BHAGAVAD GEETA: 42. Swami Advayanandaji.

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF):

Day 6 at Vedanta Unveiled Camp: A transformative day filled with enlightening sessions! 

Swamini Vimalananda guided seekers on finding the path to the Atman through everyday actions. Swami Advayananda expounded on the nature of the Self-using 'Omkar' as a subtle guide. Pujya Guruji delved into the significance of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15. The Bhagavad Gita is the essence of all the Shastras and Chapter 15 is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita – it being a complete Shastra by itself.

Insights on 'Chinmaya Shankaram 2024' – the year-long celebrations on the 108th Jayanti of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda (jointly organised by Chinmaya Mission Kerala Region & Chinmaya Seva Trust Kerala) – were shared. The day also marked the release of CIF's publication – Gita-vyutpatti-jnana-koshah – Bhagavad-gita Grammatical Lexicon – by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda which was graciously received by Swamini Vimalananda.

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BHAGAVAD GEETA 

Chapter - 2

Discourse – 2 (72 Slogas)

“Yoga of the SUPREME SELF”

Sri Veda Vyasaji

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Thursday, 30 Nov 2023. 06:45.

Post - 42.

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Slogam - 20: The Object Aspect of Action

1 Na jaayate mriyate vaa kadaachit = (The Self is) neither born, nor does It ever die;

2 na ayam bhootvaa bhavitaa vaa na bhooyah; = After having been, He ceases not to be;

3 ajah nityah shaashvatah ayam puraanah = He is unborn, eternal, changeless, ancient,

4 na hanyate hanyamaane shareere. = (The Self is) not killed when the body is killed.

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Here is another mantram quoted from the Katha Upanishad, 2.18, to illustrate how the Self cannot be the Object of any action.

1 

The Self is not an object like the body upon which any action can be done. Two 

examples of actions done on the body are birth and death. By implication, the other four 

modifications of the body (existence, growth, decay and disease) are to be considered as 

included.

2 

The Self is considered as being beginningless and endless, i.e It is beyond Time. 

Strictly speaking, we cannot even say “after having been”, because there was never a time 

when the Self was not in existence. Objects, being superimposed on the Self, are dependent 

or governed by Time, not the Self, which is their Substratum. The Self is not an object.

3 

Again, as in verse 18, four descriptive qualities of the Self are given for our 

understanding only, not that the Self has those as qualities. Relative to our experience in the

world of phenomena, the Self is birthless, deathless, changeless and ageless. 

4 

Finally, the Kauravas are not in reality being slain; only their body is slain. 

‘Kauravas’ stands here as an example of physical ‘objects’. 

These are the four reasons why Arjuna should not take his actions of killing in the 

war as actions that are unworthy. In war such actions are considered as one’s duty, and 

have to be done. Not doing them would be considered to be unworthy.

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Next

Slogam - 21: The Subject Aspect of Action

To be contnued

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