The Living Gita Quotes

“When your intelligence is shaken by the conflicting opinions of others don’t get upset over it, because you know the truth. Just accept their opinions as mere words. You simply feel, “Yes, that’s what they feel. Let them feel that way.” It may appear to be conflicting, but you give the freedom to others to think the way they want and say what they want. The enlightened person is not affected by that.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“I am the same toward all beings. Before me, no one is hateful and no one is more or less cherished. However, those who lovingly worship me will realize that they are actually part of me and I live in them.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“Yield not to weakness. It does not suit you. Shake off this petty faintheartedness. Stand up, Scorcher of foes, wake up!”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“You haven’t harmonized your thought, word and deed. You are thinking one way, but speaking another and acting in still a different way.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“If a person knows not that he knows not, ignore him. If he knows that he knows not, go teach him. If he knows that he knows, go learn from him.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“However people sincerely call on me, I come to them and fulfill their hearts’ desires. They use many paths to reach me. It might sound philosophical, but we can make it a little clearer by saying that God, the Supreme One, the Incarnation, is not a person. Then what is God? Simplest to understand is that God is the peace in us. We are born with joy. We are peace and joy personified. We are purity personified. Unfortunately we seem to be ignoring that. We’re ignorant of our own true nature. So we run after things to make us happy and to find peace. Behind all our efforts, our basic motive is to find happiness and thus to find peace. All our actions are for that good. They need not be religious. We’re all working toward that happiness. Even all these wars, fights and competition are ways people look for happiness. Even when people steal things, they think they’re going to be happy by stealing. So the ultimate motive behind all our actions is to find that joy and peace. That’s what Krishna means when he says, “Whatever people do, ultimately their interest is in me.” When he says “me,” it means that peace: “I am that joy. I am eternal. Unfortunately many don’t realize that I, as peace, am already there in them.” Sometimes you put on your earrings and then forget them. Then you spend hours pulling out all the drawers until somebody comes, pinches your ears and says, “Here they are.” It’s the same way spiritually. Peace, or your true Self, is something subjective. You look about for it outside of you as some object, something different from you. That’s why you miss it. If occasionally you seem to be enjoying some happiness or peace, that’s nothing but a reflection of your own peace within.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“What’s the use of doing anything that’s too easy? Anybody can do it. The glory comes only when you do something others can’t easily do.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“Suppose a small child asks his uncle, “Who is that man with something hanging around his neck?” “He’s a doctor. That’s a stethoscope around his neck.” “Uncle, I want to be a doctor, too. Buy me a stethoscope.” It’s easy to copy. That’s why teachers do things that actually there’s no need for them to do. Their actions aren’t for their own sake, but to set examples for their students. If they stop doing these things, the students will immediately follow their example. That’s what Krishna is saying here.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers

“The great woman saint Avvayaar once said, “Even after having gone and sat under that boon-giving tree, if you ask for bitter fruit, that’s your destiny.” It’s ready to give everything, but it won’t give it to you unless you ask. And you should know what to ask for.”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita: a Commentary for Modern Readers