“The offering of wisdom is better than any material offering, Arjuna; for the goal of all work is spiritual wisdom.” (Bhagavad Gita 4:33) Reading these ancient words from The Bhagavad Gita this morning on a flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis, I was struck with inspiration. The goal of all work is spiritual wisdom? What a life-changing truth! Contemplating this deceptively simple statement, I had several revelations:
The principle of correct action is made famous by the description of Karma Yoga in Chapter 2, Verse 47. Single-pointed, divine-dedicated Karma without desire for the fruits shall bring about inner purification, which is a pre-condition for spiritual awakening. On the surface, it seems almost impossible to act in life without any expectation of results. Read more…
This summary of the Bhagavad Gita highlights the salient message(s) and theme(s) of this primary treatise of Hinduism. Why do you worry without cause? Whom do you fear without reason? Who can kill you? The soul is neither born, nor does it die! Read more…
The Bhagavad Gita is most widely recognized as one of the central scriptures of hinduism and one of the three pillars of hindu thought. The message of unity preached in the Gita is often overlooked in favor of the message(s) of karma-yoga, raja-yoga, prema-yoga and bhakti-yoga. The Gita is perhaps the one and only text that successfully provides a unified source in which various hindu philosophies find validation.
Just as impure gold is rendered pure by melting it in the crucible again and again, so also this impure mind is rendered purer by repeated fasting. If you cannot fast for the full twenty-four hours, at least fast for 10-12 hours and then take some milk and fruit. Occasionally, a complete fast is greatly desirable for all to keep up good health, to give adequate rest to the internal organs and maintain celibacy. In the Gita you will find: “Verily, Yoga is not for him who eats too much, nor who abstains to excess, nor who sleeps too much, nor to the excessively wakeful”.
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