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purity, honesty, continence, and nonviolence: these are the disciplines of the body.
To offer soothing words, to speak truly, kindly, and
helpfully, and to study the scriptures: these are the dis...
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Calmness, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, and purity: these are the d...
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Disciplines practiced in order to gain respect, honor, or
admiration are rajasic; they are undependable and transitory in their effects.
If he wholeheartedly takes refuge in the Lord within, then through Krishna’s grace he will find peace.
The sacred act of giving spiritual instruction cannot be undertaken lightly.
To renounce one’s responsibilities is not fitting.
But to fulfill your responsibilities knowing that they are obligatory, while at the same time desiring nothing for yourself – this is sattvic renunciation.
They are not intimidated
by unpleasant work, nor do they seek a job because it is pleasant.
Those who are attached to personal reward will reap the consequences of their actions: some pleasant, some unpleasant, some mixed. But those who renounce every desire for
personal reward go beyond the reach of karma.
Listen, Arjuna, and I will explain the five elements necessary for the accomplishment of every action, as taught by the wisdom of Sankhya. 14 The body, the means, the ego, the performance of the act, and the divine will: 15 these are the five factors in all actions, right or wrong, in thought, word, or deed.
The person who is free from ego, who has attained purity of heart, though he slays these people, he does not slay and is not bound by his action.
Sattvic knowledge sees the one indestructible Being in all beings, the unity underlying the multiplicity of creation.
Rajasic knowledge sees all things and creatures as separate and distinct.
Tamasic knowledge, lacking any sense of perspective, sees one small part and mi...
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Work prompted by selfish desire or self-will, full of stress, is rajasic.
Rajasic workers have strong personal desires and crave rewards for their actions.
To know when to act and when to refrain from action, what is right action and what is wrong, what
brings security and what insecurity, what brings freedom and what bondage: these are the signs of a sattvic intellect.
The tamasic will shows itself in obstinate ignorance, sloth, fear, grief, depression, and conceit.
Pleasure from the senses seems like nectar at first, but it is bitter as poison in the end.
and the firm resolve never to retreat from battle.
By performing one’s own work, one worships the Creator who dwells in every creature. Such worship brings that person to fulfillment.
Every action, every activity, is surrounded by defects as a fire is surrounded by smoke.
Unerring in discrimination, sovereign of the senses and passions, free from the clamor of likes and dislikes, 52 such a one leads a simple, self-reliant life based on meditation,
controlling speech, body, and mind.
Free from self-will, aggressiveness, arrogance, anger, and the lust to possess people or things, they are at peace with themselves and others and enter into the unitive state.
All their acts are performed in my service,
Make every act an offering to me; regard me as your only protector.
Relying on interior discipline, meditate on me always.
The Lord dwells in the hearts of all creatures and whirls them round upon the wheel of maya.
Be aware of me always,
make every act an offering to me,
Abandon all supports and look to me for protection. I shall purify you from the sins of the past; do not grieve.
Have you listened with attention? Are you now free from your doubts and confusion?
I will do your will.
Whatever is the content of the mind at the moment of death determines the direction of the soul’s rebirth.
whatever has been the bedrock of consciousness during life will be remembered at the time of death and lead the soul on to fulfill that desire in the next life.
Amrita, “immortal,” comes from a “not” and mrita “mortal.”
“Cast off your dependency on everything external, Arjuna, and rely on the Self alone.”
the divine play of the Lord disguising himself as the many beings of this world.
Nirvana [nir “out”; vana “to blow”] Complete extinction of self-will and separateness; realization of the unity of all life.
prajna [from jna “to know” ] A transcendental mode of knowing developed in deep meditation.
samsara The world of flux; the round of birth, decay, death and rebirth.
