Timeless Wisdom of Bhagavad Gita: A Complete Course in Non-Duality
The Bhagavad Gita is a profound spiritual text that explores life's deepest questions through an illuminating dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
Based on Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya) lineage, course delves into the Gita's 18 chapters, 700 verses. You'll learn practical methods to refine your thinking, emotions, and decision-making, while recognizing your infinite nature.
Course presents a comprehensive non-dual (advaita) understanding and philosophy sourced from the Upanishads.
Table of Contents:
1. Opening of Bhagavad Gita Course 2024: Mahabharata Story – Gita Dhyanam V1-3
Summary: Lesson 1 starts with meaning of opening prayer “Sahana Vavatu”. Guru-shishya-parampara importance. Story of Mahabharata. Earth is a wish-fulfilling tree. Explanation of “Sahana Vavatu” Verse: saha nāvavatu : May…
2. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Gita Dhyanam V4-9
Summary: Lesson 2 covers verses 4-9 of Gita Dhyanam, which explore the origin and universality of the Gita's teachings. Verse 4 compares the Upanishads to a cow, Krishna as the…
3. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 1, Verse 1 (Why We Go Against Ethics)
Summary: The Bhagavad Gita begins with the blind king Dhritarashtra asking his charioteer Sanjaya what his people, the Kauravas, and the Pandavas did as they gathered on the battlefield of…
4. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 1, Verse 2-6 (Transforming Your Life)
Summary: Chapter 1, Verse 2: Sanjaya narrates that Duryodhana approaches his teacher Drona, despite Bhisma being the army head, because Bhisma's unwavering vow to support the king's side is unshakeable….
5. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 1, Verse 7-12 (Seeking for Recognition)
Summary: Chapter 1, Verses 7-9: Duryodhana highlights the prominent warriors on his side to Drona, including: Bhishma (the grandsire of both the Kauravas and Pandavas); Karna (whose loyalty to Duryodhana…
6. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 1, Verse 13-23 (Refining Your Responses)
Summary: Chapter 1, Verses 13-18: The battlefield was suddenly filled with a cacophony of sounds as conches, kettledrums, tabors, trumpets, and cow-horns were blasted simultaneously, creating an overwhelming, earth-shaking noise….
7. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 1, Verse 24-34 (How to Make Right Decisions)
Summary: Chapter 1, Verses 24-27: Sañjaya narrates to Dhritarashtra that Krishna, upon Arjuna's request, placed their chariot in the midst of the two armies. Arjuna then saw his kinsmen, including…
8. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 1, Verse 35-39 (Managing Challenging Relationships)
Summary: Chapter 1, Verses 35: Arjuna expresses his unwillingness to fight and kill his relatives, even if they try to kill him. He states that he doesn't desire to fight…
9. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 1, Verse 40-47 (Dealing with Hurt & Distortions)
Summary: Chapter 1, Verses 40-41: Arjuna expands his perspective, considering the broader societal impact of war. He argues that destroying families leads to the loss of traditions and the rise…
10. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 2, Verse 1-7 (Purpose of Guru)
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 1: Sanjaya describes Arjuna's distressed state to Dhritarashtra, setting the scene for Krishna's response. This verse highlights the emotional turmoil Arjuna is experiencing, emphasizing the gravity…
11. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – Chapter 2, Verse 8-10 (Resolving Inner Conflicts)
Summary: Session focuses on one's struggle to determine the right course of action. Arjuna is depicted as being in a state of emotional turmoil, unable to compose himself and seeking…
12. Bhagavad Gita Online Course – CH 2, Verse 11-13 (Nature of Atma, Self)
Summary: Krishna introduces distinction between the wise (panditāḥ) and the unwise. He places Arjuna in the latter category due to his grief, but acknowledges his openness to wisdom. Krishna then…
13. Nature of Self (Atma) & Meaning of Sat-Cit (Existence-Awareness) – BG 2.12
Summary: Lesson delves into the fundamental human search for lasting happiness and fulfillment, highlighting the challenges of finding contentment in a changing world. There are three core human needs: (a)…
14. I AM Self-Enquiry, Never a Time When You Were Born nor Will You Die – BG CH2.12
Summary: Krishna explains consciousness continues eternally, even after the body's demise. Two metaphors used to illustrate this concept: (a) The wave-water metaphor demonstrates how shifting identity from the temporary wave to…
15. Existence-Awareness Relationship to Jiva, Subtle & Causal Body – BG CH2.13
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 12: We explore the paradigm shift needed from seeing oneself as a limited individual to understanding one's true nature as sat-cit (Existence-Consciousness). Analogy of space and…
16. Dealing with Pain, Roles & Identity, Swadharma, Causal Body – BG CH2.14
Summary: Roles and identity: We assume different roles (father, worker, teacher etc.) but can lose ourselves in those roles. Wisdom is recognizing there is an “I” separate from these roles….
17. Ishvara (Lord) is Impersonal, Collapsing Forms Through Satya-Mithya – BG CH2, Verse 15-16
Summary: Life brings pleasure and pain, and bringing Ishvara into your life helps you develop equanimity in facing both. Ishvara manifests as impersonal, impartial laws which deliver results of your…
18. Collapsing Duality Through Satya-Mithya Analysis – BG CH2, Verse 16
Summary: Satya-mithya analysis reveals reality's structure: everything, from big objects to tiny particles, is mithya (dependent reality), made of forms within forms. Science stops with the final building block of…
19. Self-Inquiry Process – Seeing What-Is – Unchanging Atman – BG CH2, Verse 17
Summary: Session focuses on the nature of human problems and the concept of Atma (the self). It distinguishes between two types of problems: (a) situational issues and (b) fundamental problem…
20. Body and It's Indweller – Killer and the Killed – BG CH2, Verse 18-19
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 18: Arjuna is reminded that the body (sharira) is temporary and subject to disintegration, while the self (shariri) is eternal and indestructible. This verse emphasizes the…
21. Avoiding Mistake of Taking Ego as Self (Atma) – Nature of Consciousness – BG, CH2.20
Summary: Introduction: The body and mind are introduced as instruments with three powers: desire (icccha shakti), action (kriya shakti), and knowledge (jnana shakti). These powers enable us to navigate life,…
22. Doing Your Duty – Reincarnation, Rebirth – Bhagavad Gita, CH2, Verse 21-22
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 21: Krishna introduces indestructible Atman (self) to Arjuna. He emphasizes duty (svadharma) and necessity of participation. Krishna urges Arjuna to see beyond personal relationships, recognize his…
23. Self is Never Slain, Burnt, Drowned – It Is All-Pervasive & Immovable – BG, CH2, Verse 22-24
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 22: Atma is existence of awareness nature, without a second. Jiva means, I take self to be as good as the sthula-sharira, suksma-sharira, and karana-sharira. Karma accumulates…
24. Nature of Awareness (Unthinkable, Unchanging, Unmanifest) – Bhagavad Gita, CH2, Verse 25
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 25: The self (Atman) is described as avyakta (unmanifest), acintya (unthinkable), and avikara (unchanging). Unlike the subtle-body composed of five elements, Atman is untouched by elemental…
25. Logic of Non-Duality (Satya-Mithya) – 3 Types of Karma – Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2.25
Summary: Introduction Teachings: The Self manifests through three bodies: the Sthula sharira (physical body made of 5 elements), Sukshma sharira (subtle body containing four functions), and Karana sharira (causal body…
26. Analysis into Awareness – Ishvara – Law of Destruction – BG, CH2, Verse 25-27
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 26: Even if you view Self (ātman) as going through birth and death (nitya-jātam), grief is still inappropriate. Because force of destruction is essential for life's…
27. Collapsing Possibilities, Embracing Destruction, Grace is Earned – BG, CH2, Verse 28-29
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 28: All beings cycle between manifest and unmanifest states, making grief unnecessary as nothing truly dies. Like seeds becoming trees and Einstein's E=MC² equation showing matter-energy…
28. Self-Knowledge & Inquiry into Cause of Universe – Bhagavad Gita, CH2.30
Summary: Chapter 2, verses 11-30 presents Self-knowledge (atma jnana). Krishna establishes awareness as essential nature, body-mind as incidental nature through satya-mithya analysis – showing absolute reality (satyam) versus dependent existence…
29. Recognizing Ishvara (God) & Doing Your Duty (Svadharma) – BG, CH2, V31-34
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 31: Varna-ashrama dharma comprises four categories: Brahmana (thinkers), Ksatriya (rulers), Vaishya (commerce), Shudra (supporters). Each role vital like body parts. Krishna instructs Arjuna to fulfill kshatriya…
30. How to Make Wiser Decisions & Right Actions – Bhagavad Gita, CH2, Verse 35-37
Summary: Chapter 2, Verse 35: Avoiding battle due to fear will cause warriors to lose respect for Arjuna. A damaged reputation persists across roles. When highly esteemed, perceived falls become…