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 40 – Discipline & Mental Preparation Needed for Self-Knowledge
Summary: Lesson 40 revises basic discipline and quality of mental preparedness required for householder and/or renunciate (sannyasa)… to properly assimilate jnana-yoga (Self knowledge leading to Liberation). We also revise how…
Lesson 39 – Liberated (Self-Realized) vs. Ignorant (Samsaric) Living
Summary: Lesson 39 clears up false notions surrounding how jñāni (wise person abiding in Self as Self/Ātman) lives in this world, while alive (jīvanmukta). We also discover benefits of brahmavit…
Lesson 38 – How a Jnani Sees (Vision of Enlightened / Self-Realized Person)
Summary: Lesson 38 revises 4 stages of any seeker (sadhaka) towards Liberation. Then we elaborate how Jnani (wise person) sees and lives in the world – compared to ignorant…
Lesson 37 – Tattva Bodha – What is the Gross/Physical Body? (Sthula Sharira)
Summary: Lesson 37 answers (a) What is the material cause of every Gross Body (sthula sharira), and (b) What CAUSES your body to be born with certain attributes/parents/country/sex, etc? Point…
Lesson 36 – Who am I? According to Adi Shankara in Tattva Bodha
Summary: Lesson 36 analyzes Tattva Bodha (Knowledge of Reality) verse 2.1/2.2 to answer “Who/What I am NOT?”, and “Who/what I am?”. Both INDIRECT and DIRECT means must be employed for…
Lesson 35 – Spiritual Practices only Purify. Self-Knowledge (Jnana Yoga) alone Liberates
Summary: Lesson 35 explains why only Self-Knowledge can remove ignorance of original “I AM” (Ātman). Then outlines 4 stages all humans go through in their spiritual sadhana. None are exception….
Lesson 34 – Self-Realized vs. Ignorant and Is God Responsible?
Summary: Lesson 34 begins introducing attributes of a jnani (Liberated person while living) for preparation of jnana-yoga in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 verses 13-21. Then we examine if world's condition…
Lesson 33 – Difference between Lower (Ahamkara) and Higher Self (Atman/Brahman) (33)
Summary: Lesson 33 explains the process of shifting the “I” away from false experiencing doer-enjoyer (ahaṃkāra), to true identity with Brahman (Awareness). Then claiming the identity right now – instead…
Lesson 32 – Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5: Who am I? Recognizing Atman by Jnana Yoga (32)
Summary: Lesson 32 shares process of recognizing Ātman (“I” – Awareness). We also see 2 major benefits of following Karma-Yoga & Jñāna Yoga being vairāgya (dispassion) and jivanmukti (Liberation). Terms…
Lesson 31 – Summary of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 (Two Lifestyles & Spiritual Disciplines)
Summary: Lesson 31 summarizes 2 lifestyles every person MUST choose while living (householder/saṃnyāsi). And 2 spiritual disciplines all seekers MUST go through, both leading to Liberation (Karma-Yoga & jñāna-Yoga). Aspirant…
Lesson 30 – I AM __ Only In Reference to Mithyā: Confuse not Ātman & Role
Summary: Lesson 30 demonstrates how ‘I' (Self/Atman) is only an APPARENT doer/actor in reference to the mithyā role played amidst relating with life. Confusing ‘I' with ROLE results in forgetting…
Lesson 29 – Attachment Causes Depressing Attitude & Maya / Isvara Difference
Summary: Lesson 29 establishes that Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita CH1 is refusing to do his duty (svadharma) because of his Attachment to his teachers. Thus when we are attached to…
Lesson 28 – Anger Management & I Am NOT the Doer – Bhagavad Gita Meaning
Summary: Lesson 28 starts out by visually comparing Mind-Intellect-Ego of a samsari (life controlled by desires) – and of a self-actualized person (jīvanmuktaḥ). Then we correct common false notion of…
Lesson 27 – What It Means to ‘Renounce the World': True VS False Sannyasa
Summary: Lesson 27 answers common questions like: What is TRUE renunciation? Is aloneness and general disinterest towards world an attribute of a sannyāsī (person whose only interest is study of…
Lesson 26 – True Meaning of Renunciation and It's Purpose: Bhagavad Gita, CH5
Summary: Lesson 26 clears what it means to Renounce the world or action. It is NOT to give up action, but to give up the false notion that “I AM…
Lesson 25 – Summary of Using Karma Yoga for Mind Purification
Summary: Lesson 25 wraps up a summary on Bhagavad Gītā's chapter 3 on Karma Yoga – as means of purifying the Mind and living in harmony with the WHOLE. We…
Lesson 24 – How to Practice Karma Yoga: Benefits, Principles & Examples
Summary: Lesson 24 show how Karma Yoga leads to success in ordinary day-to-day situations. Promotes healthy attitude & relationships with Self, World (Jagat), Others, Īśvara. It invokes a sharp, intentional,…
Lesson 23 – Journey of Desire from Toys to Enlightenment (moksha)
Summary: Lesson 23 explains why Desire can't be eliminated, and why it's NOT a hindrance to Enlightenment (mokṣa). We also learn correct/incorrect method to MANAGE desire all the way to…
Lesson 22 – How Cause Effect Operates in Your Life In Light of Dharma & Karma
Summary: Session 22 demonstrates how every Cause (Action) has an Effect (Reaction) in your life. And how the quality (Effect) of life today, is result of series of Causes (Actions)…
Lesson 21 – Isvara (God) is Endless Causes & Effects – and Dealing with Difficult Situations
Summary: Session 21 revisits why Bhagavad Gītā is applicable in today's age more then ever. Then we see how understanding of Īśvara's (God's) Cause-Effect relationship leads one to take responsible…
Lesson 20 – Intro to Karma Yoga: Making Each Action Clean Your Mind & Sharpen the Intellect
Summary: Session 20 begins with Kṛṣṇa introducing Arjuna (you) the path of being a Karma Yogi. A spirit of sacrifice built at time of creation. When lived, it produces consistent…
Lesson 19 – Common Non-Duality Misinterpretations / What Moksha (Freedom) is NOT?
Summary: Session 19 is establishes clarity for Advaita Vedanta scholars/fanatics by seeing examples how subtle mistakes of non-dual vision creates subtle ego arrogance (duality). Possible corrections are provided. Also we…
Lesson 18 – How to Apply Self-Inquiry In Regular Life? (Atma-vichara viveka)
Summary: Session 18 focuses on how to actively use Vedānta Self-enquiry knowledge in everyday life. Then we learn pursuit of Self-Knowledge is not about “gaining something NEW”, but discovering what…
Lesson 17 – How 3 Bodies (Gross, Subtle, Causal) Seemingly Condition Atman
Summary: Session 17 explain what 3 bodies of every human being are. Then elucidates how experience occurring within the 3 bodies or 5 sheaths – gets mistakenly superimposed onto Ātman…
Lesson 16 – How to Disidentify from False Self By Negating 5 Sheaths (Pancha Kosha)
Summary: Session 16 shows a visual model of 5 sheaths (pañca-kośa) that make up a person (Jīva) – as revealed in Taittirīya Upaniṣad. And how to practically use this knowledge…
Lesson 15 – What is Dharma, Ego, Sin? / Intro to 5 Koshas
Summary: Session 15 is revision of Bhagavad Gītā Chapter 2 keypoints in Q & A format – on Dharma, Māyā, Ego, purpose of Rituals, How to remain Pure, attainment of…
Lesson 14 – Who is a Person of Firm Wisdom? (Jivan mukta / Jnani)
Summary: Session 14 addresses Bhagavad Gita CH 2, verse 54, when Arjuna asks Lord Krisna “What is the description of a person of firm wisdom, one whose mind abides in…
Lesson 13 – What is Success? / Signs of a Liberated Person (Jivanmukta, Jnani)
Summary: Session 13 re-defines “success” from traditional worldly view, to Vedāntic point of view of Objectivity and Dispassion. We then debunk common myths what is an Enlightened person (jīvan-mukta), as…
Lesson 12 – Is there Freewill? / 3 Karma's Molding Your Life / What is Compassion?
Summary: Session 12 teaches us how 3 types of Karma (Sanchita, Prarabdha, Agami) cause you (Jiva) to be WHAT YOU ARE TODAY. Provoking question “Do we have free will?“. Then…
Lesson 11 – Formula to Negate False Illusion of Separation, Atman & Brahman Difference
Summary: Session 11 shares heart of Advaita Vedānta in TWO major teachings. FIRST is using formula (A = B = C = A) to negate false sense of separation or…
Lesson 10 – Two Paths You Can Take: Path of the Good / Pleasant (śreyaḥ/preyaḥ)
Summary: Session 10 starts with giving practical example applying Spiritual sadhana to purify Mind, by driving to work (through Karma Yoga spirit of Compassion). Followed by 2 paths all humans…
Lesson 9 – Maya's 2 Powers of Veiling & Projecting / Why Different Spiritual Paths?
Summary: Session 9 elaborates metaphors to help Vedānta student “see” with added clarity, definitions of: Self, Dharma, Yoga, Ignorance and Māyā. It's purpose is to reconcile Jñāna Yoga (Self-Knowledge; for…
Lesson 8 – Collapsing Duality Using Vedanta Metaphors / Incarnation / Jiva's Svadharma
Summary: Sessions 8 starts with providing reason and logic for Incarnation. Then we describe non-dual Consciousness using various metaphors to collapse idea/belief in duality (separation). Also, what does Jīva have…
Lesson 7 – How Maya Fools Everyone Believing Joy is in the World / About Desire
Summary: Sessions 7 focuses on mechanics how Jīva (ignorant person under spell of Māyā) believes joy is in worldly Objects – disregarding Self as source of the joy. As long…
Lesson 6 – How To Know You're Caught In Samsara, Real VS. Unreal (Satya/Mithya)
Summary: In Session 6, along with revision of preceding session, Krishna begins teaching Arjuna about the Self (Brahman) from Bhagavad Gita, CH 2. TOPICS COVERED: Īśvara or Bhagavān (Lord) is:…
Lesson 5 – Four Vedanta Qualifications (Dharma/Ethics, Managing Emotions)
Summary: Session 5 completes the meaning of “apyāyāntu mamāngāni” prayer from Chāndogya Upaniṣad. It discusses 4 distortions all humans are subject to. All serious spiritual aspirants are advised to consistently…
Lesson 4 – Upanishads Authenticity & Why Everything is Brahman
Summary: Session 4 discusses what Upaniṣads reveals to be the highest and greatest use or purpose of one's life on Earth. In one line – it is: sarvam brahmaḥ Meaning:…
Lesson 3 – Four Essential Attitudes When Communicating According to Vedas
Summary: Session 3 stars with invocation from Kena Upanishad “āpyāyantu mamāngāni” invocation – with first line explained in detail – including: How to use our speech (vāk), Life force (prāṇaḥ),…
Lesson 2 – Fundamentals: Mind, Intellect, Vasana, Karma
Summary: Prerequisite to jumping into Advaita Vedānta course, in this session we learn about fundamentals of Mind, Intellect, Vāsanā (also called saṃskāra), and Karma. Terms often referred to during the…
Lesson 1 – Bhagavad Gita In Light of Non-Duality & Basic Inquiry Into Your Existence
Lesson 1 of our Advaita Vedanta course starts with Bhagavad Gita story in reference to the inner-war or conflict every human being silently experiences within. It's a conflict between morality…