Vimala Thakar gave a series of inspiring talks on the Bhagavad Gita in three separate seminars, during 1992 and 1993 in Italy. To her, Bhagavad Gita is sacred because it deals with the organic wholeness of life and the inbuilt complexity of life and affirms the interplay between the microcosm and macrocosm. Moreover, persuades us to remain united with the ultimate reality, not only to intellectual understanding but through everything that we do, at every moment.
A verse-by-verse examination of Arjuna’s soma experience and Krishna’s psychedelic guidance in the Bhagavad Gita • Explains how the Bhagavad Gita provides complete guidelines for the spiritual use of entheogens--from prior mental preparations to the integration of profound visionary insights into everyday consciousness • Examines Chapter XI of the Gita in detail to illuminate Arjuna’s hallucinogenic experience and expose Krishna as the ultimate psychedelic guide • Shows psychedelic experience to be an essential and ancient part of the path to spiritual transformation Known as a text of liberation and enlightenment and praised not only by Indians but also by prominent modern thinkers such as Aldous Huxley and Albert Einstein, the Bhagavad Gita is one of the most commented-upon books of all time, yet one aspect has never before been examined: Arjuna’s psychedelic soma experience with his guru Krishna. Drawing upon his many years as a student of Nitya Chaitanya Yati, whose teacher was Gita scholar Nataraja Guru, preeminent disciple of Narayana Guru, Scott Teitsworth explains how the Bhagavad Gita, through the story of the hero Arjuna and his guru Krishna, provides complete guidelines for the spiritual use of entheogens, from prior mental preparations to the integration of profound visionary insights into everyday consciousness. Examining Chapter XI of the Bhagavad Gita verse by verse, he illuminates Arjuna’s complex revelatory experience and exposes Krishna’s role as the ultimate spiritual guide--facets of the Gita evident to anyone with psychedelic experience yet long suppressed in favor of paths to enlightenment through service or meditation. He shows that psychedelics are indeed “gateway drugs” in that they stimulate open exploration of the mind and the meaning of life. Uncovering new depths to this revered manual of spiritual instruction, Teitsworth reveals psychedelic experience to be an essential and ancient path to ignite realization in the prepared student, turn theory into direct experience, and bring the written teachings to life.
For professionals grappling with the challenges of corporate life, Leadership Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita offers a transformative path to overcome self-defeating habits and silence the mind's negative chatter-often the greatest barrier to effective leadership. This book advocates for a leadership style rooted in compassion for followers, stakeholders, and future generations, paving the way for harmonious workplace relationships and environmental stewardship. Moving away from conventional leadership models based on control, it promotes leadership by inspiration. At a time when trust in leadership is waning, this book introduces the concept of linked-leadership-leaders who connect through loving connection or bhakti-yoga with themselves (through self-knowledge), others, nature, and the supreme source. Drawing on the example of Krishna guiding Arjuna's chariot, it redefines leadership as a commitment to service, excellence, and virtuous character, inspiring others to follow suit. Its unique insights help you understand different personality types, motivating individuals according to their nature, and building effective teams for a harmonious and prosperous organizational culture. Ultimately, this book challenges leaders to embrace unity and diversity, achieving sustainable well-being and happiness in their organizations.
For centuries, readers have turned to the Bhagavad Gita for inspiration and guidance as they chart their own spiritual paths. As profound and powerful as this classic text has been for generations of seekers, integrating its lessons into the ordinary patterns of our lives can ultimately seem beyond our reach. Now, in a fascinating series of reflections, anecdotes, stories, and exercises, Ram Dass gives us a unique and accessible road map for experiencing divinity in everyday life. In the engaging, conversational style that has made his teachings so popular for decades, Ram Dass traces our journey of consciousness as it is reflected in one of Hinduism’s most sacred texts. The Gita teaches a system of yogas, or “paths for coming to union with God.” In Paths to God, Ram Dass brings the heart of that system to light for a Western audience and translates the Gita’s principles into the manual for living the yoga of contemporary life. While being a guide to the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, Paths to God is also a template for expanding our definition of ourselves and allowing us to appreciate a new level of meaning in our lives.
"The words of Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita," writes Paramahansa Yogananda, "are at once a profound scripture the science of Yoga, union with God, and a textbook for everyday living." The Bhagavad Gita has been revered by truth seekers of both the Eas...
The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient text that dates back to the time when the Vedas and the religious scriptures came into being. Today, in the 21st century, when the world is torn with wars and conflicts, it’s time to travel back and seek the ‘peace’ mantra for the betterment of both the self and the surrounding. Have you ever wondered how an ancient text holds within its sacred teachings, all the managerial principles that are needed to make it big in todays world? If you have seen the Bhagavad Gita only as a religious book, now is the time to change perspectives. Lord Krishna in his attempt to guide Arjuna in the battlefield serves as the ultimate management guru –the one you’ve always been searching for! Learn from the words of the Lord the tricks to transform your weaknesses into your strengths. Immerse yourself in the book’s enchanting journey that demystifies the Bhagavad Gita and tells us that it is relevant even today.
People who find themselves dogged by misfortune often blame it on 'bad luck'. But the scriptures say that your destiny is the sum total of all your past choices. Once you act, you must be prepared to deal with the consequences. That is the Law of Karma. Therefore, the question you should be asking yourself is - are you making the right choices? In Good Karma, Jaya Row demystifies this spiritual phenomenon and explains how it affects your life today. Sharing insights that you can put into action, this book shows you how to break out of negative cycles and create a better future for yourself.
An inspiring guide to finding your life’s purpose—what spiritual teachers call dharma—through mindfulness and self-exploration. Stephen Cope says that in order to have a fulfilling life you must discover the deep purpose hidden at the very core of your self. The secret to unlocking this mystery, he asserts, can be found in the pages of a two-thousand-year-old spiritual classic called the Bhagavad Gita—an ancient allegory about the path to dharma, told through a timeless dialogue between the fabled archer, Arjuna, and his divine mentor, Krishna. Cope takes readers on a step-by-step tour of this revered tale and highlights well-known Western lives that embody its central principles—including such luminaries as Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony, John Keats, and Harriet Tubman, along with stories of ordinary people as well. If you’re feeling lost in your own life’s journey, The Great Work of Your Life may help you to find and to embrace your true calling. Praise for The Great Work of Your Life “Keep a pen and paper handy as you read this remarkable book: It’s like an owner’s manual for the soul.”—Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion “A masterwork . . . You’ll find inspiration in these pages. You’ll gain a better appreciation of divine guidance and perhaps even understand how you might better hear it in your own life.”—Yoga Journal “I am moved and inspired by this book, the clarity and beauty of the lives lived in it, and the timeless dharma it teaches.”—Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart “A rich source of contemplation and inspiration [that] encourages readers . . . to discover and fully pursue their inner self’s calling.”—Publishers Weekly “Fabulous . . . If you have ever wondered what your purpose is, this book is a great guide to help you on your path.”—YogaHara
So Rudolf Steiner describes this old Indian scripture 'The Bhagavad Gita'. It tells how in the midst of a fratricidal battle the lofty Krishna appears in spiritual form to the soldier Arjuna revealing the mysteries of universal egohood and the path of yoga. "The highest to which the individual man can soar by training himself and working on himself with wisdom -- that is Krishna... In all of earthly evolution there is no Being who could give give the individual human soul so much as Krishna," remarks Steiner. But Steiner also Describes out of his spiritual research how Krishna's one-sided inspiration of the ninner path of the individual was balanced and countered by what Christ brought from outside for all humanity. In impressive pictures Steiner paints the secrets of Krishna's evolutionary sacrifice, his role in the life and work of Jesus and Christ, and the relevance of his teaching for our time.
Why does one face sorrow and problems in life? What can allay the anxiety and stress inherent in the materialistic modern society? How can one get in touch with higher consciousness and strike a balance between the spiritual and worldly goals? If you are looking for answers to questions like these and searching for ways to empower your life, begin the quest with this volume, which presents the essence of one of the world’s most sacred texts in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. The Bhagavad Gita, a treasure trove of divine wisdom, was shared by Lord Krishna with Arjuna, the Pandava prince, at the battlefield of Kurukshetra, right before the Mahabharata or the ‘Great War’ began. It comprises 700 Sanskrit shlokas translated into English, which inspire one to seek and understand the profound truths of life through the ancient principles of Karma Yoga (the art of work), Gyan Yoga (the art of knowledge) and Bhakti Yoga (the art of devotion). These eternal principles help to live life to the fullest, so that one can work better, think better and live better by tapping into higher consciousness, accessing the spiritual dimension and nurturing the pure self. The Teachings of Bhagavad Gita is a perfect source to discover the art of self-empowerment by exploring the various facets of this most sacred text and imbibing its all-encompassing wisdom to attain unending joy, peace and success.
