Advanced Bhagavad Gita Online Course
Essence of Advaita Vedanta & Upanishads
The text deals with…
- Yoga: How to make your life meaningful, auspicious and prosperous. As suggested by Lord Krishna.
- Brahma-vidya: The supreme reality, Brahman. Knowledge, knowing which, everything at once becomes known.
Table of Contents:
BASED ON SESSION NUMBERS:
Teachings based on Chinmaya International Foundation.
- CH 1: 1 (Intro into Program)
- CH 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
- CH 3: 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
- CH 4 & 5 Combined: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33
BASED ON VERSE NUMBERS:
Teachings based on Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya), Swami Paramarthananda, Chinmaya International Foundation
- BREAK: Let's take a pause from B.Gita and learn about…
- Tattva Bodha: Who am I NOT? | What is Gross Body?
- CH 5, Verse: 13, 14, 15a | 15b, 16, 17a | 17b, 18, 19 | 20, 21 | 22, 23, 24 | 25, 26
- CH 6, Verse: Intro | 1, 2a | 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7a | 7b, 8, 9, 10a | 10b, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 | Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga 8-Steps | 18, 19 | 20, 21, 22, 23 | 24, 25, 26 | 27, 28, 29 | 30, 31, 32 | 33, 34, 35, 36 | 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43a | 43b, 44, 45, 46, 47 | SUMMARY
- CH 7, Verse: 1, 2, 3 | 4, 5 | 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | 11, 12, 13 | 14, 15, 16 | 17, 18, 19, 20 | 21, 22, 23, 24 | 25, 26, 27, 28 | 29, 30 | SUMMARY
- CH 8, Verse: 1, 2, 3, 4 | 5, 6, 7, 8 | 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 | 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 | SUMMARY
- CH 9, Verse: 1, 2 | 3, 4, 5, 6 | 7, 8, 9 | 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | 16, 17, 18, 19 | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 | 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 | 31, 32, 33, 34 | SUMMARY
- CH 10, Verse: 1, 2, 3 | 4, 5, 6 | 7, 8, 9, 10 | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | 16, 17, 18. 19, 20, 21, 22 | 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 | 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 | 39, 40, 41, 42 | SUMMARY
- BREAK: Let's take a pause from B.Gita and learn about…
- Story of Mahābhārata: Relevance In Your Life, Negligence, Setting Boundaries, Destiny/Fate, Cause-Effect (Karma), Coping with Challenges, Negotiating with Difficult People
- Essence of Advaita – Jñāna-Yoga (based on BG CH2): Self-Imposed Limitations, Subject-Object, Nature of I, Nature of Universe, Breakdown of Reality, Tat Tvam Asi Equation
- CH 11, Verse: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 | 32, 33, 34, 35 | 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 | 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 | SUMMARY
- CH 12, Verse: 1, 2 | 3, 4 | 5, 6 | Dharma, Ethics, Intuition | 7, 8, 9 | 10, 11, 12, 13a | 13b, 14 | 15, 16a | 16b, 17, 18 | 19, 20 | SUMMARY
- CH 13, Verse: Intro, 1a | 1b | 1c | 2a | 2b | 2c | 3, 4, 5a | 5b | 5c, 6 | Summary of 5 & 6 | 7a | 7b | 7c | 7d | 7e | 7f | 7g | 7h | 7i | 8 | 9a | 9b, 10a | 10b | Summary of V7-10 | 11a | 11b, 12a | 12b, 13, 14 | 15, 16, 17, 18 | 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24a | 24b, 25, 26, 27, 28a | 28b, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 | SUMMARY
- 20 Universal Values (Verse 7-11): Intro: 1, 2 | Summary | V1: Absence of conceit | V2: Absence of pretense | V3: Non-hurting: 1, 2 | V4: Accommodation: 1, 2 | V5: Straightforwardness | V6: Service to Teacher | V7: Inner-Outer Purity: 1, 2 | V8: Steadfastness | V9: Mind Mastery: 1, 2 | V10: Dispassion: 1, 2 | V11: Healthy I-Sense | V12: 5-Fold Limitations | V13: Absence of Ownership | V14: Absence of Obsession: 1, 2 | V15: Equanimity | V16: Devotion | V17: Secluded Place | V18: Social Interactions | V19: Commitment to Self-Knowledge | V20: Validity of Self-Knowledge: 1, 2
- CH 14, Verse: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a | 5b, 6 | 7, 8, 9, 10 | 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 | 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 | SUMMARY
- CH 15, Verse: Intro, 1a | 1b, 2, 3a | 3b, 4, 5 | 6a | 6b, 7, 8 | 9, 10, 11 | 12, 13, 14, 15 | 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 | SUMMARY
- CH 16, Verse: Intro, 1a | 1b | 1c, 2a | 2b | 2c, 3 | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a | 9b, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 | 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 | SUMMARY
- CH 17, Verse: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 | 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 | SUMMARY
- CH 18, Verse: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 | 15, 16, 17 | 18, 19, 20a | 20b, 21, 22 | 23, 24, 25 | 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 | 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 | 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 | 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 | 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 | 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 | 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 | SUMMARY
Lesson 190 – Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18 SUMMARY — Freedom & Renunciation
Summary: Lesson 190 summarizes Bhagavad Gita, CHAPTER 18 with prominent points and concludes the course. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18 SUMMARY CHAPTER 18 SUMMARY: Renunciation for the sake of Moksha…
Lesson 189 – Krishna's Final Remarks to Arjuna & Conclusion of Bhagavad Gita
Summary: Lesson 189 mentions Krishna's final comments to Arjuna. Arjuna says his delusion is gone. Sanjaya gives metaphorical meaning behind Krishna/Arjuna. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 67, 68, 69,…
Lesson 188 – Final Summary of Karma Yoga & Jnana Yoga — How to Surrender to the Lord
Summary: Lesson 188 shows methods to devotion to attain Godhood. Krishna also summaries the 2 only Spiritual practices in existence: Karma-Yoga and Jnana-Yoga. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 62,…
Lesson 187 – What is God's Grace (Anugraha) & How to Receive It? — Higher & Lower Nature of Ishvara
Summary: Lesson 187 answers what is God's grace, how to be blessed by it, and what it means to surrender to God's grace. Also Ishvara's Higher/Lower nature is discussed. Source:…
Lesson 186 – How to Do Open & Closed Eye Meditation for Jnana-Yoga Nididhyasana Self-Enquiry
Summary: Lesson 186 finalizes proper attitude/relationship to our work or career. New section of jnana-yoga shows indicators of jivanmukta/jnani. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 48, 49, 50, 51, 52,…
Lesson 185 – What is My Duty? Am I in Right Career? How to Convert Actions to Karma-Yoga?
Summary: Lesson 185 answers questions about our career/profession and our nature. Are we in the right profession? What is your duty (svadharma)? Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 41, 42,…
Lesson 184 – 3 Types of Happiness & Commitment or Willpower
Summary: Lesson 184 shows examples of 3 types of determination and 3 types of happiness. And Science of Happiness. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,…
Lesson 183 – What is Best Kind of Doer/Performer (Karta) & Intellect (Buddhi)?
Summary: Lesson 183 gives examples of Sattvic, Rajasic, Tamasic Doer/Agent/Performer, and Intellect. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 Revision: VERSE 23: Sattvic Action: Free of…
Lesson 182 – 3 Types of Actions (Karma) – Considerate, Narrow, Thoughtless
Summary: Lesson 182 gives examples of Sattvic, Rajasic, Tamasic ACTIONS. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 23, 24, 25 Revision: VERSE 21: Rajasic Knowledge: Creates partial vision of world. They're…
Lesson 181 – Mindfulness — You (Atman) are Not-Different from Brahman — 3 Types of Knowledge
Summary: Lesson 181 provides additional methods and examples to come to know one's True nature (Brahman). Mindfulness in reactions. Rajasic and Tamasic knowledge. 6 ignorant vs. 6 selfish blind men….
Lesson 180 – I AM Existence-Awareness: Method to Understanding Non-Duality (jnana-yoga / brahma-vidya)
Summary: Lesson 180 exclusively teaches the method, by means of jnana-yoga (brahma-vidya) to understanding the final reality (sat-cit). Atma-anatma-viveka revisited. What is Sattvic Knowledge? Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse…
Lesson 179 – What is Atma (Self or ‘I') and Anatma (Not-Self) & Origin of Ignorance (Avidya)
Summary: Lesson 179 focuses on showing description of not-self (what I am not), and Self (what I am). Visual model is used. Origin of ajnani (one ignorant of Self). Source:…
Lesson 178 – What is Karma-Yoga in Practice? And 5 Factors That Make Up Doer (Kartā)
Summary: Lesson 178 revisits Karma-Yoga, showing what it consists of and how it's practiced in real-life. Mechanics of Action. Punya-Papa-Mixture. And 5 factors that comprise the Individual. Source: Bhagavad Gita,…
Lesson 177 – Yoga of Liberation & Renunciation: CH18, Verse 1-8
Summary: Lesson 177 solves the vagueness around the word renunciation. What is renunciation? Renounce what? What's the difference between ‘sannyasa' and ‘tyaga'. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 1, 2,…
Lesson 176 – BG CH17 Summary – 3 Types of Giving – Om Tat Sat Mantra
Summary: Lesson 176 gives birds-eye-view of Chapter 17, then elaborates on best and worst type of giving, and significance of mantra “om tat sat”. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 17, Verse…
Lesson 175 – Beneficial vs. Destructive Spiritual Practices (Tapas)
Summary: Lesson 175 shows 3 kinds of energies that constitute all spiritual practices (physical, verbal, mental). Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 17, Verse 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 VERSE 14-16:…
Lesson 174 – Right Foods for Your Body & Most Beneficial Yajna (Worship)
Summary: Lesson 174 speaks about food and healthiest kind of attitude incorporated into any kind of worship. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 17, Verse 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Revision…
Lesson 173 – Differentiating 3 Types of Faith (Shraddha) – Bhagavad Gita, CH17
Summary: Lesson 173 introduces Chapter 17, showing all faith (what you stand for) stems from 3 intentions which produce wide expression of worships or rituals for sake of attaining the…
Lesson 172 – Bhagavad Gita, CH16 Summary – Pacifying the Mind & Right Conduct
Summary: Lesson 172 connects Vedas with Bhagavad Gita, then summarizes Chapter 16. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, SUMMARY. Vedas: Vedas has 3 sub-divisions (to address 3 universal problems): Karma (impure), …
Lesson 171 – Five Paths to Managing Unhealthy Desires & Moksha is the Only Path
Summary: Lesson 171 lists behaviors of those with a false/partial perception of truth & their destiny after death. 5 paths for redirected desire to higher means. Scriptures are valid means…
Lesson 170 – Examples of Adharma (Immorality, Wrong-ness, Ignorance, Unrighteousness)
Summary: Lesson 170 shows how jiva-srishti (personal fancies) distances individual away from isvara-srishti (dharma; truth), thus causing immorality to become the “normal” way of conduct. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16,…
Lesson 169 – Origin of ‘Evil' and Unrighteous Traits to Eliminate from Personality
Summary: Lesson 169 introduces topic if adharmic-traits to get rid of from our psyche, and how unrighteousness originated. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verse 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9…
Lesson 168 – Divine Traits of Wise: Freedom from Temptation & Anger, Gentleness, Modesty, Tolerance
Summary: Lesson 168 speaks of discerning 3 realities, and continuity of divine traits from Verse 2 and 3. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verse 2, 3 Context & Significance of…
Lesson 167 – Sculpting a Quieter State of Mind By Meditation & On Compassion or Kindness
Summary: Lesson 167 revises all divine-traits we learned so far, and mentions two more; prominently compassion (natural human state before mind distortions). Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verse 2 Revision:…
Lesson 166 – Overcoming Hindering Emotions Through Virtues: Austerity, Renunciation, Tranquility
Summary: Lesson 166 re-emphasizes a hard-to-digest truth, intellectual understanding of “tat tvam asi” remains partial long as emotional loads remain. An equanimous emotional make-up is crucial for our contentment, successful…
Lesson 165 – Divine Virtues: Fearlessness, Charity, Clean Thoughts, Yajna (Types of Worship)
Summary: Lesson 165 shows an empowering way to conquer fear. Personality profiles. If you don't find ways to incorporate the knowledge, it'll quickly be overridden by old vasanas. Importance of…
Lesson 164 – Divine & Demonic Virtues: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verse 1
Summary: Lesson 164 states that purpose of Chapter 16 is to complete and solidify the self-knoweldge learned in CH13-15. We also learn about the first two divine qualities; Fearlessness and…
Lesson 163 – Topic of the Whole Being: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15 SUMMARY
Summary: Lesson 163 brings out the most significant points worthy of inquiry from Chapter 15, the most popular and often chanted chapter of the book. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15,…
Lesson 162 – Awareness vs. Matter / What is Purushottama (Supreme Being)?
Summary: Lesson 162 divides the ONE reality into 3 portions; kshara (manifest), akshara (unmanifest), purushottama (unchanging). Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15, Verse 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Revision: PART 1-4…
Lesson 161 – Brahman is in Form of the World / God Resides in Heart of All
Summary: Lesson 161 revises important verse 10 & 11 from different perspective. Total reality is also the sun, moon and fire. Brahman is world, jiva, everything. Thus “I” too much…
Lesson 160 – Jiva's Death & Rebirth – Discerning Yogi's vs Non-Discerning
Summary: Lesson 160 discusses process of death and birth; what actually happens. Reflected vs Original Consciousness. Discerning yogi's know that noone has died at time of physical death. Source: Bhagavad…
Lesson 159 – Brahman is Self-Evidencing & What Happens After Person Dies
Summary: Lesson 159 demonstrates brahman can't be none other then you. Part 3 (Brahman is in form of Jiva). Starting with journey of jiva's death. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15,…
Lesson 158 – Big Picture of Existence: Sat-Chit-Ananda, Maya, Ishvara & Jiva
Summary: Lesson 158 provides big picture of total reality. Connection between final reality (sat-cit), maya, ishvara, and jagat (which includes objects and jivas). Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15, Preamble to…
Lesson 157 – Loosening the Grip of Samsara – Healthy Attitudes Towards Apparent Reality
Summary: Lesson 157 provides 4 methods (dispassion, devotion, healthy-virtues, self-inquiry) to help deal with samsara with more objectivity. First 3 prime the mind for the last. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter…
Lesson 156 – Why does World Exist? Universe Never Began. Creation is Circular
Summary: Lesson 156 visually describes the samsara tree in action, pointing out it's limitations. What reality is samsara/world? Mithya. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15, Verse 1, 2, 3 Revision: What…
Lesson 155 – How Samsara Traps & Creates Illusion of Two-ness (Dvaita)
Summary: Lesson 155 connects Chapter 14 to Chapter 15. Then Verse 1 starts with description of Samsara tree. Also used fractal model to depict never-ending samsara. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter…
Lesson 154 – Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14 SUMMARY
Summary: Lesson 154 brings out the main points worthy of thinking about from Chapter 14. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14, SUMMARY (All Verses) Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14 SUMMARY: Gunatraya Vibhaga…
Lesson 153 – Jnani's Vision of Reality – What is Moksha of Jivanmukta?
Summary: Lesson 153 shows mechanics of a jnani's (sattvic) mind compared to samsaric (rajasic / tamasic) mind. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14, Verse 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,…
Lesson 152 – Effects of 3 Gunas on Your Behaviour, Thinking and Afterlife
Summary: Lesson 152 shows what behaviors 3 gunas cause while living. What happens to guna-dominant mind after death? Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14, Verse 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,…
Lesson 151 – Sattva-Guna Binds You to Knowledge, Raja to Action & Tama to Mistakes
Summary: Lesson 151 gives examples how 3 gunas bind us to doer-enjoyer role, and how they show up in various behaviors. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14, Verse 7, 8, 9,…
Lesson 150 – How 3 Gunas Govern You and the World – What is Sattva, Rajas, Tamas
Summary: Lesson 150 shows general order of creation from 3 gunas to individual. How sattva binds. Reflected consciousness. Free will (1:02:09). Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14, Verse 5, 6 Revision:…
Lesson 149 – Bhagavad Gita, CH13 Summary & CH14 Verse 1-5
Summary: Lesson 149 brings out the crux of non-duality of Upanishads. Summarizes CH13 into 3 categories: Anatma, Atma, Values. Then begins CH14, the topic of 3 gunas (nature of prakriti)….
Lesson 148 – What does Jivanmukta-Jnani Understand? – Atman is like Space & Light
Summary: Lesson 148 demonstrates direct understanding of a self-realized one (jivanmukta / jnani). What kind of understanding does moksha have? Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 28, 29, 30, 31,…
Lesson 147 – What Sustains Ignorance of Self (Atman)? & 5 Stages of Spiritual Progress
Summary: Lesson 147 shows 5 stage of spiritual progress. Universal cause for ignorance (not knowing Self). 1st benefit of self-knowledge (balanced perspective). Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 24, 26,…
Lesson 146 – What is Prakriti and Purusha? – Cause of Rebirth & Samsara – Nature of Self
Summary: Lesson 146 shows difference between purusha and prakriti, a necessity for self-inquiry into nature of Self. Logic of Rebirth & Samsara. Why jnani doesn't get reborn. How creation comes….
Lesson 145 – Because ‘I AM', This Object Experience IS (Sat-Cit is Far & Near)
Summary: Lesson 145 shows how Brahman is outside & inside. Far & near. Moving & unmoving. How Brahman remains unrecognized despite being everything (space, electricity egs). Complete devotion = emotion…
Lesson 144 – What Brahman IS and IS NOT? – Upadhi & Upahita – Superimposition
Summary: Lesson 144 shows using logic what Brahman IS and IS not. Adhyaropa-Apavada-Nyaya method. Upadhi-upahita method. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 12, 13, 14 Revision: Transitioning out of CH13,…
Lesson 143 – Mananam, Nididhyasanam, Brahman is Neither Sat-Asat
Summary: Lesson 143 speaks of other schools of philosophies. End of 20 values. What is Brahman NOT? Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 11, 12. Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse…
Lesson 142 – 3 Pillars of Vedanta (Jiva-Jagat-Brahman) & Purpose of Self-Knowledge
Summary: Lesson 142 is shows the value of self-knowledge, 3 pillars, and wave-ocean-water analogy. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 11. Revision: No revision as we revised 18 values in…
Lesson 141 – 18 Universal Values To Purify Dharma, Mind & Intellect
Summary: Lesson 141 summarizes some points of 18 values in BG13, Verse 7-10. Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 7-10. Revision: Value 1: amānitvam: Absence of demanding validation/respect. People are…