|
THE BHAGAVAD-GITA INTRODUCTION Jai: Grandma, I have a
hard time understanding the tea Grandma: Of
course, Jai, I will be glad to. You should know what this holy book tea Here is the background situation in
the Gita: In ancient times there was a king
who had two sons, Dhritar|shtra and P|ndu.
The former was born blind; therefore, P|ndu inherited
the kingdom. P|ndu had five sons. They were called the P|ndavas.
Dhritar|shtra had one hundred sons. They were
called the Kauravas. Duryodhana was the eldest of the Kauravas. After the death of king P|ndu,
his eldest son, Yudhisthira, became the lawful King. Duryodhana was very
jealous. He also wanted the kingdom. The kingdom was divided into two halves
between the P|ndavas and the Kauravas. Duryodhana was
not satisfied with his share. He wanted the entire kingdom for himself. He
tried several evil plots to kill the P|ndavas and take
away their kingdom. Somehow he took over the entire kingdom of the P|ndavas
and refused to give back without a war. All peace talks by Lord Krishn|
and others failed, so the big war of Mah|bh|rata
could not be avoided. The P|ndavas
didn’t want to fight, but they had only two He
had to All lives, human or nonhuman, are sacred, and
nonviolence or Ahims| is one of the most basic principles of
Hinduism. So when Lord This
spiritual talk between the Supreme Lord, Jai: This is an
interesting story, Grandma. Can you tell me more? Grandma: If
you come to where I sit every evening, Jai, I will tell you the whole story,
one Jai: Thank you, Grandma.
I’ll be there to hear more. CHAPTER 1 ARJUNA’S CONFUSION
Jai: I would like to
know first how Lord Grandma: It
came about in this way, Jai. The war of Mah|bh|rata
was about to begin after peace talks by Lord Jai: What does
compassionate mean, Grandma? Grandma: Compassion
does not mean pity, Jai. That would be looking down on others as poor, pitiful
creatures. Arjuna was feeling their pain and their unlucky situation as his
own. Arjuna was a great warrior, who had fought many wars and was well prepared
for the war, but suddenly his compassion made him not want to fight. He spoke
of the evils of war and sat down on the seat of his Jai: I don’t blame him.
I wouldn’t want to fight either. Why do people fight, Grandma? Why are there
wars? Grandma: Jai,
there are not only wars between nations, but quarrels between two people,
quarrels between brothers and sisters, between husband and wife, between
friends and neighbors. The main reason is that people are not able to let go of
their selfish motives and desires. Most wars are fought for possession and
power. But all problems could be solved peacefully if people could see both
sides of the problem and work out an agreement. War should be the last resort.
Our holy books say: One should not commit violence towards anyone. Unjustified
killing is punishable in all circumstances. Lord We
humans also have wars inside of us. Our negative and positive forces are always
fighting. The negative forces within us are represented by the Kauravas and the
positive forces by the P|ndavas. Chapter 1 summary: Arjuna asked his CHAPTER 2 KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Jai: If Arjuna felt so
kind-hearted for everyone he was supposed to kill in the war, how could he go
out and fight, Grandma? Grandma: That
is exactly what Arjuna asked Lord Arjuna had a good point. In Vedic
culture, gurus, the elderly, honorable persons, and all other superiors are to
be respected. But the scriptures also say that anyone who acts wrongly or
unlawfully against you or others, or anyone who supports su Arjuna
was confused about his duty and asked guidance from Lord Jai: What is Atm|, Grandma? Grandma: Atm| is the spirit, the soul, or the Self.
Atm|
is never born, never dies, and is everlasting. Our body takes birth and dies,
but not Atm|.
Atm| supports the body. Without Atm|, the body becomes dead. Atm| supplies the power for our body, mind,
and senses, just as air burns and supports fire. Weapons cannot cut Atm|, fire cannot burn it, wind cannot dry
it, and water cannot make it wet. Therefore, we should not grieve over death of
the body because the Atm|
inside the body never dies. (Gita
2.23-24) Jai: What is the
difference between Atm| (spirit), soul, and body? Grandma: One
and the same Atm|
dwells inside all bodies. Our body The
body is called a garment of Atm|.
Just as we get rid of an old, worn out garment and put on a new one, similarly,
Atm|
disposes the old body and takes a new one after death. So death is like Jai: Then why did Arjuna
grieve over deaths of loved ones on the battlefield? Why didn’t he want to
fight? Grandma: Arjuna
was a very tough warrior, Jai, but he wanted to run away from the horrors of
war and lead an easy life of a Samny|si or a
wandering holy man. Lord Jai: But Grandma, how
could Arjuna fight his best if he wasn’t fighting to win and gain something? Grandma: Arjuna
should go into the fight to win, but he should not weaken his will by worrying
about the result while he is fighting. He should put all his attention and energy
into every minute of the fight. That energy is what will bring the greatest
result. Lord We
should do our best at the present moment and let the future take care of
itself. Jai: Could
you tell me more about the secret of success as told by Grandma: One should be so completely absorbed
in work or study itself as to become unaware of everything else, even of its
results. To a Action
should be done sincerely without worrying about its results. The results of the
action will be greater if one puts all attention and energy into the action
itself and does not allow one’s energy to be diverted by thinking of results.
The result will depend on energy put into action. One is asked not to worry
about results during the course of action. This does not mean that one should
not care about results. But one should not expect only positive results all the
time. The
secret of living a meaningful life is to be very active, and do our best
without thinking of our own selfish motives or even the results. A
Self-realized person works for the good of all. Jai: What is a
Self-realized person like, Grandma? Grandma:
A Self-realized person is a perfect person, Jai. Lord Jai: How can we keep
from getting angry, Grandma? Grandma: We
get angry if our desire is not fulfilled. (Gita
2.62) So the best way to control anger is not to become a slave of our desires.
We need to limit our desires. Desires begin in the mind, so we should control
our mind. If we don’t, we drift like a ship without its rudder. The desire for
pleasure takes us to the dark alley of sin, gets us in trouble, and prevents
our progress. (Gita 2.67) As a student, you should set a
higher goal for yourself than pleasure. Put forth your best effort and
concentrate on your studies. Arjuna
was not only the greatest warrior of his time, but also a compassionate
KarmaYogi. Lord Whatever
work you do, do it with single-minded attention and put your whole heart into
it. This is the main theme of KarmaYoga of the Gita and the secret of success
in anything you do. Chapter 2 summary: Lord CHAPTER 3 PATH OF DUTY Jai: Why do we have to
control our desires, Grandma? Grandma: When
you Jai: Uncle Hari left his
family and home and went to an Ashram last year to find God. Do we have to
leave home to seek God? Grandma: No,
we do not. In the Gita, Lord Jai: Do we have to read
all the scriptures to understand and find God? Grandma: There
are many scriptures in our religion, su Jai: Uncle Puri is a
farmer and has no interest in studying the Gita. He says the Gita is difficult
and not for common people like him. So how can Uncle Puri realize God? Grandma: Uncle
Puri should follow the path of KarmaYoga, whi Jai: But people will
work harder if they have selfish motives, won’t they, Grandma? Grandma: It
is true that people may earn more if they work for selfish gain, but they will
not find lasting peace and happiness. Only those who do their duty selflessly
for the good of all people will find real peace and satisfaction. Jai: If people don’t
work for personal gain, will they still do their best and not become lazy? Grandma: A true KarmaYogi works hard even without
personal gain. Only the ignorant work just for personal gain. The world runs
smoothly because people do their duty. Parents work hard to support their
family, and the Jai: What happens if
people work hard just for their own benefit? Grandma: They
get sin, Jai. It is wrong to perform any action without considering its effect
on others. Lord Jai: What does a person
gain who follows the tea Grandma: Su Someone
once said: What goes around comes around. This is the law of cause and effect
or Karma. Help fulfill someone’s dream and your dream will be fulfilled too by
the Lord! Jai: Please give me more
examples of true KarmaYogis, Grandma. Grandma: You
have read the story of R|m|yan. Lord R|ma’s father-in-law was Janaka, the King
of Janakpur. He attained God by serving his people as his own Mah|tm|
Gandhi was a true KarmaYogi who worked selflessly all his life without any
personal motive, just for the good of society. He set an example for other
world leaders to follow. There are many other examples of selfless persons. Jai: Is that how our
leaders should work? Grandma: Yes,
a true KarmaYogi shows by personal example how to lead a selfless life and
attain God by following the path of KarmaYoga. (Gita 3.21) Jai: If I want to become
a KarmaYogi, what do I have to do? Grandma: KarmaYoga
requires doing our duty in life the best we can, unselfishly, without atta Jai: It would be hard to
work without wanting to gain something personally from it. How do we do this,
Grandma? Grandma: Spiritually
ignorant persons work just for themselves. The wise work for the welfare of
all. The ignorant work to enjoy the result of their labor and become atta The
wise offer all their work to God with no selfish desire of their own. The
ignorant work only to fulfill their personal desires. (Gita 3.25) Jai: Can a common person
like me do what great people like King Janak and Mah|tm| Gandhi have done? Grandma: With
a little effort, anybody can follow the path of KarmaYoga. Think of whatever
work you are doing as your gift to society. If you are a student, your duty is
to attend s Jai: What kind of work
should I do when I graduate, Grandma? Grandma: Choose
the work that you like and can do well. The work should be suited to your
nature. (Gita 3.35, 18.47) If you Jai: But shouldn’t I try
to find good work, like an Engineer, a tea Grandma: There
is no su Jai: Is selfish desire
the reason why people do bad things? Grandma: Yes
Jai, our selfish desire for enjoyment is the cause of all evils. If we don’t
control our desires, our desires will control us, and we will become the
victims of our own desires. Control your wants because whatever you want, wants
you also! Jai: Then are all
desires bad? Grandma: No,
all desires are not bad. The desire to serve others is a noble desire. The
desire to enjoy most pleasures is bad because it leads to sinful and illegal
activities. Always remember that desire never ends after you get what you
wanted. It just leads to new desires and creates greed. And if you don’t get
what you want, you feel angry. People do bad things when they are angry. Jai: How can we control
our desire for pleasures? Grandma: One
way is by the knowledge given in the Gita and by the power of thinking. Before
you act from desire, always think first of the results of that action. Desires
start in the mind and stay there. You can control your mind by intellect and
reasoning. When
you are young, your mind becomes dirty just as the clear water of a pond
becomes muddy during the rainy season. If your intellect doesn’t control your
mind, your mind will run towards sense pleasures. This will keep you from a Jai: Since we know right
from wrong, Grandma, why can’t we just avoid doing wrong? Grandma: If
we don’t control our mind, it will try to weaken our will and take us for a
ride to the wrong road of sensual pleasures. We have to wat Chapter 3 Summary: Lord CHAPTER 4 THE
PATH OF RENUNCIATION
WITH KNOWLEDGE Jai: How did the Gita
come from, Grandma? Grandma: The
tea Jai: So is Lord Grandma: Yes,
Lord The Gita was first translated in
Sanskrit and fully explained by great guru Adi Sankar| Jai: Why is Lord Grandma: Lord
Jai: Will Lord Grandma: Yes,
Lord Jai: Will we still have
to study if we want to do well in examinations? Grandma: Yes,
one must do the work. Do your best and then pray. The good Lord will not work
for you. You will have to do your work. Your work should be free from selfish
desires so as not to earn any Karma. Jai: What is Karma,
Grandma? Grandma: The
Sanskrit word Karma means action. It also means the results of an action. The
word ‘Karma’ is generally mispronounced as ‘Karma|.’
Every action produces a result called Karma, whi Our
own Karma is responsible for our rebirth to enjoy or suffer the results of our
deeds. Karma is like depositing money in the form of good and bad deeds in the
bank. We do not take birth when all our Karma is used up. This freedom from the
cycles of birth and death is called liberation, Nirv|na,
Moksha or Mukti. In Mukti one becomes one with God. Jai: How can we avoid
Karma when we live and work in society? Grandma: The
best way not to earn any Karma is not to do anything just for yourself, but do
it for the good of society. Always keep in mind that Mother Nature does everything;
we are not the real doer of any action. If we strongly believe this and work
just as a servant of God, we will not earn any new Karma, and all our past
Karma will be wiped out by Self-knowledge.
When all Karma is finished, we become liberated. This method of
uniting with God is called the path of selfless action (or KarmaYoga). Jai How do we get rid
of the Karma from our past lives? Grandma: A
very good question! True knowledge of the Self (or God) acts like fire that
burns away all Karma from our past lives. (Gita 4.37) Selfless service (KarmaYog)
prepares one to receive Self-knowledge. A KarmaYogi automatically gets
Self-knowledge in due course of time. (Gita 4.38) One who has true knowledge of
the Self or God is called a Self-realized or a God-realized person. Jai: Are there other
ways to get liberation, Grandma? Grandma: Yes,
Jai, there are different methods or ways to rea Lord is pleased by those who
sincerely perform any one of these Yajna and gives them the knowledge to rea Jai: How about those who
just worship a deity everyday? Can they also rea Grandma: Yes,
those who worship the deity with full faith also get whatever they want. Most
Hindus worship God in the form of a Jai: Do we need a guru
to rea Grandma: We
definitely need a tea When
you graduate from a college and enter family life, you will need to find a guru
or a spiritual guide. Meanwhile, follow your scripture and culture and never
accept defeat in life. Chapter 4 summary: Lord comes to earth from time to time in
a life-form to set things right on the earth. The Lord fulfills the desires of
those who worship Him. There are four types of spiritual practices or Yajna.
Both selfless service and Self-knowledge free the soul from the bondage of
Karma. The Lord gives Self-knowledge to those who do selfless service.
Self-knowledge burns all our past Karma and frees us from the wheel or cycles
of birth and death. CHAPTER 5
THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION Jai: Whi Grandma: A person who has the true knowledge of
God believes that all work is done by the energy of Mother Nature and he or she
is not the real doer of an action. Su Self-knowledge leads to
renunciation. KarmaYog prepares one to automatically receive the knowledge of
God (Gita 4.38, 5.06), So both paths finally lead to God. Lord Jai: Doesn’t the word
renunciation usually mean leaving worldly possessions and living in an Ashram
(monastery) or in a lonely place? Grandma: The
word ‘Samny|sa’ in the strict sense means renouncing
(or giving up) all personal motives, worldly possessions and objects. But it also
means living in society and serving society by doing one’s duty without a
personal motive. Su Some spiritual leaders, su Lord I
am going to tell you the story of a great spiritual leader, hero, guru, Samny|si
and thinker. His name is Adi Sankar| Chapter 5 summary: Lord CHAPTER 6 PATH OF MEDITATION Jai: Grandma, you said there are several paths
leading to God. You told me about the path of duty and the path of spiritual
knowledge. Please tell me about other paths. Grandma: The
third path is called the path of meditation. One who is united with God is called
a yogi. The mind of a yogi is peaceful, and completely united with God. A yogi
has control over the mind and senses and desires. A yogi is free from anger and
greed. A clod, a stone, and gold are the same to a yogi, who sees God in
everything and everything in God. (Gita 6.08, 14.24) A yogi sees every being
with an equal eye, whether friend, enemy, hater, relative, saint, or a sinner.
(Gita 6.09) The mind of a yogi remains calm even during the worst time. (Gita
6.19) Jai: Is there a method
of meditation simple enough for Grandma: Yes,
there is, Jai. The mind is your best friend as well as your worst enemy. The
mind is a friend for those who have control over it and an enemy for those who
do not control it. (Gita 6.05-06) So you should try to control this enemy. The
mind is like wind, very restless and difficult to control, but you can subdue
it by regular practice of meditation. (Gita 6.34) Guru Nanak said: Master the
mind, and you master the world. A Simple Method of Meditation: The
best time to meditate is in the morning before going to s Jai: What happens to a yogi who does not become successful in this
life? Grandma: No
spiritual practice performed by a yogi ever goes to waste. The unsuccessful
yogi is reborn into a ri Jai: How can I become
the best yogi, Grandma? Grandma: To
be the best yogi, see all beings as yourself and feel their pain and pleasure
as your own. Lovingly think of God with supreme faith, and always keep your
mind with God. (Gita 6.47) Chapter 6 summary: The third path to God is yoga of meditation.
To be the best yogi, see every being as yourself, and feel the pain and
pleasure of others as your own. A very simple method of meditation uses the
sound vibration of OM. No spiritual practice is ever wasted. CHAPTER 7
SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND
ENLIGHTENMENT Jai: How was our whole
universe formed, Grandma? Does it have a creator? Grandma: There
is a creator behind any creation, Jai. Nothing can be created without somebody
or some power behind it. Some power is needed not only to create but also to
support and run it. We call that power God, the Absolute, the Supreme in
English, and Jai: How does one God become so many things in
the universe? Grandma: According
to the S|mkhya theory of creation, God’s energy
(Atm|
or spirit) becomes itself as Nature or matter, made up of the five basic
elements. The entire creation is born and sustained by different combinations
of these two energies: spirit and matter. (Gita 7.06) He is in the form of
light in the Sun and the Moon; He is in the form of mind and strength in human
beings. He digests our food and supports our life. We are all connected by the
same spirit as jewels in a necklace are connected by the same thread. (Gita
7.07) Jai: If God is everywhere and in everything,
why doesn’t everyone understand and love and worship Him? Grandma: That
is a good question, Jai. Generally, people have a false idea of God because
everyone is not given the power to understand Him. Just as some people can’t
understand calculus or even elementary mathematics, so people who have no good
Karma, can’t know, understand, love or worship God. Jai: Then who are the
ones who understand God? There are four types of people who
worship or seek to understand God: (1) those who are sick or in some kind of
trouble or seek help in doing well in their studies or work, (2) those who are
trying to get the knowledge of God, (3) those who want money, and (4) the wise
ones who know God. (Gita 7.16) Lord Jai: If I worship Grandma: Yes,
He fulfills the desires of all who believe in Him and who always worship and
pray with firm faith. God
is both our Father and Mother. You should ask God what you want in a prayer. He
fulfills the desires of His sincere devotees. (Gita 7.21) Jai: Then why doesn’t everybody worship Grandma: Lord
Jai:
You said that the entire universe is
only another form of God, is God formless or can God take forms? Grandma:
This big question not only confuses I
believe everything has a form. Nothing in the world is formless. God has a
form, whi God
dwells in all beings. God is even in the tiger; but you cannot hug the tiger on
that account! Be close only with good people, and keep away from the
evil-minded. Keep away from the unholy, the evil, and the impure. Chapter 7 summary: There is only one God, who is called by
many names. Devas, Devis, or deities in our religion are nothing but the names
of different powers of One Absolute God. Deities are different names and forms
of God’s powers to help us worship and pray. Four types of persons worship God.
The entire creation is made up of five basic elements and spirit. God is both
formless and with form. God can take any form. One cannot know the true nature
of God unless one has spiritual knowledge. CHAPTER 8 THE ETERNAL BRAHM
Jai:
I don’t have a big spiritual
vocabulary, Grandma, so I don’t understand many words that I hear at the
temple. Can you explain some of them in a simple way? Grandma: I
will explain some of the Sanskrit words, so listen very carefully. You may not
completely understand these terms at your age. The Spirit that is inside all living
beings is called Brahm in Sanskrit. Brahm not only supports living beings but
also supports the whole universe. This is the formless nature of God, the
Absolute. Brahm is beginningless, endless (or everlasting) and ParaBrahm, Param|tm|, Father, Mother is the Supreme Being, Who is
the origin of everything, including Brahm (spirit or Atm|). The
word ‘Karma’ has several meanings. Generally, it means to do. It also means the
stored up fruits of one’s work over past lives. Daiv (or Deva, Devi, Devat|)
is one of the many powers of Brahm. We worship these powers to get our desires
fulfilled. Ishvara is the power of God that
stays in the bodies of all living beings to guide and control us. Bhagav|n
simply means powerful. This term is used for God. We call Shri Jeeva or Jiv|tm|
means living beings that take birth, have a limited life span, and die or Hindus believe in life after death.
Lord Jai: How often should I
remember and worship God to make sure that I remember God when I die? Grandma: We
should form the habit of remembering God before taking our food, before going
to bed, after getting up in the morning, and before starting any work or study. Jai: Are we always
reborn as human beings? Grandma: Human
beings can take any one of the 8.4 million life-forms on earth. This
is the theory of transmigration we believe in. Some western philosophers
believe in reincarnation. The reincarnation theory is based on the assumption
that a human soul takes birth only as humans, not as animals. The theory of
transmigration seems more universal than the theory of reincarnation. Jai: If living beings go through cycles of
birth and death, how about the Sun, Moon, Earth, and stars? Do they also take
birth and get destroyed? Grandma: The
entire visible creation has a life span. The visible world, su Jai: If some people do
not come back to this world after death, what happens to them? Do they go to
heaven and live there forever? Grandma: Those
who have done good work here on earth go to heaven, but they have to come back
after enjoying the pleasures of heaven. (Gita 8.25, 9.21) Those who have been
naughty and bad go to hell for punishment and also come back to earth. Those
who have gained salvation (Nirv|na) do not take birth again. They become
one with God and go to His Supreme Abode called Parama-Dh|ma).
The Supreme abode is higher than heaven. Jai: How can we gain the
Supreme Abode, the house of God? Grandma: Those
who have the true knowledge of God are called God-realized and rea Chapter 8 summary: Some of the common Sanskrit terms have
been explained, whi CHAPTER 9 SUPREME KNOWLEDGE AND
THE BIG MYSTERY
Jai: If God comes sometimes on earth, is He
the same as we are, or is He different from us? Grandma: This
is a very good question, Jai. It has been answered both ways. For example, look
at my The other viewpoint sees God as one
reality and creation as a different reality but dependent on God. When gold and
the objects made of gold su Jai: Is that what people mean when they say
God is everywhere and in everything? Grandma: Yes,
Jai, God is the Sun, the Moon, and the wind; fire, trees, earth and stones, in
the same way that everything made of gold is gold. That’s why Hindus see and
worship God in the stone and the tree as if these are God Himself in that form.
Jai: If everything comes from the Lord, then
will everything become the Lord again, like everything made of gold can be
melted into just gold again? Grandma: Yes,
Jai, the cycle of creation and destruction keeps on going. It’s like turning my
Jai: If Lord is us, and we all come from the
Lord, then why doesn’t everyone love and worship Lord? Grandma: Those
who understand this truth do just that. They know the Lord is our Lord, and we
are from Him, for Him, of Him, and depend on Him, so they love and worship Him.
But the unwise do not understand or believe in God. Jai: If I pray to God everyday and love Him
and offer Him flowers or fruit, will He be pleased and help me in my studies? Grandma: Lord
Jai: Does that mean that
God loves only those who pray and worship Him? Grandma: God
loves all of us the same, but if we remember Him and pray to Him, we come
closer to God. So we all should think of God, worship Him, meditate, and bow
down to Him with faith, love, and devotion. Jai: I would like to be close to the Lord Grandma: Just
think of all the nice things God does for us. He gives us so many different
foods we enjoy. He gave us the Sun for heat and light. Look at the beautiful
sky with the Moon, the stars and clouds in the night. This is all His beautiful
creation, so think how beautiful the creator Himself must be! Worshiping God is
saying thank you for His kindness. Praying is asking for what we need from God.
Meditating is connecting with the Supreme power to get help and guidance. Jai: If there is only one God who gives us
everything, why do you have so many deities in your prayer (Pooj|)
room, Grandma? Why don’t you just worship the one Lord Grandma: Lord
Jai: Why do we offer fruits and flowers to
God? He does not need them. Grandma: Lord
Anybody can rea Jai: Grandma, what if a person is a sinful
thief or robber. Can that person also love God? Grandma: Lord The Lord Chapter 9 summary: The dualistic philosophy sees God as one
reality and creation as a different reality dependent on Him. Non-dual
philosophy sees God and His creation as One. God loves all of us the same, but
He takes personal interest in His devotees because su CHAPTER 10 MANIFESTATION OF GOD Jai: If Lord Grandma: The
love of God is called devotion (Bhakti). If you have devotion, God will give
you Self-knowledge and understanding of Him. (Gita 10.10) The more you know and
think about God’s glory, power and greatness, the stronger your love will grow. Jai: God is so great,
and powerful, how can I really know Him? Grandma: Nobody
can fully know God. He is the cause of cosmic energy and power, a cause that
will always be a big mystery. God is unborn, without beginning or end. Only God
can really know God! If anyone says, I know God, that person does not know.
Anyone who knows the Truth says: I do not know God. Jai: Then what can we
know about God, Grandma? Grandma: God
knows everything, but nobody can know God. According to Sankara, the entire
creation is nothing but another form of God. The creation has come out of God’s
energy called M|y|. Everything
comes from Him and eventually goes back to Him. God is One, but has become
many. He is everywhere and in everything. (Gita 10.19-39) He is the Generator
or creator, Operator or maintainer, and Destroyer
of all beings. He creates everything, including the sun, moon, stars, wind,
water, air, fire, and even our thoughts, feelings, intellect, and other qualities.
We can see His glory and greatness throughout creation. The beautiful sky with
earth and all the planets you see is only a small part of His glory. Seeing God
everywhere purifies our mind and makes us a better person. Those
who argue about the nature of God have seen only one aspect of His Reality.
That’s why sages say God is “neither this, nor that”. Jai: What about people
who do not believe in God? Grandma: Su Chapter 10 summary: Nobody can know God, the Supreme Being,
because He or She is the origin of all beings, the cause of all causes.
Everything, including our body, mind, thoughts, and feelings, comes from God.
He is the creator, supporter, and destroyer of all. He is infinite and has no
beginning or end. The entire universe is the expansion of a tiny fraction of
His energy. All deities are just the names of His various powers. Worshiping
God, using any name and form, with faith gives us what we want and helps us become
good and peaceful. CHAPTER 11 THE VISION OF GOD
Jai: Is it possible for
people to see God, Grandma? Grandma: Yes,
Jai. But not with one’s physical eyes. God does not have hands and legs like we
have in our world. But when God is pleased by our selfless service (Sev|)
and devotion, He may come in a vision in dream. He can come in any form, or in
the form of one’s personal god (IshtaDeva). Jai: Is there any other
way to see God? Grandma: The
best way to see God is to feel His presence in everything because, everything
is part of God. Yogis see the whole world as God’s expansion. Everything is
just another form of God. Knowing this, we can see God all around us. The
entire universe is God, and we are His What
we seek is very near and all around us. Everything is God in different forms.
Everything in creation is within His gigantic form! Another
way to see God is to develop good habits. The Lord Jai: Has anybody seen Grandma: Yes,
many saints and sages have seen Lord Here
is a brief description of the cosmic form of Afterwards,
Chapter 11
summary: We cannot see God with our human eyes. We can
see Him only in a vision or trance (Sam|dhi). We can
also see Him all around us. The entire creation is nothing but the body of the
creator, and we are part of the cosmic form of God. CHAPTER 12 PATH OF DEVOTION Jai: Should we worship or meditate every day,
Grandma, or just on Sundays? Grandma: Children
should do some form of worship, prayer or meditation everyday. Good habits must
be formed early. Jai: You said that God
is formless but also has forms. Should I worship God as R|ma, Grandma: Arjuna
asked Lord Jai: How should I
worship, Grandma? Go
to the worship or meditation room before going to s few times. Jai: When I start to
meditate, I can’t concentrate my mind, Grandma. My mind starts to go
everywhere. What should I do? Grandma: Don’t
worry, this even happens to adults. Try to concentrate or focus again and
again. With practice, you will be able to focus your mind well, not only on God
but also on your study materials. This will help you get good grades. You can
also pray to God and worship (Pooj|) by offering
fruits, flowers, etc. to your IshtaDev with love. Also, remember the Lord of
learning, su Jai: Is that all I have
to do, Grandma? Did Khrisna say anything else? Grandma: You
should also develop good habits su Chapter 12 summary: The path of devotional love of God is
very easy to practice. This path consists of daily deity worship, offering
fruits and flowers, singing hymns (Bhajans) in praise of the glory of God, and
developing certain good habits. CHAPTER 13 CREATION AND THE CREATOR Jai: Grandma, I can eat
and sleep and think and talk and walk and run and work and study. How does my
body know how to do all this? Grandma: The
whole world, including our body, is made of five basic elements or matter.
These elements are: earth, water, fire, air, and ether or an invisible element.
We have eleven senses: five sense organs (nose, tongue, eye, skin, and ear);
five organs of action (mouth, hand, leg, anus, and urethra); and a mind. We
smell through our nose, taste through our tongue, see through the eyes, feel
tou Jai: You said God is the
creator of the universe. How do we know there is a creator or God? Grandma: There
has to be a creator behind any creation, Jai. Somebody or some power made the
car we drive and the house we live in. Somebody or some power created the sun,
the earth, the moon and the stars. We call that person or power God or the
creator of this universe. Jai: If everything has a
creator, then who created God? Grandma:
This is a very good question, Jai, but there is no answer. God has always
existed and will always exist. God is the origin of everything but God has no origin. Good Lord is the source of everything, but He
or She has no source! Jai: Then, what is God
like, Grandma? Can you describe Him? Grandma: It is impossible to describe God directly. The
Supreme Being can only be described by parables, and in no other way. His
hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth, and ears are everywhere. He can see, feel, and
enjoy without any physical sense organs. He does not have a body like us. His
body and senses are out of this world. He walks without legs, hears without
ears, does all works without hands, smells without a nose, sees without eyes,
speaks without a mouth, and enjoys all tastes without a tongue. His actions are
wonderful. His greatness is beyond description. God is present everywhere at all
times, so he is very near (living in our heart) as well as far away in His
Supreme Abode. He is the creator (Brahm|), the
sustainer (Vishnu) and the destroyer (Shankara) all in one. (Gita 13.13-16) We
can’t describe Brahm. In a trance we can know Brahm, but in trance reasoning
and intellect stop altogether. This means one does not retain the memory of
experiences in trance (Sam|dhi). One who knows Brahm becomes
Brahm-like (Gita 18.55) and does not talk. Those who talk about God have no
real experience. Thus, Brahm can only be experienced and felt. Jai: Then how can we
know and understand God? Grandma: You
can’t know God by mind and intellect. He can be known only by faith and belief.
He can be known by Self-knowledge. One and the same God lives in the body of
all beings as spirit and supports us. That is why we must not hurt anybody and
must treat everybody equally. (Gita 13.28)
Hurting anybody is like hurting your own Atm|. The Spirit in the body
is the witness, the guide, the supporter, the enjoyer, and the controller of
all events. (Gita 13.22) Jai: What is the
difference between the creator and His creation? Grandma: From a non-dualistic
point of view, there is no difference between the two. The difference between
the creator and creation is like the difference between the sun and the sun’s
rays. Those who have Self-knowledge truly understand the difference between the
creator and the creation and get salvation. (Gita 13.34) If
God’s blessing comes to you, He will let you know who you really are and what
your real nature is like. We
have been thinking that we are this body whi Chapter 13 summary: Our body is like a miniature universe.
All bodies are made up of five basic elements and powered by the spirit. Any
creation must have a creator or some creative power behind it. We call that
power by various names su CHAPTER 14 THREE MODES OF NATURE Jai: Grandma, sometimes I feel lazy, and at
other times I am very active? Why is that? Grandma: We
all pass through different states in order to do certain things. These states
or modes (Gunas) are three types: the mode of goodness (Sattvika mode), the
mode of passion (R|jasika mode) and the mode of ignorance (T|masika
mode). We come under the influence of all three modes. Sometimes one mode
becomes more powerful than the other two. The
mode of goodness keeps you peaceful and happy. In this mode you will study
scriptures, will not harm anybody and will work honestly. If you are in the
mode of passion, you are greedy for wealth and power. You will work hard to
enjoy material pleasures and will do anything to satisfy your selfish desires.
If you are in the mode of ignorance, you can’t tell between right and wrong
action, and are atta Jai: Do these three
modes of nature control us, Grandma, or do we have control over what we do? Grandma: Actually, these three modes or Gunas are the doers of all
actions. (Gita 3.27) When we are under the influence of the mode of goodness,
we do good and rightful actions; under the influence of the mode of passion, we
do selfish actions; and under the influence of the mode of ignorance, we do bad
things or become lazy. (Gita 14.11-13) We must rise above the three Gunas to
attain liberation (Niv|na).
(Gita 14.20) Jai: What are we like
when we have risen above the three Gunas? Grandma: When
we have risen above the three Gunas, we do not get too mu Jai: It must be very
hard to rise above these three modes. How can I rise above the three Gunas,
Grandma? Grandma: To rise above
the three Gunas is not very easy, but it can be done with a little effort. If
you are under the mode of ignorance, you must stop being lazy and stop putting
off what you should be doing and try to be a good boy. If you are under the
mode of passion, you must give up selfish desires. When you are in the mode of
goodness, you remember God and do your duty as a service to God. After rea Chapter 14 summary: Everything in nature can be broadly
classified into three types called Gunas. Mother Nature puts us into these
three modes or gears to get her work done through us. Actually, all work is
done by the three Gunas of nature. We are not the doers, but we are responsible
for our actions because we have been given intellect and free will to decide
and CHAPTER 15 THE SUPREME PERSON
Jai: Grandma, I am
confused by the difference between Supreme Spirit, Spirit, divine beings and
individual souls. Will you please explain them? Grandma: Yes,
Jai, these are terms you should understand well. The
Supreme Spirit is also called the Supreme Person, the Supreme Being, the
Supersoul, the Absolute, Father, Mother, God, Ishvara, Allah and many other
names. The Supreme Spirit is called ParaBrahm, Param|tm|,
ParamaShiva or Spirit
(Brahm or Atm|)
is a part of the Supreme Spirit that expands and supports the entire cosmos. Divine
Beings (Devas, Devis), su Individual
Souls (soul or Jeeva) su The
Supreme Spirit and Spirit do not If
you compare the creation with a tree, then Supreme Lord Jai: How about planets,
su Grandma: The
entire visible world, su Chapter 15 summary: Brahm cannot be destroyed and is the
cause of all causes. CHAPTER 16 DIVINE AND DEMONIC QUALITIES Jai: How many types of
people are there, Grandma? Grandma: Basically,
there are only two types or castes of people in this world, the good and the
bad. (Gita 16.06) Most people have both good and bad qualities. If you have
more good qualities, you are called a good person, and if you have more bad
qualities, you are called a bad person. Jai: If I want to be a
good person, what qualities must I have? Grandma: You
must be honest, nonviolent, truthful, without anger, calm, without malicious
talk, kind, not greedy, gentle, forgiving, and humble. These are also called
divine qualities because they lead us to God. Jai: What bad habits
should I avoid? Grandma: Hypocrisy,
arrogance, pride, jealousy, selfishness, anger, greed, harshness,
ungratefulness and violence --- these are called demonic qualities because they
lead us away from God. Bad qualities also lead us to do bad things and get us
into trouble. Do not be friends with people who have bad qualities because they
do not know what to do and what not to do. Always be grateful to those who have
helped you. Ingratitude is a great sin for whi Desire, anger and greed are very
destructive. Lord Greed
can be overcome by contentment. A contented person is a happy person. A greedy
person cannot find true peace and happiness in life. Jai: How can I know what
to do and what not to do? Grandma: Follow
your scriptures or holy books, Jai. Saints and sages in the scriptures tell us
what to do and what not to do. Have faith in God and listen to your parents and
elders. We
should cultivate as many good qualities as possible. But no one has only
virtues and no bad habits. Good Lord usually puts virtue and vice in the same
package. Chapter 16 summary: Basically, there are only two kinds of
human beings: the good or divine and the bad or demonic. Most people fall
between these two boundaries. Getting rid of bad habits and cultivating good
qualities are necessary for spiritual progress. CHAPTER 17 THREEFOLD
FAITH
Jai: Grandma, how do I
know what foods to eat? Grandma: There
are three types of foods, Jai. (Gita
17.07-10) The foods that promote long life, virtue,
strength, health, happiness, and joy are juicy, smooth, substantial, and
nutritious. Su Foods that are very bitter, sour,
salty, hot, oily, and acidic are called Rajasika or undesirable foods. Su Foods that are not well cooked,
spoiled, tasteless, rotten, burned, left-over, and impure (su Jai: How should I speak
to others? Grandma: You
should never tell a lie. Your words should not be harsh, nasty, or insulting.
They should be pleasant, useful, and truthful. (Gita 17.15) A wise person
should speak the truth if it is useful and keep quiet if it is harsh. One who
speaks politely wins the heart of all and is liked by everybody. To help those
in need is the universal tea Jai: How should I help
others? Grandma: It
is our duty to help those who are unlucky and can’t help themselves. Give to
anyone who needs help, but never expect anything in return. Charity is not only
the best, but also the only use of wealth. We all should support a good cause.
Give back what belongs to the world. But there are responsibilities. Money
given in Jai: Will God give us
what we want if we sincerely pray for it? Grandma: Full
faith in God makes things happen. There is nothing impossible for faith. Faith
works wonders. One must have faith before starting any work. It is said in the
Gita that we can become whatever we want to be if we always think about it with
faith. (Gita 17.03) Always think about what you want to be, and your dream can
come true. The
secret of success is to keep thinking about what you want all the time and
never give up until you get what you want. Do not let negative thoughts, su Before
starting or ending any work or study, repeat OM TAT SAT, the threefold names of
Brahm. Jai: What does OM TAT
SAT mean, Grandma? Grandma: It
means Almighty God is the only Reality. OM is used before starting any work or
study. OM TAT SAT or OM Shantih, Shantih, Shantih, is also used at the
completion of any act. Chapter 17 summary: There are three types of food --- S|ttavik,
R|jasik and T|masik --- and
they affect our wellbeing. Tell the truth in a pleasant way. Give CHAPTER 18 LIBERATION
THROUGH RENUNCIATION
Jai: What is the
difference between renunciation (Samny|sa) and KarmaYog? Grandma: You
might think that renunciation or Samny|sa means
walking away from family, home, possessions, and going to live in a cave or the
forest or any other place outside society. But Lord Jai: Does that mean I
can’t do anything that gives me pleasure? Grandma: That
depends on what kind of pleasure you have in mind. Su Jai: What kinds of
activities in society are available, Grandma? Grandma: In
the ancient Vedic system, activities of human beings were divided into four
orders of human labor described by Lord Those
who were interested in learning, tea People
are born with certain qualities or could develop them through training and
effort. Birth into a family at a certain social level, whether high or low,
does not determine one’s worth. Jai: How can a person
living and working in society attain liberation? Grandma: Work
becomes worship when done as a service to the Lord and without selfish atta If
you take on work that was not meant for you, su There
is no perfect occupation. Every occupation has some faults. (Gita 18.48) You
should not be concerned about su One
rea Lord Everlasting
peace and prosperity are possible only when you perform your duty well and also
have the spiritual knowledge as given in the Holy Gita by Lord Chapter 18 summary: Lord OM TAT SAT |