The Bhagavad Gita and Inner Transformation

Contents Preface xiii Acknowledgements xv Abbreviations xvii Introduction xix Poem: “Gita Synopsis” xxiii 1 YOGA OF ARJUNA’S SORROW 1 Arjuna Vishada Yoga Evolution and Liberation 4 The Value of Conflict 7 Essence of the Gita 8 Living in Dharma 9 2 YOGA OF ETERNAL WISDOM 11 Sankhya Yoga The Real and the Unreal 14 Three Laws of Vedanta 20 Knowledge and Practice 22 Yoga of the Higher Intelligence 23 Three Qualities of Matter 25 The Person of Steady Wisdom 28 3 YOGA OF ACTION 33 Karma Yoga The Value of Action 38 Desireless Action and the Ego 40 Preparing for Meditation 42 Action as Unification 43 Karma Yoga in Practice 46 Spiritual Work 47 Detaching From Desire 52 4 YOGA OF RENOUNCING ACTION IN KNOWLEDGE 55 Jnaa Karma Sannyasa Yoga Descent of the Avatar 59 Reincarnation 60 Knowing Reality 61 The Four Types 64 The Secret of Work 65 Sacrifice, Individual and Cosmic 67 Techniques of Sacrifice 70 The Power of Faith 74 5 YOGA OF RENUNCIATION THROUGH ACTION 77 Karma Sannyasa Yoga Renouncing Desire 80 Action for Integration 82 The Joy of Harmony 84 Action as Duty 86 The Way of Knowledge 88 Beyond Mind 91 The Freedom of Meditation 93 6 YOGA OF MEDITATION 95 Dhyana Yoga Renunciation of Agency 99 Self Effort 101 Equality, Love and Self Control 102 The Way of Meditation 103 Freedom from Sorrow 107 True Empathy 109 Effort is Never Wasted 111 Reflections on Meditation 111 7 YOGA OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM 115 Jnana Vijnana Yoga Matter and Spirit 119 God as Nature 120 Atman Transcendent and Immanent 122 Taking Refuge Within 125 A Function of “Evil” 127 The Four Seekers 129 Worship 130 Transforming Levels of Maya 132 8 YOGA OF THE IMPERISHABLE BRAHMAN 135 Akshara Brahma Yoga Cycles of Continuity 138 Levels of Consciousness 139 Transcending the Fear of Death 141 Aspects of Reality 142 Ways of Practice 145 The Process of Dying 146 Cycles of Time 148 Love and Devotion Beyond Time 150 Paths of Light and Darkness 153 9 THE SECRET KINGLY YOGA 157 Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga Dynamic Divine Cosmology 160 God and Nature 164 Action as Creation 166 Ignorance and Knowledge 168 Worship and the Wisdom Sacrifice 171 Devotion 173 The Yoga of Giving 176 10 YOGA OF DIVINE SPLENDOR 181 Vibhuti Yoga The Origins of Individual Functioning 186 Cosmic Levels of Creation 187 The Tremorless Yoga 190 Devotion and Buddhi Yoga 192 Arjuna’s Faith and Understanding 193 Consciousness and the Total Mind 194 The Ocean of Milk 196 Story of Prahlada 198 Psychology of Alchemy 200 The Seven Female Qualities 203 Incarnating God Energy 204 11 YOGA OF THE COSMIC VISION 207 Visvarupa Darsana Yoga Cosmic Splendor and Destruction 212 Dissolution on a Personal Level 214 Karma and Cosmic Action 217 After Death Experience 218 Arjuna’s Loving Gratitude 220v God with Form 222 True Spiritual Experience 223 12 YOGA OF DEVOTION 227 Bhakti Yoga Levels of Devotion 234 Including and Transcending Personal Form 236 Arjuna’s Question 237 Techniques of Devotion 240 Avoiding Pitfalls in Spiritual Work 244 The True Devotee 245 Reflections on Love 247 13 YOGA OF THE KNOWER AND THE KNOWN 251 Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga The Field 255 Aspects of Maya 260 Psychotherapy and Purification 261 Prerequisites for Knowledge 264 Intimations of Brahman 266 Relationship of Matter and Spirit 268 Five Steps Toward Discrimination 271 Liberation 272 14 YOGA OF DIVIDING THE THREE QUALITIES 275 Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga Description of the Gunas 279 Effects of the Gunas 282 Psychopathology and the Gunas 290 Observing the Gunas Within 292 Continuity of the Gunas 294 Evolutionary Potential of the Gunas 295 Way to Paramatma 296 Summation of the Three Qualities 298 15 YOGA OF THE SUPREME SELF 301 Purushottama Yoga The Secret of Nonidentification 305 The Source of Birth, Death and Action 307 Approaching the End of Knowledge 310 Three Aspects of the One 311 Affirmations of Brahman 316 16 YOGA OF DISCERNING THE LIGHT AND DARK PATHS 317 Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga Introversion and Extroversion 320 Materialistic Values of Contemporary Society 322 The Purpose of Suffering 323 True Wealth 324 The Asuric Mentality 329 Transforming the Inner Asura 333 Psychotherapy and the Asuric Mind 336 The Science of Spirituality 339 17 YOGA OF THE THREE-FOLD FAITH 341 Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga Faith, Ego and Dharma 345 Three Forms of Faith 347 Three Forms of Austerity 349 Three Qualities of Food 352 Three Qualities of Sacrifice 354 Three Qualities of Charity 356 Witnessing the Four Categories 357 Abiding in Remembrance 359 Faith Dissolves Ego 362 Reflections on Faith 363 18 YOGA OF LIBERATION THROUGH RENUNCIATION 367 Moksha Sannyasa Yoga Surrender and Renunciation 370 Love, Surrender and Ego 372 The Causes of Karma 376 Action and the Gunas 377 Four Psychological Types and Dharma 380 Work as Worship 383 Separating Essence from Conditioning 383 Unity and Individuality 385 Renunciation and Internalization 386 Becoming One with Brahman 388 The Victory of Love 390 The Choice of Surrender 392 Scripture as the Word of God 393 PICTURE OF KRISHNA 394 POEM : “ETERNAL DHARMA” 395 VERSES FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA 397 ADDENDUM ONE: BACKGROUND STORY AND CHARACTERS 407 ADDENDUM TWO: PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY 313 ENDNOTES 417 GLOSSARY 429 BIBLIOGRAPHY 445 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 451 INDEX 453 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 463