Atmabodha: Session 02 - Verses 1 &2
Atmabodha is Vedantic book composed by Adi Shankaracharya for introducing the theme of Vedanta for the infants in the spiritual world. The objective of this series is to introduce this brilliant textbook to spiritual seekers.
Verse 1: Purpose of this book
"I am composing this ‘Atmabodha’, the treatise on the Self-knowledge, for those who have purified themselves by spiritual practices, whose mind is under control and free from cravings and, who are interested in the higher purpose of the life"
Verse 2: Knowledge – Direct means to know the self
"Just as the fire is the direct cause for cooking, knowledge is the direct means of Liberation. Compared to all other forms of discipline, knowledge of the Self is the direct means of Liberation"
Atmabodha: Session 01 - Brief overview of Vedic Scriptures
Atmabodha is Vedantic book composed by Adi Shankaracharya for introducing the theme of Vedanta for the infants in the spiritual world. The objective of this series is to introduce this brilliant textbook to spiritual seekers.
The first lesson of this series introduces the Vedic Scriptures. The entire scriptural literature derived from the Vedas is divided into 7 layers.
They are
1) Vedas
2) Sutras
3) Smriti
4) Puranas
5) Ithihasas
6) Bhashyam
7) Prakaranas.
Topics covered:
1 ) Verses 10 & 11: How to find Ishvara in the world
2) Verse 12: Source of all creation.
Topics covered:
1 ) Verse 26: Alternate point of view
2) Verse 27: Facts of Life
3) Verse 25: Therefore do not get depressed
Topics covered:
1 ) Verse 23: Indestructible Atma
2) Verse 24: Nature of Atma
3) Verse 25: Therefore do not get depressed
The seventh chapter of the Gita known as the Yoga of knowledge and wisdom is the first chapter in the second section of the Bhagavad Gita. This chapter talks about three major topics
1) Nature of Ishvara
2)How to Workshop Ishvara
3)Divine Grace
The third lesson covers verses 5 &6. These verses talk about the higher nature of Ishvara
The seventh chapter of the Gita known as the Yoga of knowledge and wisdom is the first chapter in the second section of the Bhagavad Gita. This chapter talks about three major topics
1) Nature of Ishvara
2)How to Workshop Ishvara
3)Divine Grace
The third lesson covers verses 5 &6. These verses talk about the higher nature of Ishavara
Topics covered:
1 )Verse 20: Unborn Atma
2) Verse 21: The subject aspect of action
3) Verse 22: What happens at Death
The seventh chapter of the Gita known as the Yoga of knowledge and wisdom is the first chapter in the second section of the Bhagavad Gita.
This chapter talks about three major topics
1) Nature of Ishvara
2)How to workship Ishvara
3)Divine Grace
The third lesson covers verse 4. This verse defines GOD, as the cause of the universe, the material (upadana) and intelligent (nimitta) cause of the universe
The material cause is considered as the lower manifestation of Ishvara .
In this session, we will take a look at the Pancha Kosha model.
Samkhya Yoga: Verses 18 & 19
Topics covered:
1 )Verse 18: Eternal & Incomprehensible Truth
2) Verse 19: Atma is Neither Subject Nor Object
The seventh chapter of the Gita known as the Yoga of knowledge and wisdom is the first chapter in the second section of the Bhagavad Gita.
This chapter talks about three major topics
1) Nature of Ishvara
2) How to Workshop Ishvara
3) Divine Grace
The second lesson covers verses 2&3. In the second verse, Krishna promise that he will give both direct and indirect knowledge on Ishvara and the third verse points out the rarity of this great knowledge.
The seventh chapter of the Gita known as the Yoga of knowledge and wisdom is the first chapter in the second section of the Bhagavad Gita.
This chapter talks about three major topics
1) Nature of Ishvara
2)How to Workshop Ishvara
3)Divine Grace
The first lesson introduces the chapter and reviews the first verse. In the first verse, Krishna introduces the subject matter of this chapter as Ishvara.
Samkhya Yoga: Verse 16 & 17
Topics covered:
1 ) Verse 16: Real and Unreal
2) Verse 17: Reality is indestructible and all-pervasive
Samkhya Yoga: Verse 15 & 16
Topics covered:
Verse 15: Passing trials of Life
Verse 16: Real and unreal
No living being escapes the stimulus-response symptom
All through our life, things happen to impede our progress and interfere with our mind.
They may be trivial diversions or serious happenings.
The yoga of the Gita counsels us to not embrace them or resist them, but to endure them with a neutral openness.
By not giving them any additional energy they will lose their grip on us.
When we bear with them, we are left in peace, with clarity of mind, destined for immortality as it were.
A true practitioner has to learn to put up with the changes in life with fortitude
The second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita talks about 3 dimensions of a living
1) Temporary body
2) Transmigrating subtle body
3) Eternal Atma
These are often confused with each other. The objective of this presentation is to provide clarity on this topic
In this session, we will take a look at the “3 Bodies” (Sharira Trayam) teaching of Vedanta. An individual is called a “Jiva” in Vedanta. According to Vedanta a Jiva is composed of 3 bodies.
These 3 bodies are:
Gross Body (Sthula Sharira)
Subtle Body (Sukshma Sharira)
Causal Body (Karana Sharira)
Vedanta is a body of knowledge that helps us to understand ourselves. The uniqueness of Vedanta is the powerful and unique teaching methodologies for understanding our own true nature.
Drik Dhrishya Viveka is one such powerful teaching methodology used by Vedanta. In a step by step process, this methodology clearly shows us who we are and what we are.
Introduction to Vedanta- Lesson 06: How to gain pre-qualification
We have seen that for Vedanta to work as a Pramana, there are some pre-requisites. In this session, we will see how one can gain the pre-requisites.
1. Karma Yoga for purification of the mind – Proper work with the proper attitude
2. Upasana Yoga for the stability and control of the mind - Physical Disciplines, Verbal Disciplines, Sensory discipline, and mental discipline
