CHAPTER 10, VERSE 20 - I am Atma - अहमात्मा गुडाकेश

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थित: |
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ॥20॥

Transliteration:
aham ātmā guḍākeśha sarva-bhūtāśhaya-sthitaḥ
aham ādiśh cha madhyaṁ cha bhūtānām anta eva cha



Translation
O Gudakesa, I am the Self residing in the hearts of all beings, and I am the beginning and the middle as also the end of (all) beings.

My Understanding:

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा

श्रीमदभगवतगीता (ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta) is the Sun of knowledge. It's the brightest light that enlightens the world within ourselves. With Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji's teaching and guidance, I am attempting to understand and to see. Following is a record of my understanding of the highest knowledge available to mankind.

Attention all serious students of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta Ji, this verse is the key for advanced studies. Here's the main idea, In numerous verses of Geeta Ji Lord Shri Krishna has called himself the greatest and advises us to surrender ourselves to him. It sounds narcissistic and self-gratifying because the primary teachings of Lord Krishna's are to be free of ego and desires. To be ego-free is the goal of everyone's spiritual journey. This verse resolves this contradictory idea. That's the reason why this verse is the key to understanding Geeta Ji.

For the last seven verses, Lord Krishna was listening to Arjun's praises. Eventually, Arjun requested and praised lord Krishna to tell him about his glories. In the last verse, Lord Krishna said OK. With this verse, Lord Krishna starts to proffer his grandeur to Arjun. He begins with the grandest of all declarations by saying "I am the Atma residing at the centre of all the beings".

As per Acharya Ji and my understanding from other literature I read, whenever Lord Krishna says "I", it means pure consciousness or Atma. It isn't the King of Dwarka talking or a relative/friend of Arjun's. It isn't the charioteer of Arjun or an average-sized male. However, when we say "I", it always means the Body, Mind and Intellect. That, why self-praise is simply egotistical. Swami RaamTirtha wrote, "Rama Said" instead of I in all of his books due to this very reason.

The word गुडाकेश (Gudakesh) got several meanings. One is: who has conquered sleep, also means someone confused. Here, Lord Krishna calls Arjun the conqueror of sleep. Most probably, he is saying that O conqueror of sleep now conure this idea. Or O confused one, here's the real knowledge.

To simplify and summarise, Lord Krishna is the substratum of everything, the very basis of all beings, who resides at the centre or the heart of everyone existence. Our identification is with our Body, Mind and Intellect. But Atma, the pure consciousness is before Body, Mind and Intellect and will be there after it as well. A pearl neckless can explain this idea perfectly. All beings are pearls of the neckless string together. Some pearls are costly and, some are cheap, some are large and, some are small, some bright and, some are dull. Similar to the world, some are poor, rich, weak, strong, bright and, dull. String together by an invisible thread. Every day pearls are added and removed from the neckless. But the thread forever remains. It was there before, during and after the neckless. Without the string, the neckless will not exist. That thread is the Atma or pure consciousness. And that is what Lod Krishna refers to whenever he says "I".

There's irony in this verse as well. People often say that Atma is lost, Atman is not happy, is not at peace, rest in peace, Atma has become a ghost etc. Lord Krishna reveals to all those Gudhakesh that he is the Atma. Furthermore, the Aatma is the same in every being. It's the same in the drugs junky and Swami Vivekananda. The only thing which differentiates the two are their desires and, it actually decides the magnitude of their lives.

Atma is the eternal light and, our desires are blankets. Blankets have engulfed the light and it's dark. Lord Krishna is the eternal light. And to see the light, all those thick blankets need to be removed.

ॐ तत् सत्

CHAPTER 9, VERSE 22 - The Promise of Shri Krishna - योगक्षेमं

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥22॥

Transliteration:
ananyāśh chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣhāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham



Translation
Those persons who, becoming non-different from Me and meditative, worship Me everywhere, for them, who are ever attached (to Me),
I arrange for securing what they lack and preserving what they have.

My Understanding:

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा

श्रीमदभगवतगीता (ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta) is the Sun of knowledge. It's the brightest light that enlightens the world within ourselves. With Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji's teaching and guidance I am attempting to understand and to see. Following is a record of my understanding of the highest knowledge available to mankind.

The intent of this verse is to build confidence in the seeker. Confidence is imperative, as it is the prime motivating factor to continue further study of Geeta Ji. A seeker should only continue beyond chapter 9 with absolute belief and understanding of this verse. Otherwise, it's best to leave it now.

A few Highlights of this verse
• भगवान श्रीकृष्ण (Lord Krishna) gives a guarantee card in form of his promise.
• Many people considered this verse as the centre verse of Geeta Ji, but technically it isn't.
• A part o this verse is on (LIC) Life Insurence Corporation of India's emblem
• It's a Masterpiece

Everyone does some form of तप (effort) in their daily lives. A school-going child who wakes early in the morning for school is doing तप. A homemaker who cooks cleans and performs various duties for her family is doing तप. An Office-goer who supports his family by working day and night is doing तप. No matter who you are if you are alive you must be doing some form of तप, it can be very small or extremely big. Our day to day obligated duties and actions are not the point of focus here, but the thoughts we have while performing any action. Our thoughts define our actions. Let's find out how.

Any action done with the thought of fulfilment of your desires will result in the addition of more desires. Like, doing business for profit will lead to desires for more and more profit. But performing your obligated duties as a means to abolish your desiers will lead to true fullfillment.

In this verse भगवान श्रीकृष्ण says if you are doing your obligated duties, your तप with अनन्य भाव (without any other thought or sentiment), then I promise to give योग (Spiritual enlightenment) and क्षेम (material happiness). Now, any action that anyone does in this world will be done with 3 thoughts:

• Selfish
• Unselfish
• Selfless

Articulating materially and spiritually, any action done selfishly will yield nothing in the end. Like an office-goer who wants to relax when everyone else works, will not get anywhere. Action that is done unselfishly will lead to great success in life, like a manager who works with the team, will yield amazing results. And finally, selfless acts like teaching people for free will yield to ultimate spritual happniess and peace.

भगवान श्रीकृष्ण says to do all your karma your obligated duties with the thought of ब्रह्मार्पणम. ब्रह्मार्पणम signifies actions that will take me towards my ultimate goal of self-realization and if it is not then I should not be doing it at all. And anyone who follows my doctrine will recieve योग & क्षेम from me.

There are different interpretations of योग & क्षेम - the promise of Lord Krishna:
• योग means Spiritual enlightenment and क्षेम means material happiness.
• योग means gaining what you don't have and क्षेम means preserving what you have gained.
• योग means stability in spiritual pursuit and क्षेम means the ultimate state of realization.

In very simple words, a school teacher promises his students that if you study properly for the exams then you will get good marks for sure.

The irony is योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् is on the emblem of LIC which we believe in without any doubt. And we doubt the voice which said those words.

ॐ तत् सत्

CHAPTER 6, VERSE 1 - Obligated Duty is सन्यास (Sanyas, Renunciation)

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
अनाश्रित: कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति य: |
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रिय: ॥1॥

Transliteration:
śhrī bhagavān uvācha
anāśhritaḥ karma-phalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ sa sannyāsī cha yogī cha na niragnir na chākriyaḥ



Translation
The Blessed Lord said: He who performs an action which is his duty,
without depending on the result of action, he is a monk and a yogi;
(but) not (so in) he who does not keep a fire and is action-less.

My Understanding:

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा

श्रीमदभगवतगीता (ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta) is the Sun of knowledge. It's the brightest light that enlightens the world within ourselves. With Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji's teaching and guidance I am attempting to understand and to see. Following is a record of my understanding of the highest knowledge available to mankind.

People will simply be shocked, dumbfounded, flabbergasted, startled, stunned, wonderstruck upon the full understanding of this verse. Acharya Ji has mentioned this claim a couple of times about this particular verse. And I agree with him 100%.

भगवान् श्री कृष्णा (Lord Shri Krishan) says that the one who performs his obligated duties without attachment is a सन्यासी या योगी (Sanyasi or Yogi). And the one who has just renounced his obligated duties and his home isn't a Sanyasi or Yogi.

A simple Google search can tell us that there are more so-called साधु या सन्यासी (Sadhus or Sanyasi) in India than Indian Army personals.
The reason for such great numbers of Sadhus or Sanyasi is simple, at night you may go hungry in any other profession but not if you are a Sadhu or Sanyasi.

That point we need to focus with this information is, we have the highest form of knowledge that is वेदांत (Vedant) and so many Sadhu and Sanyasi are in it for life, but still we are far from spiritual evolution.

So, as भगवान् श्री कृष्ण (Lord Shri Krishan) says, just by renouncing home and obligated duties you will not become a Sanyasi. And as Bhagwan Shri Krishan himself says this, so there is no question in its correctness.

Bhagwan Ji is very particular about the obligated duty, he says that the one who performs is his obligated duties is a Sanyasi or Yogi, not the one who abandons it. He also states that obligated duty needs to be performed without any attachments.
In the verse, Bhagwan Ji says fire not home, fire represents home. That is why when someone traditionally becomes a Sanyasi, he will not accept home-cooked food, as primarily renounced fire.

Another important fact is, no one can renounce anything, things get automatically renounced. An example, we stopped using Cathode ray tube TV when LCDs came. We stopped using Cassette players when CD players came. Renouncing can only be automatic, if someone is forcefully doing it then that renunciation is phony.

A fair question is what is our obligated duty then??
Duty aimed at मोक्ष (Salvation) or the path leading to it is the primary obligated duty. Giving back to the community and country is the secondary obligated duty. Most importantly our actions should always be driven by our passion and capabilities.

In India, it is quite common and has happened to me.
If a child or someone young started to read ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji, then the parent of this child will get very worried, they believe after reading Geeta Ji their child will get detached from this world and leave home to become a Sadhu or Sanyasi.

The great irony is, this verse teaches the very opposite of this popular belief.

ॐ

Short Story - One True Friend

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा 

While teaching and explaining Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji tells beautiful and knowledgeable short stories. These short stories are instrumental in explaining a point in the discussion. The following is one such short story.

As I heard it from Acharya Ji, I am not aware of the original title so I named it One True Friend. This story is for explaining the 12 यज्ञ (Yagya) in chapter 4 of ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji.

Imagine that you are in a very deep sleep. You are dreaming about a lot of things. In your dream, your stomach starts to ache very badly. Although it is a dream still you feel agonizing pain. The pain is so bad that you can't even stand, you vomit all over the place and you lie down with no despair.

Further in your dream, all of your friends visit to check on you,

The first friend of your visits you he gives you some money to get yourself treated. He tries to help you financially.

The second friend of your visits you and clean up your room of vomit. He tries to help you physically

The third friend of your visits you and offers to help you mentally and takes care of teaching your children and taking them to school.

A fourth friend of yours who is a doctor gives you some consultation on how to get your stomach ache treated. He tries to help you with knowledge.

The fifth friend of your visits you and after understanding your state gives you a tight slap across your face. Due to the sudden shock, you wake up. You realize it was a dream and you do not have a stomach ache.
Acharya Ji concludes the story here.


Learnings from the story:

As an explanation, sharing one चौपाई (Chopayi) from श्रीरामचरितमानस (ShriRamCharitManas) अरण्यकाण्ड (Aranyakand)

चौपाई : उमा कहउँ मैं अनुभव अपना। सत हरि भजनु जगत सब सपना॥

भावार्थ : हे उमा! मैं तुम्हें अपना अनुभव कहता हूँ- हरि का भजन ही सत्य है, यह सारा जगत्‌ तो स्वप्न (की भाँति झूठा) है।


The question here is, out of the five who is your one true friend ??

Quite simply anyone will choose the fifth one who made you realize the truth, that it was just a dream.

But how does this story is relevant to our daily lives ??

Our life and its problems are represented by stomach ache. We try to live our lives and solve our life's problems financially, physically, mentally, and with knowledge.

But only through spiritual guidance, we can realize the truth. The truth that our lives are nothing more than a dream. A dream we can try to wake up from by self-realization. Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta Ji is a guide to be self-realized.

In chapter 4 of ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji, from verse 25 to  30. Bhagwan Ji talks about 12 यज्ञ (Yagya) the we do and can perform. The above 5 friends which are discussed in this story are part of the it.  

Anyone can study, practice and try to wake from the dream that we all are in.

Short Story - Self Realization

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा 

While teaching and explaining Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji tells beautiful and knowledgeable short stories. These short stories are instrumental in explaining a point in the discussion. The following is one such short story.

As I heard it from Acharya Ji, I am not aware of the original title so I named it Self Realization. It depicts the supreme learning of वेद (Veda) through this simplest of all stories.

Once there was a young man named Manish. After some argument with his parents, Manish left his parents home and went out of town. Manish's parents started to look for him, but they were unable to find him. Perhaps the Manish didn't want to be found.

Manish's father focused all his energy on work to overcome the grief of his lost son. Due to his newfound focus, his small business started to thrive and over the years he became very wealthy.

Manish's parents lived a full life and before they died, they asked their friend who was also a lawyer to take care of their wealth after they are gone. And if someday their son returns give all the money to him. Both of them died soon leaving behind immense wealth.

After a few years, Manish returned to his native city, he wasn't young anymore. His time on his own was very harsh on him, due to immense poverty he looked just like another beggar. Starving thin body covered in torn old clothes and rusty old shoes confirmed his deteriorating state of life.

He soon found that his parents were dead, as a last resort he started to search for his father's lawyer friend. After locating him he went to meet. His intention was to get any job even of a peon so that he doesn't starve to death. Manish's father's friend was a kind-hearted and righteous man, he recognized Manish and initiated the process of transferring money to its rightful owner.

The lawyer took Manish to a bank, he asked Manish to wait outside while he went inside an office to meet with the bank manager. Manish thought he must have gone to arrange for some work for him. The lawyer told the manager that the rightful owner of the biggest estate is sitting outside and arrange for the transfer. Soon after which Manish found that his parents have left him a huge sum of money. Manish's life was changed forever.

Acharya Ji concluded the story here.

Learnings from the story:

Just like the son of a Sharma is also Sharma and the son of Gupta is also Gupta. Similarly, if we are children of God then who are we ??

Acharya Ji quotes we all are अमृतस्य पुत्रा (Amritasya Putra) आत्मस्वरूप (Atmswaroop), ब्रह्मस्वरूप (Bhramswaroop) which I believe is from उपनिषद् (Upnishads). Which simply means children of immortality or simply children of God. So, if we are children of God then we are God as well.

Although Manish lived like a beggar for most of his life, he was always quite rich. If we think carefully then we will realize his worth was quite a lot but he just wasn't aware. Once he is aware his life got changed.  

Similarly, we all children of God and part of him, we are not yet aware of the fact. We can if we are self-realized. And the way for self-realization is discussed in ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji.

Song - Ye kaun chitrakar hai | ये कौन चित्रकार है

Shri Narayan

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा 

While teaching and explaining Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji tells beautiful and knowledgeable short stories. These short stories are instrumental in explaining a point in the discussion. The following is a song from an Indian movie बूंद जो बन गई मोती | Boond Jo Ban Gayi Moti.

Acharya Ji uses this song to explain how a person with higher intellect views the world. Because his intellect is quite strong and evolved he see everything in nature with awe and wonder. As he wonders how beautiful the nature is, he also contemplates who must have thought and made it so. This is what song means and  what Acharya is trying to explain.

No offense intended on anyone, but people with lower intellect views the Niagara falls as just a hole in the ground with water flowing in.

Lyrics in Hindi:

हरी हरी वसुंधरा नीला नीला ये गगन
के जिस पे बदलो की पालकी उड़ा रहा पवन
दिशऐ देखो रंगभरी,  चमक रही उमंग भरी
यह किसने फूल फूल पे किया सिंगार है
ये कौन चित्रकार है
तपस्वियों सी है अटल ये पर्वतो की चोटिया , ये सर्प सी घुमेरदार घेरदार घाटिया
ध्वजा से ये खड़े हुए है वृक्ष देवदार के
गलीचे से गुलाब के, गलीचे ये बहार के
के किस कवि की कल्पना  का चमत्कार है
ये कौन चित्रकार है

कुदरत की इस पवितरता को तुम निहार लो
इसके गुणों को अपने मन में तुम उतर लो
चमका लो आज लालिमा अपने ललाट की
कण कण से झांकती तुम्हे छवि विराट की
अपनी तो एक आँख है उसकी हज़ार है
ये कौन चित्रकार है

ये कौन चित्रकार है

 

Transliteration:

Hari hari wasundhara nila nila ye gagan
Ke jis pe badalo ki palaki uda raha pawan
Dishaye dekho rangbhari
Chamak rahi umang bhari
Ye kis ne phool phool pe kiya singar hai
Ye kaun chitrakar hai
Tapaswiyo si hai atal ye parawato ki chotiya Ye sarp si ghumeradar, gheradar ghatiya
Dhwaja se ye khade huye hai wariaksh dewadar ke
Galiche ye gulab ke, bagiche ye bahar ke
Ye kis kavi ki kalpana
Ye kis kavi ki kalpana ka chamatkar hai
Ye kaun chitrakar hai

Kudrat Ki Is Pavitrataa Ko Tum Nihaar Lo,
Iske Guno Ko Apne Man Mein Tum Utaar Lo,
Chamkaa Lo Aaj Lalimaa Apne Lalaat Ki
Kan Kan Se Jhaankati Tumhe Chhavi Viraat Ki,
Apni To Aankh Ek Hai, Uski Hazaar Hain,

Ye kaun chitrakar hai

Translation:

Who is the painter ??

Blue sky above lush green earth.

On the sky the wind is moving palanquins of clouds

Direction are colorful, they are glittering with joy

Who has decorated every single flower.

Who is the painter ??

Mountain peaks are immovable like great sages. Valleys round like snakes.

Cedar trees are tall like flags, gardens of spring.

Which poet has imagined this magic.

Who is the painter ??

Gaze upon the purity of nature

Consume its good qualities.

Brighten the shine on your face.

Almighty peeks at you from every particle

We have only one eye and he has a thousands.

Who is the painter ??

Who is the painter ??

Short Story - The Allegory of The Cave

The Allegory of The Cave

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा 

While teaching and explaining Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji tells beautiful and knowledgeable short stories. These short stories are instrumental in explaining a point in the discussion. The following is one such short story.


The Allegory (a story to reveal a hidden meaning) of the cave, or Plato's Cave, was presented by the Greek philosopher Plato in his work Republic (514a–520a). I heard it first from Acharya Ji. Following is a brief summary of my understanding. Reference Content Source: Wikipedia.

Imagine a cave where people have been imprisoned from childhood. These prisoners are chained so that their legs and necks are fixed, forcing them to gaze at the wall in front of them and not look around at the cave, each other, or themselves. Behind the prisoners is a fire, behind which people walk carrying objects or puppets "of men and other living things". The prisoners cannot see any of what is happening behind them, they are only able to see the shadows cast upon the cave wall in front of them. The sounds of the people talking echo off the walls and the prisoners believe these sounds come from the shadows (please refer to the image on top of the page).

The shadows are the reality for the prisoners because they have never seen anything else; they do not realize that what they see are shadows of objects in front of a fire, much less that these objects are inspired by real things outside the cave which they do not see. Because it's was a prison, it was never cleaned, the stink in the cave was so bad that it could kill a rat.

Suppose one prisoner was freed, This prisoner would look around and see the fire. The light would hurt his eyes and make it difficult for him to see the objects casting the shadows. If he was told that what he is seeing is real instead of the other version of reality he sees on the wall, he would not believe it. In his pain, the freed prisoner would turn away and run back to what he is accustomed to (that is, the shadows of the carried objects). 


Now Suppose... that someone should drag him... by force, up the rough ascent, the steep way up, and never stop until he could drag him out into the light of the sun. Slowly, his eyes adjust to the light of the sun. First he can only see shadows. Gradually he can see the reflections of people and things in water and then later see the people and things themselves. Eventually, he is able to look at the stars and moon at night until finally, he can look upon the sun itself.  


The freed prisoner would think that the world outside the cave was superior to the world he experienced in the cave and attempt to share this with the prisoners remaining in the cave attempting to bring them onto the journey he had just endured


The returning prisoner, whose eyes have become accustomed to the sunlight, would be blind when he re-enters the cave, just as he was when he was first exposed to the sun. He almost passed out due to the stink in the cave. The other prisoners would infer from the returning man's blindness that the journey out of the cave had harmed him and that they should not undertake a similar journey. If they were able, they would, reach out and kill anyone who attempted to drag them out of the cave.  This where Plato concludes his story. 


Acharya Ji adds to the story that, returning prisoner persuasion results in one young man decides to endure the journey to the outside world. The returning prisoner and the young prisoner come out of the cave. Eventually the young prisoner witnessed the truth just like the first free prisoner. They both enjoy their freedom for a month and then the first free prisoner decides to continue his endeavors of the new world. In return for the greatest gift of freedom to the young man, he asks for one favor. He asks him to bring one more guy out of the cave, just like he did. Once he succeeds, ask him to do the same thing as he had asked him of. In this way they will be able to free everyone from the prison. Acharya Ji concludes his additions to the story here.




Teachings of the story:

•  Acharya Ji normally uses this story to express the greatness of our teachers. He suggests that teachers first uplift themselves by studying hard and becoming masters something. And then they lower themselves again to their student's level so that they can be uplifted as well. And further encourages others to the same as well.
  Just like, after the prisoner was out of the stinking cave, he went back inside to get the rest of the prisoners out.
   
• Plato suggests that the cave represents superficial physical reality. It also represents ignorance, as those in the cave live accepting what they see at face value. Ignorance is further represented by the darkness that engulfs them because they cannot know the true objects that form the shadows, leading them to believe the shadows are the true forms of the objects. The chains that prevent the prisoners from leaving the cave represent that they are trapped in ignorance, as the chains are stopping them from learning the truth. The shadows cast on the walls of the cave represent the superficial truth, which is the illusion that the prisoners see in the cave. The freed prisoner represents those who understand that the physical world is only a shadow of the truth, and the sun that is glaring the eyes of the prisoners represents the higher truth of ideas. The light further represents wisdom, as even the paltry light that makes it into the cave allows the prisoners to know shapes.

 

Interesting Facts About ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा 

While teaching and explaining ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta, Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji tells great facts about it. Now when I study my notes I feel there could be a complete section in recording all those facts. And just like any other blog post, this page too is always open for new facts to be added.

So, following is the list:

• There are 18 chapters and 701 verses श्लोक in ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji. Depending on the region (North or South India) the number of verses may vary from 700 to 701. 
  
  
• 18 chapters can be divided into 3 parts of 6 chapters each. Each part is represent by the  MahaVakya #2 उपदेश वाक्य (Updesh Vakya): तत् त्वम् असि (Tat Tvam Asi). Simply which means "You Are That". 
  Ergo, the first section of 6 chapters is about "You". The last 6 chapters are about "That" and the middle 6 chapters is about "Are / How". Read More...
  
  
• Acharya Ji suggests that Geeta Ji is like a beautiful bouquet. Every single verse of it is like a flower of that bouquet. If a साधक (seeker) goes near the flower then he will be able to experience its sweet smell. And if a sadhak goes deep in the verses then he will able to experience the nectar within the flower.
  The sweet smell is the beautiful arrangement of the divine song, which is a great read in itself. And nectar signifies the intended meaning of the verses.
  
  But getting to the nectar is that not easy. A real साधक has to behave like a honey bee. Consistent, Concentrated and driven, only then he can reach the nectar within the flowers.
  
  
• Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi, used to read Geeta Ji. It is said in the time of crises, he used to open any page of Geeta Ji and read the verse. And he would get the guidance that he was seeking.
  
  
• श्रीभगवानुवाच (God says), Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta is not narrated by some man, or some sage, or some messenger of God. भगवान नारायण कृष्णा (Lord Narayan Krishna) himself answered to every query of अर्जुन (Arjuna). So, that makes it very unique. Acharya Ji says that " I do not know if प्रभु श्री कृष्णा (Lord Krishna) has written or said the verses of Geeta Ji or not, but who so ever has said or written the verses must be प्रभु श्री कृष्णा. As no one else can or will have such profound intellect"
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• It's a popular belief that by just listening to Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta Ji, unhappiness and grief go away.
  
  
• There are 6 schools of thoughts in Hinduism or six major schools of orthodox(astika) Indian Hindu Philosophy, which are the following:
1. Samkhya Yog (सांख्य योग): Natural ordering of numbers
2. Vedanta(वेदान्त): End of Vedas
3. Nyaya (न्याय): means rules, method, or judgment.
4. Patanjali (पतंजलि): A group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices.
5. Mīmāṃsā (मीमांसा): Reflection
6. Vaisheshika (वैशेषिक): Philosophical Procedures and ethical conclusion
   
   
• It is quite an interesting fact that ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta takes inputs, considers, incorporates and, demonstrates all the learning from all the 6 schools of thought.
  Like, Chapter 2 is also called Samkhya Yog as well.
  
  That's the reason people really love it because a seeker who belongs to any school of thought can read Geeta Ji.
  
  
• From Wikipedia - Swami Vivekanand, the 19th-century Hindu monk, and Vedantist stated that the Bhagavad Gita may be old but it was mostly unknown in Indian history and to Indian people. Until the early 8th century when Adi Shankara (Shankaracharya) made it famous by writing his much-followed commentary on it. Some infer, states Vivekananda, that "Shankaracharya was the author of Gita, and that it was he who foisted it into the body of the Mahabharata." This attribution to Adi Shankara is unlikely in part because Shankara himself refers to the earlier commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, and because other Hindu texts and traditions that compete with the ideas of Shankara refer to much older literature referencing the Bhagavad Gita, though much of this ancient secondary literature has not survived into the modern era.
  
  In simple words and what, Acharya Ji suggested is, ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji was part of महाभारत भीषम पर्व (Mahabharata's Bheesham Parv), and no one really knows about the divine song as a separate entity. It was Adi Shankracharya's efforts that we know the Geeta Ji in the form we see it today. And even the translations of its verses are what we actually learn from. So, we should all be very thankful to him.
  
  
• Never fall for गीतासार (Geetasaar) or summary of Geeta Ji. Lord Krishna said approximately 450-500 verses in Geeta to explaining the highest knowledge to Arjun. Its illogical to think that all the knowledge can be summarized in 10-15 points.
  
  
• Above point being made still Acharya Ji suggests the very core and basic idea of ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji as follows.
  
  Bhagwan Ji or God is not a person but a position. And we all are entitled to attain that position. Just like The position of Prime Minister of India, which is currently held by Modi Ji and before him Dr. Singh. The person occupying the position will change but the position remains.
  
  It is easier become a Prime Minister, as you have to fight with others and with people you can see. But it is quite difficult to become God as you have fight with yourself and you cannot see your enemy.
  
  
• Geeta Ji was given by भगवन श्री कृष्ण (Lord Krishna) in the middle of a battle ground. कौरव (Korvas) represents all bad in the world. पांडव (Pandvas) represents all good in this world. But भगवन श्री कृष्ण (Lord Krishna) represents someone in middle of it, and someone who is above and beyond it. 
  
  The Great War of Mahabharata is representation of the a daily war with in us. The good and and the Bad. Every morning, our heart wants to sleep and our mind wats to workout. Just Like Pandvas, the one who surrenders to higher intellect like Lord Krishna wins.
  
  
  
• वेद (Vedas) are summarized in उपनिषद (Upanishads) that's why they are also known as वेदांत (Vedant) or end of Vedas. And श्रीमद भगवत गीता (ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta) summarizes the उपनिषद (Upanishads).   
  
  Also, उपनिषद (Upanishads) means to sit in front on the floor.
  
  316 उपनिषद (Upanishads), 108 are the main or important ones. That's why we have 108 beads in a any Hindu जपमाला (Japmala). Out of 108, 11 are the most powerful and carries the highest level of philosophy.
  
  
• Unlike today, Lord Krishna decided to give the highest knowledge of Geeta Ji without thinking about a महूर्त (time & day according to celestial chart), a proper place or direction, without doing any Pooja. There were 5 million people waiting to fight each other in Mahabharat but Lord Krishna gave ShriMad Bhagwat Geeta Ji to only the worthy ONE. 
  
  
  
• More to come...

 

Short Story - The Real Thirst

ॐ नमो नारायण ! जय श्री कृष्णा 

While teaching and explaining Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Acharya Shri Shivender Nagar Ji tells beautiful and knowledgeable short stories. These short stories are instrumental in explaining a point in the discussion. The following is one such short story.



This story is by Osho. As I heard it from Acharya Ji, I am not aware of the original title so I named it The Real Thirst. It depicts supreme learning from a simple incident.

It's a 40 - 50 years old story set in India. A Seth Ji सेठ जी  (businessman) was traveling to Rajasthan on a train. On the day of his travel, the weather was extra hot. Due to the Rajasthani desert air and peak summer days of May, the heat was bad. It was a slow-moving train. To make matters worse the train stopped at every random station it can find.

On such a hot day, a glass of cold water was God's blessing and short in supply. Hawkers used to sell water to train passengers on the railway platform for 50 paise a glass. They used to carry a Surahi सुराही (Jug) to keep the water cold.

Seth Ji noticed a young hawker waterboy yelling "Coldwater 50 paise Glass !!". 

Seth Ji waved his hand and the waterboy ran towards him. As he reached towards Seth Ji, the water boy poured water from his Surahi in a glass. And looked towards Seth Ji.

Seth Ji asked him "How much for a glass of water ??"
"50 paise Seth Ji" the waterboy replied politely.
To which Seth Ji said, "Will you give it for 25 paise ??".
The waterboy didn't reply. 

Agitated Seth Ji asked again, "Will you give it for 25 paise or not ??".

For a moment the waterboy looked at Seth Ji with a smirk. Then he poured the water from the glass back in his Surahi. 

While putting the unused glass back in his bag, the waterboy said: "Seth Ji, it seems like you aren't thirsty yet".

He then left the spot to find new customers yelling "Coldwater 50 paise Glass !!". Leaving stunned Seth Ji behind.


Teachings of the Story: Acharya Ji suggests that this story has the highest learnings of Vedanta. He uses this story numerous times to explain the following points.

• The real need isn't high or there yet: If someone isn't paying required attention towards something or missing the real zeal to finish a task. Then we can conclude that the real need for the requirement isn't there yet. The sadhak साधक (seeker) needs to wait for the need to be generated properly
  
  
• The time isn't yet arrived. Adding to the above point may be due to various reasons there is a delay in fulfilling the need. Like, a job seeker needs to wait for the right opportunity. So, the sadhak needs to wait for the right time.
  
  
• One will never bargain if he is really thirsty: If the sadhak (seeker) is really thirsty for knowledge, he will not get into anything else, and ocean of KNowledge like ShriMad Baahgwat Geeta will quench his thirst.
  
• More to come...