Chinmaya Mission - Gita, Upanishads and Ancient Knowledge

Swamiji elaborates on Krishna’s advice to ‘work for the sake of working’ to prevent creating newer vasanas, and shares the importance of knowledge of the Self through an amusing story from Swamiji’s time in Hong Kong!

He also introduces the upcoming concept of Buddhi Yoga that Shri Krishna shares with Arjuna.

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Using a charming anecdote with Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, Swamiji illustrates our folly in understanding what Paapa or Sin is. Anything that creates agitation in the mind is considered sin and Swamiji goes on to clarify what it truly means in the context of our scriptures and in how we behave in our daily life!

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Arjuna running away would not only bring him infamy, but it would allow anyone and everyone to criticise his power. Krishna further explains that regardless of whether he slays or is slain in battle, Arjuna only stands to gain by fighting, as is his duty! Swamiji also gives us a great tool with which we can apply Krishna’s words to our own conflicts in life.

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Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 34 - An Honourable Death over an Infamous Life

Infamy to a respectable person is worse than death, says Krishna. With Arjuna, the scandal of his escapism would live forever! Swamiji drives this point home with a host of examples from the war by which Arjuna and those whom he killed attained fame, because of their steadfastness in their duties.

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Arjuna is stuck viewing the war from his emotional lens, thinking what would happen to his reputation if he won against his family. Krishna comes down to his level and reminds him that with fame, responsibility to maintain the capability that brought fame arises!

Swamiji explains that when we don’t live up to the fame gained from performing our duty, we incur sin by moving away from our swadharma.

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Swamiji illustrates how one’s swadharma expresses itself no matter what with a humorous anecdote with Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. If we don’t express our own swadharma, we cannot work with efficiency and a sense of fulfilment. When life gives us opportunities to live out our swadharma, we must seize them, for they will open many doors for us!

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Our karma (work) is an expression of our swadharma (personality). Arjuna’s duty is to fight and protect his country and Krishna reminds him of this. Swamiji teaches us to look at our swadharma and what work we inherently want to engage in, by which we can exhaust our vasanas and purify our mind!

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We all have physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual personalities with different needs and desires, curating our swadharma, our individual duty. The same situation outside is also processed by them differently. Arjuna, like us all, sees the battle only physically and emotionally. Krishna now begins to guide us through these four levels to help resolve our own internal conflicts.

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Swamiji illustrates that the texture of the water will determine the quality of the reflection of the Sun reflected in it. Similarly, as our mind and vasanas, so our expression of the Divinity within us. When we decide to clear the water, we add a purifier to it, and when we aim to purify our mind, we must add inspiration from the Higher into our minds.

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The Atma in discussion remains a wonder to all, be one a scholar or a dullard. Even more wonderful is the Master who can explain to us what words fall short of describing! With His characteristic examples, Swamiji explains how the subtleness of the Atma and Jiva can be understood.

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Continuing these important verses of the Geeta, Krishna reiterates to Arjuna that there is no need to grieve. Birth and death is inevitable to the body but O Arjuna, realise that the relatives you grieve for are not the body but the eternal, unchangeable, imperishable Atma (Self).

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In this very important verse from the Bhagavad Geeta, Krishna shares a powerful analogy of how the jiva (soul) casts off the body and takes a new one just like how one would shed off old garments and wear new ones. Swamiji delves into the law of action and reaction as he sheds more light into this nuanced topic.

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We live in the delusion that we are this body. Swami Swaroopananda guides us to recognise the perishable and changing nature of this body. He urges us to instead identify with the Atma - the Self; that is unborn, undying and cannot be destroyed by anyone or anything.

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Krishna shares pivotal verses that will support a spiritual seeker in their meditation. He reiterates the nature of one’s Self as that which is changeless and the eternal Truth that pervades everything. Krishna urges Arjuna to get up and recognise that which is imperishable.

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Krishna continues to help Arjuna cultivate a higher viewpoint from which he can see how small his problems truly are, giving him the strength and wisdom to be able to solve them, rather than run away. Swamiji breaks down Krishna’s words about this new vision and guides us on how we can cultivate it ourselves.

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All our experiences, happy or sad, have a beginning and an end. But the more we complain about what we cannot change, the more the sorrow and pain magnify!

When the mind is disturbed by sorrow, we brood over the change and become more easily influenced by future fluctuations. In forbearing the changes in the world outside, we can gradually come to identify with the changeless within us.

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We experience the world around us as pairs of opposites, giving us joy or sorrow, based on our likes and dislikes. When our sense organs come into contact with the sense objects, then only do we experience these dualities, just as when we touch electricity, we get the shock! In this episode, Swamiji teaches us the secret to overcoming these ‘shocks’ around us!

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To comfort Arjuna’s grief, Krishna reveals the truth of how there never was a time when any of us did not exist. The ‘I’ Krishna speaks of is the Self of everybody, not the individual ego-centric identity we associate with. Understanding the permanence of the one true Self is a hallmark of the wise student of the Bhagavad Geeta!

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The cause of our sorrow is our false expectations born of misunderstanding one thing to be something else. Identifying with the individual ego, we grieve for the natural phenomenon of death, and lose sight of our Dharma. Knowledge of what Dharma is lifts us out of sorrow, and here Krishna, the Jagad-Guru, establishes Dharma by taking Arjuna as His disciple.

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Through his signature storytelling, Swamiji illustrates the paths of Shreyas and Preyas - goodness and pleasure. Arjuna’s humility helps him open up to Krishna’s guidance, demonstrating an ideal disciple’s character and surrender. Krishna begins His song with a gentle scolding of Arjuna’s misery and Swamiji gives us a short, but powerful lesson from Krishna’s first words of the Geeta.

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Swamiji explains that the notions of “I” and “mine” arise when we don’t know who we truly are, leading us to misidentify our swadharma. Arjuna's response to Krishna reveals this, when he seeks to abandon his duty as a warrior to live a renunciate’s life to avoid the war. Arjuna’s outburst peaks when he surrenders to Krishna and enquires into what will lead him to the greatest good.

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Grief like Arjuna’s leads one to enquire into what is the cause of one’s sorrow. How can we find permanent solutions to our problems and gain shreyas - the supreme good?

Swami Swaaroopananda explains how Krishna begins by calling out Arjuna’s despondency as ignoble and un-Aryan, in an attempt to prod at his pride and shake him out of self-pity.

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As we do our Japa of the Gāyatrī Mantra, the mind quietens.  We must deepen our Sādhana by contemplating that Truth which the Mantra is indicating. In this concluding episode, Swamiji explains how the Mantra reveals to us our true nature, that of Existence (Sat), Consciousness (Cit) and Bliss (Ānanda)!

The 3 vyāhrtis Bhūh, Bhuvaḥ and Svaḥ, prefix the Gāyatrī Mantra, which Ādi Śaṅkararacharya tells us indicate the nature of the Truth. Oṃ, with which the Mantra begins, is the subtlest of all symbols for, and is the closest indicator of that same Truth. Swamiji gives us further insight into Oṃ, distilled from the vast knowledge of the Upaniṣads.

In this episode, we hear from Swami Swaroopananda about Ādi Śaṅkararacharya’s commentary on the Gāyatrī Mantra, which tells us that the Gāyatrī Mantra reveals the truth about the relationship between the Jivatma and Paramatma. Swamiji breaks down the meaning of each word of the Mantra, taking us deeper in contemplation on the divine Gāyatrī Mantra!

The vibrations of the Gāyatrī Mantra create the right mental atmosphere so we can gain the right knowledge to overcome our limitations. Swamiji explains how understanding the Mantra can lead us to know the Truth of our eternal nature.

The Gāyatrī Mantra illustrates the brilliant values and qualities the Sun embodies, and gives an ideal to aspire to. Swamiji shines a light on how regular Japa (chanting) of the Gāyatrī Mantra leads us to develop a calm, concentrated, devoted mind, in which all noble values can be cultivated. As our practice of Gāyatrī Japa deepens, our intelligence gains clarity and our knowledge deepens.

Swami Swaroopananda goes further into the profound significance of the Upanayana Samskara and the inspiration it provides us with. Swamiji gives us a brief definition of the Gāyatrī Mantra and the inner significance of a Vedic tale told at the time of the receiving the Gāyatrī Mantra - blending tradition with science in his characteristic storytelling style!

Intelligence is not purely genetic, it is something that can be invoked and cultivated. Swami Swaroopananada talks about the tradition of the Upanayana Samskara, its significance and how the initiation into the Gayatri Mantra was given in childhood. This tradition facilitated the development of the intellect and prepared students for the highest knowledge - something we can still aspire to today!

Dive deeper into the science of the Gayatri Mantra is to understand how by chanting this Mantra properly, our mental impurities are removed and our mind can be attuned to the vibrations of eternal knowledge and power in the universe. Swamiji explains how the Gāyatrī Mantra reveals to us Dharma, the means to reach the Ultimate Goal, the Infinite, Eternal Bliss!

When faced with the challenges thrown at us by the world, our minds can be our greatest asset or a cause of sorrow. To help strengthen and purify the mind, the ancient Rishis (seers) gave us the Gāyatrī Mantra, found in the Vedas. Swami Swaroopananda gives us the background into the origins and deep significance of this popular mantra. Swamiji clearly articulates how we can use it to tune the mind so that the mysteries and the powers of the universe are revealed to us.

Arjuna continues to justify his pacifism, telling Krishna that by killing a whole generation of men, the Vedic culture would be lost for future generations to follow. He even goes on to say he would rather the Kauravas kill him unarmed! Swami Swaroopananda talks about how Arjuna’s words have become today’s reality and reminds us to rise and take back our cultural heritage and pride.

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The family unit ensured that family traditions were passed down through the generations. As time goes by, we see this unit gradually decline, leading to great loss in cultural values. Drawing on real life situations, ranging from the collapse of the traditional joint family, to intercultural marriages, Swamiji shows us how the Geeta can help reconcile today’s generation gap.

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When we want to escape a situation we have to justify our own minds/our desires, to make it seem like we are much greater than we actually are. Arjuna’s first argument against fighting is the breakdown of the family unit. Using modern society’s example, Swami Swaroopananda shows us how this argument has manifested itself today in the form of failing welfare systems and national debts!

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Arjuna’s identification with the Kauravas as his family blinds him from seeing that his real duty lies in ensuring Dharma is upheld no matter what. He misquotes the scriptures to try and justify his misplaced compassion. Swamiji reminds us that punishment is for correction, not revenge, and knowing our duties clearly prevents us from getting carried away by our attachments.

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In moments of mental weakness, the bigger picture gets distorted as we zoom into our personal gains or losses in a situation. We even start to deny our true intentions, attempting to appear compassionate.
Swami Swaroopananda guides us to see what our mind denies, because in denial is our desire expressed. Only upon recognising those desires, can we actually do something about them!

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When the mind is overwhelmed by emotion, the body too may not be able to function properly. A cloudy mind is unable to see clearly any long-term benefit, and justifies weakness with superficial nobility. As Swamiji paints the picture of Arjuna speaking to Shri Krishna on his chariot, we see all these effects manifest in our hero - a reflection of our own mind!

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Swami Swaroopananda expounds on how in the face of challenging situations the mind gets clouded by emotions, interfering with the intellect’s decision-making process. While Duryodhana projects his fears on to his Guru, Arjuna does the opposite, expressing all his emotions to Shri Krishna. Swamiji explains how by following in Arjuna’s footsteps, we can tap into the wisdom of the Geeta.

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As Arjuna faces his family on the other side of the battlefield, he expresses strong emotional reactions. Swamiji explains how we face similar Arjuna-situations in life and take to misplaced compassion. Through the wisdom of the Geeta we can grow to realise what true compassion really means.

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Arjuna’s command to Krishna brings him face-to-face with the Kuru army on the battlefield, and when the devotee ‘commands’ the Lord, delusion is sure to result. Swamiji elaborates on the delusion faced by all of us, as seen in the case of Arjuna, and tells us how spiritual knowledge equips us to achieve success in the truest sense.

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Swami Swaroopananda gives us the fascinating history of how Krishna became Arjuna’s charioteer, and how Hanuman came to sit on his flagstaff. Wishing to view the armies of both sides and view those he must fight with, Arjuna tells Krishna to bring him to the middle of the battlefield. What a thrilling moment after all the tumult of the war instruments!

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In today’s episode, Swamiji gives us the beautiful vision of Shri Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield, along with the Pandava army, as they blow their conch shells. Sanjaya describes in great detail, the conch shells of each of the Pandava brothers and the terrifying effect they had on Duryodhana and his army.

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Continuing with Duryodhana’s monologue with Drona, we see Duryodhana’s weak & self-centered personality express itself in his elaborate description of the Pandava army and the miniscule mention of his own army’s heroes. The war is declared with Bhishma’s blowing of his conch shell, and Swami Swaroopananda brings the awe-inspiring vastness of the battlefield alive in his characteristic narration style.

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In times of adversity, our true character and personality is revealed. Through the lens of Duryodhana and his words to his Guru Drona, Swami Swaroopananda gives us insight into the workings of a mind full of fear, pride and negativity towards others. A cautionary tale if we ever heard one!

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Sanjaya responds to Dhritarashtra’s question about what happened at Kurukshetra by first narrating Duryodhana’s reaction to viewing the Pandava army. Duryodhana approaches his Guru Drona with arrogance, teaching us an invaluable lesson in how not to behave with our teachers!

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Swami Swaroopananda sets the scene between King Dhritarashtra and his minister, Sanjaya on the tenth day of the Mahabharata war. The blind king’s question opens the first chapter of the Geeta, giving us a deep insight into the psychology of the human mind! Swamiji invites us to use the question to reflect on how we also blindly live our lives.

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We are introduced to the great history of the Mahabharata, which forms the background against which the teachings of Shri Krishna shine forth as a crest jewel. Swami Swaroopananda introduces the various meanings of ‘Dharma’ and how the Mahabharata navigates Dharma by introducing us to the epic’s numerous personalities.

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To benefit from the treasures of the Geeta, Swami Swaroopananda guides us to apply proper understanding and inquiry. Swamiji introduces us to the paths of ‘Pravritti’ and ‘Nivritti’, for the evolving and the evolved seekers respectively, and the results that await for the one who follows Dharma.

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Today we journey with Swami Swaroopananda into inspiring memories of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s first ever Marathon Bhagavad Geeta camp in Sidhbari, at the foothills of the Himalayas. Swamiji goes on to explain how the knowledge of the Geeta can transform each and every one of us, effectively creating the change we wish to see in the world.

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The irony of life is that we expect permanent joy in an ever-changing world and remain disappointed. Is it really possible to be free of sorrows? Swami Swaroopananda in this premier episode shares how the Geeta holds the answers to a life of fulfilment. Swamiji also shares his own journey into the Geeta and the inspiration behind the Bhagavad Geeta Marathon Yagna.

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