Gita Acharan

Arjun enquires if one has to start all over again (6.38) while practising (vairaagya) with shraddha (trust), but dies on the path before he attains this (6.37).  Krishna assures that such a person who has fallen from yoga will never get destroyed (6.40); is born in the home of the pure or wealthy (6.41) or yogis, otherwise, such births are harder (6.42). United with the knowledge acquired in his former body, he strives for perfection (6.43) and transcends with practice (abhayas)  (6.44) to attain the supreme goal after many births (6.45)  The earthen pot is the best example to understand the intricacies involved. When a pot is made it engulfs some space and when it is moved from one point to another, the space inside it doesn't move along with it. But the pot does whilst always containing some space. Secondly, depending on the contents stored in it, the pot acquires certain characteristics like scent etc. Even after the pot is broken, the smell is likely to ...

Krishna talked about establishing in oneness whatever may be the mode of living (6.30) to attain infinite bliss. There are three major issues faced by us to attain oneness. One is that it is called by different names in different cultures and to compound the complexity, the paths prescribed by these cultures appear to be opposing one another. Secondly, our mind is trained to divide which prevents attaining oneness. Thirdly, we tend to reject what we don't know and oneness is completely new territory for us. Reflecting on these difficulties Arjun asks how to control the mind.  Krishna says, "No doubt, the mind is restless and difficult to control, but it can be controlled by practice (abhyaas) and dispassion (vairaagyam) (6.35). Take my word that Yoga is hard to attain by the ungoverned man but it can be attained by means of striving" (6.36). Krishna had earlier advised regular practice with the determination (6.23) to bring the restless mind under control (6...

A couple of centuries ago no one in Europe knew about the existence of the Americas. When Columbus reached there, it was beyond his comprehension that there is a massive continent waiting to be discovered, as his knowledge was limited to the geography of the day. He mistook it to be Asia and the rest is history.  While explaining such a phenomenon, contemporary psychology talks of two modes of thinking and calls them two systems. The first system is automatic, spontaneous and responsible for our physical survival. The second system involves a lot of effort and attention to attend to complex issues. We often allow 'system one' to takeover even for 'system two' activities resulting in instantaneous conclusions. These conclusions are bound to be erroneous, like Columbus', since they are not based on hard evidence as the collection of evidence is the job of system two.  Arjun too was using system one for an issue of system two and asks Krishna "Due to m...

Coming as paramatma , Krishna says that for he who perceives me everywhere and sees all in me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to me (6.30). This verse is the foundation for Bhakti Yoga where practitioners perceive paramatma everywhere and in every situation.  The mantra of 'IT IS HIM' -IT being any person or a thing or a situation, can do miracles if we let it go deeper by repetition. Once we realise this, we will be able to see the paramatma whether that person is a friend or enemy; helping or hurting; praising or criticising; whether a thing is valuable like gold or invaluable like stone; situations which are favourable or unfavourable; frightening or pleasant; moments of pleasure or pain; winning or losing; and the list goes on.  Krishna says in whatever way people are devoted to me, in that measure I manifest myself to them (4.11) and to me none is hateful and none is dear (9.29). This needs to be kept in mind to understand when Krishna says in an intr...