The Heart of Gita
Namaste ji and Happy Janmasthami The teachings from Gita are eternal and time-tested.
They inspire us in some fashion.
Unfortunately, inspirations, however lofty, do not move us to the next step of actualizing
the truth that one is seeking.
We are always taught by our teachers and preachers of a high rank and reputation that the best
thing to arrive at is the Sthitha Pragya state.
No doubt.
Also, to understand that man should never consider himself to be the actual doer of
things.
Okay.
Would you be happy simply reading the menu from a five-star hotel when you are hungry?
We read, witnessing bhava or sthita pragya state or a balanced state, or all those lofty
states.
How are we to arrive at them?
Our observation says that mere reading or hearing of it is of no avail unless we take
up the means to achieve all those states in a very practical way.
We are always in the dark about those means which are necessary for the purpose, nowhere
can the slightest hint to that effect be traced out in all their discourses.
The result is that those who are listening are wrongly led to this conclusion that only
the frequent repetition like mantras, verses after verses, should be enough.
Things like “I am not the doer” or,“I am Brahmam”, or “Aham Brahmasmi”, is
it all enough?
Just reciting?
It is detrimental, in fact, to remain under the illusion of having merely done our part
of recitation.
One must adopt the right means to arrive at the right results - earning the fruits of
our practice, like Stitha Pragya state of mind or having a condition like that of a
lotus leaf in a dirty pond of water that remains unaffected, or becoming a witness, or joyously
embracing saranagati (true surrender), or performing nishkam karma, or desireless state.
Will recitations such as “I am Brahman” or “I am merely a witness” actually give
birth to such states?
Think over it.
If that was so easy, then, by now, all reciters and listeners would have attained what Lord
Krishna is hinting at in many different ways.
I would like to share with you a great revelation, the mercy of my Beloved Master Pujya Shri
Babuji Maharaj.
Please pay close attention.
Let us visit the Mahabharat scene when the war was just about to begin.
Arjuna is despondent and decides not to fight.
Now, consider how much time Lord Krishna could have possibly required for speaking out the
total text of Gita as we find it today?
The armies were standing face-to-face on the battlefield and war trumpets were sounding
aloud, announcing the zero-hour for that ultimate action.
How much time was there at the disposal of Lord Krishna to bring Arjun back to the proper
course, getting him ready to fight the war by preaching sermons to him?
Think over it.
The recitation of 18 chapters packed with 700 slokas requires at least a few hours.
How could that be possible at that critical moment?
Evidently, he could not have taken more than a few minutes for it.
The fact is that Lord Krishna actually transmitted to Arjuna, within few minutes, all those mental
states necessary for the purpose at that very moment.
Really, they were the very conditions which a spiritual seeker passes through during the
course of the spiritual journey.
The process brought Arjuna instantly to a higher state of a feeling of spiritual consciousness
and purged out the feeling of undue attachment from his heart.
This can as well be possible today if a personality of that caliber is there but as it is too
commonly witnessed, people hear, they recite Gita for the whole life without taking in
the least effect thereof.
The essence of Gita never touches their heart.
How many have so far turned around like Arjuna in spite of hearing the Gita for years together?
Lord Krishna transmitted the knowledge to Arjuna as witnessed by Sage Vyasa, who transcribed
the same in sloka format.
This is important to understand, that whatever transpired between Lord Krishna and Arjuna,
unspoken words, which were transmitted, were transcribed in sloka format later on by Sage
Vyasa.
This heart-to-heart transmission from the heart of the Lord to Arjuna was witnessed
by Sage Vyasa, who carefully transcribed those emotions and conditions in slokas that became
what we read today as “Gita” The actually recited verses were only 7 (seven).
The 7 gems were imparted to Arjuna through 7 verses.
The rest were added by many sages over the passage of time besides what Sage Vyasa transcribed
– the heart-to-heart conversation that was between Lord and Arjuna.
The heart-to-heart dialogue was also no less important.
Perhaps, more important than those 7 verbal communicated verses.
I like to, with a lot of reverence to the Lord, to my beloved Babuji Maharaj, heart
flowing in gratefulness, I like to share with you all, those 7 gems, the 7 verses.
One of them is from 1) chapter 2, verse 55 Sankhya Yoga
O Parth, one who, having renounced all desires born of the mind, one who is content in the
self, and by the self, is said to be one with inside is steady - sthita pragya
2) chapter 2, verse 62 Sankhya Yoga
While contemplating the pleasures of the senses, one is attracted to them.
From attraction arises desire, and from desire arises anger.
The next one is also from the same chapter, verse 63
3) chapter2, verse 63 Sankhya Yoga
Anger leads to confusion or delusion of the mind which results in loss of memory.
When the memory is lost, the intellect is lost, destroyed.
And the ruin of intellect leads man to destruction.
The next verse is also from the same chapter, verse 64
4) chapter2, verse 64 Sankhya Yoga
But one who controls the mind and is free from likes and dislikes, raga and dvesha,
even while using the objects of the senses, attains the grace of God
Same chapter 2, sloka 66 5) chapter2, verse 66 – Sankhya Yoga
There is no wisdom for a man without harmony and without harmony, there is no contemplation.
Without contemplation, there cannot be peace.
How can there be happiness for one lacking peace of mind?
6) chapter 3, verse 35 – Karma Yoga
Better is one’s own duty to devoid of merit than the duty of another well-discharged.
Better is death in one’s own duty, the duty of another is fraught with fear.
In short, Babuji would have said, “ mind your own business”.
7) chapter 3, verse 4, Karma Yoga
Not by refraining from action does man secures freedom from action.
Nor does he secure ultimate perfection by mere renunciation that he may secure.
Well, those are the 7 gems.
Later on, towards the end of the day of the first day of the war, cajoling Arjuna, Lord
reveals 3 more secrets, personal secrets to Arjuna
Chapter 4, verse 7, Gyana Yoga
y That is from adhyay (chapter) 4, verse 7.
The next sloka also Chapter 4, verse 8, Gyana Yoga
And a very important one, chapter 18, verse 66, Moksha Sanyas Yoga
So, all the best my dear friends and celebrate this Janmashtami with gusto, with joy, with
fervor, see if some of you can fast also.
Contemplate the meaning of these verses and, as I said, these were verbally communicated
from Lord Krishna to Arjuna.
That really does not mean that non-verbal communication, which is heart-to-heart, is
of any less importance.
The entire Gita is relevant today, more than ever, in our lifetime, and it shall continue
to sound and resound for future generations to benefit from.
Thank you and pass on the tradition.