

Bhagavad Gita | The Essence of Vedanta
Vedanta Society, San Francisco
Swami Tattwamayananda’s class on Srimad Bhagavad Gita is held at the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) on Friday evenings in the First Universal Hindu Temple in the West (founded by Swami Trigunatitananda in 1905). Classes are held on Friday night at 7:30 pm. All are most welcome.The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the most important spiritual classic of Hinduism.Swami Tattwamayananda, currently the Minister of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, (originally founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) served in various centers of the Ramakrishna Order in India as editor, publisher, and teacher of Sanskrit, Advaitic texts such as Sri Shankaracharya's commentaries on the 'Prasthanatraya' (the fundamental Sanskrit texts of Vedanta philosophy), Buddhism and Indian philosophy. He underwent traditional training in Hindu scriptures, Sanskrit, Vedic and Vedantic literature for many years, from his early days. Before coming to the United States in January 2012 he was teaching Sanskrit, Vedantic scriptures and Indian philosophy at the Training center in Belur Math, the institution that trains the monks of the Ramakrishna Order at the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, Kolkata, India. Apart from his traditional education, the Swami has also received modern University education in English literature, psychology, European history, and Western philosophy. He is frequently invited for lectures on Yoga, Vedanta, and traditional Hindu scriptures and for participating in interfaith dialogues.For more:Web: www.sfvedanta.orgLivestream: https://livestream.com/sfvedantaFacebook: www.facebook.com/sfvedantaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SFVedantaAll Original Content © Vedanta Society of Northern California
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 11, 2019 • 51min
13 - The 'Brahmana Ideal' & the Psychology of 'Karma - Yoga' | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verses 46-48.The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 10, 2019. -'Brahmana' ideal: its universality -Ethical and spiritual implications (verse 46). -Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa on the 'Brahmana ideal'.-Buddha on the ideal 'Brahmana' -Our actions and their results: their unpredictability (verse 47).-We cannot predict how our mind will work, the way we can predict how a machine will work.-The psychological implications of the 'Karma-yoga' ideal. (Verses 47, 48).-The 'spiritually enlightened': the goal and the means.

May 4, 2019 • 1h
12 - Beyond Reckless Pragmatism and Short-Term Goals | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verses 45 - 47 The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 3, 2019. The evolution of the three gunas:-Tamoguna to Rajoguna to Sattvaguna-Karma-yoga in contrast to the karma-marga of the Mimamsaka philosophers-The importance of mental attitude in karma-yoga in contrast to the Mimamsaka’s insistence on the letter of the law and Arjuna's fascination for the latter -Sri Krishna corrects Arjuna.-The unknown and the unpredictable factor in our life, actions and results of our actions.-Reference to John Stuart Mill's book 'Utilitarianism'.-Beyond theoretical knowledge, towards experience.-A man established in sattvaguna is naturally calm, fearless, balanced and compassionate. He is also extremely sensitive towards his fellow beings. He has established a link to the transcendental.-Behind his unhurried movements and external aloofness, there is a dynamic humanism and spontaneous spirituality.-Who is an ideal Brahmana? The Gita is contrasted with Buddha's view ('The Dhammapada' - 26).

Apr 20, 2019 • 1h 6min
11 - Swadharma: The Path to Creativity and Contentment | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verses 41 - 44 The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on April 19, 2019. - Swadharma harmonizes the secular and the spiritual. We are able to do even our secular duties in a spiritual way. - Swadharma is the creative utilization of human energy resources. - Swadharma saves us from the tyranny of ultra-pragmatism. - It guards us against our natural obsession with short-term goals. - Verses 42 - 44 refer to the distorted views of the Purva-Mimamsakas who insist on the Kamya- karmas and the injunctions for the performance of Vedic rituals while denying their spiritual character. They reject the ultimate spiritual goal of human life. -A brief description of the Vedic injunctions: 'apurva-vidhi', 'niyama-vidhi', and 'parisamkhya-vidhi'

Apr 12, 2019 • 1h 5min
10 - Swadharma and the Problem of Unpleasant Duty | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verse 39 - 40 The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on April 12, 2019. -While Swadharma is natural, effortless, inherent and our own, Para-dharma is artificial, alien and false. -Swadharma and avoiding bitterness-Swadharma and conservation of energy and facing the conflict of propriety-Swadharma: an antidote for fragmentation of mind and loss of mental energy-Swadharma as 'Yajna': the sacrifice of selfishness -Swadharma is the path to self-fulfillment. Being at peace with ourselves, we take responsibility for our destiny.-Swadharma and the psychology of happiness -The Jiva's cyclic transmigration crosses all boundaries.-When we practice the ideal of Swadharma we have no conflict, we do not fight with ourselves.

Apr 6, 2019 • 1h 1min
9 - Swadharma in Contrast to Para-Dharma: Resolving Inner Conflicts | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verse 31 - 38 The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on April 5, 2019. -Swadharma: natural and spontaneous -An antidote for our perverse notions of freedom and passion for the rationally indefensible -Description of a perverse tendency for self-deception and untruthfulness and its cascading consequences (with a courtroom illustration) -References to Dostoevsky's 'Notes From the Underground' -A contrasting study of 'Adhikarivaada' and 'the Parable of the Sower' from the Bible.

Mar 29, 2019 • 1h 1min
8 - Swadharma and Inner Contentment and Fulfillment | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verse 31The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 29, 2019. The Bhagavad Gita presents a high ideal on inner spiritual transformation through the practice of Swadharma. The important teachings of the second chapter are: 1) The Atman is deathless, unchanging, immortal and eternal.2) The body is transient.3) The ideal of Swadharma.4) The characteristics of a Sthitaprajna (a man of steady wisdom or a spiritually illumined person).

Mar 22, 2019 • 1h 12min
7 - Steady Wisdom and Spiritual Common Sense | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verse 22 – 30The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 22, 2019. The mystery of life and death. The problem of mindless activism and obsession with success. Diverting the mind into spiritually healthy channels. This body is ephemeral, but the soul (Atman) is eternal and immortal.Feeding our mind with good samskaras through noble actions and noble thoughts.

Mar 15, 2019 • 1h 1min
6 - Death is Not the End of Life | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verse 21 - 22The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 15, 2019. The laws of Karma and rebirth are explained. We are born with a whole lot of accumulated karmas and their results, a bundle or inheritance of samskaras. Life Continues Even after Death of the Physical Body; Death is a Comma, not a Full Stop.

Mar 1, 2019 • 1h 4min
5 – Karma, Re-incarnation – Emerson: The American Vedantin | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verse 17 - 20The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on March 01, 2019. - Emerson's poem 'Brahma' - The Bhagavad Gita: Second Chapter, Verse 19 and the fourth stanza of 'Brahma'.- We are not the perishable body, the changing senses, the wavering mind or the unstable intellect. We are the immanent, omnipresent and transcendental Atman.- The practical benefit of this realization: A unique spiritual common sense.- Our spiritual identity beyond the psychological and physical- Raising the level of consciousness: the eye of intuitive wisdom

Feb 22, 2019 • 1h 4min
4 - The Real and the Unreal: Beyond Pain and Pleasure | Swami Tattwamayananda
Chapter 2 Verse 14 -16The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on February 22, 2019. - The nature of Reality in Vedanta- The creation is One.- You are immortal.- Remedy for depression - The five gateways of secular knowledge and sense-perception- Sublimation and evolution of our ego and diverting our mind into healthy channels. - Psychology of real happiness - The danger of seeking perpetual happiness- Be a Witness of the drama and life & world. - Beyond the physical, the psychological and the spiritual