Bhagavad Gita Study
Join us Weekly at Hare Krishna Temple,
Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
and Fryday 7:15 PM to 8:30 PM
where we discuss the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita.
1. Observing the Armies
Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. When the battle is about to begin, Arjuna sees his intimate relatives, teachers and friends in both armies ready to fight. Overcome by grief and pity, he fails in strength, his mind becomes bewildered, and he decides not to fight.
Click on: Chapter 1 Slokas and Translation.
2. Contents of the Gita Summarized
Arjuna submits to Lord Krishna as His disciple. Krishna explains to Arjuna the difference between the material body and the spiritual soul. Then the Lord explains the process of transmigration, the nature of selfless service to the Supreme & the characteristics of a self-realized soul.
Click on: Chapter 2 Slokas and Translation.
3. Karma-yoga
No one can refrain from work in this world. But actions can either bind one to this world or liberate one from it. By acting only for the pleasure of the Supreme, one can be liberated from the law of karma and attain transcendental knowledge of the self & the Supreme.
Click on: Chapter 3 Slokas and Translation.
4. Transcendental Knowledge
The spiritual knowledge of the soul, of God, and their relationship is both purifying and liberating. It is the fruit of selfless devotional action. The Lord explains the history of the Gita, His periodic descents to the material world, and the necessity of approaching a realized teacher.
Click on : Chapter 4 Slokas and Translation.
5. Action in Krishna Consciousness
Karma-yoga – Action in Krishna Consciousness. Outwardly performing all activities but inwardly sacrificing their fruits to the Supreme Lord, the wise man, purified by the fire of transcendental knowledge, attains peace, detachment, forbearance, spiritual vision and bliss.
Click on: Chapter 5 Slokas and Translation.
6. Dhyana-yoga
Astanga-yoga, a mechanical meditative practice is a means to control the mind and the senses in order to focus our concentration on Paramatma (the Supersoul, the form of the Lord situated in the heart). The ultimate stage of this yoga is samadhi, full consciousness of the Supreme.
Click on: Chapter 6 Slokas and Translation.
7. Knowledge of the Absolute
Lord Krishna is the Supreme Truth, the supreme cause and sustaining force of everything, both material and spiritual. Advanced souls knowing Him to be everything and the supreme cause surrender unto Him in devotion, whereas impious souls divert their minds to other objects of worship.
Click on: Chapter 7 Slokas and Translation.
8. Attaining the Supreme
One’s state of consciousness at the time of death decides one’s next destination. By remembering Lord Krishna in devotion throughout one’s life, and especially at the time of death, one can attain His supreme abode. Having reached there, one never returns to this temporary miserable world.
Click on : Chapter 8 Slokas and Translation.
9. The Most Confidential Knowledge
Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the supreme object of worship. The whole cosmic creation rests within Him. The soul is eternally related to Him through transcendental devotional service (bhakti). By reviving one’s pure devotion one returns to Krishna in the spiritual realm.
Click on : Chapter 9 Slokas and Translation.
10. The Opulence of the Absolute
All wondrous phenomena showing power, beauty, grandeur or sublimity in the material and spiritual worlds are but partial manifestations of Krishna’s divine energies and opulence. As the cause of all causes and the support and essence of everything, Krishna is the supreme object of worship.
Click on : Chapter 10 Slokas and Translation.
11. The Universal Form
Lord Krishna grants Arjuna divine vision and reveals His spectacular unlimited form as the cosmic universe, thus establishing His divinity. Krishna explains that His own all-beautiful humanlike form is the original form of Godhead. One can perceive this form only by pure devotional service.
Click on: Chapter 11 Slokas and Translation.
13. Nature, the Enjoyer & Consciousness
Lord Krishna explains prakrti (material nature), purusha (the enjoyer), kshetra (the field), kshetra-jna (the knower of the field), jnana (knowledge), and jneya (the knowable). One who understands the difference between the body, the soul and the Supersoul beyond them both attains liberation.
Click on : Chapter 13 Slokas and Translation.
14. The Three Modes of Material Nature
All embodied souls are under the control of the three modes or qualities of material nature: goodness, passion, and ignorance. Lord Krishna explains what these modes are, how they act upon us, how one transcends them and the symptoms of one who has attained the transcendental state.
Click on: Chapter 14 Slokas and Translation.
15. The Yoga of the Supreme Person
The ultimate purpose of Vedic knowledge is to detach oneself from the entanglement of the material world and to understand Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who understands Krishna’s supreme identity surrenders unto Him and engages in His devotional service.
Click on: Chapter 15 Slokas and Translation.
16. The Divine and Demoniac Natures
Those who possess demoniac qualities and who live whimsically, without following the regulations of scripture, attain lower births and further material bondage. But those who possess divine qualities and regulated lives, abiding by scriptural authority, gradually attain spiritual perfection.
Click on : Chapter 16 Slokas and Translation.
17. The Divisions of Faith
There are three types of faith, corresponding to and evolving from the three modes of material nature. Acts performed by those whose faith is in passion and ignorance yield only impermanent, material results. But acts performed in goodness in accord with scriptural injunctions lead to devotion to Lord Krishna.
Click on : Chapter 17 Slokas and Translation.
18. The Perfection of Renunciation
Krishna explains renunciation and the effects of the modes of nature on consciousness and activity. He explains Brahman realization, the glories of the Gita and its essence: by absolute, unconditional loving surrender unto Lord Krishna, one returns to Krishna’s abode, being freed from all sins.
Click on : Chapter 18 Slokas and Translation.
Daily Visitation (Darshan) Times:
Mangal Arati: 5:30 am Japa Meditation 6:30 to 7:45 am Sringar Arati: 7:45 am Guru Puja: 7:55 am Morning Study: - 08:15 am Evening Arati: 6:30 - 7:00 pm
Sunday main Service 12 to 2 PM followed by complimentary Vegetarian lunch
