Bhagavad Gita - FAQ's
Bhagavad Gita - FAQ's
Bhagavad Gita - FAQ's
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What is the Bhagavad-Gita?
The spot where Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna in Kurukshetra,
India.
The Bhagavad-Gita is the divine conversation between a man named Arjuna and
God himself in the human form, Lord Krishna. The conversation took place in the
middle of the battleground 5137 years ago just before the start of a great war in
Kurukshetra, India.
Spiritual realization and not war is the subject matter of the Bhagavad-Gita. It
should be understood that it was circumstances that led to the Bhagavad-Gita
being spoken on the battleground and the war was not the reason for its
revelation.
The Bhagavad-Gita is the word of God, as God himself spoke it in person. It is the
only known scriptures spoken by God in person. Hinduism is the only religion
based on following a God who was actually seen by millions. The Bhagavad-Gita
gives information regarding God, the soul, material nature, birth, death, life after
death, and life on other planets. No other religious scripture provides this
information.
The exact process by which a human being can establish their eternal relationship
with God.
Material nature.
Life on higher and lower planets. How to attain life on higher planets.
How to be free from the cycle of birth, death and re-birth, Moksha.
"That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by
me to you because you are my devotee as well as my friend and can therefore
understand the transcendental mystery of this science." Lord Krishna to Arjuna
(Bg. 4.3)
2. Who is Krishna?
To protect innocent people from imposters, Arjuna asked Krishna to prove his
divinity by exhibiting his universal form, a form that anyone who claims to be
God should be prepared to show. Lord Krishna then proves his divinity by
revealing his universal forms to Arjuna. Arjuna sees the brilliant, glaring
unlimited universal manifestations of Lord Krishna. Who reveals in one place,
everything that ever was or now is or will be.
"Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually
worship only me, but they do so in a wrong way." Lord Krishna (Bg. 9.23)
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto me. I shall deliver you
from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." Lord Krishna (Bg. 18.66)
We are not the physical body but the soul. The soul is present in the heart of
every living being, including animals. The soul is 1/10,000th of the upper point of
a single hair. Although so minute the soul is so powerful that it animates the
entire body with consciousness. It is situated in the heart and when it leaves the
body, the heart stops beating, as a result the blood stops circulating and the
entire body disintegrates. There are 8.4 million different bodies; the individual
soul can reside in. Unlike the physical body, the soul can never be destroyed.
"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into
being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn,
eternal, ever existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (Bg.
2.20)
5. God is present in every living being
"I am the Super soul, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning,
the middle and the end of all beings." Lord Krishna (Bg. 10.20)
Modern lifestyles (partying, sexual lust, lust for material objects, greed, ego,
desires, relationships), western culture and bollywood culture (copying the west),
western pop music and Indian pop music (copy of western music) turn a person
of intelligence into a person of ignorance. Materialism slowly and unknowingly
drains away the righteousness qualities in a person.
"As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming
senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence." (Bg. 2.67)
"While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for
them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises. From
anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory.
When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one
falls down again into the material pool." (Bg. 2.62-63)
It is lust, which induces one to sinful acts. Lust bewilders and entangles one in
the material world. Lust presents itself in the senses, mind and intelligence. Self-
control and Yoga practice can counteract lust.
"The seven great sages and before them the four other great sages and the Manus
[progenitors of mankind] come from Me, born from My mind, and all the living
beings populating the various planets descend from them." (Bg. 10.6)
Brahmaloka is the highest planet in the material universe; the living entities there
are called the Brahma.
One day on the planet of Brahma (Brahmaloka) is 1000 cycles of four ages
(Yugas) on the planet Earth.
Satya Yuga: The age of the truth and true religion. The yuga (age) lasts 1.728
million years.
Treta Yuga: The introduction of ignorance takes place in this age. The yuga (age)
lasts 1.296 million years.
Dvapara Yuga: Increased decline in the truth and religious values takes effect in
this age. The yuga lasts 864,000 years.
Kali Yuga: The age of irreligion (following false religions) and ignorance. The
truth is being virtually non-existent. The yuga lasts 432,000 years.
Thus, one single day (12 hours) on the planet of Brahma is:
1000*(1,728,000+1,296,000+864,000+432,000)=1000*(4,320,000)=4320,000
,000 human years
The night is also of the same duration. A Brahma lives up to a 100 years. The life
of Brahma is truly fantastic by comparison to the life of humans on Earth.
"By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together form the duration of
Brahma's one day. Any such also is the duration of the night. At the Beginning of
Brahma's day, all living entities become manifest from the unmanifest state, and
thereafter, when the night falls; they are merged into the unmanifest again. Again
and again, when Brahma's day arrives, all living entities come into being, and
when with the arrival of Brahma's night hey are helplessly annihilated." Lord
Krishna (Bg. 8.17-19)
We are 5000 years into the age of Kali Yuga, we still have 427,000 years to go,
before Lord Krishna incarnates himself as Lord Kalki and destroys all the
material planets. The Kali Yuga is the age of darkness, irreligion (spread of false
religions) and ignorance. No one can argue with this. The whole world is full of
violence and truth being virtually non-existent. Greed, lust, anger, ignorance,
materialism and violence have covered the minds of most people.
"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting
the holy name of Lord Krishna, there is no other way. There is no other way.
There is no other way."
"Fools deride me when I descend in the human form. They do not know my
transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be." Lord Krishna (Bg.
9.11)
12. The Lord Appears in Every Millennium
Millennium in the Bhagavad-Gita means one Yuga, (Kali Yuga is 432,000 years).
See 9 above.
Vamanadeva, the dwarf incarnation, is begging some land from King Bali.
Lord Ramacandra is going off into exile with His wife, Sita, and brother,
Laksmana.
Krsna is lifting Govardhana Hill, and beside Him is His brother Balarama.
Lord Buddha.
Lord Kalki is riding on His horse, killing all the demons and thus liberating them.
"Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in
the future shall any of us cease to be. As the embodied soul continuously passes,
in the body from childhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into
another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change." Lord
Krishna (Bg. 2.12-13)
"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts
new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones." (Bg. 2.22)
"One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take
birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not
lament." (Bg. 2.27)
The Result of Devotional service to Lord Krishna, offering charity, eating meat
and lust.
Top section: On the left, a man is praying to the deities of Lord Krishna. The
result of such devotional consciousness is shown on the right, where he is
dancing with Krishna as a playmate in the Lord's spiritual abode.
Second section: On the left a man is offering charity; on the right he has taken the
body of a demigod and is enjoying heavenly delights.
Third section: A man is eating meat and other abominable foods; in his next life
he is seen in the body of a hog that eats anything and everything.
One who, at the time of death, fixes his life air between the eyebrows and, by the
strength of yoga, with an undeviating mind, engages himself in remembering the
Supreme Lord in full devotion, will certainly attain to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead." (Bg. 8.10)
If you have studied well through a course, you will remember the subject matter
during the final exams and pass. If you did not study well, you will not know and
fail.
"Whoever, at the end of life, quits his body remembering me alone at once attains
my nature without a doubt." Lord Krishna (Bg. 8.5)
If you think of Lord Krishna during your life, you will think of Lord Krishna at the
end of life and attain Moksha or freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
"After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable aum,
the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets." (Bg.
8.13)
"When one dies in the mode of goodness, he attains to the pure higher planets of
the great sages. When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth among
those engaged in fruitive activities; and when one dies in the mode of ignorance,
he takes birth in the animal kingdom." (Bg. 14.14-15)
"Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher
planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the
abominable mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds." (Bg. 14.18)
If you have eaten animals (meat) all your life, your final thoughts will be that of
animals, you will take birth in the animal kingdom. If you have lived a life of
charity and generosity (helping people), your final thoughts will be that of
helping people, you will take birth on one of the heavenly planets.
"The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life
from one body to another as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of
body and again quits it to take another." (Bg. 15.8)
"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he
will attain without fail." (Bg. 8.6)
Lord Krishna appeared 5000 years ago for two reasons, firstly to destroy the
ignorant people of that time to uphold righteousness and truth, and to teach the
science of God, the Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna and mankind.
Even before the war started, Lord Krishna told Arjuna that apart from him and
his four brothers, all the soldiers on both sides would be killed. Arjuna was
merely an instrument used by the Lord to destroy the ignorant men.
"From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places
of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to my
abode, O son of Kunté, never takes birth again." Lord Krishna (Bg. 8.16)
"One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself.
The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. For him
who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has
failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy." (Bg. 6.5-6)
"Before giving up this present body, if one is able to tolerate the urges of the
material senses and check the force of desire and anger, he is well situated and is
happy in this world." (Bg. 5.23)
A Krishna conscious person does not make any distinction between species or
castes. All beings are equal.
"The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned
and gentle Brahman, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater." (Bg. 5.18)
"I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders
service unto me in devotion is a friend, is in me, and I am also a friend to him."
(Bg. 9.23)
Those who think only of themselves, those who enjoy while aware of those who
cannot, those who are greedy, and those who have no consideration for others
and those who do not share are misers.
"Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers." (Bg. 2.49)
"One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated
when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is
called a sage of steady mind." (Bg. 2.56)
"In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may
obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge."
(Bg. 2.57)
"One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws
its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness." (Bg. 2.58)
"One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his
consciousness upon me, is known as a man of steady intelligence." (Bg. 2.61)
"Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects
is certainly of steady intelligence." (Bg. 2.68)
"A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires-that enter like
rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still-can alone
achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires. A person who
has given up all desires for sense gratification, who lives free from desires, who
has given up all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego-he alone can
attain real peace." (Bg. 2.70-71)
"Those who are free from anger and all material desires, who are self-realized,
self-disciplined and constantly endeavoring for perfection, are assured of
liberation in the Supreme in the very near future." (Bg. 5.26)
30. What is the Kingdom of God like?
The kingdom of Lord Krishna is a place without anxiety. It lies far beyond the
material planets. It is eternal, full of countless spiritual planets where Krishna's
Vishnu expansions reside. The kingdom is called Vaikuntha. A planet shaped like
a lotus flower, stands in the midst of Vaikuntha. There, the trees fulfill all desires,
palaces are made of touchstones, and cows supply unlimited milk. Lord Krishna
enjoys life there with his loving devotees. Those who reach the supreme abode of
Lord Krishna, never return to the material planets.
"That supreme abode of mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or
electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world." (Bg. 15.6)
"That which the Vedäntists describe as unmanifest and infallible, that which is
known as the supreme destination, that place from which, having attained it, one
never returns-that is My supreme abode." Lord Krishna (Bg. 8.21)
"Whoever, at the end of life, quits his body remembering me alone at once attains
my nature without a doubt." Lord Krishna (Bg. 8.5)
"One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto
the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by
water. The yogis, abandoning attachment, act with body, mind, and intelligence
and even with the senses, only for the purpose of purification. The steadily
devoted soul attains unadulterated peace because he offers the result of all
activities to me; whereas a person who is not in union with the Divine, who is
greedy for the fruits of his labor, becomes entangled. " Lord Krishna (5.10-12)
Engage in Buddhi Yoga - Work (Actions) without attachment to the results. Offer
the results of all work to Lord Krishna. By working without attachment, one
attains the Supreme. Play for enjoyment, not to win or lose.
Engage in Dhyana Yoga - Work (Actions) without a desire for reward. Give, but
do not expect anything in return. Offer your services with love and generosity,
without expecting a reward. Give, but do not take.
34. Famous people should set a good example
"Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever
standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues." (Bg. 3.21)
One is in one of three modes of nature, goodness, passion and ignorance. These
modes compete in exerting their influence upon us. By understanding that the
three modes are active and not we. By realizing that we are separate from the
modes of nature. In this way, the influence of material nature gradually
diminishes from us.
The Mode of Goodness - A person in the mode of goodness is free from all sinful
reactions and is in a condition of happiness and knowledge. One who dies in the
mode of goodness attains the higher planets.
"O sinless one, the mode of goodness, being purer than the others, is
illuminating, and it frees one from all sinful reactions. Those situated in that
mode become conditioned by a sense of happiness and knowledge." Lord Krishna
to Arjuna (Bg. 14.6)
"Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and
place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness." (Bg.
17.20)
"Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify
one's existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods
are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart." (Bg. 17.8)
"The mode of passion is born of unlimited desires and longings, O son of Kunté,
and because of this the embodied living entity is bound to material fruitive
actions." Lord Krishna to Arjuna (Bg. 14.7)
"Charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for
fruitive results, or in a grudging mood, is said to be charity in the mode of
passion." (Bg. 17.21)
"Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear
to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease."
(Bg. 17.8)
"O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of ignorance, is the
delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of this mode are madness,
indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul. " Lord Krishna to Arjuna
(Bg. 14.8)
Processed, frozen, un-fresh food and meat is dear to those in the mode of
Darkness
"Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless,
decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things
is dear to those in the mode of darkness." (Bg. 17.9)
"There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material
world every living entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world every living entity is
called infallible." (Bg. 15.16)
40. The Demonic do not accept Lord Krishna as the Supreme Being
It is known that God is all-merciful, but God is never merciful to the demoniac.
The demoniac people, life after life, are put into the wombs of similar demons.
"Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the demons become
envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in their own
bodies and in the bodies of others, and blaspheme against the real religion. Those
who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, I perpetually
cast into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life.
Attaining repeated birth amongst the species of demoniac life, O son of Kunté,
such persons can never approach Me. Gradually they sink down to the most
abominable type of existence." Lord Krishna (Bg. 16.18-20)
"There are three gates leading to hell-lust, anger and greed. Every sane man
should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul." (Bg. 16.21)
"And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation of ours worships Me
by his intelligence. And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free
from sinful reactions and attains to the auspicious planets where the pious
dwell." Lord Krishna (Bg. 18.70-71)
"Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is
Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory,
extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion." Sanjaya told the King
(Bg. 18.78)
44. Conclusion
The above is just a brief summary of the Bhagavad-Gita; study the complete book
for guidance on life and to re-affirm you to righteousness. Practice non-violence,
be a vegetarian. Practice Yoga. Always seek the truth, and spread the word of
Lord Krishna to your friends and family. Do not become materialist; don’t get in-
tangled in the modern culture of partying, discoing, and pop music. Realize the
law of karma and build good karma by taking only good actions.