Bhagavad Gita Online Course

Bhagavad Gita is not the science of a particular community. It is the universal science of the soul. It is a science that compels us to embrace divinity and divine qualities. All other bodies of knowledge are subject to change but this body of knowledge contained in Bhagavad Gita is timeless - eternal.

One of the five topics discussed in Bhagavad Gita is God. This lesson is all about God – Does God exist? Those who do agree that He exists also say that God is great! How great is He? That is something that very few people know. God is infinite! Everybody knows. What is the measure of this infiniteness? Hardly one knows. In this lesson, we will provide some empirical evidences to establish the existence of God. Then the authority of Holy Scriptures and holy seers will be presented further substantiating the existence of God. In the process of understanding the concept of infinity, we will establish how 'Krishna concept of God' (Infiniteness) is Absolute and will be dealt in this lesson based on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita.

In this lesson, we will describe how this inconceivable infinity is also the transcendental person in His original state. Before understanding Krishna as He is, one has to leave many misconceptions about Him. For example, God is not power, rather He is most powerful or the source of all power. Power is just one of his opulence.Some people say that nature is God but that is also not true. According to Bhagavad Gita Nature is Krishna's energy and works under His dominion. Also the idea that Lord Krishna is also one of the many demigods is incorrect. Lord Krishna is the source of all demigods, who assist Him in various worldly affairs. Being the Supreme Person he also has all personal traits such as His Divine Name, Divine Form, Divine Qualities and Divine Abode.

In this lesson, we will discuss in detail on the qualities of the individual spirit soul and how it can transcend from the state of ignorance to knowledge. A learned person must learn how to ascertain the difference between a dead body and a living body. Technically the knowledge starts when one introspects the difference between the spirit (soul) and the matter. Also the age old question whether reincarnation is real or not is answered in detail in this lesson.

You are conscious of so many things around you. You are conscious of your bank balance, your relationship with near and dear ones, your life and death situations, your ambitions and so forth. But you are not conscious of your conscious-self. Why? In this lesson, the distinction between matter and consciousness as taught by Lord Krishna will be further deliberated upon. Also, the difference between pure and impure consciousness is discussed to understand the true nature of the soul.

Nowadays, yoga is popularly presented to the world as some form of physical and breathing exercise that can help to keep the body fit. However until and unless one connects oneself to the Absolute Truth, the process is not yoga according to the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna has prescribed different yoga systems such as Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga, Dhyan Yoga and Bhakti Yoga by which if one acts, self — realization is guaranteed. Often people ask what one's duty is. So, in this lesson, we will learn about different yoga systems which when properly understood can ascertain a person his/her duty.

Lord Krishna, the Absolute Truth is infinitely opulent, pervades as a person all across totality of existence and is beyond mundane senses. No sophisticated instrument, be it a powerful telescope or any atomic force microscope, can help one to see either the soul or Supersoul, but they can be perceived through spiritual senses. In other words, topics regarding soul and Krishna are not within the purview of mundane senses. This knowledge has to be realized in atman or self, using the transcendental senses. It is spirit, that is the basis of matter, and not vice versa. Hence, spiritual knowledge or transcendental knowledge is the basis of all knowledge. In this lesson, we describe the different processes of acquiring knowledge. Then it explains how to acquire transcendental knowledge and it prescribes the attitude in which a student should approach this process.

In Kali yuga, very few are capable of performing dhyana yoga as the person has to take shelter of a secluded place, mostly in Himalayas. Gyana yoga — the process of separating spirit from matter by analysis — can be practiced by a few only and is very difficult to perform. In essence, only karma yoga and bhakti yoga are easy to practice in this age. Among all yoga systems, Bhakti yoga is the top-most yoga system as Lord Krishna has Himself declared.

Why do we see so many varieties of living entities in this material world and their different works, taste, preferences, habits, climates, languages, geography and clothing? These type of questions will be answered in this lesson. Within the material world, living entities are driven by the three modes of material nature, namely, goodness, passion and ignorance. Everybody is forced to act helplessly under these three modes. This lesson will discuss the nature of the three modes, and the process of getting freed from the influence of these modes. In the end, you will also be able to evaluate your Gita Personality Index based on what mode you are in.

Unless we are connected to Krishna through a bonafide yoga system, i.e. Karma yoga, Dhyana yoga, Jnana yoga, or Bhakti yoga, every action performed by us binds us to the cycle of birth and death. The last chapter of Bhagavad Gita is titled as The Perfection of Renunciation. The actual renunciation is to see everything in relation to the Lord. In this lesson, we will reflect upon the proper sense of renunciation and how to use that in the service of the Lord. Since this will be our concluding lesson in this series, we will summarize all that we have discussed in this course.