Episode 55 - Union through renunciation

Gita 18:67 - Never share these truths with one who is without self-control or devotion, nor with one who won’t share with others in a spirit of service, nor give them to one who is indifferent to them, or who finds fault with Me.

Gita (18:55, 56) - By supreme devotion to Me he can quickly realize Me in My true nature: what and who I am. Knowing these truths, he can unhesitatingly enter into Me.Over and above the faithful performance of all one’s duties, and taking shelter (completely) in Me, he must still be received by My grace.Ah! Grace! Eventually it all comes down to grace. As we enter the second last of our classes on the Gita, we come to the key ingredient in all that we strive to do - God's grace.

Gita (18:41) O Scorcher of Foes! the duties of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas, as also of Shudras, are (inborn and diverse) according to the gunas uppermost in their natures.The inner, mystical caste system is a practical way for us to gauge our level of awareness and the play of the gunas within us. Krishna helps put these stages of evolution of consciousness into the right perspective for us.

Gita 18:30 - That intellect, O Partha (Arjuna), is sattwic which understands the nature of right action and knows when to refrain from (even right) action; which knows what should be done and what should not be done; which understands the distinction between what ought to be feared (as wrong) and what ought to be embraced fearlessly (as right and dutiful), and between what constitutes bondage and what constitutes the path to liberation.

Gita 18:19 - Awareness of an act, the accomplishment of that act, and the person accomplishing it are described in the Shankhya system as being of three types, according to the gunas involved. Hear Me now about the manifestations of these three types.It's amazing how absolutely essential the role of the gunas is in everything. Understanding the gunas is probably one of the biggest themes of the Gita. let's hear what the Lord has to say about it this time.

Gita 18:12 - The fruits of action are threefold: pleasant, unpleasant, and mixed. They accrue after death to those who have not renounced them. For the self-surrendered, however, they do not accrue. And that, ladies and gentleman, is the simple game of Karma, and the not-so-simple game of lifetimes and lifetimes of trying to achieve perfection.

Gita 18:1 - Arjuna said: I desire, O Mighty-armed Slayer of Keshi! to know the true meaning of sannyasa (renunciation), and also of tyaga (self-surrender), and the distinction between the two.As we begin the final chapter of the Gita, Arjuna is ready for that final stage of letting go, and offering up himself into the Bliss of God's presence. Are we ready too? Shall we give Arjuna some company?

Gita 17:14 - Veneration of the devas, the priestly, the gurus, and the wise; purity; straightforwardness; sexual restraint; harmlessness: these are considered the austerities of the body.Krishna also shares the austerities of the speech and the mind as completing the trifecta of the sattvic perfection. Let's open our hearts to His transformation.

Gita 17:1 - Arjuna said: Those who set aside scriptural rules, yet sacrifice (to God) with devotion - what, O Krishna, is the status (of their sacrifice)? Is it sattwic, rajasic or tamasic?A great question Arjuna! For those of us who are not steeped in scriptural rules, what happens to our prayers, mantras or offerings? Do they count? Or are they, as the "learned pundits" would have us believe, not pleasing to God?

Gita 16:12 - Bound by the fetters of hundreds of selfish hopes and expectations, and enslaved by passion and anger, they strive by unlawful means to amass fortunes with which to purchase sensual physical pleasures.Continuing with the attributes of the demonic qualities, Krishna reminds us all, how easy it is to slip into these states of consciousness. But if we pay close attention to Him, He will show us the way out.