On August 5th, 2014 Swamiji covered Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled: Jnaana Vijnaana Yoga
The second group of six chapters deal with the nature of the Supreme Being (Para-Brahman) and His worship designated by the term ‘Bhakti’ (loving devotion). This same teaching will be summarized later on in chapter 18 verses 46 - 54.
In Chapter 7, Sri Krishna says that He is the Supreme being, and the object of meditation. That He is the owner and controller of all things, animate and inanimate.
In Chapter 7, Sri Krishna says that He is the Supreme being, and the object of meditation. That He is the owner and controller of all things, animate and inanimate.
General topics covered in the Chapter:
- God is the cause of all things
- Definitions of matter and spirit
- The Supreme spirit is the basis of everything
- Who seeks God?
- God can be seen in an image of any desired form of worship
Excerpt commentary from Swamiji:
3
manuṣyāṇāṃ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām-api siddhānāṃ
kaścin māṃ vetti tattvataḥ
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām-api siddhānāṃ
kaścin māṃ vetti tattvataḥ
Among thousands of men, perhaps one strives for perfection; even among those who strive for perfection, one only may know Me; and among those who know Me, one alone perhaps, knows Me in reality.
“Here he is praising humans, saying how great it is to be born as a human. Because this faculty of attaining the Lord, this awareness of God Realisation, to long for Him, to Realize Him, no other creatures have this choice.
Rarely one is gifted with such a gift of Realizing God. He said that only humans can do that, not even the gods, the devas, which are in the other plane doing their dharma, their duty. They can't say, ‘Oh, I will not do anything today. I will sit and meditate on the Lord.’ Even though they possess great power, they are in a great level, they are in the high lokas, they can't strive for God Realisation.
Sadly human beings don't realise the greatness of being born on earth. Even if they are reminded thousands of times, ‘Rise above this illusion! Don't get attach to this illusion because this attachment to enjoyment lasts only in this life, and then you are bound by imperfection.’
Here Bhagavan Krishna is saying also that the bhaktas are so bound by their sadhana, they are so bound by the outside things, they are so bound by their dharma, their duty, their aim, that only few really perceive Him in His Supreme state.”
Testimony:
"Each chapter is beautiful in its own way. I love the stories that Swamiji talks about because they illustrate the real experience of what is being told to Arjuna." - Savatri, Hungary
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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.