Gita in a Nutshell #12

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Gita in a Nutshell: Big Ideas and Best Quotations.
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As you recall from “Different Yoga Strokes for Different Yoga Folks“, the ancient Yoga sage(s) who wrote the Gita recognized that different people would need different types of Yoga to match their personality types:

Yoga of Understanding / Yoga of Meditation / Yoga of Love / Yoga of Action

In the original Gita Talk discussion series, I brought in a wonderful guest writer, Amy Champ, to cover the Yoga of Love and Devotion or Bhakti Yoga.  I highly recommend it to you:

Gita Talk #14: A Warm and Wonderful Article by Special Guest Amy Champ

Here are the specific passages in the Gita about the Yoga of Love and Devotion:

(For those new to Gita in a Nutshell, the voice speaking here is the infinitely wondrous universe itself, what some refer to as the “Unfathomable Life Force of the Universe” and others choose to call “God”. In the Gita these are one and the same. See GN #2.)

This Supreme Person, Arjuana,
who contains all beings and extends
to the limit of all that is,
can be reached by wholehearted devotion. (BG 8.22)

~

But the truly wise, Arjuana,
who dive deep into themselves,
fearless, one-pointed, know me
as the inexhaustible source.

Always chanting my praise,
steadfast in their devotion,
they make their lives an unending
hymn to my endless love. (BG 9.13-14)

~

In this way you will be freed
from all the results of your actions,
good or harmful; unfettered,
untroubled, you will come to me. (BG 9.29)

~

He who can understand
the glory of my manifestations
is forever united with me
by his unwavering love.

I am the source of all things,
and all things emerge from me;
knowing this, wise men worship
by entering my state of being. ( BG 10.7-8)

~

To those who are steadfast, who love me
with true devotion, I give
the yoga of understanding,
which will bring them to where I am. ( BG 10.10)

~

Only by single-minded
devotion can I be known
as I truly am, Arjuna-
can I be seen and entered.

He who acts for my sake,
loving me free of attachment,
with benevolence toward all beings,
will come to me in the end. ( BG 11.54-55)

~

Those who love and revere me
with unwavering faith, always
centering their minds to me-
they are the most perfect in yoga. ( BG 12.2)

~

He who, devoted to me,
is beyond joy and hatred, grief
and desire, good and bad fortune-
that man is the one I love best.

The same to both friend and foe,
the same in disgrace or honor,
suffering or joy, untroubled,
indifferent to praise and blame

quiet, filled with devotion,
content with whatever happens,
at home wherever he is-
that man is the one I love best.

Those who realize the essence
of duty, who trust me completely
and surrender their lives to me-
I love them with very great love. ( BG 12.17-20)

Previous:
#11: The Yoga of Meditation.

Next:
#13 The Yoga of Action (Karma Yoga).

 

(Complete contents at
Gita in a Nutshell: Big Ideas and Best Quotations
To receive notice of each weekly blog,
please join our Facebook group.)