Chapter 12: Bhagavad Gita Course with Swami Vishwananda

On August 10th, 2014 Swamiji covered Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled: Bhakti Yoga

In Chapter 12, Lord Krishna glorifies the path of devotion to God (Bhakti yoga). Krishna explains that Bhakti Yoga is the easiest and best path to follow. 

"The Supreme Lord said: I consider the best yogis to be those who are (desirous for being) forever united with me, who have supreme faith, and who worship me, and who focus their minds on me." 

General topics covered in the Chapter:

• Should one worship a personal or an impersonal God?
• Reasons for worshiping a personal form of God 
• The four paths to God
• Karma Yoga is the best way
• The attributes of a devotee

Excerpt commentary from Swamiji:

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mayyāveśya mano ye māṃ 
nitya-yuktā upāsate 
śraddhayā parayopetās-te 
me yuktatamā matāḥ

Those who found their mind in Me and by constant union,  possessed of a supreme faith, seek after Me, I hold to be the most perfectly in union of Yoga.

"Here Bhagavan is saying, the ultimate and the most perfect form of Yoga is to have this longing for the Lord, to have this Love for the Lord, to have this reverence for Him. Through that one finds great delight in hearing the glory of Him, remembering Him through japam, continuous chanting of his Divine Names and through that faith grows. 

It’s like the food for the faith and the mind gets dwelled and absorbed (in the Divine). You see to hold one’s own effort is very difficult, its not that easy, you have to be very strong for that. But if one dwells and surrenders to the Lord and trusts in him, He looks after the welfare of the bhakta and carries him.

Bhagavan Krishna is saying, “I have a form and I have a name and the one who knows My name and My form by constant remembrance and chanting of My names and having My form installed deep into the mind, to him I reveal Myself. And that’s the greatest union because I reveal Myself within his own Self."

Testimony:

"Today Swami discussed the beauty of Bhakti Yoga. He explained that it's really simple, not easy, but simple. You don't have to know anything special, you don't have to be anything special, there is no big secret. You just have to be happy and in Love" - Pratab, Croatia

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Sri Swami Vishwananda has decided to give commentary on the Shreemad Bhagavad Gita, the eternal Word of Lord Sri Krishna. It will take place over 18 consecutive days, and each day will cover one chapter. Guruji will give his commentary with a particular Bhakti perspective.

For now, we will provide a small portion of the commentary on this blog for those who could not attend the course. At a later stage, we will offer the full length of the Gita commentary as a book and also as CD and DVD sets.