(6) The Bhagavad Gita (for the Mahabharata see chart, and also read
                      "Setting the scene" in the forward to the Bhagavad
                      Gita)
*the advantages of reading the Gita (Bg Intro page 31-33 or 27-28 Mac/Bg
 8.28p last para)
*the history of the speaking of the Gita (Bg 4.1+p/4.2+p, last 2 paras)
*qualifications for hearing the Gita (Bg 4.3+p/Bg 9.1/Bg 18.64/Bg
 18.67+p/Bg 18.68p)
*one should accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead at least
 theoretically before one attempts to read His Gita (Bg Intro page 6-7, or
 6 Mac)
*qualifications for speaking the Gita (Bg 9.1p, last para)
*one should learn the Bhagavad Gita from a devotee (Bg 8.28 last para)
*anyone who hears the Gita will be freed from the darkness of ignorance
 (Bg 18.72p/18.73)
*the essence of studying the Gita (Bg 10.11p 4th para/Bg 18.78p 4th para)
*devotional service is the objective of the Bhagavad Gita and all Vedic
 literature (Bg 18.1p 1st para)
*the "Gita teaches us how to absorb the mind and intelligence in the
 thought of the Lord". (Bg Intro page 29-30 or 26 Mac)
*the three subjects of the Gita (Bg Intro page 8-14 or 7-12 Mac)
*Summary by Srila Prabhupada (Bg 18.78p)

 Ch 1  Observing the armies-Sanjaya describes the battlefield and Arjuna
       decides not to fight
 Ch 2  Contents of the Gita summarized-the soul, ksatriya duty, karma yoga
       and the transcendental position
 Ch 3  Karma yoga-prescribed duties according to varnasrama explained and
       sacrifice, and lust and the means of conquering it
 Ch 4  Transcendental knowledge-Krsna's position as the Supreme
       Personality of Godhead, the importance of guru and disciplic
       succession and how sacrificial work culminates in jnana yoga
 Ch 5  Karma yoga-action in Krsna Consciousness-characteristics of a karma
       yogi or a detached worker
 Ch 6  Dhyana yoga-controlling the mind, astanga yoga, the fallen yogi, the
       best yogi
 Ch 7  Knowledge of the Absolute-Krsna and His energies, and theists,
       atheists and materialists
 Ch 8  Attaining the Supreme-moment of death for bhakti yogi and others
 Ch 9  Most Confidential knowledge-Krsna's position, different types of
       worship and His devotees (Bg 9.1p 1st part of 3rd para)
 Ch 10 Opulence of the Absolute-Krsna's specific opulences manifest in
       this world
 Ch 11 Universal Form-a challenge to the "pseudo-Gods", and the importance
       of the Lord's original form
 Ch 12 Devotional Service-the various practitioners of yoga culminating
       with the bhakti yoga, whose characteristics are described
 Ch 13 Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness-distinction and
       interrelationship of the body (matter), soul and Supersoul
 Ch 14 Three Modes of Nature-how they act, bind and how one is freed
 Ch 15 Yoga of the Supreme Person-how to break attachment to the material
       world and attain union with the Supreme Person who is the goal of
       all the Vedas
 Ch 16 Divine and Demoniac natures-explained
 Ch 17 Divisions of faith-conditioned in food, sacrifice, austerity, and
       charity by the 3 modes, and transcendental faith and worship
       explained
 Ch 18 Conclusion, Perfection of Renunciation-synopsis and conclusion of
       the Gita. Purpose of renunciation, akarma, analysis of effects of
       3 modes, 4 varnas, transcendence, surrender, devotion, preaching,
       Arjuna's decision and Sanjaya's final conclusion

*the three parts of the Gita explained (Bg 13.1p 2nd para)

 Chapters 1-6 deal with the distinction between the material body and the
 non-material, eternal living entity and how he can become liberated
 through various types of yoga culminating in bhakti yoga or Krsna
 Consciousness (Ch 6.47)

 Chapters 7-12 introduce the Supreme Lord, His different opulences and
 energies, and the Lord's relationship, particularly through bhakti yoga,
 with His superior energy, the individual soul. These middle chapters are
 the essence of the Gita. (Bg 8.28p 4th para)

 Chapters 13-18 describe how the living entity comes in contact with the
 material energy, how he is conditioned by it and how he is delivered
 through various means such as jnana, karma and finally bhakti,
 conclusively the only feasible means.

*The Gita should be accepted in the spirit of one taking medicine (Bg
 Intro page 3)
*Five basic truths of the Gita: (i) isvara (ii) jiva (iii) prakrti (iv)
 kala (v) karma (Bg Intro Page 8-11 or 7-10 Mac)
*the content and benefits of reading the Bhagavad Gita (SB 1.15.27+p)

(7) The Srimad Bhagavatam (The beautiful story of the Supreme Personality
                          of Godhead)
*is Vyasadev's own commentary on his Vedanta Sutra (Bg 15.15p half way
 through first para)
*is very dear to the devotees (Bg 10.9p 3rd para)
*see also week 2--Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadev Gosvami
*story of how the Bhagavatam came to be written (SB 1.4.26-1.5.21/SB
 1.7.1-11)
*read the Preface to the Bhagavatam and the first 3 pages of the
 Introduction.

WEEK 6
MATTER AND SPIRIT
(Verse lo learn Bg 7.14)

(1) Sankhya Yoga
*to find the soul of existence, whereas bhakti yoga or karma yoga means to
 serve the soul of all (Bg 5.4+p)
*the essence of both sankhya yoga, karma yoga, and bhakti yoga is the same
 (Bg 5.4+p, 5+p)
*the analytical study of the nature of spirit and matter--an indirect,
 speculative process (Bg 3.3p)

 The Twenty-Four Elements (Bg 13.6-7+p)
(1)  earth
(2)  water
(3)  fire       --5 great elements (Bg 7.4+p, last para)
(4)  air
(5)  ether

(6)  eyes
(7)  ears
(8)  nose       --5 knowledge acquiring senses
(9)  tongue
(10) touch

(11) voice--speaking
(12) hands--working
(13) legs--travelling      --5 working senses
(14) genitals--generating
(15) anus--evacuating

(16) smell
(17) taste
(18) form (or colour)      --5 sense objects
(19) touch
(20) sound

(21) mind
(22) intelligence     three subtle elements (Bg 7.4+p last para)
(23) false ego

(24) pradhana--the unmanifested stage of the 3 modes of material nature

*sometimes time, the powerful representation of the Supreme Lord is
 described as the mixing element, giving facility for all the interactions
 of material nature and is therefore called the 25th element
*sometimes the soul is described as the 25th element, and sometimes the
 Supersoul as the 26th element (Bg 13.25p middle)
*the five factors of action, and the significance of the Supersoul in
 relation to action (Bg 18.14+p)
*and so it is only the fool who considers himself the only doer (Bg
 18.15+16+p's)
*but he is responsible for his suffering and enjoyment (Bg 13.21+p)
*the 3 motivating factors for action and the 3 constituents of action (Bg
 18.18+p)

The Senses
*are strong and impetuous (Bg 2.60+p)
*and influential if not controlled in the proper manner (Bg 2.61+p/Bg
 2.67+p)
*cannot be controlled by any human endeavour, but by keeping them engaged
 in the service of the Lord (Bg 2.68+p)

The Mind
*is the driving instrument (the reins) in the car of the material body (Bg
 6.34p)
*is higher than the senses and lower than the intelligence (Bg 3.42+p)
*is one of the sitting places of lust (Bg 3.40+p)
*the materialist is riding on the chariot of the mind (Bg 2.55+p)
*the conditioned soul is struggling with the senses, especially the mind
 (Bg 15.7)
*should be used to understand the prime necessity of human life (Bg 10.4p
 4th para)
*one can deliver oneself with the help of the mind (Bg 6.5+p)
*which can be our best friend or worst enemy (Bg 6.5+p)
*depending if we conquer it or not (Bg 6.6+p/Bg 6.7+p/Bg 6.36+p)
*should be controlled (Bg 6.26+p)
*is very difficult to control (Bg 6.33,34+p)
*but it is possible by (Bg 6.35+p/17.16+p)
*should be turned towards the Supersoul to avoid causing oneself
 degradation (Bg 13.29+p)

Intelligence
*is the driver of the car of the material body (Bg 6.34p)
*is the power to analyse things in the proper perspective (Bg 10.4p, 2nd
 para)
*means the ability to comprehend what is real and what is temporary, or
 what is spirit and what is matter and who is controlling both
*is meant to direct the mind (Bg 3.42+p)
*is the immediate next door neighbour of the soul (Bg 3.40p)
*is one of Krsna's separated material energies (Bg 7.4)
*is one of the sitting places of lust (Bg 3.40)
*is lost by someone affected by lust (Bg 2.62+63)
*Krsna is the intelligence of the intelligent (Bg 7.10)
*and He awards one transcendental intelligence (Bg 2.65+66)

False Ego
*explained (along with real ego) (Bg 13.8-12p 8th para)
*means thinking that I am a product of material nature (Bg Intro page 12
 or 11 Mac)
*how the illusory energy acts on the conditioned soul (Bg 7.27+p/Bg
 3.27+p)

(2) The Soul
*is a minute spiritual particle (anu-atma) in contrast to the Supersoul
 (vibhu-atma) (Bg 2.20p last para)
*Qualities of: -(Bg 2.16+p 1st para/17+p/18+p/20+p/23+p/24+p/25+p/ 29+p
 1st para)
*does not mix with anything, like the sky (Bg 13.33+p)
*illuminates the body with consciousness as the sun illuminates the
 universe (Bg 13.34+p)
*is eternally a fragmental particle, an individual (Bg 2.13p 3rd para/Bg
 15.7+p 1st para/PQPA pages 23-29)
*belongs to Krsna's Superior nature (Bg 7.5)
*and is always controlled by Him (Bg 7.5+p)
*and is the energy of the Lord (Bg 13.20p 1st para)
*has nothing to do with the actions of the machine-like body (Bg
 13.30+p/Bg 18.61+p)
*higher than, and transcendental to the intelligence, mind and senses (Bg
 3.42+p 1st para)
*is not the doer (Bg 5.8-9+p)
*although, when bewildered he thinks he is (Bg 3.27+p)
*whilst living in the city of 9 gates (Bg 5.13+p, 14+p)
*is the knower of the field of activities (Bg 13.1+2+p 1st para)
*is impregnated into matter by the glance of the Supreme Lord (Bg 2.39p
 last part of first para)
*how the soul changes bodies (Bg 2.22+p/Bg 15.8+p/Bg 2.13+p 1st para)
*which is perceived by one trained in knowledge and not understood by the
 foolish (Bg 15.10+p)
*or by someone not following an authorized system of yoga (Bg 15.11+p)

(3) Three Energies (Bg Intro page 26 or 23 Mac/NOI page 15)

Lord Krsna possesses innumerable energies which can basically be
categorised into three:-
 (a) internal, spiritual energy which comprises the spiritual world
 (b) external, material energy
 (c) marginal energy (the jiva)

(4) Material Life

The material energy causes the conditioned soul misery:
*as certified by Lord Krsna Himself (Bg 8.15+16/Bg 9.22+33+p 1st para)
*one should thoroughly understand this, because a pessimistic view of
 material life gives one impetus to advance in spiritual life (Bg 13.9-12p
 9th para)
*the threefold miseries etc (NOI page 17)
*Different realizations achieved in the material world:-annamoya,
 pranamoya, jnanamoya, vijnanamoya and anandamoya (Bg 13.5p 3rd para)
*different species of life:-
*numbering 8,400,000 (Bg 8.3p 2nd para), 900,000 aquatics/ 2,000,000
 plants and trees/ 1,100,000 insects/ 1,000,000 birds/ 3,000,000 beasts/
 400,000 humans.
*which the soul evolves through (Iso 17p 1st 1/2 of 3rd para)
*6 changes each material body goes through (thus indicating the presence
 of the soul) (Bg 8.4p, beginning)

(5) The Three Modes of Material Nature
*see chart
*conditioning of (Bg 14.5+p/14.9+p)
*competition between... (Bg 14.10+p)
*force one to act (Bg 3.5)
*are the actual performers of activity (Bg 3.27)
*one who can see this and knows Krsna goes back to Godhead (Bg 14.19+p)
*and he also enjoys happiness even in this life (Bg 14.20+p)
*the total influence of the modes on all conditioned souls (Bg 18.40+p)
*force one to transmigrate from body to body (Bg 14.22+p)
*guna or "mode"/"quality", also means "rope" (Bg 7.14p 2nd para)
*influence one's particular kind of faith (Bg 17.3+p)
*one who does not follow Krsna's direction (or the guidance of His
 representative) must be dictated by the modes of nature (Bg 18.59+60+p's)
*one influenced by the modes cannot know Krsna (even if one is in the mode
 of goodness) (Bg 7.13 2nd para)
*unless he surrenders to Him (Bg 7.14)
*it is, however, necessary for society to cultivate the mode of goodness
 (Bg 14.17+p)
*by serving Lord Krsna one automatically becomes free from the modes of
 nature (Bg 14.22-25p 1st para/Bg 14.26+p)

(6) Time

*is the ultimate killer (Bg 10.33p 2nd para)
*even a moment may be enough for one to attain Krsna Consciousness (Bg
 2.72p 1st para)
*Lord Krsna as ... (Bg 10.30, 33+p/Bg 11.32)
*as one of the five subjects of the Gita (Bg Intro 8, or 7 Mac)

 Universal Time

Satya Yuga   (40% of a yuga cycle) 1,728,000 years
Treta Yuga   (30%      "         ) 1,296,000   "    3/4 length of Satya yuga
Dvapara Yuga (20%      "         )   864,000   "    1/2         "
Kali Yuga    (10%      "         )   432,000   "    1/4         "

Divya Yuga (a cycle of 4 yugas)-----4,320,000 years             "
Kalpa (a day of Brahma, a 1000 yuga cycles/4,320,000,000 years
Lord Brahma lives for 100 of his years, each year consisting of 12 months
of 30 days, and his night is the same length as his day, thus:-
4,320,000,000 x 2 x 30 x 12 x 100 =
Vikalpa (or life of Brahma)   311,40,000,000,000 (311 Trillion 40 Billion
earth years)
*Lord Krsna in His original form appears once in a day of Brahma or every
 8,640,000,000 years (Bg Preface 4th para) which was only 5000 years ago!
 Lord Caitanya also appears once in a day of Brahma, following Lord
 Krsna's appearance, and He appeared exactly 500 years ago!!

(7) The Spiritual World and the Creation of the Material World

*for a brief explanation see the inside flap of the cover to any volume of
 the 1st Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam
*how one is entangled in the banyan tree of the material world, how one is
 freed and how one attains the eternal kingdom of God (Bg 15.1-5+p's)
*the spiritual world does not neeed artificial lighting (Bg 15.6)
*and once going there one does not return (Bg 15.6+p 2nd para/Bg 8.21+p)
*the spiritual world is attained by Krsna Consciousness (Bg Intro page
 23-25 or 21-22 Mac/Bg 2.51+p/Bg 4.24/Bg 8.13+p/Bg 8.28/Bg 11.55+p/Bg
 12.6-7+p)
*and is inhabited with infallible beings, as opposed to the fallible
beings of the material world (Bg 15.16+p)
*when the soul enters the spiritual world he revives his spiritual body
 (Bg 15.7p 2nd para)
*the spiritual world remains when the material world is annihilated (Bg
 8.20+p)
*and is thus called Vaikuntha (Vai-free from, Kuntha-enxiety)
*description of the spiritual world (Bg Intro 21-22, or 19 Mac/Bg 8.21+p)
*forms of Krsna in the spiritual world (Bg 11.45,46+p's)

(8) Evolution and Modern Science

*Read Introduction to "Mechanistic and Non Mechanistic Science"
*The Bhaktivedanta Institute was formed by Srila Prabhupada in 1974 in
 order that Krsna Consciousness may be demonstrated scientifically and the
 nonscientific mechanistic science of the day be soundly defeated. Srila
 Prabhupada gave the framework of argumentation as can be seen, for
 instance, in "Life Comes From Life" and he wanted his expert Phd.
 scientist disciples to expound all these theistic principles in the
 language of contemporary science, and further prove that the solution to
 all social, economic and personal problems is found in Bhagavad Gita.
*see film "Spark of Life"
*modern mechanistic thinking is not a new phenomena (Bg 2.26+p)
*Definition of a scientist: "one who knows things as they are" (PQPA
 page 1)
*principle of knowledge: "some knowledge will not do, one must have
 perfect knowledge" (PQPA page 22-23)
*unless you have perfect knowledge how can you teach? (PQPA pages 5-10)
*"Knowledge is information gathered from the scriptures (the authoritative
 source), and science is practical realization of that knowledge.
 Knowledge is scientific when it is gathered from the scriptures, through
 the bona fide spiritual master, but when it is interpreted by speculation
 it is mental concoction" (TLC Ch.23)
*why don't the "scientists" etc. surrender to Krsna? (Bg 7.15p 1st para)
*all creatures are simultaneously created (to facilitate the multifarious
 desires of the living entities from the last manifestation) (Bg 9.8p 2nd
 para)
