Glorious India

Face The Brutes

• The Sanskrit word "Abhaya" means "fearlessness" and is a primary divine quality in the Bhagavad Gita
• Bhagavan Krishna describes fearlessness as a courageous spirit that allows one to face fear or hardship without hesitation
• Swami Vivekananda emphasizes the importance of fearlessness in the Upanishads, saying it is the courageous spirit that allows one to face fear or hardship

Historical Examples of Fearlessness

• Jyoti Kumari, a 16-year-old girl from Bihar, won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021 (Bravery Award) for carrying her injured father from Gurugram to Bihar for 1200 kilometers on a cycle amidst the Covid-19 pandemic
• Latha Unni, a caretaker from Kerala, sacrificed her life to save the lives of 5 kids when the school van she was in fell into a pond

Kuyili, the Veerthalapathy

• Kuyili was a fearless woman freedom fighter who sacrificed her life to save her kingdom from the British
• She was part of Velu Nachiyar's army, which was fighting against the British, and devised a secret plan to destroy the British arsenal
• She poured ghee on her body, lit herself on fire, and entered the British arsenal, destroying it and sacrificing her life

Fearlessness is the Courage to Stick to Truth & Righteousness

• In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says that many people have attained his state by being freed from attachment, fear, and anger
• Karna, a character from the Mahabharata, was loyal to his friend Duryodhana, but his loyalty led him to support unrighteous feats
• Vibhishana, a character from the Ramayana, forsake his brother Ravana when he realized Ravana was on the wrong side of war

Face the Brutes

• Swami Vivekananda was attacked by monkeys while walking, and a strange monk advised him to "face the brutes" and fight back
• Chanakya Neeti states that one should be apprehensive of the cause of fear till it is far off, but when it comes close, fight it undaunted

Weaving a New Future Using Ancient Threads

• Fritjof Capra's book "Tao of Physics" explores the parallels between science and mysticism
• Leonardo Da Vinci's approach to science was different from Newton and Galileo's, and he had a pervasive systems view
• Da Vinci's city planning ideas were ahead of his time, and he focused on the organic view of buildings and their 'metabolism'
• Prof. Patrick Geddes, a Scottish polymath, was inspired by Indian temple-cities, particularly South Indian temple-cities, and was able to look into the systems science that went into their creation### Bhagavad Gita - A Manual for Life
• The Bhagavad Gita is not just a book for sannyasins (renunciants) or saadhus (holy men), but a philosophy for living a purposeful life.
• Arjuna, a successful soldier, was planning to leave his duty and take up sannyasa, but Lord Krishna advised him against it, teaching him how to lead a meaningful life.

Arjuna's Dilemma

• Arjuna, also known as Vijaya, was a skilled warrior who had never failed in his life.
• Despite his success, Arjuna was doubtful, confused, and in tears on the battlefield, struggling to decide what to do.
• He thought about the devastating consequences of war on family and culture, and even considered suicide.

The Relevance of Arjuna's Story

• Arjuna's story is relevant to our lives, as we all face similar dilemmas and confusion.
• Like Arjuna, we may question our actions and doubt our decisions, even if we are successful and accomplished.

The Concept of Samsarin

• A samsarin is a person who is desperate, despondent, dejected, and depressed, despite having wealth and prosperity.
• Arjuna is an example of a samsarin, who becomes overwhelmed by his own thoughts and emotions.

The Importance of Mental Health

• Mental health is a critical issue in today's society, with every sixth Indian needing help with mental health, according to the National Mental Health Survey of India 2015-2016.
• The Japanese National Police Agency reported 2,153 suicide deaths in October 2020, highlighting the need for mental health awareness.

The Significance of the Bhagavad Gita

• The Bhagavad Gita is a manual for life, offering a philosophy for living a peaceful, happy, and content life.
• It teaches us how to overcome doubts, fears, and confusion, and make wise decisions in the face of uncertainty.### Japan's Appointment of a "Minister of Loneliness"
• Japan has appointed a "Minister of Loneliness" after seeing a rise in suicide rates for the first time in 11 years.
• This is not a new concept, as the United Kingdom was the first country to appoint a loneliness minister in 2018.
• In the UK, it was found that more than nine million people felt lonely.

Vishada Yoga and the Story of Arjuna

• Vishada Yoga is the sorrow and depression that we all go through in our lives.
• Arjuna, a character from the Bhagavad Gita, is a great example of someone who realized his mistakes and sought help.
• He was quick to realize his mistakes, possibly due to his upbringing, character, or education.
• Arjuna sought help without any inhibition or shame, and Sri Krishna accepted and guided him.

The Importance of a Sadguru

• A Sadguru can save us from confusions and crises in life.
• Sri Krishna acted as a catalyst for Arjuna's transformation from a suffering Samasarin to a seeker of truth.

Compassion and Dispassion

• We need to start with compassion for ourselves, looking at the kind of life we lead currently.
• We should understand what kind of life and ideals we want, look within, introspect, and improve ourselves.
• Compassion for oneself is the beginning of spirituality.

Lessons in Yoga from Bhagavad Gita

• The Bhagavad Gita is a guide for growth and can serve as a guide in all aspects of life.
• It is considered the most significant scripture of Sanatana Dharma and contains the essence of all Upanishadic teachings.
• The teachings offer wisdom on how to live a righteous, meaningful, and accomplished life.

Karma Yoga

• Karma Yoga is the yoga of action.
• Bhagavan Sri Krishna defines Karma Yoga as "Samatvam Yogam Uchyate," which means "Yoga is said to be a state of balance or equanimity."
• Karma Yoga is detaching ourselves from the expectation of results and working hard towards perfection of action.

Dhyana Yoga

• Dhyana Yoga is the yoga of meditation.
• It is not just the traditional practices of sitting quietly, but it goes far beyond that.
• The strength of mind is the strength that allows us to be in control of the mind, rather than the mind being in control of us.
• Through practice and renunciation, we can govern the mind.

Jnana Yoga

• Jnana Yoga is equanimity of the intellect.
• A story of a cat and a dog is used to illustrate the concept of Jnana Yoga, where the cat remains calm despite the dog's ferocious behavior.
• The cat's calmness is not due to a lack of care for its life, but rather a state of equanimity and awareness.