Vedanta Society of Southern California | Bhagavad Gita in the Light of Sri Ramakrishna (Class 25: BG 3.8–3.15, EG ch. 12) | Swami Medhananda @VedantaOrg | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 5 hours ago.
In this class (Class 25, to be held on Sunday, July 21st at 9:30 am PST), we discuss verses 3.8-3.15 of the Bhagavad Gita and the first few pages of chapter 12 ("The Significance of Sacrifice") of Sri Aurobindo's Essays on the Gita (pp. 114-119).
Study Questions for Class 26:
Study questions for our next class, to be held on Sunday, August 4th at 9:30 am PST, based on verses 4.22–4.35 of the Gita and the remainder of chapter 12 of Sri Aurobindo's Essays on the Gita, entitled "The Significance of Sacrifice" (pp. 119–123).
1. Please compare Śaṅkara's, Sri Aurobindo's, and Swami Tapasyananda's respective interpretations of verse 4.24 of the Gita ("brahmārpaṇam..."). Be sure especially to compare their interpretations of the final phrase of the verse, "brahma-karma-samādhinā." Which, if any, of the interpretations do you think is best, and why?
2. Devout Christians say grace before meals. Followers of the Ramakrishna tradition and many other Hindus recite verse 4.24 of the Gita ("brahmārpaṇam...") before meals. Why do we chant this verse before meals? What should be our spiritual attitude when we sit for meals? What are the similarities and differences between the Christian practice of saying grace and our practice of reciting Gita 4.24 before meals?
3. According to Sri Aurobindo, verses 4.26–27 ("śrotrādīni...") metaphorically elaborate three subtly different methods of self-control. What are these three methods of self-control? How might these methods of self-control be helpful in our day-to-day spiritual life? Please give some concrete examples.
4. Please summarize Sri Aurobindo's interpretation of verses 4.33-35 ("śreyān dravya..."). Can you think of any of Sri Ramakrishna's teachings that can help illuminate the meaning of these verses?
5. Do you have any questions about the reading? Did you have difficulty understanding anything? Do you have any doubts or confusions?
Please submit your responses to the study questions here:
https://forms.gle/NBggnww45uP1zfRU6
To follow the class from the beginning and get access to all the course materials in a systematic manner, please visit this website:
swamimedhananda.com/bhagavad-gita-in-the-light-of-sri-ramakrishna
Main textbook: Sri Aurobindo’s Essays on the Gita:
vedanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/19EssaysOnTheGita.pdf
Supplementary texts:
* Sri Aurobindo, Bhagavad Gita and its Message, edited by Anilbaran Roy (amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Its-Message-Aurobindo/dp/0941524787/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IRWYV8HEWNHH&keywords=anil+baran+roy+aurobindo&qid=1691445964&sprefix=anilbaran+roy+aurobin%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1)
* Swami Tapasyananda’s Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā: The Scripture of Mankind (archive.org/details/bhagavad-gita-scripture-mankind-tapasyananda-1)
* Swami Chidbavananda’s The Bhagavad Gita (archive.org/details/TheBhagavadBySwamiChidbhavanand)
* Śaṅkara's commentary on the Gita (archive.org/details/bhagavad-gita-with-the-commentary-of-adi-shankaracharya-by-swami-gambhirananda-a)
* Rāmānuja’s commentary on the Gita (vedanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ramanuja-Gita-commentary-translation.pdf)
Gita app based on Sri Aurobindo’s commentary:
Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.org.bhagavadgita&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1
iPhone: apps.apple.com/in/app/bhagavad-gita-sri-aurobindo/id1143882659
In this class (Class 25, to be held on Sunday, July 21st at 9:30 am PST), we discuss verses 3.8-3.15 of the Bhagavad Gita and the first few pages of chapter 12 ("The Significance of Sacrifice") of Sri Aurobindo's Essays on the Gita (pp. 114-119).
Study Questions for Class 26:
Study questions for our next class, to be held on Sunday, August 4th at 9:30 am PST, based on verses 4.22–4.35 of the Gita and the remainder of chapter 12 of Sri Aurobindo's Essays on the Gita, entitled "The Significance of Sacrifice" (pp. 119–123).
1. Please compare Śaṅkara's, Sri Aurobindo's, and Swami Tapasyananda's respective interpretations of verse 4.24 of the Gita ("brahmārpaṇam..."). Be sure especially to compare their interpretations of the final phrase of the verse, "brahma-karma-samādhinā." Which, if any, of the interpretations do you think is best, and why?
2. Devout Christians say grace before meals. Followers of the Ramakrishna tradition and many other Hindus recite verse 4.24 of the Gita ("brahmārpaṇam...") before meals. Why do we chant this verse before meals? What should be our spiritual attitude when we sit for meals? What are the similarities and differences between the Christian practice of saying grace and our practice of reciting Gita 4.24 before meals?
3. According to Sri Aurobindo, verses 4.26–27 ("śrotrādīni...") metaphorically elaborate three subtly different methods of self-control. What are these three methods of self-control? How might these methods of self-control be helpful in our day-to-day spiritual life? Please give some concrete examples.
4. Please summarize Sri Aurobindo's interpretation of verses 4.33-35 ("śreyān dravya..."). Can you think of any of Sri Ramakrishna's teachings that can help illuminate the meaning of these verses?
5. Do you have any questions about the reading? Did you have difficulty understanding anything? Do you have any doubts or confusions?
Please submit your responses to the study questions here:
https://forms.gle/NBggnww45uP1zfRU6
To follow the class from the beginning and get access to all the course materials in a systematic manner, please visit this website:
swamimedhananda.com/bhagavad-gita-in-the-light-of-sri-ramakrishna
Main textbook: Sri Aurobindo’s Essays on the Gita:
vedanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/19EssaysOnTheGita.pdf
Supplementary texts:
* Sri Aurobindo, Bhagavad Gita and its Message, edited by Anilbaran Roy (amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Its-Message-Aurobindo/dp/0941524787/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IRWYV8HEWNHH&keywords=anil+baran+roy+aurobindo&qid=1691445964&sprefix=anilbaran+roy+aurobin%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1)
* Swami Tapasyananda’s Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā: The Scripture of Mankind (archive.org/details/bhagavad-gita-scripture-mankind-tapasyananda-1)
* Swami Chidbavananda’s The Bhagavad Gita (archive.org/details/TheBhagavadBySwamiChidbhavanand)
* Śaṅkara's commentary on the Gita (archive.org/details/bhagavad-gita-with-the-commentary-of-adi-shankaracharya-by-swami-gambhirananda-a)
* Rāmānuja’s commentary on the Gita (vedanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ramanuja-Gita-commentary-translation.pdf)
Gita app based on Sri Aurobindo’s commentary:
Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.org.bhagavadgita&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1
iPhone: apps.apple.com/in/app/bhagavad-gita-sri-aurobindo/id1143882659
