CONTENTS:
- Introduction to Bhagavad Gita Part 1;
- Srila Prabhupada's Appreciation;
- Guru Maharaja’s Instructions;
1. INTRODUCTION TO BHAGAVAD GITA: PART 1
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Previously, we discussed that the Vedic wisdom is flowing through two main streams: One stream is Upanishad and the other stream is Purana. The essence of the Upanishads is Bhagavad Gita and the essence of all the Puranas is Srimad Bhagavatam. So these two scriptures are giving us the essential teachings of the Vedas.
So, first we are discussing the Bhagavad Gita then we will discuss about Srimad Bhagavatam. In Bhagavad Gita, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is giving us the transcendental wisdom. The word transcendental means beyond, transcending this material nature. This material nature is the world that we are preceiving through our senses but beyond this material nature is another reality, the spiritual reality that is beyond our sense perception. Therefore that reality literally means beyond sense perception. That world cannot be perceived by our senses like our eyes cannot see that reality, our hands cannot touch that reality, the only facalty that can perceive that reality is our hearing. Through hearing we can conceive that reality, therefore the process for receiving this knowledge is through hearing sruti and sruta means by hearing, that reality can be experienced only by hearing. The knowledge in the form of sound vibration is coming from that world and that wisdom is called Vedas. Vedas are not knowledge of this world, Vedic knowledge has been given by the Lord Himself right at the beginning of creation to the first personality who appeared in this universe, Lord Brahma. Then through a disciplic succession this wisdom is flowing. Disciplic succession means through the chain of spiritual master and disciple, Guru and sisya. Guru imparts the knowledge and the sisya receives the knowledge and then in course of time the disciple becomes the teacher or Guru and imparts the knowledge to his students or his sisyas. In this way, since time immemorial since the beginning of creation this knowledge is flowing.
The first giver of this knowledge was the Lord Himself to the first created being here, Lord Brahma. Then Brahma gave it so his son Narada and Narada gave it to his son Vyasadeva and Vysadeva gave it to Madhava Acharya and in this way a chain of disciplic succession this knowledge is flowing. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is saying BG 4.2 evam parampara-praptam. parampara means disciplic succession. This knowledge had been flowing through this chain of disciplic succession and that is the way to receive this knowledge otherwise we cannot understand the spiritual reality. By mental speculation no matter how intelligent we maybe we won’t be able to understand the spiritual reality.
In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna Himself is giving the knowledge again. At the beginning He gave the knowledge but that was in totality, that was vast in the form of the Vedas. Vedas have different branches like first branch, initial teaching of the Vedas are called Karma kanda. Karma kanda section of the Vedas are teaching us how to act in this world. How to enjoy in this world. Karma kanda is giving the proper prescription and then when one sees that this is not the right place to be in and he wants to get out of this world then the jnana kanda is giving that process, how to get out of this material nature, what is the real nature of this material world and how to get out of this material world. Karma kanda gives bhukti or how to enjoy and jnana kanda section of the Vedas are giving mukti, liberation from material bondage.
But beyond liberation like when one becomes liberated from this material nature and becomes elevated to the spiritual reality then the consideration is what should one do in the spiritual world? How to act in the spiritual world? What are the spiritual activities one must become engaged in the spiritual reality is the final section of the Vedas that is called bhakti or devotional service. Activity to express one’s love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Gradually, Vedas are bringing one to the ultimate culmination of devotional service. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is actually giving that process. Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita 15.15 vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo. In all the Vedas I alone am to be known. So what is the purpose of the Vedas? To understand Krishna and when Krishna Himself speaks about Himself what can be a greater or better authority than that and that is Bhagavad Gita.
2. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
“Srila Prabhupada had made this wonderful family ISKCON, where you have your father, uncles, brothers, cousins, everyone. Thus you are never alone.”
3. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
Krsna Consciousness is so valuable that if you accumulate all the wealth of this world, still it will not match it.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on a lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami on 26th May 2018 at Deland, Florida)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Dasi)