109: Bhagavad Gita Class by Swami Tadatmananda - Ch.16 Verses 20-24

Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class at Arsha Bodha Center taught by Swami Tadatmananda.
All prior classes available here: • Bhagavad Gita - classe...
Bhagavad Gita in English verse chanted by Swami Tadatmananda: • Complete Bhagavad Gita...
Swami Tadatmananda's translation, audio download, and podcast available on our website here: arshabodha.org...
Swami Tadatmananda is a traditionally-trained teacher of Advaita Vedanta, meditation, and Sanskrit. For more information, please see: www.arshabodha...

[@subramanianjothi5798]

I am a old man from India. Whenever I listen to your class, your compassion and positive vibes reaches and uplifts me. Slowly the bud is in the process of becoming flower. But it is very difficult for it to convey the gratitude to the sun.

[@jasminka-k9t]

Namaskar Swamiji. Thank you for an excellent lesson. I absolutely love the simplicity which sums up dharma - Ahimsa paramo dharma. Non-violence, non harm. I think that has to be practised from the core of our being, from energetic level, from being careful what we energetically feed on and what we energetically emit. And of course, the reflection which action we should take as the result of our thinking and feeling. Also the opposite of Ahimsa is Compassion which many Buddhists simply call kindness. Wonderful! Cultivation of compassion is the imperative. Thank you once more. Om Shanti! 🙏

[@grafinvonhohenembs]

Thank you, Swami-ji! 🙏

[@gridcoregilry666]

Thank you for this and all the other classes, Swami!

[@chironsthea607]

Namaste, om shanti. I really appreciate all of the videos. thank you.

[@girishnanoti954]

Pranam Swami Ji

[@prakashrath9797]

Thank you Swamiji 🙏

[@kanishkajoshi563]

🙏🙏. Thank you Swami ji......

[@rajukunjukrishnan472]

Pranam Guruji 🙏

[@lunar2277]

Jai ho 🦚🌺💐

[@joseaugustoantunes4906]

Omram

[@anilmadan6209]

“अहिंसा परमो धर्मः धर्म हिंसा तथैव चः।” अर्थात:- यदि मनुष्य के लिऐ अहिंसा परम धर्म है तो ”धर्म” मतलब (सत्य ) की रक्षा के लिए हिंसा उससे भी श्रेष्ठ है जब धर्म (सत्य ) पर संकट आए तो मनुष्य को शस्त्र उठाना चाहिए और धर्म (सत्य ) की रक्षा करनी चाहिए।

[@numyastrolife]

🙏

[@parthparakh95]

🙏🙏

[@kathyryan7611]

💖💖💖

[@alukuhito]

Thank you, Swami-ji. Now, I'm curious what the other Swami had to say.

[@vs9324]

They say the most complicated skill is to be simple. Three words can define dharma beautifully. Ahimsa paramo dharma (Non-violence is the highest dharma). Of course, that is not the only dharma. It is the highest dharma. It is ironic that Mahabharata, in which Krishna tells Arjuna to fight a just war, states Ahimsa paramo dharma. It should be noted that Bhishma gives this knowledge to Yudhishtra when Yudhishtra asks Bhishma about the merit of abstaining from consuming animal flesh. However, there are 4 other places in Mahabharata where the same phrase is used. अहिंसा परमॊ धर्मस्तथाहिंसा परॊ दमः अहिंसा परमं दानमहिंसा परमं तपः (Mahābhārata 13.117.37) Meaning: "Ahiṃsā is the greatest Dharma. Ahiṃsā is the greatest refuge. Ahiṃsā is the highest charity. Ahiṃsā is the greatest penance / self control". This should not be construed to mean that wars should not be fought and we should accept unjust rule / regime meekly. Lord Krishna talks about this very clearly:- स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि | धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते || -श्रीमद् भगवद्गीता, अध्यायं 2, श्लोकं 31 -Sreemad Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 31 Meaning : "Besides, considering your duty as a warrior, you should not waver. Indeed, for a warrior, there is no better engagement than fighting for upholding of righteousness". The Ahimsa or non violence that is always quoted so liberally actually refers to the doctrine of not being violent by ourselves. It just means that we should not unleash violence without reason and provocation. If non-violence will lead to more harm to mankind than violence, we should fight back tooth and nail to ensure that the right thing (dharma) is restored in the world. The word "mankind" is important. Violence should NEVER be resorted to for selfish, personal gain or for avenging real or perceived injustice to oneself. Think of Hitler (who Swamiji referred to in the context of "being sent to demonic births life after life"). Can one say killing someone like Hitler will be himsa (violence) and hence should be eschewed? In my opinion, No.

[@saritabhatia9078]

Excellent discussion! Exactly it should be!

[@psirotta]

When asked by a cynic to summarize the Bible (specifically, the Torah) while standing on one foot, the sage Hillel (1st century B.C.E.) responded, “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow (in other words, do no harm). That is the entire Torah, and the rest is commentary." The Biblical reference that this was taken from also adds, "You shall love your fellow as yourself (be compassionate)." So the heart of what you describe as commandments that warrant punishment if broken, as opposed to vedic teaching, is not so different from Vedantic dharma, really. The purpose of the extensive Talmudic interpretation of Biblical laws and commandments written over generations is only to make clear, in every imaginable life situation, precisely what is dharma, and what is not, realizing that ordinary people may not always know.

[@Jiv509]

It is very different. Yes the Bible has some verses that are in sync with Hindu teachings however Swami is referring to the difference of how the consequences of actions are viewed by Abrahamic religions vs Hinduism and they are very different. In Hinduism no one is considered a sinner but in Christianity you have sinners who will be punished and believers who will be rewarded.

[@leonardodaverde1]

O holy simplicity! Such an expression is used in Finnish culture to express something very stupid and rejectable. In the Vedantic culture, this would mean a dharmic, reduced way of doing things....

[@rajukunjukrishnan472]

Pranam Guruji 🙏