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Bhagavad Gita - June 20, 2007 Chapter 2, Verses: 69-72 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.69: The self-restrained person keeps awake during that which is night for all creatures. That during which creatures keep awake it is night to the seeing sage. II.70 & 71: That person attains peace into whom all desires enter in the same way as the waters flow into a sea that remains unchanged (even) when being filled up from all sides. Not so one who is desirous of objects. That person attains peace who after rejecting all desires, moves about free from hankering, without the idea of 'me' and 'mine' and devoid of pride.. II.72: O Partha (Arjuna)! This is the state of being established in Brahman. One does not become deluded after attaining this. One attains identification with Brahman by being established in this state even in the closing years of one's life.   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 difference between one established in wisdom and an ordinary person lies in internal perception. To the ignorant one, names and forms seem real, like children looking at animal crackers. To the enlightened being, lines of demarcation are not real. Lord Krishna says the difference between the ignorant and the sage is as stark as day and night. The person of knowledge knows that God alone is real. He or she is also not affected by attraction and repulsion. The "I" or ego is there, but at the relative level. One established in Truth is not exited, elated or depressed. All their joy comes from within and like an ocean they are ever filled and forever fulfilled; the rivers of sense-perceptions keep pouring into them too, but that does not increase or decrease their level of perfect contentment. The ignorant say, "this belongs to me, let me hold on to it". This causes restlessness and worry. No peace is thus possible for such a person. Wanting more compounds the worry. Investing a huge amount of good karma, we have bought a human body. It is important to use it wisely, striving to attain the highest rather than the fleeting.