WEEK 7
BHAKTI YOGA (and other yoga systems)
 (Verse to learn Bg 6.47)

*"Yoga"--to "link", "join" or have "union" with the Supreme Personality
 of Godhead
*the meaning of yoga and the difference between specific types of yoga (Bg
 6.46+47+p's)
*on what or who one should meditate (Bg 8.9+p)
*real yoga means to follow Krsna's direction (Bg 2.48+p 1st para)
*one must close all the doors of sense enjoyment (Bg 8.12+p)
*the yoga ladder (Bg 6.3+p)
*preliminary description of astanga yoga (Bg 5.28+p)
*a yogi should live alone in a sacred place etc. (Bg 6.10,11+12+p)
*and should be celibate and fearless etc (Bg 6.13-14+p)
*how a perfect yogi can transfer himself to any desired planet (Bg Iso
 17+p, 2nd and 3 rd paras)
*and thus he returns home to Godhead (Bg 6.15+p)
*The steps of the astanga yoga system (the 8 fold or "limbed" path):
 (1) yama-sense control
 (2) niyama-strictly following rules and regulative principles
 (3) asana-practicing sitting postures (hatha yoga)
 (4) pranayama-breath control
 (5) pratyahara-sense withdrawal (lit:'just the opposite'--from
     extrospection to introspection
 (6) dharana-concentration of the mind (Bg 6.25+p)
 (7) dhyana-meditation
 (8) samadhi-self-realization (Bg 6.19-23)

*without Krsna Consciousness a mechanical attempt at this yoga system
 cannot help one to spiritual life (Bg 3.43p, last 2 sentences)
*astanga yoga is not practical in this age (Bg 6.33+p)
*Patanjali's yoga system further described (Bg 4.27+p)
*and how a devotee naturally achieves all the benefits of the yoga system,
 and more (Bg 4.29+p)
*mechanical sense restriction is only recommended for persons who have no
 higher knowledge of the higher taste of Krsna Consciousness (Bg 2.59+p)
*what that higher taste means (Bg 2.60p)
*and how to attain it (Bg 2.61+p)
*How Krsna emphasizes the importance of karma yoga above other forms of
 yoga (Bg 6.1+p)
*pure bhakti is the highest form of yoga and is top of the yoga ladder (Bg
 6.1+p)
*only the bhakti yogi can understand Krsna in truth and go back to Godhead
(Bg 18.55+p, 1st para/18.16+p/8.22+p, 2nd para)
*even if he is initially immature in his yoga practice (Bg 9.34+p last
 para)
*the Lord Himself takes the devotee back to Godhead (Bg 12.6-7+p 3rd para)
*how bhakti yoga is recommended throughout the Gita, in the conclusion of
 each chapter:-(Bg 18.1p, start of 1st para/Bg
 2.71+72/5.29/6.47/7.30/8.28/9.34/11.55/12.20/14.26/15.19+20/18.66)
*bhakti yoga includes the results of all other Vedic processes (Bg 8.28+p
3rd+4th paras/Bg 18.66p end of 3rd para)
*the bhakti yogi, knowing Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
 without doubting, has come to the conclusion of the Vedas and knows
 everything (Bg 15.19+p)
*it is understood that someone engaged in devotional service is Brahman
 realized (PQPA page 54)
*the bhakti yogi is the most perfect transcendentalist (Bg 18.66p last
 para)
*the bhakti yogi is superior to karmis, jnanis and mystic yogis (Iso 15p
 last para)
*how a bhakti yogi is situated in the transcendental platform (Bg 5.7+p/Bg
 13.8-12p, 2nd para)
*bhakti yoga is the only means to make one pure and sinless so that we can
 understand Krsna (Bg 15.20p 2nd and 3rd paras)
*bhakti yoga and Krsna are one and the same because they are both
 spiritual (Bg 15.20p 1st para)
*when the bhakti yogi attains the brahma-bhuta stage he has to go still
 further (unlike the impersonalist) (Bg 18.54+p 1st para/18.55p, last
 para)
*bhakti yoga is the direct path and other processes are step by step
 towards bhakti (Bg 12.12+p last para)
*devotees are best situated in spiritual understanding (over sankhya
 philosophers & meditators etc.) (Bg 13.25+p)
*sankhya yoga and buddhi yoga in relationship to bhakti (Bg 2.39+p/Bg
5.4+p/Bg 10.10p 2nd para)
*a "karma yogi is generally a merchant doing business with Krsna.
 Eventually he may come to offer everything to Krsna, almost like bhakti,
 but because he is not following the regulative principles of bhakti yoga,
 he can easily fall down." (1974 Bombay)
*and if one cannot take to Karma yoga (Bg 12.11+p) and if one cannot give
 up the result of one's work (Bg 12.12+p 1st para)
*qualifications of one to render devotional service to Krsna (Bg 7.28+p/Bg
 8.14+p)
*pure devotion defined (Bg 7.16p 1st para/Bg 11.55p 4th para, 3rd para
 Mac)
*Bhakti yoga or spiritual life means simply to please Krsna (PQPA page
 46-48)
*bhakti yoga is a very happy process (Bg 9.2p 9th para/Bg 10.9p 2nd para)
*bhakti yoga is a very simple process (Bg 9.26+p 1st and 3rd paras/Bg
 14.27p 1/2 way through 2nd para)
*everyone can take to bhakti yoga! (Bg 9.32+p)
*although pure devotional service is rarely achieved (Bg 6.40p last 2
 paras)
*by performing bhakti yoga everyone and everything is satisfied (NOD
 preface 11th para)
*Read Introduction to Nectar of Devotion, the science of bhakti yoga
*Thoughts about Krsna's greatness and mercy to help one in the beginning
 stage of Krsna consciousness or bhakti yoga (Bg 15.12-14+p's)
*How a devotee is practically surrendered to Krsna regarding his
 maintainance and possessions (Bg 4.20-23+p's)
*the 9 devotional activities (Bg Intro page 30 or 26 Mac/NOI page
28-29/Iso 17p 11th para)
 (1) hearing (first and foremost of 9 engagements Bg 6.35p)--Maharaj
     Pariksit
 (2) chanting--Sukadev Gosvami
 (3) remembering--Prahlad Maharaja
 (4) serving the Lord's feet--Laksmi, the goddess of fortune
 (5) worshiping the Deity--king Prthu
 (6) offering prayers--Akrura
 (7) becoming a servant--Hanuman
 (8) becoming the best friend--Arjuna
 (9) surrendering everything--Bali Maharaja
*Maharaja Ambarisa attained perfection by performing all of these
 activities (Bg 6.18p)

*Six divisions of surrender: (Bg 18.66p 3rd para)
 The devotee:-
  (1) accepts everything that is favourable for the rendering of
      transcendental loving service to the Lord
  (2) and rejects everything unfavourable (Bg 6.10p 4th para)
  (3) is firmly convinced that Krsna will give him protection
  (4) accepts Krsna as his supreme maintainer and master
  (5) remembers that his activities and desires are never independent of
      Krsna. He depends completely on Krsna for everything and he acts and
      thinks as Krsna desires.
  (6) is always meek and humble

*Six favourable principles for the execution of devotional service (NOI 3)

 (1) being enthusiastic (NOI page 30&33/Bg 6.24+p)
 (2) endeavouring with confidence (& determination) (NOI page 32,35)
 (3) patience (NOI page 32)
 (4) acting according to regulative principles (ie. the 9 devotional
     activities)
 (5) abandoning the association of non devotees (Bg 11.55p beginning of
     4th para/NOI page 33-34)
 (6) following in the footsteps of the previous acaryas (NOI page 34)

*Six obstacles to pure devotional service (NOI 2)
 (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required
     (NOI pages 17,18,21,22)
 (2) over-endeavouring for mundane things that are difficult to obtain
     (NOI pages 18,19/Bg 12.16p)
 (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subjects (NOI pages 20,21/Bg
     12.18-19p)
 (4) practicing the scriptural rules and regulations for some purpose
     other than spiritual advancement/or whimsically rejecting the rules
     and regulations (NOI 22,23/Bg 7.3p, end of 2nd para)
 (5) associating with worldly minded people who are not interested in
     Krsna consciousness (NOI page 21/Bg 13.8-12p 12th para)
 (6) being greedy for mundane achievements

*Six urges that a devotee controls:-
 (1) speech--(NOI pages 4,5,7-9)
 (2) mind--(NOI pages 5&9)
 (3) anger--(NOI pages 5&6)
 (4) tongue and belly--(NOI pages 6,9-11)
 (5)
 (6) genitals--(NOI pages 6,7,12,13)
Conclusion:- (NOI page 13-14)

The Importance of Hearing

*hearing is the most important of the 9 devotional activities (Bg 7.1+p,
 3rd para onwards/Bg 6.35+p)
*hearing and explaining is more important than reading (SB 1.1.6p)
*hearing is more important than seeing (NOI page 2)
*the more one hears about Krsna in association of devotees the more one is
 fixed in devotional service (Bg 10.1 last para)
*hearing about Krsna is ever fresh and relishable (Bg 10.18+p)
*hearing from authoritative sources is the only process that enables one
 to change one's consciousness from material to spiritual (Bg 13.22p 2nd
 para)
*hearing is especially important for the modern age (Bg 13.26+p)
*the importance of reading Srila Prabhupada's books and discussing them
 from different angles of vision (PQPA page 85)
*devotees are not interested in hearing about mundane topics (Bg Intro
 page 27 or 23-24 Mac/TLK pages 78-79)

The Importance of Faith

*Faith means "unflinching trust in something sublime" (Bg 2.41p 1st para)
*undeviating determination (Bg 6.24+p)
*faith means strong faith (NOI page 56)
*faith means confidence that simply by serving Krsna all other duties,
 responsibilities and interests are fulfilled and one will attain the
 highest perfection (CC Mad 22.62/Bg 4.39+p/Bg 9.3p 1st para)
*faith means being calmly convinced of the efficacy of Krsna consciousness
 (NOI 3+p, page 35)
*faith is a preliminary requisite for tapasya, knowledge and wisdom (PQPA
 pages 84-85)
*it is only by faith that one can advance in Krsna consciousness (Bg 9.3p
 2nd para)
*faith is necessary to understand the essence of the Gita (Bg 10.14+p)
*possessing faith can promote one to the highest stage even if one is
 initially lacking something (Bg 3.31+p)
*faith is developed in the association of devotees (Bg 9.3p 1st para)
*however "nothing should be accepted blindly" (Bg 10.4p 3rd para)
*doubting in the beginning is a sign of intelligence but doubting is
 foolish if it is unreasonable (SB 3.26.30p)
*to accomplish anything requires faith, which solidifies as one
 progressively achieves one's desired goal. If one, for instance, follows
 the directions of a map and as one proceeds one finds that all
 intermediary points coincide exactly with the actual terrain, one will be
 increasingly convinced that by faithfully applying the directions of the
 map one will achieve one's destination. In fact one will be convinced of
 the existence of that place well before actually seeing it. No one would
 claim this to be "blind faith". Similarly, the Vedic literature is a
 navigational chart guiding one across the ocean of material existence. The
 various steps of bhakti yoga (Bg 4.10p last para) can be experienced
 scientifically.
*faithlessness and doubt cause failure in everything (Bg 4.40p/Bg 9.3+p/Bg
 17.28+p 1st para) including happiness
*doubts and faithlessness because of ignorance should be slashed by the
 weapon of knowledge (Bg 4.42)
*following the instructions of the Bhagavad Gita frees one from all doubts
 (Bg 4.41+p)

WEEK 8
SANKIRTANA (Verse to learn Bg 5.29)

(1) Panca-Tattva--(Panca-5, tattva-truths) The Absolute Truth in 5
    features

(a) Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya

*Krsna Himself appearing in the form of a devotee of Krsna:
*to teach by example how to be a devotee (To personally demonstrate the
 practice of the conclusion of Bhagavad Gita (SB Intro page 8)
*To inaugurate the yuga dharma, the sankirtana yajna which indisriminately
 gives everyone the opportunity to perfect their lives, whether pious or
 impious
*To answer the powerful sincere calls of His devotee and incarnation
 Advaita Acarya
*To destroy the demoniac mentality of the atheists or Mayavadis
*For various internal, personal reasons in connection with His eternal
 consort, Srimati Radharani. Hence Lord Krsna's natural blackish colour is
 hidden by Radharani's golden hue and so He is called Gaura Hari (the
 golden Lord) or Gauranga (one who possesses a golden-limbed form)
*He is the son of Saci devi--hence He is called Sacinandan. His name
 Mahaprabhu means the greatest master

(b) Lord Nityananda

*Lord Balaram Himself (the 1st expansion of Krsna) appearing as an
 expansion of a devotee. Nityananda Prabhu gives us strength (bala) to make
 spiritual advancement--without His grace this is not possible. Therefore,
 we always chant Nitai Gaura, addressing both transcendental brothers.
 Nityananda is also the original spiritual master. Our present spiritual
 master, as a manifestation of the Lord, represents Lord Nityananda--"one
 who is eternally full of bliss".

(c) Advaita Acarya--"incarnation of a devotee" Advaita--"non-dual", He is
 nondifferent from the Lord because He is an incarnation of Maha Visnu
 Acarya-He is teaching us devotional service by His own personal example.

(d) Gadadhar Pandit--"energy of a devotee", or devotional energy--a
 manifestation of Srimati Radharani.

(e) Srivasa Thakura--a "pure devotee", an incarnation of Narada Muni. In
the Panca Tattva maha mantra, adi means etc; referring to all the other
great devotees of Lord Caitanya, and gaura bhakta vrnda refers to the
present, assembled devotees of the Lord.

 Lord Caitanya                          Gadadhara Pandit--Sakti Tattva
 Lord Nityananda     --Visnu Tattva     Srivas Thakur--Jiva Tattva
 Srila Advaita Acarya

(2) The Four Ages

Satya yuga--100,000 years, religious principles fully manifest, yuga
            dharma--silent meditation
Treta yuga--10,000 years, religious principles diminish by 25%, yuga
            dharma--costly, intricate sacrifices
Dvapara yuga--1000 years, religious principles diminish by 50%, yuga
              dharma--gorgeous temple worship
Kali yuga--100 years (diminishing to the point where 25 years will be
           considered old age), religious principles diminish from 25%-0,
           yuga dharma--sankirtana yajna. (Read BTG Vol 13, No.5 for a
           lecture on the symptoms of the Kali yuga.)

*Lord Caitanya's mission is to deliver everyone in the Kali yuga by
 introducing His method of sankirtana (Bg 3.10p last 1/2)
*He accepted anyone who qualified himself (NOD preface, 2nd para)
*without performing sankirtan there can be no peace or happiness in the
 world (see also week 4--"yajna")
*Krsna made certain conditions for someone to achieve perfection in
 self-realization (see Bg 4.3/7.28/15.26/18.54,66,67) but Lord Caitanya
 freely distributed love of Godhead (see Blue Song book page 8)

(3) Welfare Work

*actual welfare work explained (Bg 5.25+p)
*any other benefit is only a great harm (SPL Vol 11. page 41)
*mundane welfare work is extended selfishness (Iso 2p, 4th para)
*Real welfare work must benefit everyone (NOD page 8)
*What is the highest benefit? (Bg 11.55+p)
*the devotee is the best friend of everyone (Bg 6.32+p)

(4) Preaching

*a preacher must be convinced (PQPA page 38)
*and humble (NOD Intro 5th para)
*he goes as a beggar to save people from going to hell (PQPA page 75-76)
*he is always daring and active, not influenced by attachment or aversion
 and steady in his determination amidst apparent success or failure (Bg
 2.56p, near the end)
*preaching means teaching people how to act properly (Bg 3.25+p)
*without unnecessarily disturbing them (Bg 3.26+p)
*but a preacher takes risks, out of kindness (Bg 3.29p last para)
*and so is very dear to Lord Krsna (Bg 11.55p 5th para)
*a preacher is most dear to Krsna, who accepts him back home to Godhead
 (Bg 18.68+p,69)
*a preacher is able, and does give evidence from previous authorities and
  scripture (Bg 13.5+p 1st para)
*a preacher traverses the earth for the benefit of others (Bg 7.28p 2nd
 para)
*preaching is the way to experience spiritual progress directly (Bg 9.2p
 6th para)
*charity should only be given to the preachers of Krsna Consciousness (Bg
11.54p, 1/2 way through 1st para)


