bhagavadgita seminar

8/14/2019 BhagavadGita Seminar

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The Bhagavad-GitaThe Bhagavad-Gita

OverviewOverview


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The search forThe search forhappinesshappiness

All activities are performed inAll activities are performed inhope of happinesshope of happiness

Many anxieties:Many anxieties: College educationCollege education JobJob FamilyFamily

RetirementRetirement DEATH (the biggest anxiety)!DEATH (the biggest anxiety)!

Always looking for reliefAlways looking for relief Vacation --- a break!Vacation --- a break!

As humans, we can question theAs humans, we can question thecause of our unhappiness iscause of our unhappiness is

there permanent happiness?there permanent happiness?


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Humans vs. AnimalsHumans vs. Animals

Four (4) things in common:Four (4) things in common:1.1. EatingEating2.2. SleepingSleeping

3.3. MatingMating

4.4. DefendingDefending

Humans do these activities in moreHumans do these activities in moresophisticated manner but activity is samesophisticated manner but activity is same

Finer/more refined intelligence allows usFiner/more refined intelligence allows us

to question & search for true happinessto question & search for true happiness

Use human intelligence to solve theUse human intelligence to solve the realrealproblems of life, otherwise how are weproblems of life, otherwise how are wedifferent from animals?different from animals?


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Real Problems of LifeReal Problems of Life

Birth Disease Birth Disease Old age Death!Old age Death! For example, childFor example, child

born cryingborn crying

Other reasons which prevent happiness

Their nature (not relative applicable toALL): Common to all

No one wants it

No one can avoid it


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Threefold miseriesThreefold miseries

AdhydaivikaAdhydaivika (material nature)(material nature)

AdhybhautikaAdhybhautika (other living entities)(other living entities)AdhyatmikaAdhyatmika (body & mind)(body & mind)

We look towards science for solutions


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Scientific SolutionsScientific Solutions

Most scientific solutions are notMost scientific solutions are notpermanent solutions:permanent solutions: Cosmetic industry (old age)Cosmetic industry (old age) Cryogenics (death looking forCryogenics (death looking for

eternal life)eternal life) Prozac (mind/ depression) evenProzac (mind/ depression) even

teenagers are using itteenagers are using it

While generally helpful,some scientific solutions

are worse than theactual problem: Cars pollution Industries oceans

flooded with wastes Cell phones make

lives busier / can cause

cancer


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Happiness from the Senses (eyes,Happiness from the Senses (eyes,

ears, nose, tongue, skin)ears, nose, tongue, skin)

Temporary andTemporary and DisappointingDisappointing ((i. e., piece ofi. e., piece of

gumgum))


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Spiritual books of India tell us thatwe cannot achieve real

happiness from the senses or

from scientific advancement --

real happiness comes from

within -- and these spiritual texts

implore us to seek out that

source of inner happiness


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Two basic divisions of spiritualTwo basic divisions of spiritual

knowledge of Indiaknowledge of IndiaSRUTI (heard)SRUTI (heard) 4 Vedas:4 Vedas:

RgRg SamaSama

YajurYajur AtharvaAtharva

BrahmanasBrahmanas AranyakasAranyakas

Upanisads (108)Upanisads (108)

SMRTI (remembered)SMRTI (remembered) PuranasPuranas ItihasasItihasas

Ramayana & MahabharataRamayana & Mahabharata

(includes the Bhagavad-(includes the Bhagavad-Gita)Gita)

We want to focus on the Bhagavad-Gita, the essence of all

spiritual literature


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Bhagavad-Gita Indias timelessBhagavad-Gita Indias timeless

classic on all facets of spiritualclassic on all facets of spiritual

knowledgeknowledge Song of GodSong of God Put into written form 5,000 years ago Put into written form 5,000 years ago

previously rememberedpreviously remembered


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Topics of the Bhagavad-GitaTopics of the Bhagavad-Gita

Describes:Describes:atmaatma (the Soul)(the Soul)yogasyogas and their purposesand their purposeskarmakarma (duty or action)(duty or action)reincarnationreincarnation (life after death)(life after death)sanatana dharmasanatana dharma (eternal duty(eternal duty

of the living entity)of the living entity)

prakrtiprakrti(material nature)(material nature) isvaraisvara (the Supreme Lord)(the Supreme Lord)

Universal teachings not only for Indians/Hindus


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Extraordinary personalitiesExtraordinary personalities

reflect on the Gitareflect on the GitaMahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)(1869-1948)

The Bhagavad-Gita calls on humanityThe Bhagavad-Gita calls on humanity

to dedicate body, mind and soul toto dedicate body, mind and soul to

pure duty and not to become mentalpure duty and not to become mental

voluptuaries at the mercy of randomvoluptuaries at the mercy of random

desires and undisciplined impulses.desires and undisciplined impulses.

Albert Einstein

(1879 1955)

When I read the Bhagavad-

Gita and reflect about how

God created this universe,

everything else seems so

superfluous.


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Extraordinary PersonalitiesExtraordinary Personalities

reflect on the Gita (cont.)reflect on the Gita (cont.)Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson (1803 (1803

1882)1882)

The Bhagavad Gita is an empire ofThe Bhagavad Gita is an empire ofthought and in its philosophicalthought and in its philosophicalteachings Krishna has all the attributesteachings Krishna has all the attributes

of the full-fledged monotheistic deityof the full-fledged monotheistic deityand at the same time the attributes ofand at the same time the attributes ofthe Upanisadic absolutethe Upanisadic absolute

Dr. Albert Schweitzer

(1875 1965)

The Bhagavad-Gita has a

profound influence on the

spirit of mankind by its

devotion to God which is

manifested by actions


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Setting the scene / Why theSetting the scene / Why the

Gita was spoken?Gita was spoken? Mahabharata leading up to the GitaMahabharata leading up to the Gita Pandus death Dhrtarastra in chargePandus death Dhrtarastra in charge

of Pandavas, but favored own childrenof Pandavas, but favored own children Pandavas poisoned/house burned/Pandavas poisoned/house burned/

wife insulted/cheated/exiled for 13wife insulted/cheated/exiled for 13yearsyears

Kingdom refused/attempted peaceKingdom refused/attempted peacefailedfailed

Battlefield of KuruksetraBattlefield of Kuruksetra Arjuna refuses to fight and turns toArjuna refuses to fight and turns to

Krishna for instructions.Krishna for instructions. Thus a conversation ensues betweenThus a conversation ensues between

Krishna & ArjunaKrishna & Arjuna


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En d Of Pa rt On end Of Pa rt On e

bhagavadgita seminar

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