Gita Satsangh - will begin from tomorrow

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

We will start our Satsangh from the Guru Poornima and dedicates the

Satsangh to Sage Vedavyasa, the compiler/editor of Bhagavad Gita. We

have completed chapters 1 to 7 ably coordinated by Sri Madhava and

Sri Sunder (H). sunderji and Madhavji have already completed up to

verses 15 but to keep the continuity, I plan to start again from the

first verse. I plan to post up to 5 verses with meanings per week and

allow members to participate in an interactive discussion. Ideally,

we need some volunteers who are willing to read additional materials

and inject their thoughts and insights. There are no ground rules and

questions and answers should come spontaneously without fear or

shyness. Only with active participation, the Satsangh will have

beneficial effects and I strongly encourage especially the youngsters

to jump in the discussions sooner than later.

 

The Eighth Chapter of the Bhagavadgita emphasizes on the structure of

the cosmos, for the purpose of elucidating the fate of the soul after

the shedding of the physical body. The Lord also briefs Arjuna the

importance of the Secret knowledge of comic existence can open the

gateway to the realization of the Supreme Being. The entire chapter 8

can be considered a full explanation to the questions that arose

towards the end of the Seventh Chapter. This chapter portrays the

Supreme Being as inclusive of everything that is objective as well as

subjective, personal as well as social and moving as well as

nonmoving. The verses 29 and 30 of chapter 7 motivated Arujuna for

knowing the secrets concerning Brahman, Adhibhuta, Adhidaiva,

Adhiyajna, Adhyatma and Karma, as well as the fate of the soul after

the death of the body.

 

Brahman points to the absolute and formless supreme Reality or supreme

Spirit, the embodiment of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss and knowledge of

Brahma means full realization and direct perception of the truth of

that Supreme Reality. The term Adhyatma is a direct reference to

Krishna who stands for the totality of individual souls. Knowledge of

Adhyatma, means knowing the fact that God, the embodiment of Truth,

Knowledge; and Bliss appears as many in the form of the individual

souls. In other words the totality of Jivas, has no separate

existence other than God. Karma refers to the entire cycle of birth

and death and associated activities ordained by the Lord (See chapter

8, verse 3). The term Adhibhuta covers the whole range of perishable

matter, which the Lord referred to in chapter 7 as Apara Prakrti (His

lower Nature) and in Chapter 15 as Ksara Purusa. Adhidaiva refers to

the Creator Brahma and more specifically, Hiranyagarbha who produces

the totality of subtle bodies. Finally, the term Adhiyajna stands for

that unmanifested aspect of the Lord who pervades within our heart as

the Inner Witness (See verses 4 to 6 of Chapter 9)

 

For Gita Dhyana Shlokas/Mantras and Mahatmya

/message/advaitin/6987

 

Adi Shankara's commentary, translated by Swami ambhirananda, at URL:

 

<advaitinGita/Shankara1/gmbCH6.ht

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Swami Chinmayananda's commentary at URL:

<advaitinGita/Chinmaya/COMM6.HTM>

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran