mistaken identity

Verse 4.35: Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.

Ever been mistaken for someone else? How did you feel? I've been mistaken for someone else a few times and its normally resulted in an awkward/amusing encounter once I've let the other person know that I'm not who they think they are. It's often followed by an apology and sometimes even an explanation - i.e. Wow! Your hair looks just like my friend's.

Although its personally never happened to me, I've heard rare cases of people insisting that they are right, saying things like, "You have to be such and such person! You're trying to fool me!" I can only imagine the poor recipient of such words. I'm sure if that type of questioning and conversation carried on for sometime, the recipient could get frustrated and even angry.

Regardless of the circumstance, the point is that in the majority of cases, we are quick to correct if we are mistaken for someone else. It highlights how strongly attached we are to our identity and ensuring that we recognized appropriately.

In fact, it's rare that we question and ever think that we might not be who we think we are.

The Gita flips this illusion on its head. Think you are the mind, ego, intelligence or body? The Gita resoundingly answers "No! You are experiencing a case of mistaken identity!" The Gita proclaims, "You are the soul! A spiritual spark that is part and parcel of the Divine."

This central teaching of the Gita has the capacity to revolutionize our lives and is exemplified by a beautiful analogy given by the great bhakti-yogi Prabhupada. Once a man visited his friend who had a bird which lived in a bird cage. The man was very proud of his bird cage and took great pains to ensure it looked shiny and new. The friend, when entering this man's house remarked upon the bird cage and praised the man saying that it looked beautiful. He then asked, "What's that smell? What happened to the bird?" The man looked inside and was shocked to see that the bird inside his beautiful cage had died.

In this analogy, the bird is the soul and the cage the body. Often, emphasis is placed on maintaining the body to ensure its health, beauty and abilities, which are, no doubt, important. However, the Gita explains, solely focusing on the body can result in ignoring the precious cargo it carries inside - the soul.

The purpose of physical yoga is to ensure that the body is strong enough to engage in activities which serve to nourish the soul. Activities such as hearing, chanting, meditating, serving etc.

So take heed of the reminder that the Gita gives us: there's a soul inside all of us that's crying out for nourishment. Please make sure to remember to feed it.

why can't i remember?

Verse 4.5: The Personality of Godhead said: Many, many births both you and I have passed. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!

Many of us forget things from time to time. Whether it be where we left our keys, shut off the lights or checked the mail, there are plenty of things that fill up our head. It's no wonder that all kinds of apps and gadgets have been created to help us remember the long list of things that we hope to accomplish.

In the hustle and bustle of just trying to live our lives, it's easy to forget about the needs of the soul. After all, the majority of time tends to be spent on taking care of our body and things that are in relation to it. There's nothing wrong with taking care of the body, but just taking care of the body and totally neglecting the soul is counter-productive. That's because...

The soul is eternal whereas the body is temporary.

Most of us are well acquainted with the needs of the body, but what about the soul? In order to understand the soul's needs, one needs to learn about them from authorized sources. In this case, Arjuna has the perfect teacher, Krsna, to help him understand. To aid in that understanding, Krsna is explaining here that although the soul is eternal, it is limited.

Although eternal, the soul cannot remember the numerous bodies (i.e. births) it has taken.

Makes sense if you think about it. Many of us can't even remember what we wore yesterday, what to speak of trying to remember which body we wore in our last life or lifetimes prior! The question can be posed then - why is this important?

When we start to understand that we don't have the answers to everything because we are limited, it serves as a reminder that we are small. Sometimes the word small has a negative connotation, but in this case it just means we need some help. That help is available in the form of realized teachers who can help us understand who we really are.

When we try to sincerely learn and apply what the realized bhakti practitioners (and texts) teach us, we become empowered to understand their words. That knowledge becomes more than just theory; instead, we start to see their words manifest as reality in our lives.

So we don't remember our past lives or actions, big deal. If we stop and think about it - it might actually be a good thing! What's important is what we choose to do with our time now.

great expectations

Verse 4.1: The Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvān, and Vivasvān instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikṣvāku.

History and experience can teach us so much. In fact, the great bhakti yoga master, Srila Prabhupada would say (and I paraphrase):

First class intelligence is hearing about the mistakes of others and not committing them. Second class intelligence is making mistakes, learning from them and trying to avoid making them again and third class intelligence is making mistakes and not learning from them.

The Bhagavad-gita is giving us the opportunity to exercise first class intelligence. As we hear in today's verse, this science of yoga has not just appeared randomly. It has been passed along for lifetimes upon lifetimes to the most intelligent and empowered personalities. We are so lucky to now have the opportunity to hear that same knowledge - unadulterated and just as powerful. By following this process we have an opportunity to save ourselves time, effort and disappointment.

One of the great lessons that the Gita teaches us is that of learning to manage expectations. At the beginning of the Gita, we see Arjuna expressing his doubts and misgivings to Krsna. But if you look a little deeper, you find something more - Arjuna is stating that he has certain expectations and is worried that by doing the right thing, those expectations will not be met.

Is that not what we go through everyday? We all have expectations of ourselves, of situations and perhaps the trickiest of them all - of others.

At the heart of expectation is the belief that somehow we will be happier if x, y, z manifests.

Is that not really it, if we strip away all the other coverings? It's a belief. There is no actual guarantee that we will be happier, but we have built the expectation to work out a certain way in our heads that just the thought of it not playing out leaves us more miserable than we originally were!

So how do we practically manage expectations? For advanced bhakti yogis, the answer is simple. They understand that they are not this body but the eternal spirit soul. Since many of our expectations are related to the material, temporary world and relationships that are based on the body, not the soul, such yogis realize that disappointment is inevitable. Essentially, they don't put much stock in it and choose to rest their expectations on the grace of the Divine who never disappoints.

For those of us who may not be on that level, what are we to do?

Recognize that expectations rest on a belief of happiness, not a guarantee.

This can help ease the sting of disappointment, keep things in perspective and help us not to flip out when we are caught in the tight claws of expectation. For many, when we don't get what we expected it tends to weigh heavily on the mind, causes us to speculate and drives us mad.

The next time this happens, give yourself and others a break. Failed expectations can actually be the greatest gift we can receive if we can just approach it in the right perspective. It reminds us that true happiness lies within and doesn't rest in the hands of others.

are you aware of what's going on?

Verse 3.43: Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Kṛṣṇa consciousness] and thus — by spiritual strength — conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.

Once in awhile I am startled by how unaware I am of everything going on around me. At such times, I realize that I'm functioning on automatic pilot and have to remind myself that I'm not a robot but a sentient being that has the power to observe and discriminate!

One such moment happened to a friend of mine recently. She was mentioning how she became jealous upon hearing good news of someone who is close to her. It's not that she didn't wish well for the individual, as she later remarked to me, but it was the fact that she wasn't the recipient of that good fortune. She's gotten over it now and having introspected a bit, said to me, "I wasn't aware that I could become jealous like that!"

I was struck by that phrase:

"I wasn't aware that..."

This entire 3rd Chapter of the Gita has been encouraging us to become more "aware'. It's been pointing out that we, as embodied souls, are prone to being influenced by lust and the mentality of having things go our way (i.e. being attached to the fruits of our work). Krsna has taken the time to stress the importance of awareness because...

It's only when we are aware of a lack, need or challenge that we are inspired to do something about it.

This awareness is so crucial and necessary to the practice of bhakti yoga. In fact, often when I'm asked what bhakti yoga is all about, I give a standard answer - "It's the process by which we can connect to ourselves, the Divine and one another through love and service."

However, as my own understanding of bhakti is deepening, I'm starting to include an additional line in my explanation:

Bhakti yoga is also about becoming conscious of who we are and our eternal relationship with all living entities.

After all, if we don't know who we are and what our relationship is with one another, then it becomes irrelevant as to why we should want to connect to anyone through love and service. As the great bhakti yogi, Srila Prabhupada, said, "First be conscious; then become God conscious."

Isn't that just so practical and beautiful? Ultimately, this means realizing that we are eternal souls who have nothing to do with this temporary material world. This is just one stop in our journey and like an actor in a drama, the body we are in, the situations we face and the emotions we feel are just part of one scene in that drama.

When we become aware that we are not the body, but the eternal soul, it is only then we'll stop sweating the small stuff. Things will start to fall in the proper perspective and we'll be well on our path to lasting happiness.

strategic yoga

Verse 3.40: The senses, the mind and the intelligence are the sitting places of this lust. Through them lust covers the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.

Strategy and planning are essential ingredients to achieving success.

Whether your desire is to pass your physics final, travel around the world or become a great singer, everything requires planning and strategy. Today, we learn that the practice of yoga is no different.

In order to be successful yogis, we require a strategy..

One of the biggest obstacles to discovering who we really are is lust. That lust is what blinds many of us us from realizing that we are the recipients of great gifts and instead compels us to think that everything is ours. It promotes selfishness and pride and masks the mood of service and love which lies dormant within us.

It only makes sense that one who is truly seeking lasting happiness will want to understand who they really are. As we've mentioned before: if you don't know who you really are, then how will you know what will make you happy?

The Gita has already outlined that we are eternal souls, which means that only those things that are eternal will make us happy. It's not that temporary relationships, things and situations don't make us happy, it's just that they can't provide the two key elements that we are constantly looking for: eternal love.

Now, when we understand that lust is a covering that is preventing us from realizing our true selves, it only logical that the thoughtful yogi would want to know how to remove this impediment.

And that, my friends, is called strategic thinking. That's why today's verse of the Gita is so important. It is giving valuable information which we can add to our strategic plan of discovering who we are - where lust can be found.

Three places are specifically named:

1. Senses
2. Mind
3. Intelligence

Continuing along the lines of strategic yoga, it makes sense that instead of spending our resources trying to combat this lust in these places that we start where it can make the most difference. Previously, we learned that there is a hierarchy. The mind is the leader of the senses and the intelligence is what is supposed to control the mind.

By this token, if we can start to remove lust (or the tendency of trying to enjoy the property of the Supreme instead of engaging in a relationship with the Supreme) from the intelligence, then naturally the mind and senses can start to become free from it as well.

So then how does one go about clearing lust from these different places? Join us tomorrow to find out!

burning like fire

Verse 3.39: Thus the wise living entity's pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.

Very often readers of the Gita pose this question: "If I'm an eternal soul which is always blissful and full of knowledge, then why don't I experience those qualities?" It's a great question and one which is answered here today-

When the pure consciousness of the soul is covered by lust, the soul forgets who it really is.

This lust is what causes us to feel empty and lonely. As a quick reminder, lust is the negative transformation of love and compels the covered soul to seek enjoyment in all that is temporary. That search for pleasure outside of ourselves in temporary material things is what often leads to great frustration.

Makes sense if you think about it. If we are eternal, then how can we be satisfied by impermanence? It just doesn't work.

The thing is, although the soul has forgotten its eternality, its inherent pleasure seeking characteristic still remains. That's we continue to try to seek eternal happiness despite all our failures. In fact, it is this lust which continues to burn within us and fuels our desire to keep trying to find that pleasure - just in all the wrong places!

That's where the Gita provides the solution. The Gita doesn't promote that we just ignore our inherent nature to desire pleasure. Instead, it teaches us how to transform our lust into its original state of love. Specifically, it teaches us:

We're searching for pleasure in the wrong places.

See the difference? The search still remains...it's just that it becomes transformed. Instead of seeking pleasure in the temporary, material world, instead we are directed to seek pleasure in that which is eternal - our relationship with the Supreme.

It is this relationship which will revive our pure consciousness and which will transform all the lust in our heart to pure love.

love vs. lust

Verse 3.37: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.

Have you ever heard of the expression "transforming lust into love"? If so, you might not have known it at the time, but you were actually hearing the very essence of the Gita.

Although certain imagery or thoughts may come to mind when we think of the word lust, the Gita explains that that it is a transformation of love.

So what does love really mean then? Yoga defines love, in its highest form, to be the natural inclination of the soul to give pleasure to the Supreme. If you really meditate on that definition, it makes a lot of sense.

We all, by nature, are seeking that person who will provide us with all our necessities, never abandon us, is capable of loving us completely and is the only person who truly understands how we feel. Am I right or am I right? ;)

It's no coincidence that the Gita, along with all other authorized spiritual texts, give us one unanimous answer to that question - the Supreme.

If it's natural that we love the Divine, then why is it so hard for some of us to access that love. Why do we turn to so many other things? That question is answered here today: Because we are clouded by lust.

"When the soul's natural affection for the Supreme is misplaced, by trying instead to enjoy the property of the Supreme instead of engaging in a relationship with the Supreme, then that love is transformed into lust"

In other words, due to lifetimes of taking on different bodies, we've forgotten our love for the Divine. Instead, some of us try to fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts with all sorts of gadgets, people and situations that we think might make us happy. If that doesn't work and we feel dejected, frustrated and become angry), we still keep trying to seek eternal happiness through our temporary material bodies.

Many of us are under a type of amnesia. The only cure to re-awaken to our natural position of happiness is to associate with those persons who have come out from the fog and confusion. That's why bhakti yoga is a transformation of the heart, not just the mind or intelligence. By practicing mantra meditation, reading bhakti texts and spending time with advanced bhakti practitioners, we start to remember who we really are and gratitude starts to infuse the heart.

That gratitude is the path by which love can develop and we can truly remember who we are.

For many of us:

Life is a journey to find true love.

That true love is waiting for us. We just need to clear the fog of lust and realize that our greatest happiness is not found outside ourselves, but by connecting to the Supreme.

what is sin?

Verse 3.36: Arjuna said: O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?

**I'd like to dedicate this post to two bhakti yogis - my father and Dr. Carl Herzig (Kalachandji Dasa). Thank you so much for sharing your valuable insights and realizations.**

Today's post was written in spurts...in fact, I started it yesterday! I knew I wanted to focus on the word sin when all of a sudden I realized, "I don't know what the bhakti yoga definition of sin actually is!!!" It served as a reminder as to why I started writing on the Gita.

This blog is a humble effort to make the Gita practical, relevant and understandable to those are reading it and/or are interested in - yoga, self-discovery and life. Well...that's one of the reasons why I write. ;) The other is so that I can continue to learn, grow and understand the Gita better so that I can become a better bhakti yogi.

That's why I'd like to preface this post by saying - this is just an introduction to the topic of sin. By no means is it a comprehensive and complete explanation.

Awhile back, I wrote a post on how each of us view words, situations and ideas based on our own experiences. Certainly, this holds true when one hears the word "sin". I'm sure that all of you have different definitions based on cultural context, religious/spiritual traditions, and personal opinion.

Personally, I've always found sin to be a somewhat vague concept and so I was curious to find out what the bhakti texts had to say. After hearing from two of my bhakti mentors and doing further research, I was able to distill it down to this:

Sins are impediments, in the form of attitudes and activities, that prevent one from experiencing their natural state of "eternal joy".

Now that might sound a bit simplistic to some and I would have to agree. However, it does help to shed a bit more light on the subject matter. An impediment is a hinderance or obstruction and that's exactly what sins do. Specifically, they impede us in two ways:

1) Prevent us from understanding that we are eternal souls.
2) Prevent us from connecting (i.e. yoga) with the Supreme.

So what are those attitudes and activities that prevent us from experiencing eternal joy? Let's start with activities first as they're a bit easier to tackle. Essentially, any activity that results in karma (whether good or bad) acts an impediment. Why's that? Because we don't always get the result of our karma in one lifetime. In order to receive that karma one needs to take on another temporary material body.

The solution is that we perform activities that result in no karma (akarma). This naturally leads us to the question of attitude. When one performs any action with the attitude of enjoying the result, one automatically receives karma. As we previously discussed when exploring the topic of non-attachment, when we perform our activities, all the while giving thanks to the Supreme, we incur no karma. It's not that one can't enjoy...don't get me wrong. It's about offering it to the Supreme in gratitude first; then we enjoy.

This is just the beginning of our exploration into the topic of sin, so stay tuned! Tomorrow we'll find out the answer to Arjuna's very interesting question - By what are we sometimes impelled to perform sinful actions acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?

uncover the masks

Verse 3.35: It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another's duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one's own duty is better than engaging in another's duties, for to follow another's path is dangerous.

I was thinking about today's verse and that was the first image that came to mind - uncovering the layers and layers of masks.

To me, a mask signifies hiding one's identity. After all, it's hard to see the full picture if there's something covering it.

Bhakti yoga is about realizing we are wearing different layers of masks, using them effectively and gradually letting go of them; thus, allowing our real selves to shine.

Let's talk about two masks that are specifically prominent - the body and our proclivities and tendencies (i.e. our nature). The body is like a full-fledged mask. It does such an effective job of hiding "the real us" that it's hard to distinguish that the body is just a covering.

Any actors reading this today? Perhaps you can relate. When diving into a role or part, you might have delved so deep into a character that you started to identify yourself with it. Similarly, we have spent so much time wearing different bodies (in this life and in so many previous ones) that we've forgotten that it's not who we really are.

As if one wasn't enough, there's another mask that covers the body mask. Sigh....I know. Like I said - layers up on layers.

That mask is our psycho-physical nature. Not only do we identify with the body, but we also identify with certain tendencies, inclinations and proclivities. What's interesting to note here is that Krsna is not stating that we just take off this mask - i.e. He is not stating that we abandon our nature. Oh no. In fact He is stating the opposite.

Krsna is encouraging that we work in line with our nature - i.e. perform our duties/work in accordance with our nature. He goes one step further in fact and states "It doesn't matter whether you are good at it or not, work according to your nature. Even if you can do something better, it doesn't matter."

So what does that mean? Previously we described that there are four natural divisions of society (in terms of work) - the educators/academics, the administrators/leaders, the businessmen/agriculturalists and finally the artists/workers. That's not to say that people can't be a mix of these four - they certainly can! In fact, nowadays it's hard to find someone who has just the nature of an educator, leader etc..

It commonly happens that we can easily do the work of another extremely well, even if it's not in our nature (i.e. an artist might be excellent at typing). Thinking that it's easier to find a job typing, that person might give up their art. Krsna says here - don't do it! By engaging one's nature, it not only promotes a sense of fulfillment but allows one to naturally advance in bhakti

These masks can act as tools, rather than obstacles, if we know how to properly use them in our journey of self-discovery.

The body and our individual natures are not bad. After all, they are gifts given to us by the Supreme. It's how we utilize them that makes all the difference.

By working with an attitude of appreciation and detachment, we can offer our talents and gifts in gratitude to the Supreme. Similarly, we can utilize our body to glorify the Supreme through song, prayers and our very existence. These bhakti processes allow us to work with what we've got, instead of rejecting them. Like we've said so many times before - bhakti is about transformation, not simply negation.

It's up to us what we do with these masks - we can stay covered by them, or use them to free ourselves. What do you choose?

aversion and attachment

Verse 3.34: There are principles to regulate attachment and aversion pertaining to the senses and their objects. One should not come under the control of such attachment and aversion, because they are stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization.

On any path one follows, there are challenges and obstacles. Identifying these challenges is a key step to becoming successful in any endeavor we choose to pursue.

Now I don't know about you, but I've always felt that life should come with an instruction manual. That manual would contain clear guidelines as to how we can lead happy lives; as well, it would include a listing of all the unexpected trials, tribulations, twists and turns we are to encounter.

Imagine my surprise when I first read the Gita - I had found it! My guidebook for life! Within its pages, the Gita speaks at length as to how we can become happy. Equally important, it warns us of the problems we may face as living souls inhabiting a temporary body.

Now the Gita doesn't get into specifics...although sometimes it certainly does seem like it's been written specifically for me! Instead, it does one better.

The Gita empowers an individual.

For most of us, our issue is that we tend to look outside instead of looking in. In other words, we think we are so many "external" things - I am male, female, my mind, my body, my intelligence, my senses etc etc... We neglect who we really are- the soul.

In order to successfully live a happy life, we need to become cognizant of those things that can prevent us from achieving the goal of self-realization. After all, if we don't know who we are, how can we relate to anything/anyone else properly? Two such obstacles are identified today - the senses and their objects.

In a previous post we spoke at length discriminating between regulating and repressing one's senses. In concluding that topic, this perspective was offered:

Regulation isn't a lack of freedom. A lack of freedom is being bound by the dictates of our mind and senses and constantly succumbing to them. True freedom is being able to make a choice.

That being said...it doesn't just end there. See it's not just about the senses and their objects, it's how we relate to them. As today's verse describes, we can essentially categorize our interaction with them via these two adjectives - attachment and aversion.

Now, as many of you might have noticed, the Gita doesn't give everything away all at once. It slowly builds on points so that we get an opportunity to digest it all.

From the senses and sense objects that we can perceive and easily relate to, we now are moving on to a more subtle sphere. After all, it's easier to control our hands, tongue, ears, eyes and nose, but it's much harder to control whether we become attached to or averse of something.

That takes more than just knowledge. Knowledge may help us in practicing regulation, but it is only realization that can release us from the control of these two characteristics.

And what is that realization? That we are not this body. After all - attachment and aversion arises as a result of how something, someone or a situation affects or interacts with the body. It has nothing to do with the soul which is eternal and spiritual.

Wake up! You're under a spell...

Verse 3.29: Bewildered by the modes of material nature, the ignorant fully engage themselves in material activities and become attached. But the wise should not unsettle them, although these duties are inferior due to the performers' lack of knowledge.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be under a spell? If you haven't realized it yet, it might come as a shock. Most of us are living under one!

We are under the spell of the three modes of material nature.

These modes, otherwise known as influences or qualities, affect us all the time. Our moods, our activities, our choice in music, food, association - you name it and we're influenced.

So why is it that we are influenced by the characteristics of goodness, passion and ignorance? In Chapter 14 of the Gita, Krsna will explain this in greater depth. The answer is simple though - it's because most of us identify ourselves with the body. Since we identify with the material and temporary body, we are influenced by the material and temporary modes of material nature.

There is good news however: it's a breakable spell!

The secret to breaking the spell has already been elucidated, but it's worth mentioning again. The spell of these three material qualities is powerless the moment we start to realize that we are eternal souls. Material influences are no match for the eternal.

If you're thinking "Easier said than done!" you're right. Well...at least partially. ;) After all, after lifetimes of identifying with the material, a paradigm shift is now required. After focusing on the external for so long, trying to reconcile the truth that happiness truly lies within can be difficult.

It is difficult, nearly impossible for one to realize and act as a soul...that is, if you try to do it yourself.

That's why the practices of bhakti yoga are cultivated and done in the company of other aspiring bhakti yogis. Whether it be kirtan (mantra meditation to music), reading the bhakti texts, eating food offered in love to the Divine or praying - it's done together because there is power in numbers.

It also serves as a great help when our minds start flipping out on us. We have friends and well-wishers who gently remind us that we're under a spell and encourage us by their own example how to get out.

To fight the spell of the three modes of material nature we need all the help we can get. All the facility is out there...the question remains - are you ready to wake up from the spell?

a win-win situation

Verse 3.28: One who is in knowledge of the Absolute Truth, O mighty-armed, does not engage himself in the senses and sense gratification, knowing well the differences between work in devotion and work for fruitive results.

Today was a day of productive reflection for me. Despite it being Saturday, I was able to knock off several things from my to-do list. Item 2 was taking time out to introspect and take stock of everything that's been going on lately.

One of my contemplations was the fact that often we are presented with lose-lose scenarios. We may want to speak the truth, but it's at the cost of a friendship or we may want to pursue our particular path in life but it's at the disapproval of friends and loved ones. There are innumerable scenarios such as these that we encounter and it's often hard to swallow.

Now if you were presented with a win-win situation, wouldn't you just jump at it? That's exactly what working in gratitude is all about. Right now, whether we are conscious of it or not, many of us perform work with the intention of enjoying the results. Looking at it from a subjective perspective, it actually seems quite reasonable. After all, if we put in the effort and time to do something, it only seems fair that get to take credit for the outcome, right?

That perspective is just a snapshot. It's not a holistic picture of what is actually going on. Most of us in fact realize that the talents and abilities that we use to perform our work are blessings from the Supreme. However, the challenge is in actually recognizing and acknowledging that on a day to day basis. Granted, it's hard to do so when we are constantly bombarded by material society trying to convince us that we are in control and everything is "mine".

Constant exposure to this type of consciousness can make us forget that:

Our talents, abilities and gifts are all blessings that have been given to us by the Divine.

Bhakti yoga helps us clear away the fog of misconception that we are in control. It reminds us that life is about connection, service and gratitude. By living our lives in such a way, we start to re-connect with our selves and the Divine in a spirit of appreciation.

That's choosing the win-win option.

Whatever work we perform carries with it some karma, whether it be good or bad. That karma binds us to the temporary, material body. Instead, we can continue to perform work but with the consciousness of offering it as our appreciation to the Divine for everything He has given us. By shifting our consciousness to one of gratitude, we incur NO karma. That's right...no more ties to temporary, material world!

Such win-win situations are very rare. The best part about this one is the fact that nothing externally changes. It's all about what's going on inside - in your heart and in your mind. The option is out there. Will you choose win-win?

don't be fooled by what you see

Verse 3.25: As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, the learned may similarly act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading people on the right path.

The Gita speaks of four limitations that all embodied beings face. They are:

1. tendency to cheat others
2. tendency to commit mistakes
3. tendency to fall under illusion
4. having to deal with imperfect senses

It should be noted that these conditions are attributed to the body, NOT the soul. In fact, if anyone feels slighted or even put off by this fact, take comfort in knowing that in no way do these characteristics reflect who you really are. The soul is above these limitations as it is full of eternity, knowledge and bliss.

This knowledge is there to open our eyes to the fact that identifying with the body isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Yoga goes beyond the body and is about making soul connections. Often, when we try to connect with one another, we use our senses to interpret and understand what the other is saying.

In reading today's verse, the limitation of having to deal with imperfect senses really jumped out at me. If we solely rely on our senses to determine what is truth and what isn't, this will invariably limit our ability to understand a person, place or situation effectively. Although actions do normally give a greater glimpse into what a person is thinking or feeling, it's not always the case.

It's especially not the case for those who are practicing bhakti yoga. Living a life of gratitude and detachment by offering the results of one's work may appear externally similar to one who is completely attached to the results of their work. (i.e. two people can work the exact same job, but their consciousness may be so different). If we simply rely on our senses to understand one another, we can land in trouble because:

Consciousness is not something that can be perceived by the eyes.

Acknowledging that we face these limitations, that come hand in hand with owning a material body, actually helps the aspiring yogi to interact with the world more effectively. It reminds them that there is more to life than just the externals.

To be clear, the body itself is in no way bad. It's our attachment to identifying with the body that causes us unnecessary pain and difficulty.

When we realize that the body is an instrument by which we can utilize our talents to do good in the world and offer the results in gratitude to the Divine, we won't ever have to worry about being fooled by our senses. We'll be taking our first step to living a soul-full life. ;)

yoga and leadership

Verse 3.22: O son of Pṛthā, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anything — and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties.

Krsna, the speaker of the Gita, is known as Yogesvara. The name Yogesvara refers to the one who is the master of all mystic powers and the greatest of all yogis.

For all those of you who consider yourselves to be practitioners of yoga (or aspiring practitioners), this verse is of great importance since it teaches a key lesson in leadership. And for the rest of you, by the end this post you might realize that yourself are an aspiring yogi!

But before we get to that, I'd like to ask all of you a question today:

What does the word yoga mean?

I'm sure something came to your mind...so hang on to it! As many of you may know, Sanskrit is a complex language where one word may have several meanings. The context a word is used in is just as important as the many meanings it may have. That being said, there is always an essence or root from which each word stems from and for the word yoga that is: to link up

Link up in the sense of establishing relationships. The first step starts with establishing a relationship between the body and soul by recognizing they are different. After all it takes a minimum of two things to even have a relationship! By recognizing that difference, then it becomes easier to understand how they relate with one another (a key to any successful relationship). In conjunction with understanding that relationship, as one progresses, the linking aspect goes deeper.

It's about making soul to soul connections.

That's what we all crave and what we are all seeking for, whether we are aware of it or not. Ultimately, the goal of yoga is to re-establish our loving and eternal connection with the Supreme.

That's why spiritual texts like the Gita are so invaluable - because it's not just anyone giving us practical guidance and help but the Supreme Himself.

Recognizing that aspiring yogis (i.e. persons who want to "link up") may need some step by step guidance, Krsna is not just telling us what to do, but showing us by His own example.

That is, He's walking the talk. In Chapter 2, we discussed at length the importance of performing work and the spirit in which one does so. One question that we didn't address there was - why do we even need to perform work? That answer is given today - to obtain things that we need (i.e. food, clothing, shelter etc...)

What's amazing is the fact Krsna, being the Supreme, doesn't need to obtain anything because He has everything! That is, there is no need for Him to do work. However, just to show us by example "how it's done", He does so.

This is what real leadership is all about. It's about recognizing the fact that actions inspire and motivate others and getting out there and doing what you speak!

what's your happiness dependent on?

Verse 3.18: A self-realized man has no purpose to fulfill in the discharge of his prescribed duties, nor has he any reason not to perform such work. Nor has he any need to depend on any other living being.

Why do we work? I ask since it's a question I pose to myself everyday! For the lucky ones' the answer may be as simple as they love what they do. For others, and I kid you not, it's simply to pass the time. For many though, the answer is money.

I've always felt the concept of money to be kind of silly. It's not as though the actual pieces of paper or coins are valuable. I understand that it represents something, but aside from that fact, it's curious to observe how obsessed society is with making money. In pondering this, I realized the reason for this obsession is actually rooted in the eternal quest to find happiness.

For many, money represents a way to find/buy happiness.

Being brought up in North America, a part of me had also become influenced by this notion. That's probably why I always felt disturbed by the "so-called" poverty in India, especially during my earlier visists. I remember thinking that the hut dwellers who lined the many bustling streets must live such unhappy lives.

However, as I grew older, I started to realize something - many of these individuals were happy! It totally shocked me. Sure, if they had the opportunity they would probably prefer a steady income and a better roof over their heads, but they were quite content even without it.

It was incredible to witness individuals whose happiness wasn't dependent on the objects and experiences that money can buy. Their happiness was invested in relationships and their faith in the Divine.

It's funny when you think about it, but sometimes those who materially have less, are actually spiritual millionaires.

That's exactly what the Gita is teaching us today. A true yogi is not dependent on work, money, or even their senses to be happy. All of those things will be taken away from us when we leave this body. A true yogi's happiness is found within. They are always satisfied and blissful knowing that they are spiritual beings and have an eternal connection with the Divine .

bhakti yoga and cheesecake have more in common than you think...

Verse 3.17: But for one who takes pleasure in the self, whose human life is one of self-realization, and who is satisfied in the self only, fully satiated — for him there is no duty.

Are you a lover of cheesecake? Up until a few years ago, I personally didn't care for it. Now, if you were to ask me, I would probably say that it's my favorite type of cake.

I mean c'mon...every layer is just amazing! From the fruit jam on top to the soft and decadent cream cheese centre, it's just so delicious. And the fact that it sits on a base of graham crackers....mmmm....just perfect! Personally, I find it to be an ideal culinary combination of textures, flavours and consistency.

Why the sudden need to highlight my love for cheesecake, you ask? For the simple fact that when I read today's verse it immediately reminded me of cheesecake and I thought, "Cheesecake can act as perfect analogy for bhakti yoga!"

Like the fruit topping which is very visually appealing, the external aspects of bhakti yoga are also attractive and engaging. Whether it be the various asanas (physical poses), to the kirtan aspect (mantra meditation to music ) or even the enlivening sangas (talks and discussions on bhakti), most people would agree that it's a fun process!

But if one goes deeper into bhakti yoga, one finds even greater fulfillment. Again, the parallel can be drawn to the second layer of a cheesecake. A well made cream cheese filling is dichotomous in nature since one may experience it to be light and fluffy but at the same time find it very filling.

With respect to today's verse, this second layer of bhakti could be compared to a person working in line with their proclivities and qualities and offering the results of that work in gratitude to the Supreme. Like the cream cheese filling it may seem contradictory at first (i.e. how can something light and fluffy be filling!). After all, one continues to do the same work, but now it's spiritual simply because one's attitude changes? Yes, it's true! All it takes is a shift in consciousness to transform something so mundane as work from material to spiritual.

***For those interested in this topic, a great deal has already been explored with respect to working in line with one's nature, most of which was discussed in Chapter 2 (i.e. embracing opportunities).

But today we get to delve into a deeper level of bhakti yoga and that is actually realizing that all happiness can actually be found within. Just like a cheesecake needs a firm foundation to build upon, the foundation bhakti rests on is that of - every living entity is a soul. Furthermore, eternal happiness is an inherent characteristic of the soul. The only reason that we may not be experience that limitless happiness is due to the fact that we identify ourselves to be the body, mind and senses. That's what is being described here today:

"For one who actually realizes and acts on the platform of 'I am the soul', there is no need for them to perform any type of work."

Why is that? Because those proclivities and qualities one may engage to perform work relate to the body, not the soul. The soul only possesses two qualities: to desire and to serve the Supreme.

Ultimately, this is the goal of bhakti - to realize we are eternal souls. However, like anything worthwhile, it doesn't come easy. It takes time and focused effort through the process of associating with advanced bhakti practitioners, reading the bhakti texts and engaging in mantra mediation. The great thing? All of these processes are fun and inspiring!

One important thing to remember is that although the Gita is highlighting the top goal, it's not encouraging us to artificially imitate or "cheat" to get there. If we are caught up in thinking and relating to ourselves as the body, that's ok. We can continue to work according to our nature and offer everything in gratitude. Gradually, by doing that, we will start to experience ourselves as souls. This verse is here as a reminder to let us know there's something even higher.

p.s. Here's to hoping that you view cheesecake in a new light - one filled with bhakti!

what type of karma do you choose?

Verse 3.9: Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.

If you had a choice, what would you choose - good or bad karma?

Whether we realize it or not, that's the question we face on a daily basis. Sometimes, however, the best choice may not be the one that has been presented, which is exactly the case here. That's why the Gita is offering us the other option. The one that many of us would not have thought of.

Good karma is definitely the way to go if the options were only limited to good and bad. But even then, there's something important to realize. The thing with good and bad karma, is that they both bind one to a temporary material body. That's because we don't always receive our karma in the body we are inhabiting in presently. Simply put, if we do something good, we may not reap that benefit now.

The goal of bhakti yoga is to free ourselves from the captivity of impermanence which is what we face here in the material world. Why is that? Because we are eternal souls and therefore all the temporality we experience doesn't sit right with any of us and that's why we are always longing for ever-lasting pleasure.

So whether it be good or bad karma, it still serves to trap us in an endless cycle of impermanence. The key to escaping this prison is by performing akarmic activities, those that result in no karma. The amazing aspect of performing akarmic work is the fact that it doesn't require one to give up their occupation or their talents. All it requires is a shift in consciousness.

This topic was briefly discussed in Chapter 2 when we discussed the secret behind working without attachment to the result. Instead of acting in a consciousness of "it's all for me", instead we work in a spirit of gratitude. Now we get a better understanding of why this consciousness shift actually benefits us. As Krsna says, it's because we will always remain free from bondage by working in this way. Or in other words, it won't tie us to having to take birth in another material body.

So....the choice is yours. The next time someone asks you whether you would choose good or bad karma, go ahead and choose akarma! That's the path by which we can experience our eternally blissful true selves.

lessons from the ocean

Verse 2.70: A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires — that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still — can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

Waves and salt, power and grace, mysterious yet serene - these are some of the images and words that come to mind when I think of the ocean. In fact, as yogis have discovered, the ocean has a soothing effect on many. It puts one back in touch with nature and many have often said that just looking upon it helps puts things into perspective.

It is no wonder then that the Gita refers to it specifically. However, as with everything, the Gita pulls out a supremely deep lesson we can take away from the ocean - the lesson of steadiness. As we are coming to the close of Chapter 2 which is aptly entitled "Contents of the Gita Summarized", everything that has been explained thus far is being put together into the comprehensive and holistic process known as bhakti yoga.

Krsna began with explaining that we are eternal souls who are wearing a dress of a particular body. This was followed by stressing the importance of performing one's activities in accordance with one's nature in a spirit of gratitude. Invaluable truths were presented as to the nature of the mind and the secret science of learning how to control the process of attachment.

The Gita now speaks of how this all interlocks together, through the process of bhakti yoga. It is only after understanding these various truths and realizing them (through practical application in our own lives) that we can become undisturbed. Such a person remains equipoised irregardless of their external surroundings and the inner chaotic demands of their minds.

We can learn how this is done by just observing the ocean. The ocean is always full, just as we are. Although we are externally searching for happiness, happiness is already within. The soul is always blissful. Due to wearing this external body we are currently inhabiting, we have become habituated into thinking that happiness is something that is experienced through the senses. True happiness is not experienced through the senses, mind or intelligence. It is experienced through the soul.

By understanding this fundamental truth, we can remain steady, just like the ocean. Although various rivers may keep pouring water into it, the ocean isn't dependent on them to feel full. Similarly, although we may be subjected to various desires, if we understand that satisfying those demands isn't the path to eternal happiness, then we will remain calm. It's important to remember, as the great bhakti master Prabhupada highlights:

"As long as one has the material body, the demands of the body for sense gratification will continue. The bhakti yogi, however, is not disturbed by such desires, because of his fullness. Such a person is not in need of anything, because the Lord fulfills all his material necessities. Therefore he is like the ocean — always full in himself."

This is the secret. The Gita teaches us that "it's ok to let go." We don't always need to be in control. By performing our actions in a spirit of gratitude for all that we have been given, we start to realize that the Divine is always helping us. He is providing for every living creature from the little ant to the gigantic elephant. So why are we so worried that He won't take care of us?

When we start living our lives in such a way, it only becomes natural that the we "stop sweating the small stuff". Instead, we start introspecting and putting our energy and effort into what really matters - our connection with the Supreme. Of course, that doesn't mean that we neglect ourselves, our job or our family and friends, it just means that we realize that true happiness exists on the soul level, not just on the level of the senses.

anchoring our consciousness

Verse 2.67: As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence.

Here, the Gita is so beautifully illustrating the characteristics of the senses. Like the wind, they can be strong, forceful and unexpected. Previously compared to a snake, the senses can charm us, deceive us and strike us when we are at our weakest.

This is the Gita at it's best- practical and relatable. It puts concepts and ideas that we may have trouble grasping, into perspectives we can relate to. Since many of us identify ourselves with our senses, it can be hard for some of us to realize that the senses often control us, as opposed to the other way around. In this case, when the senses are compared to things we have personally observed or heard about, it encourages us to look at them from a different perspective. Instead of forcing us "to accept the truth", the Gita instead guides us to discover it for ourselves.

So what is it that can prevent us from being carried away by our wind-like senses? An anchor. Something heavy and solid that will ground us. Sometimes, yogis mistakenly think that the only way to anchor the senses is to stop them from functioning altogether. For most of us, this is next to impossible and highly impractical when thinking long term cessation. The Gita presents a more practical approach which doesn't prevent the boat of our body from moving or functioning normally. Instead of stopping everything in order to control the senses, the Gita teaches us to anchor our consciousness. Instead of letting our consciousness run wild with the "what's in it for me" attitude infusing all our actions and behaviour, instead we anchor our consciousness to the Divine. Just like the wind can be harnessed for electricity and power, similarly our senses can be harnessed to engage in activities that further us in our path of self-realization.

Instead of just giving in to the random demands of the body, we can act with the understanding that true happiness lies in satisfying the needs of the soul, not just the body. This brings about balance in one's life. One cannot artificially ignore the demands of the body, but one should also not neglect the soul which is screaming for nourishment and attention. By harnessing the senses, one can live a life of balance where both body and soul are looked after properly.

are you an addict?

Verse 2.59: The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.

What did you answer to that question? As I began writing this, I started off with one answer and half-way through I changed my mind. Maybe you'll have the same experience?

The Gita explains that we are all addicts. The problem is that most of us don't even know it. Since we are unaware that there is a problem, it's near impossible to rectify it.

If that's the case, what is it that we are addicted to? Two words - sense enjoyment. As embodied souls this is the primary way by which we try to derive pleasure. Whether it be through eating something tasty, seeing something beautiful or hearing a beautiful piece of music, there are innumerable ways by which we try to derive satisfaction through our senses.

This might cause one to ask the question, "Are you trying to say that there is something wrong with trying to feel pleasure?" To which the Gita unequivocally replies - NO! Confused yet? On one hand the Gita is saying that sense enjoyment is our problem but then it also says that it isn't wrong for us to try to experience pleasure. What gives?!

Dilemmas such as this one tend to confuse many of us and even the most sincere readers of the Gita may feel tempted to give up at times. That's why it is so important to ask questions and learn from those who have themselves studied the Gita from great bhakti teachers. It's a beautiful lineage. Each teacher is a student (since they have learned from a realized Gita practitioner themselves) and each student has the capacity to become a teacher (since they are being equipped to realize the Gita properly). If one learns in this way, the tendency to misinterpret great texts like the Gita can be reduced and avoided.

That is why we are so lucky to have Prahupada, the translator of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, explain these potential areas of misunderstanding. That being said, let's address the present confusion. It isn't wrong for for us to try to seek pleasure because the soul is inherently blissful by nature. That is our constitutional position. Just like the inherent nature of fire is to be hot, the intrinsic characteristic of the soul is to be happy.

So why then is the Gita saying that not seek pleasure through sense enjoyment? As you may remember, sense enjoyment leads most of us to further misidentifying ourselves with this body we are currently in. That's the problem. It interferes with our ability to realize that we are already blissful!

The body, without the soul, is dead matter and all the things the body interacts are often done with a material consciousness. When most of us interact even with each other, our consciousness is not normally one of, "I am relating with another eternal spirit soul". Or if we interact with objects and things, we're often not consciously thinking, "I am interacting with the energy of the Divine." Instead, often unbeknownst to us, we may actually be interacting with the consciousness of ownership, possessiveness, and trying to extract pleasure for ourselves. Of course, not this is not applicable to all, but it's worth taking the time to introspect and determine if our actions and interactions are coloured by such consciousness.

So what is one to do? The senses are active and therefore one cannot artificially repress them. The only thing that can be done is to purify the senses. How so? By adopting the consciousness that was put forth before. When interacting with one another, to recognize that there is a soul inside and by seeing all inanimate things as energies of the Divine that can be used in spiritual service.

A lot more can be said on this topic, and will be elaborated on as we journey through the Gita. But coming back to the original question. Are you an addict? If you're curious to know my answer...my original answer was yes. But in diving deeper into the Gita, I realize the answer is yes and no. LOL! No, I'm not an addict, because "I" am an eternal soul who is naturally blissful. However, considering the fact that my currently tendency is to identify "myself" as the body, I am still an addict because I am still working on purifying my senses.