Contributed By Dr Thimappa Hegde
Recap... Chapter 11
Contributed By Dr Ravishankar
1. Delusion
2. Jiva - Jagat
Seeing is believing - Paroksha to Pratyaksha
Ahamkara + Mamakara
Loukika Chakshu to Divya Chakshu
Sanjaya = Sam + Jaya
Vishvarupa 9-14
•Paramam
•Thousand Suns
•Universe Manifold
Stage 1.Wonderstruck15-22
•Avyakta
•Anaadi
•Adbhutam
Stage 2. Bhayam23-30
Numerous mouths
Kala tatvam Vyavaharika- Destructive
Bhishma / Drona
Arjuna - Nimittakarana. — Dharma yuddha
Stage 3.Sharanagati35-45
•No Me / Mine — Only THINE
•Fate - Accept
•Free-Will - USE
Stage 4.Bhakti.45-55
Phalam
Chapter 12 BHAKTI YOGA
Bhakti means - Devotion
Devotion is love directed towards a higher principle, reverential or sacred love like to parents, Guru, Nation or God
Salt Doll and Bhakti- story
By constantly keeping one's attention on the Source, the ego is dissolved in that Source. Like a salt-doll in the sea.
..Sri Ramana Maharshi
We love our Goals
We love the Means
Means Love,
Goal Love,
Self Love.
1. Means the least
2. Goal is mediocre
3. Highest for oneself
Love towards God
The intensity of the love depends upon how you look upon God.
Is God a Means,
Is God my goal.
Do I see God as My Self. Soham Asmi.
God is dear, dearer, dearest.
What is Bhakti Yoga ?Bhakti Yogaha is not an exclusive or separate Sadhana
It is the entire range of all the three sadhanas
First stage of Bhakti Yoga is Karma Yoga
The second stage is Upāsana Yoga
The last stage is Jnāna Yoga
Karma Bhakti Yoga
Right Attitude Ishwara Arpana/ Prasada Bhava
A Karma Yogi should have Bhakti all the time
Upasana Bhakti Yoga
Mantra Japa
Mantra Parayana
Important Gita and Upanishad Mantras
Dhyana
Manasa Pooja
Gnana Bhakti Yoga
Before any study of scriptures, we start with a prayer and end with a prayer
In Jnāna Yoga is about discovering God in me
Therefore Jnāna Yoga also involves Bhakti Scriptures give three definitions of God
God as the Creator. Eka Roopa.
God as the Creation. Aneka Roopa.
God as the Support. Aroopa. Jagat KartāĪshvaraCreator
Any well-designed product must have an intelligent being to design and create it
God as the creator of this universe Jagat KāranamĪshvara
( raw matter)
What is the raw material out of which the world is created?
God as the
Support of the World
Jagat Adhishthānam Īshvara,
Formless God
God appears as the world with different forms but not affected by any form
•Lokah na udvijate – does not disturb the world
•Udvijate na lokat – the world does not disturb him
•harsha amarsha bhaya udvega mukthaha – free elation, envy, fear, anxiety
Immanent and Transcendental.
God is the very substratum of all the forms or the entire creation, which he transcends. Existence
3 Stages of Evolution
Eka, Aneka,Arupa Bhakthi
Eka Roopa and Aroopa Coexist
The greatest Advaitin can worship God in any form also. Eka, Aneka or Arupa
BHAKTI LEVEL 5 - NIRGUNA ISHWARA BHAKTI
CHAPTER 1 2– SHLOKA 3 & 4
Contributed By Dr. Anupama
ye tv akṣharam anirdeśhyam avyaktaṁ paryupāsate sarvatra-gam achintyañcha kūṭa-stham achalandhruvam sanniyamyendriya-grāmaṁ sarvatra sama-buddhayaḥ te prāpnuvanti mām eva sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ
Arjuna’s question:
The SAGUNA UPASAKA or
THE NIRGUNA UPASAKA
An UPASAKA is one who does UPASANA
WHAT IS UPASANA?
Upasyam= object or subject of meditation
Upa = near by mental proximity as a thought
Asanam = being seated
Types of Upasana
Saguna upasana
1)Eka roopa eshwara bakthi (Rama, Krishna)
a)Sakama bakthi (self centered)
b)Nishkama bakthi (not self centered)
2)VISHVA roopa eshwara bakthi
(perception of divinity in all aspects of creation)
Nirguna upasana
(Akshara upasana)
Meditation upon the meditator
I am avyaktam, achintyam,nirdesham etc
SagunaUpasaka
1)Is a karma yogi
2)Is in the process of gaining JNANA YOGYATHA (eligibility for jnana yoga)
3)Lives in the VYAVAHARIKA PRAPANCHA à eshvara Jeeva Jagath ( The triangular format)
4)Graduates from sakama to nishkama to vishvaroopa upasana
Nirguna Upasaka or Akshara Upasaka
Akshara = Imperishable
1)Has evolved from a sadaka to a siddha
2) Has reached the destination
3) Has evolved from bhaktha to Bhagavan
4) Perceives the PARAMARTHIKA existence
AHAM BRAHMA ASMI
The binary format
AKSHARA BRAHMAN =AKSHARA UPASAKA
1)AVYAKTAM (Not perceived by the sense organs)
(INDRIYA AGOCHARAM)
2) ACHINTYAM (Not perceived by the mind)
(MANO AGOCHARAM)
3) ANIRDESHAM (Cannot be expressed with words)
(VAG AGOCHARAM )
The above three make BRAHMAN APRAMEYAM
AKSHARA BRAHMAN = AKSHARA UPASAKA
4) SARVATRAGAM ( All pervading)
5) ACHALAM (Motionless being infinite)
6) DHRUVAM (Eternal)
7) KOOTASTHAM (KOOTA = MAYA ) à attractive but fake
ASTHA à present as the sakshi à the consciousness principle.
That Brahman which lends existence to MAYA and the WORLD
•Qualifications of a NIRGUNA Upasaka
Krishna says “Akshara upasaka attains ME”
TE. PRAPNUVANTHI MAM EVA
1)Te eva mam prapnuvanthià they alone attain moksha
2) Te mam eva prapnuvanth à they attain Me alone not swarga loka, Brahma loka, Shukla gati or Krishna gati
3) Te mam prapnuvanthi eva à they will certainly attain Me
Is NIRGUNA UPASANA difficult?
YES!
Mamakara tyaga in à profession,possession and family
Ahankara tyaga à disidentification with body and mind is very difficult
When the going is tough eg prabala prabradha like pandemic, forest fires à It’s OK to seek GOD’S help
After all the TRIANGULAR FORMAT is a safety net
BHAKTI LEVEL 4 VISWARUPA ISHWARA UPASANA
CHAPTER 12 – SHLOKA 12.8
Contributed By DR Ahalya
Steps of bhakti yoga
•Nirguna Ishwara Jnanam
•Saguna Ishwara jnanam virat/ vishwa roopa
•Eka roopa ishwara
•Mayi sanyasya matparaha (6th )
•Teshaam aham samuddharta Vishwa roopa upasakas are special to me (7th)
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय ।
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः॥ १२.८ ॥
Fix the mind on Me alone. Fix the intellect on Me alone. There, after you will dwell in Me alone. There is no doubt.
1) Mayi Think of ME as the Vishwaroopa, as the Virat
2)aadhatswa fix your emotional mind on me
3) mayi buddhim niveshaya Understanding the Viswaroopa nature of God with conviction
How???
•Study of scriptures
•Devotion based on understanding
•Nimitta and upadana kaaranas
•Handling the world – handling the cause
4)nivasisyasi maiyeva you are with me, never away
5)ataha urdhwam after the practice of viswa roopa ishwara upasana
6)na samshayaha without doubt
(4th step to 5th step)
BHAKTI LEVEL 3 ISHTA DEVATA UPASANA
CHAPTER 12 – SHLOKA 12.9
Contributed By Smt Aruna
atha chittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śhaknoṣhi mayi sthiram abhyāsa-yogena tato mām ichchhāptuṁ dhanañjaya
If you are unable to fix your mind steadily on Me, O Arjuna, then practice remembering Me with devotion while constantly restraining the mind from worldly affairs.
BHAKTI LEVEL 2
NISKAMA KARMA WITH ISHWARA ARPANA BHAVANA
CHAPTER 12 – SHLOKA 12.10
Contributed By Dr. Sanjay Banakal
abhyāsē'pyasamarthō'si matkarmaparamō bhava |
madarthamapi karmāṇi kurvan siddhimavāpsyasi || 12.10 ||
If you are incapable of (उभ्यासयोग) abhyasa yoga, be devoted to My works.
Even by performing action for My sake, you will attain liberation. ||12-10||
असि if you are असमर्थ: incapable अभ्यासेऽ अपि of abhyasa yoga also भव मत्कर्म परम: be devoted to My works मदर्थम् for My sake अवाप्स्यसि you will attain सिद्धिम् liberation.
•Krishna recommends selfless action for a person who is too extroverted because such a person will not succeed in meditation.
•Selfless action is निष्काम कर्म the highest and purest form of action.
•It is nothing but पञ्च महा यज्ञ (pancha maha yajna).
Panchamaha yajna (पञ्चमहायज्ञ)
•Brahma yajna (ब्रह्म यज्ञ)
•Deva yajna (देव यज्ञ)
•Pitru yajna (पित्ऋ यज्ञ)
•Bhootha yajna (भूत यज्ञ)
•Manushya yajna (मनुष्य यज्ञ)
•Selfless action leads to purification of mind.
•Purified mind will prepare oneself eligible for meditation on God with a particular form (इष्ट देवता उपासना).
•This leads to liberation not directly, but by making one qualified for higher stages of spiritual evolution.
BHAKTI LEVEL 1 SAKAMA KARMA WITH ISHWARA PRASADA BUDDHI
CHAPTER 12 – SHLOKA 12.11
Contributed By Smt Shyamala Shetty
Five Spiritual Disciplines to attain Moksha
•5th Step Highest one is Akshara Upasana or Jnana Yoga
•4th Step Vishwarupa Upasana
•3rd Step Eka Rupa or Ishtadevatha Upasana
•2nd Step Ishvararpana karma or niṣkāma karma or chitta shuddi pradhana karma
•1st Step Sarva karma phala thyaga rupa karma yogah
athaitadapyaśaktō'si kartuṃ madyōgamāśritaḥ |
sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ tataḥ kuru yatātmavān || 12.11 ||
If you are not able to do this also, then, taking to My worship, renounce the
results of all actions with self- restraint.
The Benefits of the Bhavana of Ishvaraprasada
·Purifies the mind
·Reacting mind will calm down
·I begin to learn that dependence on the world is risky
·Gradually I will be drawn towards spirituality
·Will graduate to the second step – Nishkama Karma
·Personal desires will come down which will be replaced by spiritual desire which will be replaced by mumukṣhutvam
·All the glamour of the world will not appeal to me
·It requires lot of practice, but it is worth it. Because the benefit is internal relaxation
Qualities of the Highest Bhakta
(Para Bhakta)
Contributed By Smt Chetana Hegde
advēṣṭāsarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇaēva ca |
nirmamōnirahaṅkāraḥsamaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī || 12.13 |
•Advesta – non hater
•Maitrah – friend of everyone
•Karunaha – compassionate
•Nirmamaha – free from mine notion
•Nirahankara – free from I notion
•Sama dukha sukha – same in comfort & discomfort
•Kshami – forbearance (tithiksha)
•santuṣṭaḥ satataṁyōgīyatātmādṛḍhaniścayaḥ |
mayyarpitamanōbuddhiryōmadbhaktaḥ samēpriyaḥ 12.14
•Satatam santushtah – eternally contented
•Yogi – tranquil
•Yatatma – self restrained
•Dridha nischayah – with clear knowledge
•Mayi arpita mano buddhi – mind fixed on Me
yasmānnōdvijatēlōkōlōkānnōdvijatē ca yaḥ |
harṣāmarṣabhayōdvēgairmuktō yaḥ sa ca mēpriyaḥ || 12.15
•Lokah na udvijate – does not disturb the world
•Udvijate na lokat – the world does not disturb him
•harsha amarsha bhaya udvega mukthaha – free elation, envy, fear, anxiety
anapēkṣaḥ śucirdakṣaudāsīnōgatavyathaḥ |
sarvārambhaparityāgīyōmadbhaktaḥ samēpriyaḥ || 12.16 ||
•Anapekshah – independent
•Suchi – pure
•Daksha - efficient
•Udasin – impartial
•Gatavyathah – free from sorrow
•Sarva arambha parityagi – free from selfish activities
yōnahṛṣyatinadvēṣṭinaśōcatinakāṅkṣati |
śubhāśubhaparityāgībhaktimān yaḥ samēpriyaḥ || 12.17
•Na hrishyati – neither rejoices
•Nasochati – nor grieves
•Nakankshati – neither desires
•Na dveshti – nor hates
•Subha asubha parityagi – gives up good & evil - binding actions
samaḥ śatrau ca mitrē ca tathāmānāpamānayōḥ |
śītōṣṇasukhaduḥkhēṣusamaḥ saṅgavivarjitaḥ || 12.18 ||
•Samah shatrau ca mitre ca – same towards friend & foe
•Samah manaapamana – same towards honour & dishonour
•Samah sitoshna – same towards heat & cold
•Samah suka dukheshu – same towards comfort & discomfort
•Sangha vivarjitah – free from attachment
tulyanindāstutirmaunīsantuṣṭōyēnakēnacit |
anikētaḥ sthiRāmatirbhaktimānmēpriyōnaraḥ || 12.19
•Tulya ninda sthuti – same towards censure & praise
•Narah mauni – person of limited speech
•Santushta – contented
•Aniketah – homeless – unattached
•Sthira matih – has firm knowledge of the Self
yētudharmyāmṛtamidaṃ yathōktaṃ paryupāsatē|
śraddadhānāmatparamābhaktāstē'tīvamēpriyāḥ || 12.20
•Those devotees who keep Me as the primary goal and
•Who faithfully pursue this immortal teaching are very dear to Me
Purpose of talking about a Para Bhaktha’s qualities
1. We will be motivated to follow the footsteps of this Para Bhakta
2. The traits of a Para Bhakta become the sadhanas to deliberately practice.
You become what you practice
Jeevan Muktha or Moksha
Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam
Puurnnaat-Purnnam-Udacyate
PuurnnasyaPuurnnam-Aadaaya
Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om ShaantihShaantihShaantih ||
Great Sir. May all the blessings be on you and Yours.