Without steadiness in knowledge, the weakness of just one sense organ can cause one’s downfall. Despite hearing the Geeta, we often are unsteady in the conviction of Krishna’s words and allow the mind to get carried away by sense objects, disobeying the intellect’s guidance! Swamiji beautifully illustrates this through the significance of the Satyanarayana Katha. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Without clear understanding that all that we seek outside is not going to bring us the peace we seek, the mind will always be restless. Swamiji delves deep into our mind’s flawed logic and tendency to dwell on the objects we desire. He also clearly illustrates the journey from agitation to quietness in the mind that we repeatedly go on when pursuing our desires. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

It is not that every object attracts us, but depending on our likes and dislikes that the mind develops a desire for certain objects. Taking our mind through the shopping malls of the world around us, Swamiji clearly illustrates how in the peaceful mind of one who has given up strong likes and dislikes, the seeds of their vasanas get completely roasted! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Obsessive desire for anything constitutes lust. Lust when obstructed leads to anger, and this anger deludes us, causing us to lose our ability to discriminate between what is real and unreal. Swamiji illustrates this through an anecdote in the Ramayana, driving home the clear ways in which our desire for the world outside carries us swiftly down the ladder of fall! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

The mind is easily coloured by sense pleasures and the intellect often justifies indulgence, but Krishna explains how an intellect dedicated to a higher goal can lovingly inspire the mind to master, and not just suppress, the senses. Swamiji also introduces Krishna’s famous ‘ladder of fall’ to help us understand how the uncontrolled mind leads us further away from our ultimate goal! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

How much can one abstain from all the temptations of the world? When we stay away from the temptations, they eventually turn away from us too. However, Krishna reminds us that the memory of the pleasures continues to tempt even the most intelligent of us! Having withdrawn the senses, the mind must be alert, vigilant and directed into deeper contemplation of the Truth. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Krishna paints this delicate word-picture of a person of perfection on the canvas of Arjuna’s mind. He even anticipates Arjuna’s queries and begins to eliminate them! How can one so easily withdraw from the world? In today’s episode, Swamiji eloquently explains Krishna’s beautiful metaphor comparing the tortoise and the sthitaprajna! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Swamiji clearly points out how our raga (attachment), leads to bhaya (fear) and krodha (anger), and the stithaprajna is free from them. Their mind is not dependent on any outer object, hence the level of detachment which they operate from. The person of perfection also sees beyond ‘good’ and ‘bad’, neither complains nor praises, and is ever fixed in knowledge of Brahman in all as all. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

With a variety of tales, Swamiji explains the self-satisfied nature of one who is equanimous. We hear of the sthithaprajna’s unshakeable mental attitude towards joys and sorrows, who accepts all that falls in their lap as the Lord’s grace, and has no fear, attachment or anger towards the world and people around them. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Having heard of this state of ease, Arjuna is curious to understand such a person of perfection. To the untrained ear, his questions may seem childish, but Krishna understands these prattling questions from His student and begins by speaking of the knowledge the sthitaprajna is rooted in. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Moksha is not freedom from action but freedom in action. When we intelligently let go of attachment to the results of actions, we gain freedom from bondage of birth and de ath. Swamiji breaks down the psychology of our attachment to the fruits of our efforts despite the suffering that we inflict on ourselves by that very attachment, and how we can reach our original state of ease. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

The benefit of the Geeta is to be experienced here and now. With amusing anecdotes, Swamiji clarifies how we can act in love and dedication. Applying the practice of karma yoga in whatever we do, enriches our work with efficiency and brings us peace and equanimity, regardless of the results that follow. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

A restless mind leads to an inefficient intellect, leading to nothing but more suffering! Doing our best and accepting the fruits of our action as the just results, regardless of whether it is what we desire or not, ensures a balanced mind. Swamiji elaborately explains the benefits of performing our duties with this attitude (and the downside of not!) The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Swamiji distils the knowledge of Karma Yoga to explain how we can come to liberate ourselves. He shares the approach we should take to doing our duties such that we can remain steadfast in yoga - ever peaceful and balanced with an equanimous mind. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Krishna urges the seeker to go beyond the three modes of nature (gunas). By staying centred in the Self, we can remain free from the pairs of opposites that are part of life and instead come to experience completeness. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Krishna advises the seeker to not get carried away with elaborate actions. We cannot fulfil ourselves by pursuing actions that can only give us finite results. Swamiji shares how we should work towards a higher goal, free of desire, so as to be able to reach the highest state of peace and happiness. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

As we gain spiritual knowledge, many paths and many goals appear to be taught over the ages. How to know which will lead us to our goal? Swamiji explains how the flowery words of various ‘religious’ practices promise only temporary pleasures, not allowing the mind to become peaceful, perpetually distracting the mind! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

In Karma Kand, if we don’t complete actions in the proper order, despite our efforts, we may not benefit from it and even gain the opposite of our desired outcome! Krishna, the expert salesman, shows us how Buddhi Yoga solves this problem of Karma Kand. Not only that, the efforts we put in will always lead us closer to our goal, when there is love in action. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Working with the right attitude, the right Buddhi, can help us gain knowledge of the Truth. By acting without the input of our own likes and dislikes, the mind becomes calm and unites us with the Buddhi, the means to gain knowledge. Gradually, we begin to work with our intelligence in tune with our higher Ideals, purifying us with each action we undertake! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Swamiji elaborates on Krishna’s advice to ‘work for the sake of working’ to prevent creating newer vasanas, and shares the importance of knowledge of the Self through an amusing story from Swamiji’s time in Hong Kong! He also introduces the upcoming concept of Buddhi Yoga that Shri Krishna shares with Arjuna. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/