Session 6: Practical Application of Bhagavad Gita in Our Daily Life

SESSION 6
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF
BHAGAVAD GITA IN OUR DAILY
LIFE
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney
Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ISKCON SYDNEY Confidential
1
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Why Practice Krsna consciousness?
 We are not this body; we are spirit souls

 Each soul has an eternal, dynamic relationship with Krsna
 Our actual life is in the spiritual world with Krsna
 There are variegated services like singing,
dancing, playing etc., with Krsna

2
 This world is the prison house for those
inimical towards Krsna who suffer repeated
births and deaths
 Those who are intelligent take up Devotional
Service to revive their dormant Krsna
consciousness and go back to Krsna
 KC is taught by Krsna Himself as Lord
Caitanya in Kali yuga through Sankirtana
movement
3
What is Krsna Consciousness?
Krsna consciousness means chanting the
holy names, dancing in ecstasy, feasting Krsna
prasadam, associating with saintly devotees,
serving Krsna in His Deity form, appreciating
the beauty of the Deites, understanding
profound philosophy, hearing about Krsna and
preaching His glories.

4
Krsna consciousness
It is tried, tested and proven method
to achieve the perfection of life
Devotees develop all good qualities
through this - kind, tolerant, humble,
self-controlled, peaceful and
pleasing to all.

5
Deity Worship
 Deity is the beautiful form of the Lord
either in the temple or at our home, which
enables us to see Him and serve Him
 Arca Vigraha is an incarnation of the
Supreme Lord
 Arca Vigraha is a Deity of Krsna which is
installed according to the sastric standards
by a pure devotee of the Lord

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What form of Deity is to be worshipped?
Brahma Samhita verses 30

and 31 mention the form
of the Lord to be
worshipped by us
7
Venum kvanantam aravindadalayataksam
Barhavatamsam asitambhuda-sundarangam
Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham
Govindam adi purisam tamaham bajami
“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept

in playing the flute, with blooming eyes like lotus
petals with head decked with peacock’s feather,
with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of
blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming
millions of Cupids” [BS 30]

8
Alola-cadraka-lasad-vanamalya-vamsi
ratnangadam pranaya-keli-kala-vilasam
shyamam tri-bhanga-lalitam niyata-prakasam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose

neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with
the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with
the flute and jewelled ornaments, who always revels
in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending
form of Syamasundara is eternally manifest.” [BS 31]

9
Difference between Deity & Idol worship
IDOL WORSHIP DEITY WORSHIP
JUST A PIECE OF STONE THE SUPREME LORD IS
OR WOOD WHICH IS PRESENT IN THE DEITY
GIVEN SOME SHAPE
UNAUTHORISED BY AUTHORISED BY
SCIPTURES SCRIPTURES
PRODUCES NO EFFECT ONE WHO SERVES THE
ON THE WORSHIPPER DEITY, ADVANCES
SPIRITUALLY
10
POSTBOX EXAMPLE
 If we post our mails in authorised mail
boxes, the post will reach the destination
otherwise not.

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Similarly, Krishna has an
authorized representation
in the Deity form, which is
called ARCA VIGRAHA.
12
Mayavadis
 Followers of Mayavada or Impersonalism
 According to them, Krsna and Devotional
service to Him are products of maya
(illusion)
 They think that God is formless
 For them, everything is “one” and the goal
of spiritual life is to become “one with
God”
13
Vaisnava Acaryas,
especially
Sripad Ramanujacarya,
Sripad Madhvacarya and
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
oppose Mayavada which
has created havoc in the
spiritual lives of the people.
God is a person and all other living
beings are His servants eternally.
We should not try to become God
but simply accept our
subordination and surrender to
Him.
15
God is present everywhere.
He is present in everyone’s
heart. Why should one
restrict himself to temple
worship? What is the need of
going to temple? I can
worship Him within my heart.

16
“If God is
everywhere,
is He not in
the temple or
in the Deity?”

17
The Deity in the temple is an easy
way of approaching Krsna, and
express our love for Him, through
nine processes of devotional service
and by that receive more and more
mercy of the Lord in advancing in
spiritual life.
18
Prasadam
Prasadam is the food offered to Lord
Krsna
The devotees of Krsna vow that they
would never eat anything that is not
offered to Krsna first
Externally appears like any other food but
the difference is the purification that
comes about when one consumes
prasadam regularly.
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Offering foodstuffs with love
and devotion
Krsna is a person; We should offer through the
medium of love
Patram pushpam phalam toyam
Yo me bhaktya prayacchati
Tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
Asnami prayatatmanah
“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a
flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it” [B.G. 9.26]

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Krsna consciousness is very easy
and universal. Even the poorest of
the poor, without any kind of
qualification can offer a leaf or a
little water to the Supreme Lord in
genuine love and the Lord will be
pleased to accept it.
21
Krsna does not need anything;
He is the source of everything
Just like a father happily accepts

anything that a child offers to him
with love, Krsna becomes pleased
with our love. Krsna provides us
everything, and still He accepts our
offering when we offer Him with
love.
22
Those who do not offer
food as a sacrifice, they
are verily eating only
sin
23
Yajna-sistasinah santo
mucyante sarva-kilbisaih
bhunjate te tv agham papa
ye pacanty atma-karanat
“The devotees of the Lord are released

from all kinds of sins because they eat food
which is offered first for sacrifice. Others,
who prepare food for personal sense
enjoyment, verily eat only sin” [B.G.3.13]
24
How does Krsna eat our offering?
 Krsna and His body are non-different.
 In the spiritual sphere there is no such difference
between the body and soul like in the material
world
 Krsna’s senses are transcendental and each sense
can perform the function of any other
 Krsna’s hearing the devotee’s loving words is
wholly identical with His eating and actually
tasting.
25
Krsna glances
upon the
material world
and impregnates
the material
world with living
entities
26
Bhoga: A medium to carry
our love to Krsna
Prasadam: A medium to
deliver Krsna’s mercy to
you
27
28
Sravanam
 Hearing of the holy name
 Krsna katha – 2 types:
1. Words spoken by Krsna –
Bhagavad Gita – (Krsna-
Upadesa)
2. Words spoken about Krsna –
Srimad Bhagavatam
29
Mac-citta mad gata-prana
bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantas’ ca mam nityam
tusyanti ca ramanti ca
“The thoughts of My pure devotees
dwell in Me, their lives are fully
devoted to My service and they
desire great satisfaction and bliss
from always enlightening one another
and conversing about Me”
30
One should regularly hear about Krsna in the
association of devotees from pure devotees
coming in unbroken chain of disciplic succession
and not from non-devotees who are
professional reciters of Scriptures.
One should give up the endeavor to understand
Krsna by speculative methods
One should learn to become the servant of
those who are in knowledge of the Supreme
Lord
31
Hearing about Krsna is a very powerful
transcendental method for purging the
mind of all misgivings like lust, pride,
anger, greed, envy and illusion.
The more one hears about Krsna, the
more one becomes enlightened and
detached from everything that draws
the mind away from Krsna.
32
Disease – Misidentification of
oneself with the body
Expert Treatment – Hearing of
transcendental activities of
Krsna
Appropriate Diet – Eating the
foodstuff offered to Krsna
33
Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad
bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-’bhiramat
ka uttamas’loka-gunanuvadat
puman virajyeta vina pas’u-ghnat
“Descriptions of the Lord spoken by those who

are free of material desires are the right
medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing
repeated birth and death, and they delight the
ear and the mind. Therefore who will cease
hearing such glorification of the Lord except a
butcher or one who is killing his own self?”
[S.B. 10.1.4]
34
Emperor Pariksit attained highest
perfection by Sravanam

35
Kirtanam
Chanting the holy name of the Supreme
Lord
In Kali-yuga chanting of Hare Krsna maha
mantra is recommended
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
36
Scriptural Evidences
for chanting Holy
names

37
Krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad hari-kirtanat
“The self realisation which was achieved in the
Satya millennium by meditation, in the Treta
millennium by the performance of different
sacrifices, and in the Dvapara millennium by
worship of Lord Krsna, can be achieved in the
age of Kali simply by chanting the Holy names,
Hare Krsna” [S.B.12.3.52]
38
Life Duration in Different Ages
1. Satya Yuga – 1,00,000 years

2. Treta yuga – 10,000 years
3. Dvapara yuga – 1000 years
4. Kali yuga – 100 years

39
Dhyayan krte yajan yajnais
tretayam dvapare ‘rcayan
yad apnoti tad apnoti
kalau sankirtya kesavam
“In this age there is no use in
mediation, sacrifice and temple
worship. Simply by chanting the
holy name of Krsna, Hare Krsna
– one can achieve perfect self-
realisation.” [Visnu-Purana]
40
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
iti sodas’akam namnam
kali kalmasa-nasanam
natah parataropayah
sarva-vedesu drs’yate
41
“The 16 words – Hare Krsna, Hare
Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare
Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare
Hare – are especially meant for
counteracting the contaminations of
Kali. To save oneself from the
contamination of Kali, there is no
alternative but the chanting of these
16 words”. [Kali santarana Upanisad]
42
Kaler dosa-nidhe rajan
asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya
mukta-sangah param vrajet
“My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of

faults, there is still one good quality about this
age; simply by chanting the Hare Krsna Maha
Mantra, one can become free from material
bondage and be promoted to the
transcendental kingdom.” [S.B. 12.3.51]
43
Harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the
only means of deliverance is chanting of
the holy name of the Lord. There is no
other way. There is no other way. There is
no other way.” [ Brhan naradiya Purana]
44
Modern Man
Always disturbed
Misguided
Lazy
Quarrelsome
Have short lives
Unlucky
Chanting is the easy and sure method of self
realisation in this age
45
Chanting
 Very simple and sublime
 Can be done at any time, any where, by
anyone
 If done in a very humble mood,
considering oneself lower than a blade of
grass, being more tolerant than a tree,
devoid of all sense of false prestige, ready
to offer all respects to others, one can
become very peaceful and happy
46
Tasmat sarvesu kalesu
mam anusmara yudhya ca
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
mam evaisyasy asams’ayah
“Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the
form of Krsna and at the same time carry out
your prescribed duty of fighting. With your
activities dedicated to Me and your mind and
intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me
without doubt.” [B.G. 8.7]
47
Example
Father in office always thinking of his sick
child at home out of his natural affection

48
If any one says he has
absolutely no time to devote
for hearing and chanting,
‘sravanam, kirtanam’, he/she
should consider how he uses
his time and live in a different
way!
49
The case against Meat-eating
1. Meat is not an essential diet for
humans
2. Meat is an unnatural and unsuitable
diet for humans
3. Meat eating actually has harmful
effects on various aspects of human
life including lot of bad karma due to
slaughtering innocent animals
50
Effect of meat eating on the mind
1) Meat is the food in mode of passion

and ignorance which means it increases
lust and violence
2) Qualities of compassion, mercy, love
etc., are destroyed
3) Widespread violence in the world like
wars, terrorism, murder, rape,
vandalism etc., are mainly due to
slaughtering of animals for eating
51
Vegetarians kill too!
Fruits, nuts, milk etc., need no killing
Even if killing of plants required, the
pain involved is considerably less than
when an animal is slaughtered because
plants nervous system is less
developed
One living entity is food for another
Our food is vegetarian food
52
Human anatomical considerations
1. Have no claws
2. Perspire through millions of pores on skin
3. No sharp pointed front teeth
4. Well developed salivary glands (needed to
predigest grains, fruits)
5. Stomach acid 20 times less than meat eaters
6. Intestinal track 4 times longer than meat eater
other animals.

53
Health considerations
Numerous Potential Hazardous
Chemicals, preservatives, toxins
are present in meat and meat
products leading to Heart
disease and other diseases.
54
Nutritional Considerations
 Meat is not the only source of protein.
Dairy products, grains, beans, nuts are all
concentrated sources of protein
 Excess protein are stored as nitrogenous
wastes in the kidneys and burden them
 A proper vegetarian diet gives all the
nutrients that the human body requires

55
Higher Principle
Food we eat must just not be
vegetarian but also must be
offered to the Supreme Lord.
This protects us from any kind
of karmic reactions.

56
57
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Session 6: Practical Application of Bhagavad Gita in Our Daily Life

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SESSION 6

 We are not this body; we are spirit souls

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

Brahma Samhita verses 30

“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

Just like a father happily accepts

“The devotees of the Lord are released

“Descriptions of the Lord spoken by those who

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

1. Satya Yuga – 1,00,000 years

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

“My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

1) Meat is the food in mode of passion

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Sydney

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