Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Yog of Knowledge and Action  Chapter 4, Verse 37   yathaidhāṁsi samiddho’gnih  bhasmasāt kurute’rjuna  jñānāgniḥ sarva karmāṇi  bhasmasāt kurute yathā   As a kindled fire turns its fuel to ashes, O Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all karma to ashes.   When fuel is put into a fire, the fuel is burned and disappears. In a similar way, when one has the knowledge of the Self, the ignorance which makes people identify themselves with the body is burned and also disappears. All doubt is removed and all the karma from this life and the past lives is burnt.   “O Arjuna, the fire of knowledge.” – when one really wants to surrender to God and attain Him, whatever one does, is only for Him. Every meditation that one does, is only on Him. Every action that one does in the world, is only to serve Him. Like that, one will become like Him. And as He is not bound by any karma, one will also become free of karma through the knowledge of the Self...

Yog of Knowledge and Action  Chapter 4, Verse 36   api ced-asi pāpebhyaḥ  sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-kṛtamaḥ  sarvaṁ jñāna plavenaiva  vṛjinaṁ santariṣyasi   Even if you are the greatest doer of sin beyond all sinners, you shall cross over all the crookedness of evil in the ship of knowledge.   The lives of Angulimala, Valmiki and St. Paul the Apostle reflect very much what is mentioned here. Krishna says that those who have surrendered to God, to the Master’s Feet, even if they are great sinners, who don’t have any knowledge of the Self, they will succeed in attaining this knowledge. They will automatically and immediately be redeemed of their sins. Through the Grace of the Master, the divine virtues will awaken in them. They will renounce all sinful acts and they’ll be free. When people take shelter at the Lotus Feet of the Master, even if they are sinful, the Master’s Grace will redeem them. It’s like the Master takes them from the boat which is ta...

Yog of Knowledge and Action  Chapter 4, Verse 35   yaj-jñātvā na punar-moham  evam yāsyasi pāṇḍava  yena bhūtāny-aśeṣeṇa  drakṣyasy-a‌tman-yatho mayi   Possessing that knowledge, you shall not fall again into the mind‘s ignorance, O Pandava; for by this, you shall see all existences without exception in the Self, then in Me.   “Possessing that knowledge, you shall not fall again into the mind’s ignorance.” By surrendering humbly to the Master, and through the Grace of the Master, the Truth is revealed and one doesn’t fall back into ignorance. One perceives the vision of the Divine within oneself, and through that vision of the Divine within, all new karma that is created, is burned off straight away. When one sees unity everywhere, one overcomes grief and delusion.   Here Krishna addresses Arjuna as ‘Pandava’. Krishna says to him, “You shall see all existences without exception in the Self, then in Me.” First you perceive the Self, God...

Yog of Knowledge and Action  Chapter 4, Verse 34   tad viddhi praṇipātena  paripraśnena sevayā  upadekṣayanti te jñānaṁ  jñāninas-tattva-darśinaḥ   Learn that by worshipping the Feet of the Teacher, by questioning and by service; the men of knowledge who have seen the true principles of things, will instruct you in knowledge.   Here He says that if you approach an enlightened soul, a Guru, and prostrate yourself at the Feet of the Guru, render service, and with a humble heart, show that you are interested in being enlightened by the Guru, and in letting your heart be guided by the Guru, He will instruct you in this divine knowledge, the knowledge of the Self. There is no other way. The Master will guide you, the Master will carry you.   When one always tries one’s best to listen, to live in accordance with the word of the Guru and to surrender to the Will of the Master, one will know the Truth about God and will attain God-Realisation....

Yog of Knowledge and Action  Chapter 4, Verse 33   śreyān dravyamayād yajñāt  jñāna yajñaḥ parantapa  sarvaṁ karmākhilaṁ pārtha  jñāne parisamāpyate   The sacrifice of knowledge, O Arjuna, is greater than any material sacrifice. Knowledge is that in which all this action culminates, O Paartha!   “The sacrifice of knowledge.” If you have the knowledge of the Self, you are constantly immersed in the awareness that to attain God Consciousness, God-Realisation, is far “greater than any material sacrifice”, which means that it is far greater than any external offering. Because you are immersing yourself in the Divine inside of you, where the Divine reveals Himself. You are not offering something outside of you, but you are offering everything inside of you.   “‘Knowledge is that in which all this action culminates, O Paartha! This knowledge of the Self, Brahma Jyaan, is the aim of all action. Whatever you do is to attain this knowledge of the Self. And...