Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 - Koramangala

Swamiji has recently started with the fifth chapter -"Samyasa Yogah".

Bhagavan has given His full advice to Arjuna in the second and third chapter. Had Arjuna understood that, then Bhagavad Gita would have ended there. As Arjuna was not convinced fully , he raises a question so that he could run away from the war.

His question was " When Jnana Yoga is the best, why do you ask me  to do Karma Yoga, Oh Krishna? "

Bhagavan said that even though both were considered good, Karma Yoga was better. One who is above the likes (Raga) and dislikes (Dvesha)  is called Nitya Sanyasi and he easily gets out of samsaram. Bhagavan explains further.

On 13 April '11, Swamiji taught the meaning of sloka  3 & 4.

Samyasa  is the fourth ashrama in the vedic system, which aims at a high goal (Moksha). Other Ashramas aim at Dharma,Artha, Kama, purusharthas, which have their limitations. Arjuna  wanted to avoid day to day unpleasant duties ,and did not aim at Moksha in taking to Samyasa. This was not encouraged  by Bhagavan. He wanted Arjuna to adopt internal Samyasa , while doing his duty and not running away. Shastra does not approve the external show, Ravana adopted the role of sanyasi only to get Sita out of the hut. One who polishes his/ her likes  and dislikes and not affected, is a nitya sanyasi.

Sankyam,Jnana yogam, sanyasam are all synonymous. Jnanayoga and karma Yoga cannot be compared as they are different in nature. Karma yoga is the stepping stone for Jnanam. Swamiji  told about the story which Pujyasri  Dayananda Saraswati used in his lectures. A miser who went to a hotel for the 'vadai' , about which everybody was praising. As the vadai was tasty and he was hungry, he ordered seven vadais , one after the another. He was fully satisfied with the last one and he was no more hungry. He got the bill for what he ate. But he argued with the cashier, that he was satisfied only with the seventh one and he would pay only for that.

Just like this story, one cannot get  to Sanyasa (Moksha) without going through the Karma yoga .

The class is held every Wednesday from 11-30 A.M to 12-30 P.M at 453, 8th Main, 4th Block Koramangala, Bangalore-560034. All are welcome to attend