Bhagavad Gita

Question 1

What does “Bhagavad Gita” mean?

Answer 1

“Song of the Lord”

conversation between a mortal human and the lord

Bhagavad – god; gita – song

Question 2

What larger text is the BG a part of?

Answer 2

Mahabharata

Question 3

When did the Mahabharata come into literary form?

Answer 3

between the 5th century BCE and 3rd century CE

Question 4

In the BG, what is dharma?

Answer 4

• Dharma with a capital D means the purpose of your life. What you were put on the planet to do.
• Purpose of your life is probably very humble.
• Don’t waste your life wishing for something else.

Question 5

4 main teachings from Katie

Answer 5

• Dharma
• Karma
• Gunas
• Bhakti

Question 6

When does the BG date?

Answer 6

At least 4000 years old

Question 7

Who is the battle between in the BG?

Answer 7

The five Pandava brothers against their cousins, the Kauravas (who have cheated the Pandavas of their rightful KIngdom)

Question 8

Who are the main characters of the BG?

Answer 8

Arjuna (a Pandava brother, warrior and archer) and his charioteer, Krishna (who is secretly God)

Question 9

Karma?

Answer 9

Follows idea of reinacarnation and taking your karma with you

Links to the Kosha’s. first 4 layers are in this lifetime. The 5^th later – anandamaya kosha – soul – transcends into the next lifetime into your next body. Your karma goes with you.

If your intention was good, then you will have good karma

Question 10

Gunas - 3

Answer 10

• Rajas
• Tamas
• Satra

Question 11

Karma and Gunas

Answer 11

• Tamas - ignorance, darkness, manipulation, negative
  
  • Bad karma
• Rajas - passion, energy
  
  • Kamically neutral
• Sattvic - truth, light, sweetness, uplifting
  
  • generates good K for you.

Question 12

Bhakti

Answer 12

Bhakti means love. The ultimate love. Love without judgement. Universal love and kindness.

Bhakti is about cultivating a relationship with something outside our self (e.g. god, something bigger than us, distilled essence of loving kindness)