Gita Summaries: Chapters 1-11 - Vedanta

Swami Paramarthananda on Gita – Summaries of Chaps 1-11
If I lose sight of Para Prakriti and hold on to dying/changing Apara Prakriti then I lose my
balance and become a samsari. Example, holding on to a crutch I fall; money, status,
people are all changing things. The trick is to hold on to Para Prakriti and appreciate
Apara Prakriti; then it becomes a sport. Love everyone; have transactions but for
security depend on Para Prakriti.
Is swimming enjoyable or frightening It depends on an individual and whether he knows
swimming. Para Prakriti frees you while Apara Prakriti will freeze you.
How to come to Para Prakriti
Bhakti is the means; it means “love of God”. Which form of Lord
It can be any form: Shiva or Vishnu or Rama or Krishna or Ganesha.
Bhaktas have a lot of problems fighting amongst themselves. Some Vaishnavas will not
go to a Shiva temple. This is wrong attitude. In truth, any form of God is appropriate
as Ishwara is in all forms (nama and rupa), so any form represents God.
Choose any form you like, for no form is superior or inferior to another. The mind cannot
conceive totality and hence we take recourse to a form. Much like a country symbolized
by a flag and anthem. You choose any form from a human being or trees or animals
(cows), mother or father. There is only ONE Ishwara manifest through all the different
symbols. In our religion it is not there are many gods but there are gods only
everywhere.
So accept any God. The god is not the 6 inches idol in front; it stands for the limitless
Ishwara.
Bhakti is in three stages and everyone must go through all the stages.
A) Sakama Bhakti: Worship Ishwara to acquire worldly things. Ishwara becomes the
means the worldly goals the end, either Sukha Praapti [seek pleasure] or Duhkha Nivritti
[avoid pain]. Ishwara is the sadhana and worldly ends the sadhyam.
Between sadhana and sadhyam which one do you love more Obviously the “ends” So
this bhakti is a business deal,” Lord let me get a job and I shall do angapradakshanam”.
Such a kind of bhakti should not be scoffed at; it is not nishida karma. It is perfectly
allowed to pray to the Lord for worldly ends.
Artha Bhakta is a sakama bhakta praying to get rid of something.
Artatha Bhakta is a sakama bhakta who wishes to acquire something.
B) Jijnasu: The mind becomes more and more matured as desire for material things
comes down. I realize that by acquiring things I am not necessarily making my life any
better. How one can insecure person holding on to another insecure person find security.
Insecurity + insecurity == More insecurity.
The world of objects is not really a worthy end; my end changes. Now I use the world to
attain God. The world becomes the sadhana and Lord the sadhyam. I realize that family
life is not an end in itself but an incidental thing we go through to attain the Lord.
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