I had difficulty in comprehending and digesting this class and summarized as best as I can. I greatly appreciate any corrections, additions and comments to my summary. In the last class, Swamiji stated that Rayee is a non translatable word. For my own sake of understanding this Upsanishad, I equate Rayee to matter and Prana […]
Chapter 1- Verses 3 to 11 Duryodhana’s dialogue with Dronacharya continues- Verse 3 : Oh teacher! See this vast army of the Pandavas, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your skillful disciple. Verse 4: In this army there are many powerful archers who are equal to Bhima and Arjuna in war – Satyaki, the king […]
Greetings All, Swamiji continued his talks on Prasna Upanishad. He cautioned that the Upanishad in following Shlokas may be a little confusing and that he will try to make it as simple as possible to understand. Discussing Shloka # 3,Kabandhi Katyayana, wanted to know the order and manner in which creation came out Shloka # […]
Scriptures point out that human beings have 4 possible destinations. Rebirth—(PUNAR JANMA): As a result of fructification of Sanchitha karma ,beings attain suitable bodies.This cycle continues for most people until their Sanchita Karma is exhausted.This is possible only with attainment of Self Knowledge. Attainment of Swarga.(PARA LOKA PRAPTHI): Some people believe that attainment of celestial pleasures in Swarga is freedom. Sastras do talk about these to those who […]
Greetings All, Swamiji continued his talks on Prasna Upanishad. Shloka # 1: Refreshing our memory on Shloka 1, he says, this Upanishad begins with an introduction of Guru and Shishyas. It is similar to other Upanishads. The six qualified students are named and described. The way they were qualified is as follows: They were committed […]
Greetings All, Gita, Chapter # 1: Swamiji started his talks on the Gita today. He says: Chapter 1 is an introduction to the Gita. It is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. The main theme of Gita starts at Verse #11, chapter 2. Even Shankarachraya’s commentaries start from this point. The introduction in chapter 1 […]
Greetings All, Swamiji continued with his discussion of the invocation prayer called Gitagyana Shloka. Madhusudhana Saraswathi wrote this Shloka. While this shloka was not originally a part of Gita, it is now accepted as one. The Gitagyana Shloka has nine verses. In these Shlokas we are offering namaskara to: Bharathi, Gita/ Saraswathi, Vyasa and Lord […]
This glory of the GITA is narrated in VARAHA PURANA Bhudevi(Maha Lakshmi) approached Lord Vishnu and enquired – How , one who is bound with his Prarabdha maintain constant devotion upon You? The Lord replied that who meditates on Gita will attain that status. Lord further asserted that where ever the book GITA is kept, […]
On November 8, 2015, the Vedantic Study Group of HTGC started to listen to Prasna Upanishad by Swami Paramarthananda. Swamiji started the class with the meaning of Vedanta: Vedantaha: Because this comes at the end portion of vedas, brahma vidhya because this deals with the knowledge of Brahman gyana kandaha: In this part of vedas […]
Swamiji as part of his closing remarks on Katho Upanishad reminded us of the essence of second chapter. Valli 1, Mantras 1 to 3: Yama discussed disciplines, one of them being control of senses. Sense organs are outward looking. It is not acquired. It is instinctive. So, we are fighting our own nature. It needs […]