The Bhagavad Gita is replete with universal wisdom and the techniques to attain this.

The Yoga of Gita contains the essence of this wisdom, the philosophy of creation and the Ultimate Reality, as revealed by Sri Krishna to Arjuna.

The book outlines the various paths for realisation. For the layman, the emphasis is on the Yoga of Action – acting without worrying about the rewards for our actions.

The book is a rendition of the 18 chapters, retold in simple language, with a brief account on Yoga and Meditation, which will ensure success, serenity, harmony and happiness for readers who follow these principles, finally leading to Salvation.


Some Glimpses:

*Action is superior to the relinquishment of action.

*To remove your sufferings unveil the knowledge by destroying ignorance about self.

*The man with finite intelligence can comprehend infinite reality by an insight of the divine illusion.

*The God-Principle is present in every creature of the Universe. Hence we should not hurt any being or the enviornment.

*Perform hardwork but do not get entangled in the reward.


About the author:

Born on 9 January 1936, Dr Ram Shanker Tiwari, MSc, PhD, FPbS, is an internationally reputed scientist (palaeobotanist).

After post-graduation in 1959, he joined the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow under DST, New Delhi, and retired as its Director in 1996.

Thereafter, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) awarded him an Emeritus Scientist position for five years.

Dr Tiwari has a deep interest in philosophy, spirituality, human relations and the environment. He has been on the editorial boards of several periodicals and also served as the Chief Editor of two international journals, Geophytology and The Palaeobotanist.

He has published around 150 original research papers.

PREFACE:
Srimad Bhagavad Gita is a part of Srimad Bhagavad Puran – a Great Epic written in Sanskrit verse by the sage-poet Vyasa. The Puran contains musical lyrics on episodes woven around the Eternal embodiment of Lord Krishna, the splendour of His life and teachings, besides love and devotion to the Divine, codes for blissful living and the Dharma, i.e., the right way of living. In the Gita, the essence of universal wisdom, the science of human nature, the philosophy of creation, the Ultimate Reality, and the technique to attain that Truth have been narrated by Krishna to his friend and devotee – Arjuna.

This knowledge was imparted in a tense situation, in the centre of the battlefield, just when the Mahabharata war was about to begin between the families of cousin brothers – the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Krishna was the charioteer of one of the Pandava princes, Arjuna, the chief archer, who had no desire to fight his kinsmen for the sake of regaining their kingdom, which was captured by the Kauravas through deceit. Ultimately, the divine light of the Gita dispels the darkness of emotional breakdown in Arjuna. He acts and he wins.

This book is a simple rendition of the main aspects given in the 18 chapters of the Gita. Herein, each chapter is informally divided into two portions: the first half, up to the divider mark, is based on the original concept, abridged from the Gita; and the second half, after the divider mark, includes a simplified interpretative comment by the author. At the end of each chapter, a ten-point Gita Gyan is appended, which again is the author’s attempt to summarise the chapter in a simple way, while incorporating all its essential elements.

A brief account of Yoga and meditation is appended at the end; this may be useful for beginners. Also, to prompt self-search thereafter, the author has added two verses on self-reflection.

In Hinduism, Krishna is adored as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme who sustains Creation. Hence, Krishna has always been addressed as ‘Lord Krishna’, ‘God Krishna’, and ‘Bhagwan Sri Krishna’ in the epics and scriptures. Also, Krishna has been totally established in the Absolute Reality through Eternal Yoga, hence He is to be conceptualised as Supreme with total attributes of the Almighty. He is Yogiraj Krishna – the King of Yoga, Who is One with Pure Consciousness. Throughout the present work, He is referred to simply as ‘Krishna’ – meaning thereby ‘Lord Krishna’; the informality brings simplicity and proximity. Yet, Krishna is addressed as ‘He’ – with a capital ‘H’, a symbolic connotation of His Greatness as Pure Consciousness. While talking to Arjuna, Krishna was One with the Absolute; He speaks in Direct Speech – First Person Singular, e.g., “All this world is pervaded by Me in My unmanifested form.” In the text herein, however, for the sake of facile running of the statements and simplification, an Indirect Speech has been used.

While referring to human beings, the epithets ‘he’, ‘his’, ‘him’, etc, are used, yet they must be taken to include both male and female – again an adoption for plainness and non-repetition. So also, Godheads or even the Absolute, the Almighty are referred to as ‘He’, etc. This does not imply male chauvinism but is suggestive of the fact that the Impersonal God, the Reality, is not limited by any quality of nature, hence not confined by any character of the body, mind, intellect or ego, etc. Even ‘He’ does not qualify the Supreme, yet we have to use some form of address for our understanding. The Personal God, however, may be conceptualised for visualisation by the human mind with some characterisations, although the qualities – whatever the human mind thinks of God – remain a superimposition as well as an attempt to limit the Limitless!

The subtitle of the book reflects the ultimate aim of our lives. In India and abroad, Hindus and several followers of other faiths know about the Gita. The learned ones and those desirous of learning about all the major religions of the world can tell what contains the Gita. Yet, because of the complexity of content or the detailed commentaries and intricate religio-philosophical implications, much remains for the layperson to comprehend.

This is particularly so with the younger generation, who have the will to learn but little time or patience to venture deeper. Usually, they realise that the Gita advocates ‘work but do not desire its fruits’ and wonder: how is this possible? Or, ‘the Atman is immortal; only it changes the body like worn-out clothes’ and wonder: where do I go after my death?

The new generation also has a lot of interest in Yoga, but in its modern, altered form. Alas! It is the new fashion of life to practise Yoga but nothing much is achieved except some relaxation. Yoga is Divine Knowledge without any religious stigma or bias, through which, if understood properly, one can achieve total happiness and fulfilment in life. The Gita is a treatise on Yoga.

Keeping this aspect in mind, short, simplified basics of the Gita have been compiled in this book. In no way is it a learned commentary, an explanatory series of notes, or an intellectual interpretation – of which I am fully aware. It only puts forth, simply and briefly, the wisdom strewn throughout the Gita. It is neither preaching by the author nor an attempt to change your established beliefs; yet it is an attempt to unfold one’s personality and bring harmony into life along the lines the great Yogiraj Krishna had narrated four millennia ago. If a person follows even a few directives given by Krishna, he can win the battle against adversities and live a prosperous, happy and peaceful life hereafter. If one goes deeper, he can attain freedom and become one with Pure Consciousness.

That is Salvation!

CONTENTS:
Chapter 1 — The Horror of Life’s Problems
Chapter 2 — Knowledge is Pivotal
Chapter 3 — Action is the Method
Chapter 4 — Self-perfection is the Technique
Chapter 5 — Renounce and be Liberated!
Chapter 6 — Meditation: The Quietude of Mind
Chapter 7 — The Insight of Illusion: Gateway to Freedom
Chapter 8 — Get in Touch with the Self: The Eternal Truth
Chapter 9 — The Fire of Awareness
Chapter 10 — Divine Glories: Empower Meditation
Chapter 11 — The Infinite Cosmic Pattern
Chapter 12 — Success Through the: Yoga of Devotion
Chapter 13 — Fragrance of the: Conscious Supreme
Chapter 14 — Inborn Attitudes: Gears of Progress
Chapter 15 — Freedom and Bliss
Chapter 16 — Let Divine Light Radiate!
Chapter 17 — Evolve by Efforts and be Free
Chapter 18 — Fearless, Doubtless, Perfect: and Blissful... You!

EXCERPTS:

Chap. 4: Self-perfection is the Technique
So far, Karma Yoga has been introduced to Arjuna followed by a reference to the path of contemplation and meditation. Now, Krishna delves into the origin of this knowledge of Truth, which leads to self-perfection. He states that the Imperishable Yoga, the Primordial Knowledge, originated concurrently with Creation. The Supreme passed it on to the Sun (i.e., the Supreme Brilliance of Energy) and subsequently it was inherited through innumerable generations till now.

Krishna elaborates further that whenever there is a decline and disarray in the righteous way of life and the virtuous system of living, Supreme Consciousness (in which Krishna was firmly established) manifests in the form of Godheads, sages or saints in order to re-establish the right way of living and to provide protection to the ethical order. He who is aware of this action of the Supreme attains Realisation. The one who is detached from attractions and aversions, free from fear and anger, and has surrendered to His will attains Him. Krishna declares that variable patterns of human thinking germinate from their varied mental set-ups, inherent tendencies and accumulated karma, destiny, steered by the imprints of good or evil deeds on their psyche through several planes of existence in the past.

Krishna clarifies that one who cultivates intensive awareness about the Presiding Light within oneself and retains equipoise during vigorous action, recognises inaction in the action; in other words, he acts but remains non-entangled; likewise, action in inaction could be identified in the quietude, utter silence of mind and meditative state of contemplation on to the Reality. Such states of action or inaction do not generate karma – good or evil.

A Karma Yogi (one who practises the Yoga of Action) is ever content, consequently he craves nothing; his desires are disciplined, hence he gathers no sin though apparently he acts in the world. The one who is complacent over his achievements, not tortured by the dualities of experiences, e.g., profit and loss, birth and death, honour and dishonour, etc, balanced in success and failure and who abides by knowledge of the Self, is a free and liberated being. Brahman (Absolute) is to be seen in all actions. Freedom and joy could be achieved in the inner life of a man by burning his sensual cravings in the fire of self-control and the heat of knowledge.

Self-perfection can be accomplished by several techniques, involving physical, mental and intellectual practices. Yoga is one of the prime techniques for such an achievement. It makes one’s mind tranquil and pure, thus suitable for higher launching towards Realisation.

There are several types of sacrifices or offerings but sacrifice of ignorance into the knowledge is the greatest. One must see all things in the Self and then in the Supreme. Such knowledge shall make a man free from all fears and tortures of the mind, and bring eternal peace. Against the backdrop of knowledge of the Supreme, actions do not generate karma and hence one is liberated. Knowledge of the real nature of the Self, i.e., Self-realisation, is the highest achievement and the greatest possession of one’s life. Such Divine Knowledge resides in the Self and can be unveiled through perfection in Yoga. The man who is full of faith and devotion and who has restrained his sensory cravings accrues such knowledge that, in turn, leads to perennial peace. But the ignorant having no faith achieves no peace, neither in this nor in the other world.

He who has relinquished the fruits of his actions through Yoga, removed all doubts through knowledge and become vigilant and awake in the Self is a liberated sage, although he may act in the world. Therefore, retreat into Yoga, establish the self in Divine Knowledge and act vigorously, but unattached, in this world.

This is the essence of the fourth chapter of the Gita, entitled The Yoga of Divine Knowledge.

The knowledge of Yoga is ancient. The Sun is the symbolic phenomenon of the Supreme Knowledge available to us for direct experience of the power of the Almighty. Thus, Divine Knowledge should be obtained from an experienced person, brilliant like the Sun. Before practising Yoga, one must cleanse one’s mind, the inner world, and connect it with the Self.

Supreme Consciousness manifests itself in all periods of time through its play in this world to reaffirm the righteous way of living. He does so whenever there is large-scale decay of virtues and justice in society. Thus, the noble and virtuous are protected and the Law of Being and Ethics is saved from annihilation.

We may experience all sorts of positive and negative emotions while managing our lives in this world, yet if we are profoundly aware about them through our knowledge and if we surrender all our actions unto Him, we are not bound by such sentiments; such a mind becomes suitable for Realisation of the Truth. The performance of action is a prerequisite for our sustenance. Everybody does so, goaded by his natural mindset (gunas) but he who abandons the yearning for the fruits of action always remains happy.

Be contemplative about the inner life, the universe and the phenomenon of existence, and live with a sense of detachment striking a balance between worldly affairs and Consciousness by way of the power of discrimination.

For attaining peace and happiness, one must support the needy and the destitute by advice, charity and kindness; also, through self-denial and austerity in reasonable degrees, evolving ourselves through the devotion and the practice of Yoga, sustained reading and reflection on the writings of great men, and the continuous weeding of ignorance and misconceptions by analytic methods, which are essential to obtain calmness of mind and the subsequent journey for self-development, inner growth and Realisation of Brahman – the Truth.

Actions arise from desires and wild desires give rise to ignoble actions; therefore, right knowledge shall regulate desires so that wrong-doings are not manifested. This is so because even fabulous wealth cannot bring peace of mind and happiness if not associated with knowledge of the Self.

Understand that all beings are interwoven by one single, Supreme Consciousness. Thus, realise the Eternal Wisdom and attain calmness that is essential for worldly success, happiness as well as spiritual contentment. Our Inner Self is the abode of knowledge. It can be unveiled by constant and unabated practice of Yoga. By such conceptual perception, the ego is cleansed through the inner Divine experience, which shines forth brightly by the light of atman. Then, success is yours.

Gita Gyana 4
4.1: Yoga is very ancient wisdom.
4.2: Whenever there is chaos in the righteous way of living, Supreme Consciousness manifests Itself to ordain the systems.
To achieve success, one must be free from fear, anger, senseless attractions, bitter aversions, and wild longings.
4.4: Cultivate intensive awareness about the life-sustaining spark within yourself.
4.5: Be content with your achievements, without abandoning action for progress and prosperity in the outer as well as the inner world.
4.6: Do not be torn by pairs of opposite experiences coming in your way.
4.7: Self-control, channelled by balanced thinking, makes you free and fearless.
4.8: Make your mind tranquil and pure by practising contemplation and by silencing thought waves, at times.
4.9: Support the destitute with kindness; observe austerity; reflect on the Eternal Wisdom, and merge with the Consciousness through Yoga for self-development and peace.
5.0: All particles in the cosmos are interwoven by a single, indestructible energy field, the All-pervading Consciousness; affirm this knowledge for material success, mental happiness, stable peace and spiritual contentment.

There is no knowing Him unless you become knowledgeable about your Self.