Chapter 2, Stanza 47

Chapter 2, Stanza 62

Chapter 2, Stanza 35 - The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita

Chapter 2, Stanza 72

Chapter 2, Stanza 64

Chapter 2, Stanza 39

 

Swami Kriyananda explains that the two things needed to accomplish what we want in life are feeling and ego. He strongly advises that if you want something, you must put all of your heart into it. The heart is the dynamic aspect of consciousness. If you do not initially succeed, do not lose heart, keep trying!

Kriyananda illustrates that we also need to be in attunement with those people and things that exemplify the best of what we want so we can magnetize that particular flow of energy. He emphasizes that to succeed, we need to live by the highest principles of integrity – where there is right spiritual activity, there is victory. Kriyananda reminds us that refinement of energy and consciousness much more than skill is necessary and God must be part of any equation for success. Devotion is the first commandment and he urges us above all to love God. “His love will flow through you and all will be well.”

_________________________________

 

Chapter 2, Stanza 13

Swami Kriyananda discusses many insights into the disciple-guru relationship. He highlights the transformative power of the Bhagavad Gita and shares stories from his personal journey with his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. Kriyananda states emphatically that no one needs to have a guru. However, those who are desperate to know truth and want to find God do need one.

Kriyananda explains that the ego is a veil that impedes the realization of knowing our true Self. The ego is the source of all suffering and giving it up is crucial to finding both fulfillment and freedom from suffering. Kriyananda assures us that surrendering to a higher power and letting go of the ego will empower anyone to accomplish great things.

_________________

 

Chapter 2, Stanza 33

Chapter 2, Stanza 43

Swami Kriyananda explores the profound teachings of the Vedas regarding the cyclical nature of time and human consciousness. Drawing on the insights of Sri Yukteswar, the talk explains how our planet, in its cosmic journey, moves closer to and farther from a central spiritual source, which influences the level of spiritual awareness on Earth. These cycles, known as Yugas, are divided into ascending and descending phases, each marked by distinct qualities of human perception and societal development.

The darkest period, Kali Yuga, is characterized by materialism and ignorance of subtle realities, while the subsequent Yugas—Dwapara, Treta, and Satya—represent progressively higher states of awareness and understanding. Humanity is currently at the dawn of Dwapara Yuga, an age where the concept of energy is becoming central to human thought, yet old dogmas persist, leading to societal upheaval and transformation.

The roles of spiritual masters are highlighted, such as Buddha, who emphasized personal effort and Self-realization over ritualistic dependence on external deities, and later teachers like Shankaracharya, who reasserted the existence of a transcendent, infinite consciousness. Ultimately, recognize your own potential for spiritual growth and seek the deeper truths embodied in ancient scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, which periodically need to be reinterpreted for each era.

The Bhagavad Gita is available from Crystal Clarity Publishers.