The Goal And The Journey According To Bhagavad Gita

There are several slokas in the Gita that give a description of the Spiritual Goal and an outline of the Spiritual Journey. Using them as the map, we can identify where we are and plan how to go from wherever we are to the Goal. The Goal is to attain shānti (peace) and live life as a jivanmukta (free person). In this life itself, we can be free from all shoka (sorrow), which manifest as the shatripu (six enemies) of the mind – kāma (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), matha (arrogance), and mātsarya (jealousy). Following Karma Yoga, Dhyāna Yoga, and Jnāna Yoga with devotion to Vishwarupa Ishvara is the way that Gita shows as the path that can be easily practiced by everyone today. Thousands of people in the past and today also have attained the Goal by this time-tested approach. Knowing this, we can assess ourselves and proceed towards the Goal and become jivanmuktas.

Speakers

Gokulmuthu Narayanaswamy

Gokulmuthu Narayanaswamy is a devotee and volunteer of Ramakrishna Math. He studied Vedanta from Swami Paramarthanandaji of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam and Swami Paramasukhanandaji from Ramakrishna Math. He is a Software Engineer by profession, currently Director at Itron India in Bangalore. He is passionate about Bhagavad Gita, Swami Vivekananda, and Vedanta. He gives regular talks on these topics to children, youth and professionals. He mentors Vivekananda Study Circle at Indian Institute of Science, and Vivekananda Yuvaka Sangha at Ramakrishna Math Halasuru. He has designed an 18-hour course on Introduction to Bhagavad Gita that has been run more than 15 batches. He continues to listen, read and learn from various teachers. His blog is at http://www.practicalphilosophy.in You can find several of his videos on YouTube.