The Practical

Application Of
Gita In our
Lives
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

In B.G. Krishna says,

“Jnana vijnanam sahitam
sa jnytva mokshyase subhat”

Jnana(Theoretical knowledge) becomes

Vijnana(Realized knowledge) when put into
practice.

Or else it is useless.

Eg.Not sitting on train after purchasing a ticket

Not taking medicine after receiving from
doctor
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita to
• In order to show the world that this
Arjuna
timeless
message is meant not only for
renunciates
• But also for householders with family and
social responsibilities
• Who have an occupation and are
bewildered about proper execution of their

duty
• While pursuing the ultimate goal of life
– self-realization
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT
SPIRITUAL LIFE
• Spiritual life is retirement program
• Spiritual life means to give up everything
SPIRITUAL LIFE AS PER
BHAGAVAD-GITA
• Gita tells us how to live dynamically. This
knowledge should be given at the age of
five so one can live his life perfectly
“Kaumaro acaret prajno…..”

• Spiritual life does not mean that we give up

everything but add Krishna to our life
We don’t have to change anything but our
consciousness
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

Why Gita was spoken on the

Battlefield?
• Krishna wanted to show us the
importance
of Gita. This knowledge has to utilized
during the most critical time of our life
• Would have Arjuna taken out time if it
were
not important
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
We don’t have Krishna To Guide
us?
In B.G.4.2 Krishna says, “Evam parampara..”
• Srila Prabhupada
brought that same
message to all of us in
the unbroken chain
of disciplic
succession.
• If we approach this knowledge as Arjuna
did we can have the same effect

How do we know if we are hearing

from the right source??
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
Qualifications of a bonafide spiritual
“By the mercy of guru one gets
master
Krishna and
by the mercy of Krishna one gets a
• Well
guru”
versed with the science of
Krishna
• Is connected with the parampara
SAMPRADAY
A
Samyat pradayate iti sampradaya

completely Handing over

 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
• Kumar -
• Brahma - Madhvacharya
Nimbarkacharya
• Rudra - • Sri -
Vishnuswami Ramanujacharya

Eg. - Getting degree from a recognized inst.

- Electricity connection.

How do we know if one is speaking

according to a sampradaya?
A bonafide spiritual master presents the
message without addition, subtraction and
concoction.
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

What is the proof that we are hearing

in parampara?
There is a change in our heart and our
lives
Otherwise it is simply a pious
entertainment
• Has realized the conclusion of
scriptures
by deliberation
• Fixed in devotional service to the supreme

• Has controlled his senses

• Is an acharya, following guru, sadhu &
Sastra
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
Qualifications of a
disciple
DISCIPLE – Ready to be disciplined
Example of farmer sowing a seed
In B.G.4.34 “tad-viddhi pranipatena………..
”
• complete surrender

• Inquisitive to know the truth

• humbly inquires with the service
attitude
In B.G.2.7 “Karpanya doshapahata……..”
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
Contributions of a bonafide
Acharya
Contributions of such as Acharya is
establishment of True temples which are
colleges of higher education, where one is
education and trained to perfect ones lives

What is a real temple?

A real temple is like a hospital
•Diagnosis of the disease – we have material body
•Cause of the disease – our envy & desire to
become controllers and enjoyers separate from
Krishna
•Line of treatment – “sarva dharman..” Surrender
•Medicine – “harer nama harer nama….”
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
A real temple teaches the
importance of
• Association of devotees

Who is a sadhu ?
“Titiksava karunika…”
• titiksava -
• karunika -merciful
tolerant
• suhrdam sarva dehinam – friend of all living
entities
• ajata satrava – no enemies

• santah – like an ocean

• sadhava – He is a walking scripture

• sadhu bhushanah – All good qualities

 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

• Dangers of materialitistic association

Shakespeare says,
“You tell me who your friends are and I will tell
you who you are”.

What does association mean??

Don’t reveal your heart to such people.

Television – The one eyed

guru!!
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

• Importance of acceptance of guidance

from a spiritual preceptor

Transparent via media of the lord.

He is not lord but a rep of the lord and repeats
the message of the lord and makes it
accessible
 The Practical
Application Of
Gita In our
Lives – PART II
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives
What does a Guru
Teach ?
1. How one can be Krishna
conscious in family life?

Lord Rshabhdev says,

Gurur na sasyat sva jano na sa syat
Pita na sa syaj janani na sa syat
Daivam na tat syan na patis ca sa syan
na mocayed samupetya mrtyum
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

What does a Guru Teach …..contd

2. Strictly follow the four

regulative principles

•No meat eating •No intoxication

•No gambling •No illicit sex

If you are not following these

things don’t worry !!!

Just take up the positives and

negatives will go automatically
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

What does a Guru Teach …..contd

3. Moral and Spiritual Honesty

Q. What is moral and spiritual
honesty?
A. Being moral and honest to Krishna
real morality and honesty
• Real morality is “yatra yogeshwara
Krishna..”
• Highest principle is living as per Krishna’s
instructions.
• Krishna says,
“aham tvam sarva papebhyo………...”
Eg of 4 theives…
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

Q. What is Definition of morality?

A. Morality is a standard of activity by
which the supreme authority (Krishna)
is satisfied.
For a higher principle lower principle can be
given up
Example of Kaushik muni

Gita speaks of standard morality which is

immortal

i.e. living a pure and simple

life to satisfy Krishna
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

What does a Guru Teach …..contd

4. Charity

Krishna says in BG 8.5,

“Yajna daan tapascaiva….”

Q. What is Charity?
Krishna says in BG that there are three
kinds of charity

• Charity in Mode of Ignorance

Giving the wrong thing to wrong person
in wrong place at wrong time
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

• Charity in Mode of Passion

Giving the right thing to right person in
right place at right time with wrong
motive
• Charity in Mode of Goodness
Giving the right thing to right person in
right place at right time with right
motive
All these three charities are
binding
Therefore the best
charity is
Transcendental
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

Q. What is Transcendental
Charity?
A charity by which we give Krishna to others
Example of Mr. Malhotra and Srila
Prabhupada
Transcendental charity means to give in such
a
way that somehow or other the person gets
Krishna.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,

“Praner arther diya vaca..”
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

What does a Guru Teach …..contd

5. How to dovetail your
occupation in devotional
service
“Big problem of 21st Century…we have
no time”

Guru give us the secret of……

How to make our home into a temple?

A temple has a chakra or flag at the top!

Example of Vidhan sabha

 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

How to transform our home into a

temple?
• Invite the lord in our home
If we have a place for the lord in the heart
then we will have a place for him in our
home
• Give him the best possible place in the
home
Example of Krishna in the closet of a big office

The Lord should be

established and
worshipped
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

How do we worship?

1. Establish an altar

2. Offer him food

Example of offering water to ganga

3. Offering aarti

4. Inviting family to participate

“A family that prays together stays
together”.
Example of throwing stones in a
lake
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

In Vedic culture joint families were

staying together

80% marriages in america end into a

divorce in first 3 years

Impact on Children
• First 3 years of life of Kids are crucial
like wet cement
• These spiritual activities leave lasting
impression upon the kids.
Example of old lady bringing her
grandson to the temple
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

Therefore,
it is very imp that we
establish a temple in our
home.
But,
There is a tendency that everything done
repeatedly for sometime becomes mechanical
How to protect ourselves from all our
activities
become ordinary mechanical material
activity?
By performing Sadhana..
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

What is Sadhana?
Those activities that re-spiritualize our
lives
From nowonwards everything is most
important

1. Japa – chanting the holy names of the lord

Q. Why should we chant on
beads?
1. Concentration
2. Regulation

Q. When should we chant?

Brahma-muhurt is the best time
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

2. Reading of Scriptures

3. Hearing from advanced devotees

The 4 Do’s - ABCD

A – Association of Devotees

B – Books – reading books

C – Chanting the names of
lord
D – Diet (Krishna Prasad)
 The Practical Application of Gita in our
Lives

Who is Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu ?