Gita Acharan

K rishna says, “I am equally disposed to all living beings. To Me none is dweshya (hateful), none is priya (dear). But those who worship me with devotion are in Me and I am also in them” (9.29). We find some people are fortunate in terms of health, wealth, power and fame whereas others are not, giving the impression of partiality. Secondly, while Krishna is referring to the unconditional love of Paramatma , love for us flows when some conditions are met. These issues make understanding this verse tough.   Rain is the best example to understand the intricacies of this verse. During rainfall, if we keep a bowl, it gathers water. The bigger the bowl, the more water. But if it is kept upside down, then it is impossible to collect water. If we take rain as the blessings of Paramatma , it is impartial and available to everyone. Devotion is keeping the bowl upright to collect blessings. The unconditional love of Paramatma is also equanimous, which can be understood fr...

K rishna says, “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, do them as an offering to Me” (9.27). Earlier Krishna said that one should be aware of the polarities of pain and pleasure generated during the interaction of senses and sense-objects; and learn to ignore them as they are transient ( sankhya yoga ) (2.14). When we maintain a balance during these times, we are eligible for the amrit (moksha). Using eating as an example, Krishna now says to offer that interaction of senses and sense-objects to Him ( bhakti yoga ). Both paths are to transcend polarities and become dwandwa-atheeth (beyond dualities). The grudges and hatred we carry are the pain polarities and they are a major source of our misery which we develop when others harm us through their words and/or deeds or when others don’t acknowledge our help or favours. The root cause of hatred is our assumption that we as well as others are karta (doer) which leads to ahankaar ( aham-karta or I am doer) whereas our gunas ...

T he general fear regarding dropping the desires is, who will take care of us, our families and our organisations if we drop the desire to grow and protect. This looks natural and logical. To dispel this fear, Krishna assured His devotees of both kshema (welfare) and yoga (union with Him) - 'Yoga-kshemam vahāmyaham' (9.22). This union is the ultimate goal and the assurance of welfare is from the all-powerful existence. He gives a couple of simple ways to be a bhakt (devotee). Firstly, he says that even if one worships any other form with shraddha , they also worship Him alone (9.23) as He is the enjoyer and Lord of all worship (9.24). This is the crystal-clear indication that we should possess shraddha and that the rest is secondary. Krishna further says, “The reverent offering to Me of a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, given with pure devotion, is a devotional offering I accept” (9.26). We can offer simple and easily available things like leaves, flower...

K rishna says that through Vedic rituals one fulfils the desire of entry to heaven and enjoys the subtle pleasures (9.20). After the expiry of their punya (good karma ), they come back and keep travelling in this cycle (9.21). The general interpretation is that the punya , attained through Vedic rituals, takes us to the heaven afterlife and we come back once they are exhausted. Another interpretation is possible if attaining contentment by fulfilling desires is taken as a means of entry to heaven. Out of ignorance, one depends on Vedic rituals to fulfil desires and attain contentment from ‘outside’ like people and material possessions. On this path, one returns to misery as one can never get eternal contentment through these ever-changing situations as contentment can only come from the unchanging self. Further, duality ( dwandwa ) is the law of nature where everything exists along with its polar opposite. If heaven is taken as a feeling of pleasure polarity, we will...

K rishna says, “I am the Vedic ritual; sacrifice; oblation offered to the ancestors. I am the medicinal herb; the mantra (chant); ajya (clarified butter); agni (fire) and the act of offering (9.16). Of this universe, I am the father; I am also the mother, the sustainer, and the grandfather. I am the purifier, the goal of knowledge, the sacred syllable Om . I am the Rig Veda , Sama Veda , and the Yajur Veda ” (9.17). “I am the ultimate goal, the upholder, Lord, Witness, Abode, Shelter, and Friend. I am Origin, Pralay (cosmic end), and the Foundation, Treasure house, and Eternal Seed (9.18). I radiate heat and give or withhold the rain. I am Amrit (immortality) as well as Mrityu (death). I am the ‘Sat’ (real or being) as well as ‘Asat’ (unreal or illusion)” (9.19). If the all-inclusive existence had to describe itself for our understanding, it would sound like this. The context and words used are of the times when the Gita was delivered to Arjuna. Krishna earlie...