07 Dec 2024 morning evening – The Glory of Srimad Bhagavad-gita (English) | Philadelphia, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
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0:01:33 – Gita means that if you recite all the verses from the Bhagavad-gita, you will be protected from maya.
0:03:43 – The story of a 6-7 year old boy who tried to read the Bhagavad-gita and cried because he didn’t know Sanskrit; he was seen by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
0:10:13 – Bhajan: ‘Sri Guru Charana Padma’.
0:11:20 – Guru-nishtha (steadfast faith in the guru), guru-bhakti—this is the backbone of sadhana and bhajan. You must have faith in the instructions and words of Gurudev; then everything will be revealed in your heart. You may have knowledge of the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and give lectures in beautiful, flowery language, captivating people’s hearts, but if you lack Guru-nishtha, it will amount to zero. The Lord accepts your mood; if you mispronounce Sanskrit, it is not important.
0:15:08 – That is why this boy had the darshan of the Lord. You can learn all of this, but it is all imperfect. Gita: One must read Srimad Bhagavad-gita.
0:16:28 – On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna asks Krishna to take the chariot to the middle of the field to see who wishes to fight him. When Arjuna saw everyone, he thought they would all die because he had the Gandiva bow; how could he kill his teacher and grandfather, Bhishma?
0:20:40 – The reason for the presence of third parties on the battlefield. If two brothers are fighting over their father’s wealth, why did the others come? Why are third parties involved, as they will gain nothing?
0:24:40 – Once, Draupadi asked Bhishma Pitamaha why they were all there. The first verse of the Bhagavad-gita: ‘Dhritarashtra uvacha,’ ‘Kurukshetra.’ It is called ‘Dharma-kshetra’; one who dies in this place goes to the heavenly planets. This place is mentioned in various histories.
0:26:46 – The story of a king who was plowing the land. Indra asked him, “Why are you doing this?” “Whoever dies in this place will attain Heaven.” Kurukshetra is called Dharma-kshetra.
0:28:14 – The story of an old woman gathering firewood who asked Yamaraja for help.
0:29:40 – Why did the other people come here? Actually, the Lord inspired them in their hearts; karma directed them here. Types of karma. Association with sadhu will give you bhakti; by studying philosophy and tattva, your mind will not be disturbed.
0:35:54 – It is stated in the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita: “I am not this body; I am the eternal servant of Krishna.” Atma and Paramatma; the nature of the atma; Atma-darshan (self-realization).
0:42:05 – Arjuna says to Krishna: “I am Your disciple, I fully surrender to You (shishya), do whatever You want, I am completely devoted to You.” Then everything will be revealed in your heart.
0:43:22 – What does the Bhagavad-gita give us? Five primary types of knowledge: ordinary, special, confidential, more confidential, and the most confidential knowledge. Each knowledge is described separately.
0:51:40 – The mind of a brahma-jnani is never disturbed; they are free from fear and anger. Their conception is to merge with the Lord. They have realized they are not the body.
0:52:10 – Confidential knowledge: In Kali-yuga, it is impossible to worship the Lord (by other methods). Only nama-sankirtana. The holy name is very powerful; only by it can one attain all the fruits that were available in Satya-yuga and Dvapara-yuga. The Bhagavad-gita teaches this: “Chant the holy names, just surrender unto Me.” The Lord’s greatness; the conception of the material world is limited.
1:02:20 – The Lord is infinite.
1:05:25 – What is the message of the Bhagavad-gita? “You must immerse yourself in Me.” Gurudev gives an example: The Vrajavasis sing ‘Govinda Damodara Madhaveti…’ The gopis, while cleaning their houses, used to sing.
1:11:44 – The eternal associates of Krishna: Ishvari Puripada; Subal and Sridam – friends (sakhya-bhava); Nanda and Yashoda – parental affection (vatsalya-bhava); the Gopis – paramour love (parakiya-bhava). They possess two qualities: thirst and absorption. Raganuga-bhakti. In Vrindavana, there are three types of love: 1) Viveka-shunya-prema – the love possessed by the cows, trees, and animals (devoid of discrimination). 2) Vishva-rambha-prema – Subal and Sridam are completely absorbed. 3) Gopis: Utkantha-mayi-prema – characterized by intense longing and thirst; they want to directly have the darshan of Krishna. Uddhava came to pacify the gopis but could not. Baladeva Prabhu also could not.
