Zig when Others Zag- The Bhagavad Gita (Infographic)
The Bhagavad Gita’s 700 verses can be a lot to take in, specially since most of us rely on a translation from the original Sanskrit. Poetic images and analogies help us understand this work....
The Bhagavad Gita’s 700 verses can be a lot to take in, specially since most of us rely on a translation from the original Sanskrit. Poetic images and analogies help us understand this work....
The Katha Upanishad is also a principal Upanishad. It begins with Sage Vajasravas giving away his possessions to get brownie points from the gods. He has a son Nachiketa, who wonders what was the...
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is a prinicipal Upanishad. Its name means great wilderness. This Upanishad gives a human aspect to the Creator. He was fearful when he created himself. Then he thought to himself, Why...
Mundaka means shaved head, so perhaps this Upanishad is named so because it is knowledge that shaves us of ignorance. It has three mundaks/shavings (parts). The first mundaka’s first khand (section) says Brahman grows...
The enigmatic, 17 verse Isha Upanishad starts off with a deep verse. Isha, or the Creator’s perfect and so is his Creation. The Creator minus his Creation is still perfect. Poetry tantalizes us, frustrating...
Indian philosophy or darshan is more practical than Western philosophy. It seeks to help us live our lives, rather than wonder about abstract notions like what is reality? The Bhagvad Gita is a summary...
After listening, one must reflect and then meditate on what one has imbibed, according to Indian philosophy. I was reading a sample lesson of the Gita course by the Chinmaya Mission online. I liked...
I’m more of a nature worshipper rather than a believer in God. It does help to focus one’s energies on a mentor, rather than brooding over things. Recently I’ve started following Nicheren Buddhism a...
Arjun wants to know how asceticism and renunciation differ. Krishna explains that while asceticism is giving up selfish activities, renunciation is giving up the fruits of action. He goes on to say that the...
Arjun asks Krishna about the faithful who reject the scriptures. Are they sattvic, rajasic or tamasic? Krishna says it depends on their nature. Everyone falls in one of these three categories. The sattvic make...