Subscribe to Bhagavad-gita As It Is Newsletter!
Prepare for the Adventure…
For inspiring occasional spiritual emails subscribe to the Bhagavad-gita As It Is newsletter at:
www.AsItIs.com
To get the most benefit from our study of the Bhagavad-gita we need to approach it in the correct way. Many study the Gita but are unable to actually understand it and therefore are not successful in achieving the immense benefits the Gita offers us because they don’t study the Gita in the correct mood.
Understanding the Bhagavad-gita:
The Gita is the introduction and essence of the Vedas, the vast storehouse of knowledge available in the timeless spiritual texts from India. Vedic knowledge is not a question of research. Our research work is imperfect because we research things with imperfect senses. Instead of trying to understand things by the power of our own research and speculation we have to accept perfect knowledge which comes down, as stated in Bhagavad-gita, by the parampara, disciplic succession.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapda is the most widely studied edition of the Bhagavad-gita and perhaps the only edition that presents the Gita “As It Is.”
We have to Kick out Our Ideas and Surrender to Krishna’s Ideas:
The vast majority of people have their own ideas, their own philosophy, their own beliefs and many have presented translations and commentaries on the Gita contaminated by and trying to reinforce their own ideas, philosophy and beliefs. However, it is impossible to understand or achieve any benefit from studying the Gita in this way.
We have to understand Bhagavad-gita in the same way as Arjuna understood it from Krishna. In the beginning, also, Arjuna had his own idea and was not very anxious to follow Krishna’s instructions. Krishna wanted Arjuna to fight in the battle at Kuruksettra, but Arjuna was reluctant to fight and presented many arguments to Krishna against the fighting.
However, Krishna wanted the battle, Krishna wanted Arjuna to fight, so Krishna’s instructions to Arjuna in the Gita actually start at the point where Arjuna kicks out his own ideas and speculations as to what should be done and instead simply surrenders to Krishna and accepts Krishna as his spiritual master.
Vedic knowledge is received from transcendental sources, and the first words were spoken by Lord Krishna Himself. The words spoken by Krishna are different from words spoken by a person of the material world who is infected with four defects. A materialist:
- is sure to commit mistakes
- is invariably illusioned
- has the tendency to cheat others and
- is limited by imperfect senses.
With these four imperfections, one cannot deliver perfect information of all-pervading knowledge.
So to actually benefit from Bhagavad-gita As It Is we have to first realize that spiritual knowledge descends from Krishna to us through the parampara or disciplic succession. Spiritual knowledge is realized by the process of submissive hearing from the proper authority and relevant questions. Our advancement in spiritual life begins from the point of surrender.
The Ultimate Destination:
The Illusion of Sense Gratification:
Since birth, we have been conditioned to think if we can satisfy our senses we will be happy. Practically everyone around us is working on this principle. “If I get more money I will be happy,” “If I find a nice girl or boy I will be happy” and so on. But this is a false idea. Real happiness does not come from satisfying the senses of the body. Why this is so and how we can get real happiness will be revealed as we study the Bhagavad-gita.
Please Make a Little Time in Your Life to Read these Emails!
We will explore many interesting topics over the next few weeks. I would like to send you a very short email like this one every few days and I am requesting you to please find a few minutes out of your busy life to read these emails.
Everything we will discuss will be based on Bhagavad-gita As It Is. You will get a lot more out of this if you have your own copy. To make it easy for you to get your own copy of the Gita I have bundled together all the books and a DVD we will be using, a total value of more than $40, for only $9.95.
This is a limited time special offer for Krishna Connect subscribers. Please take advantage of this and place your order now by:
Click Here to get your copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Your servant
Madhudvisa dasa
About the Author
Madhudvisa dasa My first contact with a Hare Krishna was a most merciful Mataji in Oxford Street, London who sold me a "Higher Taste" cook book in 1984 while I was on holidays there. I started seriously reading Srila Prabhupada's books in Australia 1985 and by 1986 Srila Prabhupada had convinced me "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead" and "we should surrender to Krishna." I joined the Hare Krishnas in Perth, Western Australia in 1986. Since then I have been chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and preaching as much as I can. That's my life and full-time occupation now really. I like it more than anything I've ever experienced before. Srila Prabhupada's books are so amazing... Even after reading them all many times they're still fresh and new. They are truly transcendental! That's it really. Now I'm just hankering to once again see the world chant Hare Krishna, dance and feast and float away in the ecstasy of Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement as it did in Srila Prabhupada's physical presence. Let the whole world drown in the ecstatic flood of love of Krishna!
Related Posts
Arjuna’s Bewilderment →
Bhagavad-gita 7.4 MP3 Audio Class Vrndavana, August 10, 1974 →
Introduction To Bhagavad Gita Part Three →
Dear Prabhu,
Thank you very much for your newsletter. I enjoy reading your newsletters and look forward to reading more in the future.
ys,
Vamsidas Acbsp
Hare Krishna prabhu
I am reading original SP bg from last 10 years.
Hari Bol
HDG’s original books are the only ones I read. I had the privilege of taking initiation from HDG in 1970 in
London. I am pleased when others read the original nectar rather than the so called updated versions from those who claim to be His disciples and think they know better than a fully realised soul.