Jñāna Yoga – The Yoga of Knowing
Or linking to that we need to understand
to help refine the outcome of our actions.
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Four
Link to Series 108 Gītā Study Pointers
Bhagavad Gītā Study Quotes Collected and Collated
One of the purposes of Yoga is to help us
with the challenge of discerning between
what is our Karma and what is our Dharma.
Firstly by appreciating what is and what isn’t Karma.
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Three
Link to Series 108 Gītā Study Pointers
There is always Kleśa, it just depends where we are
in ourselves in terms of a spectrum of being and doing.
Thus Kleśa can express itself within the spectrum of being
as either a state of Rāga Kleśa or a state of Dveṣa Kleśa or,
as happens mostly, somewhere twixt the extremes of the two.
Either way according to TKV Desikachar’s teaching,
progress is not possible without the power of these drives,
they are the horses that pull the chariot.
As to which of the two extremes we find ourselves
veering towards depends on our skill as a charioteer,
coupled with our understanding of the nature of the horses,
as well as the nature of the ‘food’ we ‘choose’ to feed them on.
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Three verse 34
Link to Series 108 Gītā Study Pointers
The way to Yoga is experienced
through the art of living skilfully
within the defects of translation,
rather than aspiring romantically
after the effects of transcendence.
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Two verse 50
Link to Series 108 Gītā Study Pointers
What is it that:
Air does not erode?
Fire does not burn?
Water does not wet?
Earth does not cover?
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Two verse 23
Link to Series 108 Gītā Study Pointers
The first Śloka sets the saga on the field of Dharma.
Dharma is how we respond, whatever the situation,
presuming we can sustain our view within the present.
Karma is how we respond, having lost sight of our view,
because it’s become obscured by the force of our memories.
Then Karma is the force now driving us through our memories.
So, Arjuna’s Dharma becomes obscured because of his Karma.
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter One verse 1
Link to Series 108 Gītā Study Pointers
In the Bhagavad Gītā, Karma is defined as a Śodhana Kriyā where,
as actions are performed, they also offer a chance to refine oneself.
Thus, whatever I do and whatever happens is a chance to refine myself.
The Bhāvana here is Ātma Śuddha where all actions are an opportunity
for purification of that which inhibits the expression of our essence.
– Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Five verse 11
Link to Series 108 Gītā Study Pointers
