#bhagavad-gita

[hrk4]

Bhagavad-Gita Classes / March to May 2024

Dear friends,

Greetings!

If you have five minutes to spare, I will tell you about my encounter with the Bhagavad-Gita.

I was nineteen when I first read the Gita, in English translation, from cover to cover.

I was quite impressed by it despite my near-complete ignorance of philosophy coupled with the disdainful scepticism that is natural to a college student. I got a chance to read through it again when my uncle Dr. Koti Sreekrishna prepared an independent English translation of the first few chapters. Little did I realize then that I would be co-translating the Gita some years down the road.

Our work, The New Bhagavad-Gita, was published in 2011. Since then, I've had the opportunity to go through the Gita multiple times, always hoping that the Gita will go through me at least once!

You might be wondering who I am.

This is me: Hari Ravikumar.

I am an author/editor who has (co-)written/edited some forty books, primarily related to Indian culture and heritage.

Readers praised The New Bhagavad-Gita for its simple language and accessible content. I've always believed that any new knowledge should help make us a better person. And only if we understand the message can we even try to practice it!

#

Upon the request of a few friends, I will be teaching an online Bhagavad-Gita course in English, spanning March to May 2024, for anyone who is interested. Except for a working knowledge of English, no other pre-requisites are expected.

Starting on the auspicious day of Maha-shivaratri, the hour-long classes will be on zoom, five days a week (on week-days, at 6.30 am IST) with no homework. I will read out the Sanskrit shloka, give the meaning of the words, and explain the import of the verse. I will try to ensure that the basic concepts are clear to everyone.

In this manner, I will go through all seven hundred verses of the text.

What I am not going to do is enforce any views or beliefs; neither am I going to teach Sanskrit nor am I going to discuss technical details related to the Mahabharata. I will refrain from referring to any other treatise (such as Upanishads, Brahma-sutras, commentaries on the Gita, etc.)

I feel that whatever has been expounded in the Gita is meant to be experimented in our life and to be realized by experience rather than by blind faith or excessive intellectualisation.

By the end of the course, you will get an idea of what the Bhagavad-Gita contains—and perhaps seriously begin improving the quality of your life.

However, with this new learning, if you are expecting to win an election, find a girlfriend/boyfriend, get a promotion, or double your net worth, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed.

While teaching the class, I will be using the book The New Bhagavad-Gita (which you can get in the US on Amazon at this link and in India on Pothi at this link). It is not compulsory to buy the book but if you are one of those people who prefer having a book for ready reference, you may consider getting a copy.

If you are a serious student and have a great deal of extra time, you can get a copy of The Complete Bhagavad-Gita (available in three volumes: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3) and study it.

I must warn you, this is going to be a really expensive course. It needs your undivided attention for 40+ hours in a span of three months.

In terms of money, however, it is free.

#

If you're interested to join the course or if you wish to know more, join this WhatsApp group.

#Bhagavad-Gita #Gita #Krishna #Mahabharata #Hinduism #Sanatana-dharma

[mysticalblizzardcolor]

(Madhudvisa)

#SoundCloud #music #Madhudvisa #Hare Krishna #Prabhupada #Gita #Bhagavad-gita #soundcloud

[akshuspeaks]

Bhagavad Gita: Karmic Wisdom in Professional Setting

Explore depths of karmic wisdom within professional environment in 6th blog, "Bhagavad Gita: Karmic Wisdom in Professional Setting." Discover insights into navigating professional relationships with ethics & efficacy. Join us on this enlightening journey!

Welcome back to our ongoing journey through the transformative message of the Bhagavad Gita! In our previous exploration, “Bhagavad Gita: Embarking on the Path of Self-Discovery,” we uncovered the profound teachings of Shri Krishna, shedding light on the eternal nature of the self and the transient nature of the physical body. Building upon this foundation, let’s delve even deeper into the…

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#action #bhagavad-gita #conflict of interest #duty #gita #hinduism #Karma #krishna #leadership #manager #morality #mythology #professional #religion #spirituality #wisdom #work

[dandanjean]

Selon les Vedas

La création du cosmos et de ses éléments selon les Vedas (Bhagavatam, Puranas, Bhagavad-Gita). La création du Cosmos et de ses Éléments selon les Vedas

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#Bhagavad-Gita #Bhagavatam #création du monde #genèse #Inde #Puranas #Vedas #Youtube

[dejahisashmom]

The Hindu sacred texts about human origins | Ancient Origins

This is like the Hindu version of the Book of Genesis.

https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-religions/hindu-sacred-texts-about-human-origins-0066

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#5000 BC #Bhagavad-Gita #Brahma #Buddhism #Creation Hymns #Devas #Hindu #Hinduism #Hinduism Pantheon #Jainism #Lord Brahma #Nasadiya Sukta #Prajapati #Shiva #Sikhism #Supreme One #Triumvirate #Upanishads #Vedas #Vishu

[musatge]

La renonciation aux fruits de l’action

La Bhagavad-Gita (भगवद्गीता Bhagavadgītā), littéralement le Chant du Bienheureux ou Chant du Seigneur est la partie centrale du poème épique Mahabharata. Ce texte est un des écrits fondamentaux de l’hindouisme souvent considéré comme un abrégé de toute la doctrine védique. Il s’agit de l’un des enseignements spirituels des plus connus au monde, des plus lus et commentés. C’est un trésor spirituel…

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#Bhagavad-Gita #Mahabharata #Mahatma Gandhi

[humanoidhistory]

Robert Oppenheimer: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

#Oppenheimer #history #science #robert oppenheimer #Vishnu #Hindu #bhagavad gita #military history

[coolseabird]

Every Literary Reference Gale Makes When Selected in BG3 (That I Could Find)

"Oh, what a tangled Weave we web!" -

A play on words referencing the famous quote, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive," from Sir Walter Scott's poem "Marmion."

"What fools these mortals be." -

A quote from William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream," spoken by the character Puck.

"All the world's my stage and you're just a player in it." -

A reference to the famous Shakespearean line, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players," from "As You Like It."

"No rest for the wicked" -

A phrase that originates from the Bible Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

"To hold the world in the palm of one's hand" -

I believe this is a reference to this part of the poem Auguries of Innocence by William Blake: To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.

"'Doth thy mirror crack?' Apparently not." -

I was so sure this was a quote from some Shakespearean play but nope lol. This is a Waterdhavian phrase that was mentioned in a DnD companion book at some point.

"Seek and you shall find me." -

From the bible. Specifically Matthew 7:7–8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

The path less travelled. -

A reference to Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," which includes the line, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by."

"Creator. Destroyer." -

This is a reference to the Lord Krishna's words in the Bhagavad Gita. O Arjuna, I am the creator, maintainer and destroyer of all created objects, such as the sky. Of all knowledge I am knowledge of the self, and in logical debate I am vāda, the philosophical principle that asserts the conclusive truth.

"A rough tempest I will raise" -

I found the explanation behind this quote from a reddit post: "Shakespeare - Tempest, - this is a mash-up of two quotes: In Act V, Scene 1, Prospero uses the phrasing "when first I raised the Tempest". In the same scene, he recites a soliloquy about the great works of magic he has accomplished, before finally renouncing magic altogether: " … But this rough magic I here abjure" https://www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/17uher2/literary_references_in_gales_selection_remarks/ (this person came to the same conclusions as me for many of the prior quotes but I only used their post for this one haha)

I almost certainly missed a few! If there are any others please feel free to reblog and add them!

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #literature #bible #bhagavad gita #walter scott #shakespeare #william blake #robert frost

[keshavsmelody]

"Those who are devoted and have love for Me, in their constant contemplation of Me, their lives intertwined with Mine, they illuminate each other with their knowledge of Me, and their conversations are filled with the joy and contentment they find in Me." ~Bhagavad Gita 10.9

#krishna #love #bhakti #devotion #flute #gita #bhagavatam #art #beauty #bhagavadgita #radharaman #radhakrishna #radharani #vishnu #hare krishna #bhagavad gita #iskcon #srila prabhupada

[kanhapriya]

Help me, I need sleep and here I am

#krishna #gopiblr #kanhaiya #krishnablr #desi stuff #kanha #krishna is the best #hindu mythology #mahabharat memes #arjun is me tho #geeta is just krishna calling arjun a whiny little baby for 700 verses #arjun #a #is this geeta? #geetagyan #bhagavad gita #gita summary

[nobrashfestivity]

Master of the "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana

The Gopis Plead with Krishna to Return Their Clothing: Folio from "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana. With detail

ca. 1560–65

7 3/8 × 10 1/8 in. (18.7 × 25.7 cm)

#Master of the “Isarda” Bhagavata Purana #bhagavad gita #indian art #north india #this is nuts

[hemlata5008]

#पवित्रहिन्दूशास्त्रVSहिन्दू

श्री देवी जी ने राजा हिमालय से कहा कि हे राजन् ! और बातें छोड़कर यानि और सबकी भक्ति छोड़कर केवल ओम् नाम का स्मरण कर, जिसके स्मरण से तू ब्रह्म को प्राप्त हो जाएगा जो दिव्य आकाश रूप ब्रह्मलोक में रहता है।

youtube.com/watch?v=9GAFkQ

Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj

#kabir is supreme god #spritualleader saintrampalji #bhagwan #bhagavad gita #mahabharata

[musingsonthemahabharata]

Something I find fascinating about the Critical Edition of the Mahābhārata is that the characters sporadically move from addressing Kṛṣṇa as an embodied mortal (as their friend, cousin, son-in-law etc) to addressing him as the Godhead; as Viṣṇu, as the Supreme Being, and as Īśvara. The succession of change between the modes of address can sometimes even happen on the same page, at a distance of a few lines. The veil is lifted, and the characters see through Kṛṣṇa’s illusion, and, through that, they become immersed in the nature of Reality; the veil promptly drops back, and God is lost. An argument for this could be that the divine modes of address are interpolations, a theory being that Kṛṣṇa became identified with Viṣṇu only in later renditions of the Mahābhārata. While this could be true at the level of historical analysis of the epic, for me, there is a subtler teaching encased here: how all of us, without exception, glimpse into the nature of Reality as we move through life, yet we perpetually proceed to return to becoming engrossed in the superimpositions we project upon Reality; and the dance continues. From Truth to dream, from dream to Truth. It is quite endearing, really. What committed and imaginative dreamers we are!

Adyashanti once talked about how one inadvertently glimpses truth; it is, after all, inescapable as it is our nature; the trick is not forgetting / losing the glimpse.

Gorgeous artwork of Kṛṣṇa: Awedict.

#mahabharata #krishna #mahabharat #mahabharatam #gopala #govinda #adyashanti #nonduality #non dualism #non duality #avatara #hare krishna #krishna consciousness #hinduism #hindu art #awedict #bhagavad gita #vishnu #ishvara #bhakti #hindu mythology #itihasa #sanskrit #hindu #gopal

[akshuspeaks]

Bhagavad Gita: Embarking on the Path of Self-Discovery

In our previous blog post, “Bhagavad Gita: Exploring the Role of Divine Guidance,” we delved into the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, particularly focusing on the importance of divine guidance in navigating life’s complexities. We explored how the wisdom imparted in this sacred text resonates with modern life and its myriad challenges. As we left off, Arjun had surrendered to God and…

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#bhagavad-gita #gita #hinduism #krishna #leadership #morality #mythology #religion #spirituality #wisdom

[dejahisashmom]

Brahmanism - World History Encyclopedia

https://www.worldhistory.org/Brahmanism/

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#Ashoka the Great #Atharva Veda #Atman Artha #Bhagavad-Gita #Brahma #Brahman #Brahmanism #Buddhism #Charvaka #Devas #Dharma #Hinduism #India #Indra #Indus Valley Civilization #Jainism #Kama #Karma #Krishna #Late Vedic Period #Mitanni #Moksha #Rig Veda #Sama Veda #Samsara #Sanskrit #Vedic Pantheon #Vedic Religion #Yajur Veda

[janaknandini-singh999]

After Krishna left for Dwarka, Radha used to keep herself a lot busier than usual; doing her chores back in Vrindavan, talking to the trees finding Krishna in everything, taking care of the people and animals. At night she would go to her room and sit in front of the mirror, sigh and take out her shringaar. Tonight, as soon as she looked into her reflection, it was her Kanha smiling at her.

"How's Dwarka dheesh doing?" she carefully kept her tone as teasing, afraid that if he suspects even a little bit of sadness then he will come running to her right away, leaving everything behind

"Oh please, Radhe. You should come sometime, you used to before but you barely do now."

Radha cupped Kanha's cheek in the mirror

"My sweet mohana, you know I can't. It's my duty to give you and your ashtabharya all the space and love," laughing, she added a little wistfully "As it is I don't really have a good reputation out here. Krishna's lover. But why? Krishna has millions of lovers. The whole brahmaand is his lover. Why worship one exclusively with him? If he loves all his lovers equally then why just worship this Radha with him? She isn't even his wife. Unlike Mahadev and Parvati, they aren't even legitima-"

"Radhe." Krishna stopped her with tears in his eyes

Radha, hurting as much as him, apologized and continued "but it is true, my love. People only view love as black or white. They think marriage is sanctity when it is the bond that is. Not the label."

Nodding, Krishna whispered "do you miss me?"

She laughed till there were tears in her eyes too "Oh Kanha, you are everywhere I look. Every time I breathe."

"Then why talk to me like this? Why summon me here?"

"Because you are everywhere. Everywhere but right here."

Kanha's eyes softened "I am within you, sakhi. Always."

Nodding and smiling, she looked away to wipe her tears "yes yes, I know that." she looked back in Kanha's eyes "only if I could somehow tell that to Yashoda maiya, Nand baba and all the gopiyan and people here. Maiya is inconsolable, kanha. She cries and says 'that boy always tricks me. I saw the universe in his mouth when he was a child. Now wherever I look, I see him. But I just want him to come steal my makhan. Kanha, where are you? I promise I'll never scold you.'

Krishna touches the mirror ever so gently

"Kanha, they think you are not real when you are everywhere. They think it's an illusion and all they do is weep."

"But they forgot that Maya is Krishna and Mohana is Krishna. Everything that involves krishna is as real as the morpankh falling from the sky quietly into their palms when they think of Him." Radha and krishna whisper at the same time

"Tomorrow the Pandavas and Kauravas fight and I'm Arjuna's saarthi. After killing Kansa mama, the trajectory of my life has changed completely. But I miss Vrindavan, Kishori. I honestly don't even know what to do. They call me God but forget I'm a human in this avatar too. All I can feel is Gandhari's pain. Even if she hates me with everything she has and cursed me for my existence but I just can't help but feel for her so deeply. What can I do?" he sobs

"What Kauravas did was wrong but Gandhari is a mother, kanha. Her pain can't be measured. It is unbearable but justified. But so is your karma and dharma. Whatever you do will be remembered forever. They all need you. So go, sakha. Do what needs to be done. I believe in you. I love you. We all do."

Krishna smiled through the tears

Radha whispered "we parted physically to fulfill our dharma in this lifetime but you know? I.. I'm just so tired, Kanha. It's been so long. I just want to go home. To Goloka. Our home. I feel my purpose here is coming to an end..."

"So is mine, Radhe.. so is mine. We are One." Kanha clutched the mirror closer to his chest and Radha did too - both of them in an eternal embrace.

"We will go home very soon. To everyone we love, finally. It's my vachan, sakhi."

#desi aesthetic #desi tag #desiblr #desi #desi culture #desi dark academia #desi stuff #desi academia #desi girl #just desi things #radhakrishna #krishna #krishnablr #gopiblr #radha #mahabharata #narayana #lakshmi narayan #bhagavad gita #bhagavatam #kanha #desi thoughts #desi things #growing up desi #hindu mythology #hindu gods #indian culture #raas #janmashtami