dhyana yoga | The Hare Krishna Movement

Gita Jayanti / Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita

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Today marks the advent of the Srimad Bhagavad-gita, orherwise known as ‘Gita Jayanti”. So we honor this auspicious day with a reading of the entire text.

We ran across this nice overview, or study guide, of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, on the Sampradaya Sun and thought we would share it with all of you.

The Glories of Srimad Bhagavad-gita
By: Sun Staff Cananda (SUN)

Summary Overview of Bhagavad-gita As It Is
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter One
Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

The armies of Pandava’s and Kaurava’s have assembled at Kurukshetra. As Kurukshetra is dharmakshetra and Krishna is dharma personified, so the side, having Krishna with them will be victorious. Thus Duryodhana feels apprehensive due to the prowess of the Pandavas army. However, he pacifies himself by expressing the glories of his own army to his martial Guru Dronacarya. Thus starting with Bhishma, all warriors blow their conchshells to herald the beginning of the war. A ferocious uproar results, shattering the hearts of the Kurus.

Bhakti; Summit of Yoga

Bhakti Notes:
by Vaisesika Dasa

FAQ: Why does it seem that Srila Prabhupada’s translations, word for word renditions and purports all seem to point only to Bhakti?

Answer: Srila Prabhupada’s purpose in presenting the Bhagavad gita As It Is, was to bring out Krsna’s ultimate conclusion of the Gita. This is the meaning of “As It Is.”

Some have speculated that in the Gita Krsna presents many paths and that any one of them is as good as another. However, Krsna clearly presents Bhakti as yoga’s summit even when He explains other processes like Karma Yoga and Dhyana Yoga to Arjuna.

In fact, all such processes are meant to bring one to surrender to the Lord in loving devotional service. The more one advances in devotional service, the more one is considered by Krsna to be advanced in yoga.

At the end of the sixth chapter in which Krsna has explained the arduous process of astanga yoga and meditation, He says:

Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yutatamo matah

“And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me- he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is my opinion.” Bg. 6.47