Bhagavad Gita | The Essence of Vedanta

Chapter 2 Verses 57-59. The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on June 7, 2019.
-The Absolute ('Paramarthika) and the Relative ('Vyavaharika'):
-Their practical implication in daily life.
-The need for setting new priorities in life.
-For a स्थितप्रज्ञ: 'Buddhi' is free from all entanglements of mind (verse:55).
-How, in the case of a स्थितप्रज्ञ:, mind reacts differently to the different stimuli: no excitement, no emotions (Verses: 56,57).
-How 'Buddhi' and mind, linked to the 'Atman', always remains stable and steady.
-In the case of a स्थितप्रज्ञ: senses ( इन्द्रियाणि) are completely withdrawn from the sense-objects (verse:58).
-The illustration of the tortoise withdrawing its limbs in the presence of a danger (verse:58).
-The ability to withdraw the senses where there is a problem is natural for a स्थितप्रज्ञ:
-When the स्थितप्रज्ञ: does not welcome the senses, they retire permanently.
-The internal (mental) 'filtering mechanism' which uses spiritual common sense in everyday-life situations.
-Illustration from Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutra (Samadhi Pada: sutra: 33) & 'Nimi-Navayogi- samvaada' Bhagavata Purana-XI).
-'Pratyahara' of Yoga tradition, 'Uparati' of Vedanta and 'Prapatti' of Devotional philosophy.
-How certain types of mental entanglements can be suicidal: examples...
-The significance of the description of the qualities of a spiritually enlightened person (स्थितप्रज्ञ:):
1) These qualities serve as an ideal for the aspirant.
2) Managing everyday life with the help of Vedanta.
3) Need for a higher desire and a higher ideal.
- The parable of the Wise and the Foolish builders from the Bible.

Chapter 2 Verses 54-56. The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 31, 2019.
- Characteristics of an illumined saint (स्थितप्रज्ञ:):
- The qualities of a spiritually enlightened person (स्थितप्रज्ञ:) should serve as an ideal for the aspirant.
- Spiritual awakening does not make you insensitive to the problems of others.
- A spiritual man is not shaken by adversities and reverses.
- He is never unhappy because he does not go after happiness.
- A spiritual man is able to conserve his mental energy-resources by remaining even-minded in all situations.
- He is free from desire and selfishness.
- He remains in a state of perpetual bliss.
- A man of steady wisdom ( स्थितप्रज्ञ:) according to different philosophers: Shankaracharya, Nilakantha and Madhva (Advaita and Dvaita schools of philosophers)
- Sublimation of desires: The need for a higher ideal
- Spirituality helps us to look up on every problem from a higher perspective.
- The need to feed our mind with healthy mental food: good thoughts and ideas.
- Going beyond pain, pleasure, lust, fear and anger
- The five states of the human mind.
- “राजर्षि:” ('Rajarshi'): The Hindu ideal of a Philosopher-King

Chapter 2 Verses 49-54. The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 17, 2019.
- Why does the mind refuse to cooperate?
- The need for freedom from anxiety and worry
- Extraordinary mental powers without a spiritual ideal conceal within them the seed of trouble
- Great skills need a spiritual ideal to guide them
- How do we develop spiritual characteristics?
- The quest for real and lasting efficiency
- What is real success?
- Five states of the mind and its functions
- There can be no inner serenity and contentment without equanimity of mind
- Karma-yoga enables us to confront reverses and failures with a smile, and go ahead.
- Unselfishness enables us to tap our hidden mental resources.

Chapter 2 Verses 46-48.
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 10, 2019.
-'Brahmana' ideal: its universality
-Ethical and spiritual implications (verse 46).
-Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa on the 'Brahmana ideal'.
-Buddha on the ideal 'Brahmana'
-Our actions and their results: their unpredictability (verse 47).
-We cannot predict how our mind will work, the way we can predict how a machine will work.
-The psychological implications of the 'Karma-yoga' ideal. (Verses 47, 48).
-The 'spiritually enlightened': the goal and the means.

Chapter 2 Verses 45 - 47
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 3, 2019.
The evolution of the three gunas:
-Tamoguna to Rajoguna to Sattvaguna
-Karma-yoga in contrast to the karma-marga of the Mimamsaka philosophers
-The importance of mental attitude in karma-yoga in contrast to the Mimamsaka’s insistence on the letter of the law and Arjuna's fascination for the latter -Sri Krishna corrects Arjuna.
-The unknown and the unpredictable factor in our life, actions and results of our actions.
-Reference to John Stuart Mill's book 'Utilitarianism'.
-Beyond theoretical knowledge, towards experience.
-A man established in sattvaguna is naturally calm, fearless, balanced and compassionate. He is also extremely sensitive towards his fellow beings. He has established a link to the transcendental.
-Behind his unhurried movements and external aloofness, there is a dynamic humanism and spontaneous spirituality.
-Who is an ideal Brahmana? The Gita is contrasted with Buddha's view ('The Dhammapada' - 26).

Chapter 2 Verses 41 - 44
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on April 19, 2019.
- Swadharma harmonizes the secular and the spiritual. We are able to do even our secular duties in a spiritual way.
- Swadharma is the creative utilization of human energy resources.
- Swadharma saves us from the tyranny of ultra-pragmatism.
- It guards us against our natural obsession with short-term goals.
- Verses 42 - 44 refer to the distorted views of the Purva-Mimamsakas who insist on the Kamya- karmas and the injunctions for the performance of Vedic rituals while denying their spiritual character. They reject the ultimate spiritual goal of human life.
-A brief description of the Vedic injunctions: 'apurva-vidhi', 'niyama-vidhi', and 'parisamkhya-vidhi'

Chapter 2 Verse 39 - 40
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on April 12, 2019.
-While Swadharma is natural, effortless, inherent and our own, Para-dharma is artificial, alien and false.
-Swadharma and avoiding bitterness
-Swadharma and conservation of energy and facing the conflict of propriety
-Swadharma: an antidote for fragmentation of mind and loss of mental energy
-Swadharma as 'Yajna': the sacrifice of selfishness
-Swadharma is the path to self-fulfillment. Being at peace with ourselves, we take responsibility for our destiny.
-Swadharma and the psychology of happiness
-The Jiva's cyclic transmigration crosses all boundaries.
-When we practice the ideal of Swadharma we have no conflict, we do not fight with ourselves.

Chapter 2 Verse 31 - 38
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on April 5, 2019.
-Swadharma: natural and spontaneous
-An antidote for our perverse notions of freedom and passion for the rationally indefensible
-Description of a perverse tendency for self-deception and untruthfulness and its cascading consequences (with a courtroom illustration)
-References to Dostoevsky's 'Notes From the Underground'
-A contrasting study of 'Adhikarivaada' and 'the Parable of the Sower' from the Bible.

Chapter 2 Verse 31
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 29, 2019.
The Bhagavad Gita presents a high ideal on inner spiritual transformation through the practice of Swadharma. The important teachings of the second chapter are:
1) The Atman is deathless, unchanging, immortal and eternal.
2) The body is transient.
3) The ideal of Swadharma.
4) The characteristics of a Sthitaprajna (a man of steady wisdom or a spiritually illumined person).

Chapter 2 Verse 22 – 30
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 22, 2019.
The mystery of life and death. The problem of mindless activism and obsession with success. Diverting the mind into spiritually healthy channels. This body is ephemeral, but the soul (Atman) is eternal and immortal.
Feeding our mind with good samskaras through noble actions and noble thoughts.