acquisitions do not solve the problem; wasn’t
Arjuna wealthy, skilled, and possessed everything that a person can aspire for. In spite of
all these worldly achievements, he is not able to overcome sorrow and even
contemplates suicide. Therefore, worldly accomplishments do not solve grief.
Arjuna does a very intelligent thing; he falls at the feet of the Lord; Please instruct me
and take me as your disciple. So, Gita is a guru-shishya samvadah only. Never attempt to
gain self-knowledge independently, be humble enough to approach a guru.
We soon realize that bondage is never there; it is only self-hypnosis, self-deception, self-
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