Unveiling the Bhagavad Gita: Timeless Wisdom for a Fulfilling Life (Part 1)

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When we look at him for advice, help or direction for our problems, we hear Bhagwan say, “Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: “Give up all other duties and surrender unto Me.” This is Chapter 18, Verse 66 of the Gita.

He says, “yoga-kshemam vahamyaham: To them, whose minds are always absorbed in Me, I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess.” This is Chapter 9, Verse 22.

If we’re ready to surrender, we must also perform tapas from our side, so we don’t forget what we asked God for help.

When we surrender via the Gyana, Bhakti or Karma marga, we either see the problem gets dissolved or we become powerful enough to face it. The problem will be staring at you, but you become undisturbed, because you know there’s a higher power looking over your wellbeing. You become at peace even with an uncertain future. Just as a baby who doesn’t have any money, power, position, possessions, is still the happiest because he knows that there’s someone in his life who he can count on.

But, how does God solve our problems? In 4 ways, God answers our prayers.

By saying:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Wait
4. Instead here’s something better

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Let’s take the example of 6 bhaktas who sought refuge in the God and found their prayers answered. In Mukunda mala, we are introduced to these devotees.

वात्सल्यादभय-प्रदान-समयादार्तार्ति-निर्वापणात्
औदार्यादघ-शोषणादघणित-श्रेयः-पदः-प्रापणत्।
सेव्यः श्रीपतिरेक-एव जगतां एते च षट् साक्षिणः
प्रह्लादश्च विभीषणश्च करिराट् पाञ्चाल्यहल्या ध्रुवः॥

​​vAtsalyad-abhaya-pradAna-samayAd-ArtArti-nirvApaNAt
audAryAd-agha-SoshaNAd-aghaNita-SreyaH-padaH-prApaNat /
sevyaH SrIpatir-eka-eva jagatAm ete ca shaT sAkshiNaH
prahlAdaSca vibhIshaNaSca karirAT pAncAly-ahalyA dhruvaH //

In the entire universe, it is Sri hari (VishNu) that is to be worshipped as the Ultimate Resort. Six colossal figures stand testimony to this: Prahlada, Vibhishana, Gajendra the elephant-king, Panchali, Ahalya and Dhruva. They are the blessed ones who have received , respectively, superlative affection, supreme refuge, undisputable protection, infinite compassion, total absolution and apex of benefaction, from the Lord.

​SOURCE: https://www.profvk.com/text-of-the-36-prayers-25-to-30

There are 6 witnesses to this great truth.

sevyaH SrIpatir-eka-eva jagatAm: Serve that lord alone Sripathi, he will fulfill all your desires. Read these six characters in detail HERE.

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If you want to experience God in your heart, those who have a pure heart will only experience it. So, how do you purify the heart?

Think of what God loves based on what this shloka says: Chapter 4, Verse 8:

paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkritam
dharma-sansthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge

To protect the righteous, to annihilate the wicked, and to reestablish the principles of dharma I appear on this earth, age after age.

He’s looking for qualities of righteousness, virtuosity and nobility. So, how do we know that we are on the wrong path. Whenever, we have a guilty feeling, that’s when we can find out that we are on the wrong path. That’s God talking to us. Our mind is disturbed when we stray away from the path of righteousness.

There are other disturbances of the mind, like jealousy, anger or hatred. How to correct the disturbances of the mind? By doing meditation. Following these six steps:

• a. Observe: The thoughts
• b. Detect: The presence of negative thoughts
• c. Eliminate: Negative thoughts
• d. Substitute: with positive thoughts
• e. Strengthen: Continue the process again and again

Right thinking leads to peace, that’s the proof. Positive thinking doesn’t always have to be right. In spirituality, we are realistic, we are neither optimistic or pessimistic.

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If my true nature is Sat Chit Ananda, why am I not at peace?

In Bhaagavatam, we see a story of a farmer who is guiding a bullock to steer his cart that is being pulled by the bullock. When the bullock strays from the path, the farmer tugs at the reins which are connected to the nose of the bullock. Similarly, when there’s pain in the heart, that’s when we will correct our direction. The pain in the heart is severe, when we stray away too far from the right path.

There are two points to begin with. Humility and gratitude. In order for us to drop our ego, all we have to think of is all the factors that make our existence possible. But how many factors out of these thousands are in our control. Absolutely none, so that alone should bring us to our knees.

And for gratitude, and contentment, think of this shloka from Bhajagovindam.

Yogaratova bhogaratova
Sangaratova sangaviheenah

Whether one is immersed in yoga or in revelling in outward enjoyment, Whether he in enjoying himself in social company or has retired into solitude, True happiness certainly cannot be his;

yasya bhrahmani ramate chitham
nandati nadati nandatyeva

But who alone is revelling inwardly in brahman (wherever he be), He alone will be truly happy and will verily enjoy;

SOURCE: https://rambling000.wordpress.com/2016/11/13/bhaja-govindam-lyrics-and-meaning/

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About Sanatana Dharma

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः।
अनेन वेद्यं सच्छास्त्रमिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः॥

Brahman alone is real; the universe is mithya – neither fully real nor unreal, but an appearance. The individual self (jiva) is none other than Brahman itself, not separate or different. This is the true teaching of the scriptures, as revealed by Vedanta. ~ Verse 20 from Brahma Jnānavali Māla