Online Lectures - Audio

Bhagavad Gita -March 07, 2008
Chapter 2, Verses: 42-46
Swami Yogatmananda

Vedanta Society of Providence

 

 

Please click the 'Play' button to start. It may take a minute.

 

Launch in external player

 

To download the lecture, please right-click here and then click "Save Target As..."

 

 

II.42-43: O son of Prtha! Those undiscerning people who utter this flowery talk, which promises birth as a result of rites and duties, and is full of various special rites meant for the attainment of enjoyment and affluence, they remain engrossed in the utterances of the Vedas and declare that nothing else exists; their minds are full of desires and they have heaven as goal.

II.44: One pointed conviction does not become establised in the minds of those who delight in enjoyment and affluence, and whose intellects are carried away by that speech.

II.45: O Arjuna! The Vedas have the three qualitites as their object. You become free from worldliness, free from pairs of duality, ever poised in the quality of sattva, without (desire for) acquisition and protection, and self-controlled.

II.46: A brahmana with realization has that much utility in all the Vedas as a man has in a well when there is flood all around.

 

The above image is from Gita Darshan by courtesy of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad.

 

To Order Audio/ Video CDs : bookstore@vedantaprov.org

 

List of Audio/ Video CDs, DVDs

 

 

Summary of this lecture:


The Gita wants to give us the highest good. Just like a mother wants the best for her child. We want absolute freedom. It's quite possible to achieve this state. It's practical as well. What's needed is dedicated, scientifically made effort. One must ask questions and know the means to the end. There has to be a connection between the means and the end. This is scientific method. Once the method is chosen, follow it doggedly. Patanjali states that the practice may take a long time spent in focused, determined, unbroken and devoted effort. Lord Krishna knew we should be focused on God. Why not focus on other worldly things too? The truth is you can't focus on anything else. Everything else is constantly changing and the mind will only get scattered in running after anything in the world.
What happens after God realization? Will you have desires left to chase? The answer is no. No desire will be unfulfilled. If one sees the Self, nothing else remains to be achieved.

 

 

 

© Vedanta Society of Providence 2005