BhagVad Geeta - 1st Chapter (2nd Lesson).

All memorable speeches start with a bang!

And so are movies, stories, and dramas.

The same principle is used in Bhagavad Gita. The first chapter opens the Geeta with a bang!

Huge armies on both sides are facing each other, almost about to begin the attack. Arjuna requests his chariot to bring between two armies and looks at his teacher and grandfather.

Arjuna has panic attack, anxiety-neurosis, or nervous breakdowns.

And a most revered warrior refuses to fight!

Try to visualize this, quite a drama!

Geeta's first chapter starts with all this drama.

Some nuggets from the first chapter.

1.       Sanskrit text's first letters/Stanza are carefully crafted. Geeta begins with the word "Dharma". Though the rough translation is religion. But Swami Chinmay Ananda suggests that it's neither religion nor righteousness. It is much more than that. Here it means, "that makes a thing what it is". It is the "essential nature of anything". So essential that without it can not retain its independent existence (Ref 1).  (1.1)

2.       The first stanza is the only stanza in the whole of Geeta that is uttered by Dhritrashtra (धृतराष्ट्र). (1.1)

3.       Hrishikesha is translated by commentators as “Hrishika + isha” (lord of senses) or even as “Hrishi + Kesha” -having short hairs. Commentators Swami Chinmaya Ananda, as well as Lokmanya Tilak, commented on this (Ref 1, 2). (1.15)

4.       Only a few words (Half of the stanza) are spoken by Krishna in the first chapter (1.25)

5.       Symptoms of mental illness or Anxiety-neurosis or panic attack are listed as Sad talk, trembling limbs, dry mouth, spinning head, and depression for commonly liked things (1.27 to 1.30). (Ref. 1).

6.       Then Arjuna goes about rationalizing his decision to not fight a war.

7.       He talks from a personal point of view, individual loss/sacrifice (power/wealth), and family issues, then he talks about breaking a family unit leading to loss of values and finally how women will fall in disgrace.

1^st Chapter creates a drama, arouses readers' interest, and develops a context for the rest of the chapters.

Ref. 1: The Holy Geeta – Swami Chinamay Anand.

Ref. 2: Geeta Rahasya – Lokmanya Tilak. 

 

Why did I decide to read/Study Gita?

 

                                               (Image Source: Google). 

For long BhagVadGita proved to be elusive.

1.       When I was in college, my mother – a typical housewife, who wouldn’t read much – learned Gita by heart. She used to attend “Swadhyay Parivar” and she learned to Chant Gita. She never learned Sanskrit neither I saw her reading any Gita commentary.  I tried to learn but in vain. It made me curious how come?

2.       Unfamiliarity with Sanskrit – also kept me away from Gita. When I used to see others Chanting or reading or speaking on Gita authoritatively, I was amused. It made me curious how come?

3.       Often saw quotes/comments by eminent people on Gita. I read APJ Kalam, our past president mentioned he used to read, whenever he was in Dilemma. It made me curious – how such a scientific and modern bent of mind found solace in Gita.

4.       As a part of my doctoral journey, I did a seminar course on Karma Yoga. (Today I find it funny😀 ). And in hindsight, I can see that it was superficial. I did all the work – without even touching Gita. Karma Yoga is a core of the Gita (At least as presented in GitaRahasya by Bal Gangadhar Tilak). And It's laughable that I tried Karma Yoga without reading Gita. It made me further curious – to read in the original what's said about Karma Yoga in Gita.

5.       Last year I read a colossal biography of Mahatma Gandhi by Ram Guha (close to 1600 pages). Gandhiji gave a lot of credit to Gita. He called it "Eternal Mother" and "Spiritual reference book". I am curious – what made him call Gita so?

6.       Recently I was at a friend's place and he spoke about Vinoba Bhave and how his lectures on Gita delivered in prison were written down by another stalwart Sane Guruji. Vinoba Bhave called the book – Geetai. And translated it into lyrical Marathi.

7.       How these towering personalities – credit their strength to Gita. I am curious about it.

8.       I often face dilemmas even in mundane issues. And curious will Gita help me overcome it? 

Particularly in the light of what Mahatma Said, 

"

I confess to you that, when doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I run to the Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to comfort me, and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow.”

I think I kept it away for too long. No more. I know unfamiliarity with Sanskrit should not be a reason to shun Gita. So this year, Gita is on the anvil.

I decided to read Gita in English this year.

Have gathered a few like minded friends, who will support in this endeavour. 

will keep posting as I travel along. 

A Year of Gita: Self-Study Group

 

(Image: Sourced from Google Search).

I was planning to study Gita from Gita Jayanti on 3^rd Dec 2022

(Details in the previous blog post here: http://hr-universe.blogspot.com/2022/10/studying-gita-step-by-step.html).  

We faced some difficulties, hence we re-planned everything and we are starting on 1^st January 2023.

One reason, things starting on 1^st January has a positive effect on aspirational behavior. There is some research-based evidence from social science for that- called the "Fresh Start Effect". (Or  Check here -  https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1901 )

 

Another big reason is – it's Kalp-Taru day on 1^st January and divine blessings are certain.

 

 We have gathered a small serious group of readers to accompany/support each other.

 We have simplified things.

1.       We will follow Chinmaya Mission Syllabus. 

       This is available here.

2.       Essentially, we will study one lesson from this syllabus over 15 days. 

       There will be 30 lessons. However, feel free to read at your own pace. 

       We may post a prompt once a fortnight for discussion. You may go faster or slower as you wish.

3.       However please respond to the discussion prompt once over a fortnight

4.       Read from the book of your choice. I am thinking of following two books after some deliberations.

a.       Universal Message of Bhagavat-Gita – By Swami Ranganathananda – 3 Volumes (Amazon link, however, you can buy from Center of Ramkrishna Math)

b.       Holy Gita – By Swami Chinmayananda

5.       You do need not to join Chinmaya Mission Course for taking part in the group. (I have joined the course. And anyone can join. It's possible to get financial support in case you need it. The online portal has audio, and video lessons along with text-based pdf. And a dedicated discussion group is also available with the portal.)

6.       This fortnightly lesson is approximately 15 to 20 pages. It's possible to read the lesson in 15 days.

7.       If feasible, this course’s fortnightly lessons (Only PDF) will be posted for reading.   

8.       WhatsApp group will have messages only related to Bhagavad-Gita. Other posts are barred. 

9.       If time permits, we may plan some meetings/gatherings or talks.

10.   We wish to restrict the group to sincere and serious readers. 

       Few more attractions are in pipeline, but will be declared once finalized. 

      Let's celebrate the year as a Gita-Study-Year! 

Studying Gita - Step by Step!

 

Bhagavad Gita (referred as Gita). 

A sincere sadhak Vinba Bhave had referred to it as Gitai (Gita + AAI – Mother Gita – AAI is a mother in Marathi).

I always had a longing to study it.

Even I bought a couple of editions – including explanations, etc. in English. Even have three-volume sets of Swami Ranganathananda’s writings on Gita. 

But somehow, I never had an appetite to read it. 

Then I worked on a seminar course (during my doctorate) on Karma Yoga.

Again, I felt the deep need to at least read and get the crux of what Gita is. [Karma Yoga origins are in Gita]

But it always sounds monumental task and slipped away.

Moreover, I don't have any Sanskrit background. I feel it is a handicap.

I think such Everest may be conquered with some structure.

And I came across the Chinmaya Mission course on Gita. 

It's 30 sessions spread over 15 months, each month two lessons. Details are available here:  https://chinfo.org/home/course/bhagavad-gita-course-online/9  .

It is written for beginners and thoroughly in English.

I have decided to take it up.

I plan to start on the Gita Jayanti on 3^rd Dec.  [Suggested by Fellow reader]

Long back -while in college I did Chinmaya Mission’s basic Vedanta course developed by Swami Chinmayananda. Not only I enjoyed that course in the pre-internet era (lessons used to come by post – a snail mail), but I learned systematically the basic building blocks of Vedanta.

Making it easy for me to approach other spiritual literature & discussions with confidence. [Incidentally, a friend who did the same program, became a monk and pursued spiritual life] 

Hence it makes sense to look at the Gita course – also developed by the same Institution.

I am certain - structure and chapter-wise lessons will help me to take learning steps slowly but confidently. 

You can find the detailed syllabus here: https://chinfo.org/uploads/include_files/course_9_Bhagavad%20Gita_Syllabus.pdf 

Though the course is paid, if someone has difficulty paying, then you can write to homestudycourses@chinfo.org to make your case and get funding/help. 

Any long or short journey becomes enjoyable if you have companions on the path.

Fortunately, few friends are willing to join the journey with me. 

( If you are also interested in joining this study group – do let me know.)

As of today, we have decided that - learners/readers

1.       Will join this Chinmaya Mission Course mentioned above. Subscribe/buy or get access to it before 3^rd December.

2.       Will read and study. The guideline says one lesson in 15 days. Sample lessons are available online. Please take a look. It shall be comfortable to study one lesson in 15 days.

3.       We have a WhatsApp group, but the group will be strictly used to talk about the readings on Gita and nothing else.

4.       We may schedule group discussions. 

5.       If the number of group members increases, we may think of scheduling additional activities related to Gita Study.

Do connect!

Thanks!

 

How Vivekananda continues to Inspire!

5 Minute Quick Read. 

["I only tell you this, that whoever reads this letter will imbibe my spirit! "
                                                                                                      - Swami Vivekananda" ]

Vivekananda is an inspiring personality. 

He enthralled the audience that listened to him at Chicago in 1893. He inspired hundreds after his return and these lectures are outlined in “Lectures from Colombo to Almora”. His contemporaries like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore, Sri Aurobindo, and even Industrialist Jamshetji Tata expressed how he was influential. Mahatma Gandhi in Feb, 1921 at Belur, even said that, 

 I ask you, young men, not to go away empty-handed without imbibing something  of the spirit of the place where Swami Vivekananda lived and died”. 

His inspiration continues even to this date. I have at least half-dozen close friends who were inspired by his words, writings and are living their life as Monks or are serving full time, the poor and needy. They are walking the path shown by him. There are enumerable examples of how he continues to inspire. For instance, a famous story about Anna Hazare, social activist goes, that he was about to commit suicide and then read the works of Swamiji. It inspired him to pick up rural development and continues to inspire to serve India. 

I am always amused by the inspirational power of Swamiji’s words and writings. One can understand the influence on his contemporaries due to direct contact, but how come he continues to inspire people even today? 

Recently I came across a behavioral study about the inspiring power of words. Researchers used Poetry as a channel for inspiration. A group wrote Poetry and tested for their level of inspiration. Another group read this poetry and commented on various parameters. Total 36, 020 data points were collected.  

Researchers concluded that inspired writers were able to inspire average readers. Readers found poems as more sublime, insightful when writers were more inspired. Surprisingly efforts put into writing or originality of writing weren’t having any effect on the reader. And the only connection between reader and writers were poem!  

This kind of explains how Vivekananda continues to inspire. He was highly inspired person. He spoke about his Guru Sri Ramkrishna as, 

 ” My teacher, my master, my hero, my ideal, my God in life “. 

He mentioned at one point, 

“It is true I believe Ramakrishna Paramahamsa to have been inspired. But then I am myself inspired also. And you are inspired. And your disciples will be; and theirs after them; and so on, to the end of time! “   

What he wrote was from the deep truth he experienced. His expressions were just an outcome of his inner pure, inspired state of being. And hence his writings are more than the words, they are medium, the vehicle that continues to inspire and will continue to inspire us. 

References: 

Image Source: https://istore.chennaimath.org/product/letters-of-swami-vivekananda/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influence_and_legacy_of_Swami_Vivekananda  

https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpspp0000094  

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/is-inspiration-contagious/  

https://advaitaashrama.org/cw/content.php  Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.

On being a teacher ...

I attended  Gurucharan Das's  "India grows at night" book release function by BDB Book club.

I liked his style and picked up his "Difficulty of being good" for reading.

It is lucid and brilliantly written book. It uses Mahabharat - its characters, and the various dilemma they face in dealing with the ethical questions. Most appealing aspect of the book is the way author brings his learning from the stories to the ethical dilemmas that we face in our day to day life. Most importantly - why be good ?

To make his point across , he narrated the story of primary school teacher , published in "Times of India" in 2005. In his own words ,

..  a man who has bicycled 32 kilometers each day for the past twenty years without missing a single day of school. Because of his commitment, as well his ability to inspire students, a surprising number of his former students went on to become hugely famous.  When asked about the roots of his motivation, he answered, 'Teaching is my dharma,'..

I could not locate the original story online. But it is riveting. I can sense from my own experience and can see around that the teachers who do their work as "dharma" or "swabhaava" - are touching the life of their students.

Question that is more pertinent is - can this "calling/swabhaava" be nurtured in first place ? if yes , "how can we nurture this".  It is more riveting - when the same book points to the 2004 research of Michael Kremer of Harvard university along with world bank members that ,

One in four teachers in our government primary schools is absent and one in four, although present, is not teaching. Thus one in two teachers out of roughly 1.5 million primary school teachers is not doing his/her job.

If we repeat this for graduate and post-graduate teachers ,will the results really change to opposite side of spectrum ? Hence nurturing the calling for teachers - will be important question !.

(Image source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gurcharan_Das_%28as_on_26-Sep-2012%29.jpg )

Spirituality and Job Satisfaction - 1

In general IT (Information Technology) industry in India is considered lucrative and IT professionals are said to earn comparatively higher salaries .Still attrition rates are very high in IT industry. As attrition (Or employee turnover) is negatively related to the job satisfaction , there are various attempts to increase Job Satisfaction to address the issue.

Spirituality at workplace is being explored and researched as one of the means to boost performance,change attitude towards work and increase job-Satisfaction .This Survey is intended to study spirituality and job satisfaction among Indian IT professionals. Some of the questions that we are probing in this survey -

• Is spiritual belief prevalent among Indian IT professionals ?
• Whether Job-Satisfaction and spirituality are related in anyway ?
  
• Is onsite/Abroad opportunities/postings impacts the above relationship ?
• In general whether spiritual belief & Values guide & shape behavior of IT professionals ?

Please revisit the blog for further updates on the survey.