1. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 - Collection

Kṛṣṇa offered to join with either of the two clans. He says, 'One of you may have Me unarmed. I will not take any part in the battle. The other may have my entire Yādava army.'

When the offer was first made to Duryodhana, he predictably chose the large and well-armed Yādava army, Nārāyaṇī Senā, in preference to the unarmed Kṛṣṇa.

Arjuna joyfully and gratefully chose his dearest friend, his life mentor and his Guru, Kṛṣṇa, Nārāyaṇa, to be his unarmed charioteer!

This whole history is such a beautiful happening. Mahābhārat is actually your life! Every character in the Mahābhārat teaches so much! We don't need to go anywhere for our life success or fulfillment or for anything else that we may desire. We don't need to study any other book to learn the human psychology or the science of living and leaving. Whether we seek righteous living—dharma; or we want to learn business or administration, economy or abundance—artha; or we want to create the best rich lifestyle—kāma; or we want to be a leader and want the enriching life of being enlightened mokṣa, for all these purposes, we don't need anything other than the Mahābharāt!

Study each character. We will not find any more characters in our life than the characters described in the Mahābharāt!

Any character we see in our life is mapped to Mahābharāt's one character. They are either half or full representation of some character.

To know how to handle them and even handle yourself, just see how Śrī Kṛṣṇa handles them and handle them the same way. The Mahābharāt war is a representation of life as it was lived in that age.

Vyāsa, its author is an unbiased historian who recorded the whole history as it happened without trying to apply any makeup. People ask whether the Mahābharāt war happened at all!

If the Mahābharāt was a story and not history, Vyāsa should receive multiple Pulitzer prizes for his highly creative work! The Mahābharāt is the longest literary work in the whole world with hundred thousand Saṃskṛit verses—the longest poem ever written with such delicate harmony of unmatched poetic perfection. It is larger than the Greek epics. Vyāsa had no computer, no tape recorder with speech-to-text capabilities. He dictated and Bhagavān Ganeṣa wrote it down!

• Yudhiṣṭra is embodiment of Integrity the power of words, vāk śakti.
• Bhīma is embodiment of Authenticity the power of thoughts, mano śakti.

Arjuna is embodiment of Responsibility—the power of feeling, prema śakti.

• Sahadeva is embodiment of Enriching the power of living, ātma śakti.

  • Nakula is embodiment of causing reality for others.

• Śakuni, the maternal uncle of Duryodhana embodies the pattern of self-hatred, which is cunningness personified.

• Droṇa represents all the best knowledge one imbibes and the teachers one encounters, who guide us but are unable to take us through to the ultimate flowering of enlightenment. It is difficult to give them up since one feels grateful to them. This is where the Enlightened Master, the incarnation steps in and guides us.

• Duryodhana, represents one's ego or root-pattern, the most difficult to conquer as it leads one to selfdestruction. One needs the full help of the Master here. It is subtle work and even the Master's help may not be obvious, since at this point, sometimes the ego makes us deny and disconnect from the Master as well.

• Karṇa is the repository of all good deeds and it is his good deeds that stand in the way of his own Enlightenment. Śrī Kṛṣṇa has to take the load of Karṇa's puṇya, his meritorious deeds, before he could be liberated. The Enlightened Master guides one to drop one's attachment to good deeds arising out of what are perceived to be charitable and compassionate intentions. He also shows us that the quest for and the experience of enlightenment is the ultimate act of compassion that one can offer to the world. Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa, the 8th most powerful purnāvatar of Ṃaha Viśnu, is the embodiment of pure celebration, boundless love, compassion, and completion.

Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa is the only incarnation demonstrating and expressing Ṣarva Ṃangalatva all the auspicious qualities and all dimensions of an avatar during His physical happening. The līla Bhagavan Ṣri Krsna is one of sheer innocence and simplicity, in a peace-loving, diplomatic, conflict-free way.

Karṇa is the repository of all good deeds and it is his good deeds that stand in the way of his own Enlightenment. Śrī Kṛṣṇa has to take the load of Karṇa's puṇya, his meritorious deeds, before he could be liberated. The Enlightened Master guides one to drop one's attachment to good deeds arising out of what are perceived to be charitable and compassionate intentions. He also shows us that the quest for and the experience of enlightenment is the ultimate Till now everyone blames Bhagavan Sri Krishna for this Kurukshetra war but that's the greatest sacrifice Bhagavan Sri Krishna did to save the planet Earth. If Kurukshetra was not conducted at that time under the controlled conditions and direct supervision of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, planet Earth would not have survived more than three years.

act of compassion that one can offer to the world. Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa, the 8th most powerful purnāvatar of Ṃaha Viśnu, is the embodiment of pure celebration, boundless love, compassion, and completion. Bhagavan Ṣri Kṛṣṇa is the only incarnation demonstrating and expressing Ṣarva Ṃangalatva all the auspicious qualities a nd all dimensions of an avatar during His physical happening. The līla Bhagavan Ṣri Krsna is one of sheer innocence and The wide spread availability of the Astra shastras without Shastra, without the knowledge and vision, was posing a huge threat to the whole of humanity and planet Earth, and for life itself. The greatest achievement of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is destroying all the weapons in one controlled condition and saving planet earth, eliminating the nuclear weapons and the knowledge of these nuclear weapons to save humanity from total annihilation.

simplicity, in a peace-loving, diplomatic,

conflict-free way.

Bhagavad Gītā appears in the heart of Mahābhārat in Bhīṣma Parva, the sixth chapter of its eighteen chapters. Veda Vyāsa, the narrator, in glorifying the Gītā sings, 'the one who drinks the water of Ganges (the sacred river for Hindus) attains liberation, what to speak of the one who drinks the nectar of Gītā?

Gītā is the essential nectar of the Mahābhārat, bhāratamṛta sarvasvam as it is directly spoken by Nārāyaṇa, Bhagavān kṛṣṇa Himself.'

The armies assembled in the vast field of Kurukṣetra, now in the state of Haryana in modern day Bharat. All the kings and princes were related to one another, and were often on opposite sides. Facing the Kaurava army and his friends, relatives and teachers, Arjuna was overcome by remorse and guilt, and wanted to walk away from the battle out of total powerlessness unbecoming an invincible warrior among warriors.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa's dialogue with Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra out of His utmost concern and love for him and humanity is the content of Bhagavad Gītā. Of its seven hundred and forty-five (745) verses, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa sings the Gītā in six hundred and twenty (620) verses responding to Arjuna's fifty-seven (57) enquiries.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa persuades Arjuna to give-up his powerlessness unfitting an Ārya—the spiritually evolved one who understands human life and urges him to raise himself again as Parantapa—the conqueror of enemy, and take up arms and vanquish his enemies. They are already dead,' says Śrī Kṛṣṇa, 'All those who are facing you have been already killed by Me. Go ahead and do what you have to do. That is your responsibility. Do not worry about the outcome. Leave that to Me.'

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

śrī bhagavānuvāca idaṁ tu te guhyatamaṁ pravakṣyāmy anasūyave jñānaṁ vijñānasahitaṁ yajjñātvā mokṣyase'śubhāt

Kṛṣṇa says: Dear Arjuna, because you trust Me and you are not envious of Me; I shall therefore impart to you this profound and secret wisdom and experience; This will free you of all miseries of material existence.

Once we know this secret, then there is no difference between the Divine and us.

rājavidyā rājaguhyaṁ pavitram idam uttamam pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam

This knowledge is king of all knowledge and the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, sacred, and because it gives direct perception of the Self by Self-realization, it is the perfection of religion, dharma. It is eternal, easy and it is very joyfully performed.

Whether you believe it or not, accept it or not, realize it or not, you are God. You have two choices. You can either sleep as long as you want to without experiencing this truth, or you can make the conscious choice to experience your enlightenment. But the truth is, 'You are That'.

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani

Those who have no faith in this knowledge cannot attain Me, O Parantapa, conqueror of foes. They will return to the path of birth and death in this material world.

Have faith in dharma and it will lead you to the Ultimate.'

We are now at the halfway mark of the Bhagavad Gita. Arjuna started in total confusion and dilemma. His questions were varied and repetitive. It was as if he did not listen to what Krsna told him. As I said, questions arise from inner violence. They arise from the ego to prove one's correctness.

These questions gradually morph into doubts. Doubts are essential for any seeker. Doubt and faith are two sides of the same coin. Without doubt, we cannot develop faith. Blind faith is based upon social conditioning and will collapse under pressure. Real faith develops in the seeker when he sincerely questions spiritual truths. Raising sincere doubts before an enlightened master actually does a lot to integrate a person and strengthen his faith.

Krsna sees the change happening within Arjuna. He feels Arjuna'sinner violence and conflict is clearing up and that his individual consciousness is opening. The master is ready to change gears now and take the dialogue to the next level that is needed to address this change in Attitude. Now Krsna reveals to Arjuna the greatest of all secrets, the secret about Himself.

Here Krsna says, 'Because you are never jealous, never envious of My status and Me, I give you the ultimate secret of this state.' And I tell you,this is the ultimate secret. And He says, 'Knowing which, you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.

'What are the miseries of material existence? Whether we have something or not, it is misery. If we don't have, then the misery is, 'I don't have.' If we have, then we have the misery, 'I must protect it.'

Yoga means achieving. Ksema means protecting or preserving. Both are miseries. Whether we have or not, it is misery. Krsna says that the miseries of having wealth and not having wealth, both disappear by knowing this secret. This is the ultimate secret that needs to be understood. Knowledge of this secret liberates you.

He says, 'This knowledge is the king of all knowledge. The greatest secret of all secrets, it is the purest knowledge and because it gives direct perception of the Self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting and it is joyfully performed.'

See, religion or a spiritual path should have three characteristics. First,it should clearly describe the goal of life. Next, it should clearly give you the path to achieve the goal. Third, it should make you happy to travel in that path. The path itself should be joyful.

In this chapter Krsna says, 'I am something more than God. Whatever you think of as God rests in Me. All created beings rest in Me.' But He is not crucified, because He declares this truth to a person who understands and accepts it. We need to see whether a person is mature enough to receive the truth before we share it.

Here, Krsna says it is a secret, because it can be delivered only to a person qualified to receive it. However, these chapters are intimate secrets delivered only from the master to a qualified disciple who really wants the knowledge.

Here Krsna gives the qualification of people who can attain Him. When I say 'Him' , it is the universal energy I am referring to. In the first two verses Krsna says, 'It is a great truth that I am going to tell and it is a secret that I am revealing to you.' Now He lets Arjuna know what kind of people can know the secret.

He says people who do not have faith in His teachings go back to the path of rebirth without attaining Him. He says the qualification required is to have faith in His teachings. Only those people can come out of the vicious cycle of birth and death. Faith is one of the most important things, especially in the spiritual path. Whenever an enlightened master speaks, every word he utters is the Absolute Truth.

Here, Krsna talks about faith in dharma, His teachings. When Krsna says dharma, He means anything that leads us to a higher level of consciousness. Man without consciousness is an animal, a danava. In Hindu epics there are two types of people: manava and danava, humans and non-humans. The first category has faith in dharma and a higher level of consciousness. Danava are animals. They do not have faith in any dharma, so their level of consciousness is low.

The only difference between man and an animal is the seed of consciousness implanted in us. We must water this seed and allow it to germinate. We must nurture this sapling to flower into a fully-grown tree. We need faith in dharma for this tree of consciousness to happen in us. Krsna clearly says that we must allow consciousness to flower in us, and in order to do that we must have faith in dharma.

To help the child realize some of the truths of existence as shared by Krsna, so that they can build a strong foundation in allowing their consciousness to blossom.

• 1. Why does Krsna feel confident in revealing these sacred truths to Arjuna?
• 2. What is the truth of material existence?
• 3. What is the meaning of Yoga and Ksema?
• 4. What is the required qualification to understanding the secrets shared by Krsna?
• 5. What is dharma?

• 1. Paper
• 2. Pencils

Make the children sit in pairs, one child will draw half of the picture and other child will complete it. After the picture is complete both the children will talk about their picture.

What Krsna means through jnana yajnya is the spiritual path that leads one to Selfrealization. This realization of the deepest truths about oneself happens through a combination of two things: understanding about similar spiritual experiences by observing others, and our own efforts to contemplate upon these experiences so that they are reproduced within. Review how this exercise helps us to observe others and ourselves in relation to this sacred truth shared by Krsna.

Part 2: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 - Collection_English_part_2.md

Materials Needed: Chairs

• 1. This easy listening game works great with young learners. Arrange chairs as if to play musical chairs. Students will walk around them, but in this case they won't be listening to a song. They will listen to a conversation. As always, give them the context and ask them a question: What is Tom's favorite food? Students walk around the chairs as you play the audio and the student/s who hear the answer to the question sit/s down.
• 2. Pause the audio. Those who are seated answer the question, and if it's correct they will remain seated. If several students sit down at the same time, that's fine, but ask them to whisper the answer in your ear to make sure they all heard the answer from the audio.
• 3. Ask another question (whose answer will come up next in the audio). The students who were left standing now walk around the chairs till they hear the answer. Go on asking questions and giving students the opportunity to secure a seat. The last student left standing, like the usual game of musical chairs is left out of the next round. A chair is removed from the circle and so it continues until you have one chair and two students competing to answer the final question.
• 4. It's convenient to have the script of the audio so it's easier for you to ask the questions. You can use one of THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM's satsangs. Also, bear in mind you will play longer with a longer audio, but you can also play with several short ones. The game will go much faster if several students sit down (have the answer) at the same time, but only those who got it right should remain seated.

Just as we collect things for the outer space, we need to collect knowledge for our inner space: life solutions. If we feel depressed or if we face some adverse situation, how are we to react? We need knowledge of the inner space to handle it. Collecting life solutions is what Krsna calls jnana yajnya. What is nitya (eternal) and what is anitya (temporary)? What is satya (truth) and what is asatya (falsehood)? Acquiring all this understanding is jnana yajnya . Review how this activity opens up the mind to receiving knowledge and reacting accordingly.

Workshop of the day

• 1. Pen
• 2. Paper

Who have we given up on?

• 1. Make two lists lists of people who we have NOT given up on. And list of people who we have given up on.
• 2. Sit and contemplate what part of the other person have we given up on?
• 3. How does that correspond to an incompletion within you?
• 4. Observe how you have given up on that part of yourself.
• 5. Write down how by enriching the other person you will be enriching your own life. Now make a resolution to not give up on the other person.
• 6. Create a plan for how you are going to enrich the other person
• 7. Share your plan with the class

Enriching Your Teamily:

So now we will do a process to complete with our Power of Living.

• 1. Make a list of the top ten relationships in your life.
• 2. Recall any incident or incidents you remember where you could have enriched the other person, but did not.
• 3. Now, complete with those incidents by declaring that you will enrich those relationships now onwards. Note down at least five new ways in can you enrich each of your top relationships. These could be new thoughts words or actions that you are now going to engage in, to enrich and expand these people and relationships.

When we have internalized Krsna's dharma in everything that we do, our consciousness automatically blossoms. When we reach that state of consciousness, we merge with universal consciousness and then we are free from the cycle of birth and death.

Krsna says people who do not have faith in His teachings go back to the path of rebirth without attaining Him. He says the qualification required is to have faith in His teachings. Only those people can come out of the vicious cycle of birth and death, therefore we ought to cognize how to bring us to a space of dropping the inner violence within us so that we can have more trust and faith in these divine teachings. Krsna clearly says that we must allow consciousness to flower in us, and in order to do that we must have faith in dharma.

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

mayā tatam idaṁ sarvam jagadavyakta mūrtinā matsthāni sarvabhūtāni na cahaṁ teṣv-avasthitaḥ

By Me, the entire Universe is pervaded in My formless form. All beings are based in Me, but I am not in them.

The whole universe is pure intelligence, not dead matter. It is not an accident

na ca matsthāni bhūtāni paśya me yogam aiśvaram bhūtabhṛnna ca bhūtastho mamātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ

And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Look at My mystic powers! Although, I am the Creator and Sustainer of all living entities, I do not depend the Cosmic manifestation; for My Self is the very source of all creation.

We need to understand that the whole universe is intelligence. This intelligence responds to our thoughts

yathākāśasthito nityaṁ vāyuḥ sarvatrago mahān tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni matsthānīty upadhāraya

As the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in eternal space, all beings rest in Me.

Just as the air rests in the space, our being, the whole universe including our being, we all rest in the Divine. Krsna says, 'All beings rest in Me.'

sarvabhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām kalpakṣaye punas tāni kalpādau visṛjāmyaham

O Kaunteya (son of Kuntī), at the end of every age all beings merge into Me, at the beginning of every new age I create them again.

When Krsna says, 'All material manifestation enters Me, ' He means, it enters the universal consciousness. Everything we see and feel using our senses is part of the universal consciousness.

prakṛtiṁ svāmavaṣṭabhya visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ bhūtagrāmam imaṁ kṛtsnam avaśaṁ prakṛtervaśāt

The whole Cosmic order is under Me and My material nature creates the beings again and again, and it is controlled by My material nature.

Once we understand everything is a mirror image of our own self, we become enlightened

It is time to reveal the secrets. Krsna starts: 'By Me, in my formless form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me but I am not in them.'

Before entering further into this verse, the meaning of the verse should be understood. I want to tell you about my meeting with Charles Townes, a Nobel Laureate and a great scientist. He discovered something related to LASER and MASER. I asked him, 'How did you discover? How did this truth happen in your being?" He answered, 'Swamiji, to tell you honestly, I was relaxing in a park in Washington. It was early morning, about six a.m. I was supposed to give lecture on this subject to a group that day at nine a.m. I tried my best to recollect everything. I was completely frustrated, because I could not achieve much. Suddenly like a revelation, as an intuition, the conclusion was revealed to me! The whole truth came into my consciousness. I discovered it! I immediately penned down what I got.'

And he says, 'I then realized I had a difficulty: I knew the conclusion, the truth, but not the steps! I didn't know the logical steps to arrive at that conclusion! So after that, I needed to think and develop the logical steps. Only then could I present it to others. Like an intuition, suddenly, it happened. It had been revealed to me.'

Actually, even this experience is not a big thing. The truth, the important thing is this: I asked Charles Townes, 'How did you feel when it happened to you, when the revelation happened to you?' Because what he experienced was intuition just as our sages experienced.

He said, 'Swamiji, I don't know how to exactly express those things; however, one thing is certain: from that moment onwards, I know for sure that the whole universe is intelligence!'

This is the truth! The whole universe is pure intelligence, not dead matter. It is not an accident. It can respond and react to our thoughts. This is an important and basic understanding. The moment we understand that we are inside the energy that is intelligence, we immediately settle into a deep relaxation

Yoga means achieving. Ksema means protecting or preserving. Both are miseries. Whether we have or not, it is misery. Krsna says that the miseries of having wealth and not having wealth, both disappear by knowing this secret. This is the ultimate secret that needs to be understood. Knowledge of this secret liberates you.

This does not mean that we just sit and relax and say, 'Okay, the universe is intelligence. It will take care of everything.' This is laziness and escapism. We still must do what we need to do. We should still work; however, we can enjoy the process. You see, we think of the results all the time and never enjoy the process of doing that work. When we enjoy the process and trust the universal intelligence, thoughts of fear and greed will disappear. We will let the universe take care of the results. Krsna says elsewhere, 'You do what you have to. But surrender the results to Me.' When He says 'Me, ' He refers to the universal consciousness or intelligence.

This is what Krsna means in the next verse when He says that the beings do not depend on Him, nor does He depend on them. Of course, it is clear that the universe does not depend upon us, yet, how can He say that we do not depend upon the Universe? What He means is this: it is not a passive and lazy dependence of letting everything happen while we sit idle. It is an active understanding.

One does what one must do as part of his life process but without attachment and ownership. One way or the other, we are in this universe. Because the universe is intelligence, it responds to our thoughts. It makes things happen. Since we are part of this universe, just flow with the energy of the universe.

If this understanding penetrates our life, it is enough! If we know the universe is intelligence, we never question how life unfolds. We don't say, 'I am moral. But I see people who don't live morally living luxuriously. Yet I always suffer!' We never have these frustrations because we know the cosmic intelligence will take care ultimately. Whoever is immoral will naturally face the consequences, because intelligence takes care. In the same way, if we are honest, integrated, and living a spiritual life, we will live a beautiful life.

Don't think the cosmos is just matter. If we think the cosmos is matter, we are materialistic. If we understand that the cosmos is intelligence, we are spiritual. The only difference between the materialistic and spiritual person is that the materialist thinks the whole thing is material. The spiritual person understands that the whole thing is energy.

When we understand this, a tremendous relaxation and bliss consciousness happens to us. Understand that bliss is not just a mood. It is our very consciousness. One devotee asked, 'Bliss comes and goes, what to do?' I explained, 'You are having initial glimpses of bliss. Through your mind, you are trying to touch the bliss. Just relax, that's all.

Once we understand this secret, a deep relaxation happens to us. In such a deep relaxation we straightaway experience bliss consciousness. Krsna says, 'By My formless form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me.' He speaks of cosmic intelligence.

To help the child cognize that the whole universe is intelligence.

• 1. What is Ether?
• 2. Explain what you understand when Krsna asys that the beings do not depend on Him, nor does He depend on them

• 1. Flowers; can separate into petals
• 2. Paper
• 3. Glue

Creating a collage with real flowers. Give each child some real flowers and ask them to glue them on paper to create a collage or picture

Creating your reality is a science. The moment every human being lands on planet earth he should be taught how to create his reality.

Play guess who is the leader. Send one person out and the rest of the group decides who is the leader. Invite the person send out back into the room and start following what the leader does. The person who went out should figure out who is the leader.

The whole world listens to you when you project your reality out of completion.You need to know that you can complete now. When the earth element is disturbed only one person suffers. For example, if our food is poisoned, we alone suffer. If water is poisoned, the whole region, whoever uses it, suffers. If whatever creates fire in us is corrupted, a big group suffers.

• 1. What are the things that you wanted that happened for you. For example, your dad and mom got you things you wanted or did things the way you wanted them.
• 2. List all the incompletion you have. If you have any shrinking or disturbing emotion then we need to complete with it. Complete instantaneously all the list of incompletions in front of the group.

Connect them to the topic "The whole world listens to you when you project your reality out of completion". You always feel it is a remote possibility in your life, if at all it is possible – which is not true. Creating your reality is a science. Declare that you are complete inside and out of that completion, project and see what you want becoming a reality.

Review the lesson and see how it teaches us how to use our thoughts to relate to the intelligence of the universe in creating your own reality. We need to understand that the whole universe is intelligence. This intelligence responds to our thoughts. When we imbibe this, then we naturally experience a deep peace. As long as we believe the world is material, we create more and more violence because we live materially. Materially means that we must snatch from others. Only a person who experiences, who understands that the whole thing is energy, intelligence, only he can relax. The moment we experience, we understand that we are under the guidance of an intelligent energy. We don't need to struggle or stress ourselves.

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

na ca māṁ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya udāsīna-vad āsīnam asaktaṁ teṣu karmasu

O Dhanañjaya, all this work does not bind Me. I am ever unattached from these activities, seated as though neutral.

The whole universe is being born out of Him and it is getting destroyed. Even then He is not affected, because He is not bound to the universe. It is because He is a mere spectator.

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sacarācaram hetunānena kaunteya jagad viparivartate

The material nature or prakṛti works under My direction, O Kaunteya, and creates all moving and unmoving beings through My energies. By its cause, this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.

Krsna says, 'I am the supreme power.' Everything happens under His supervision. Whatever happens is a drama of creation and annihilation, through Nature and Illusion.

avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanumāśritam paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto mama bhūtamaheśvaram

Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord [maheśavara] of the entire creation.

If we meet an enlightened master that is the best thing that can happen to us.

moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ rākṣasīmāsurīṁ caiva prakṛtiṁ mohinīṁ śritāḥ

Those who are thus deluded are demonic and atheistic. In their deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their result oriented actions and their culture of knowledge become false and useless.

The cosmic consciousness responds to our thoughts. What we think and how we think affects what happens around us

Being attached or bound to what we do or what we have is a major hurdle in realizing our Self. Krsna is not bound to this universe. This is the reason, He says, that keeps Him unaffected when the universe is created and when it is destroyed. The whole universe is being born out of Him and it is getting destroyed. Even then He is not affected, because He is not bound to the universe. It is because He is a mere spectator.

Let us understand this in the context of daily life. When we start to internalize these great truths in small things that we do, a great change happens in us. Krsna speaks in terms of the universe being created and destroyed from universal consciousness. We can apply having them to day-to-day activities.

When we understand this truth, we feel a great sense of liberation. You see, we become attached or bound to what we have. We think that all we have is ours. When we create that attachment, we create a strong bond. Then the problem has started. Drop your attachment. Our material possessions create greed and fear in us. We attach so much importance to them that getting more and more of them becomes our only goal. Naturally when we have so much, we create a fear of losing them. The problem is we associate ourselves with material possessions. Again and again, we run after them and forget who we are.

Being a spectator to thoughts does not mean that we suppress or destroy thoughts. By being a spectator we remain unaffected and unattached to what happens in and around us. This is the truth. If we can internalize this completely, we will be enlightened this very minute! Krsna says that, although He is a mere spectator, everything happens under His supervision. Here He shows His authority. He says the material world is created and annihilated according to His will through the power of prakrti, Nature, and the energy of maya, Illusion. Krsna wants to clearly get this idea across to Arjuna. The whole material manifestation is a projection of the energy of universal consciousness. This is what is reflected within us in our individual consciousness. We create what we see and what we wish to see.

Krsna says, 'I am the supreme power.' Everything happens under His supervision. Whatever happens is a drama of creation and annihilation, through Nature and Illusion. Krsna, the director and producer of this cosmic drama, stands unmoved as a spectator. This truth is reflected within us, too. We create and destroy ourselves. Everything, our happiness, our pains, our fantasies, our sorrows, our relationships are created by us. If we see from a higher level, we influence the whole universe. Krsna shows how powerful our inner Self is. Whether we believe it or not, it is the truth. We create everything that we see, feel and hear. That is the power of our inner Self. Yet we do not stay detached the way Krina does. Our thoughts and inner chatter have a tremendous impact. The cosmic consciousness responds to our thoughts. What we think and how we think affects what happens around us.

One more important thing: there is a difference between being happy and being blissful. Happiness happens inside because of external factors. If suddenly the external source disappears, our happiness also disappears. So our internal state is affected by an external source. The outer world is affecting our inner world. Being blissful does not depend on external sources. If we are at peace internally, we express that bliss. No external event affects this state. Bliss is eternal; happiness is temporary. When we are blissful inside, we project the same bliss outside. When we are in that state, we enjoy everything that happens outside us.

Krsna says, 'Fools lose Me when I come in human form.' He calls them fools. This is the truth. When an enlightened master is in human form, we do not accept him as a master. Only after the master leaves the body do we pay our respects to the master. Why do people again and again do this? You see, when the master is still in human form, our mind sees him as another human being. We see him like another person. Then our ego comes between him and us. It reasons, 'He is another human like me. Why should I listen to him?' All these questions come. We decide we don't have to follow another human being and go back.

See, a simple act of ego makes us miss a living enlightened master. Our mind always boosts our ego and keeps us away from an enlightened master. Our being wants it, however, our mind and ego create a strong wall of questions between the master and us. If there is a continuous inner chatter in us when we approach a master, our mind and ego take over our being. We miss the opportunity. And one more thing, some people know that a person is a master. They know what he says is good for them, however, they escape. This is because they know that the enlightened master can see through them. They do not want anybody to know what a mess they have created in themselves. They want to escape that transformation.

The master can help only if we allow the master to take charge. As long as we hold onto our ego, we remain a fool. If we meet an enlightened master that is the best thing that can happen to us. Now it is up to us to take advantage of it or miss it. Krsna tells everyone: if you miss an enlightened master, you are a fool. If we think out of ego that an enlightened master is like any other human, we lose the chance of knowing the truth: we lose the chance for enlightenment. Powerful Cognition: Our thoughts and inner chatter have a tremendous impact. The cosmic consciousness responds to our thoughts. What we think and how we think affects what happens around us.

To help the child understand in daily life how our thoughts impact our reality.

• 1. Explain what you understand by Krsna not being "bound to this universe".
• 2. What is the difference between happiness and bliss?
• 3. Do you think it is important to have an enlightened master in your life? Why?

Part 3: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 - Collection_English_part_3.md

• 1. Paper
• 2. Pencils
• 3. Sketch pens

Encourage the children to draw agitation in a pictorial format. Ask them to tell about what they have drawn.

Our agitation is a reflection of the inner chatter and negativities within us. Review how this exercise helps us to identify where we are stuck in getting rid of our own ego and inner chatter.

• 1. Torch light (flash light)
• 2. Colored glass paper or cellophane

Review the activity and how it relates to our thoughts affecting our daily reality and consciousness on the whole.

Note: Have enough pieces of glass paper and torch lights for everyone, or form groups so all can share the Activity.

Inform the children: The flashlight is like our mind. The glass paper is our thoughts. Our vision is distorted by the thoughts we project. If we remove the glass paper/ thoughts, our vision and outlook is clear. But everyone has preconceived ideas and different thoughts and ways of looking at things; this is what brings in confusion. Remove the thoughts, and be clear. Take the torch light and demonstrate how to turn it on. Show how thoughts change colors as per the moods in our mind. If the colour paper is removed, the light is clear. Every one should take a turn shining through the colours then removing them, removing the thoughts. Discuss with the children: What does the glass paper represent? Why do we see in different colors? What happens when we feel that we are very clear about an idea? "We use our intuition."

All of us have emotions, good and bad. First thing we need to understand is that all emotions in us are due to chemical changes in our body. All the emotions like happiness, sad, depressed, crying, gratitude, anger, fear, greed, etc everything is an emotion. But in this we shall look at the emotions in a negative way. So now, the emotions are negative like anger , fear , depression , sad , crying ,fear , jealousy , irritation , etc. now let us get into the process. Whenever you experience any emotion, like anger or crying, these 2 are the best things with which you can play. So when you start crying for something , cry for some time and then stop crying for some time and again start , the emotions should be under your control , do the same thing for anger as well. Increase the anger and decrease anger as per your wish. When you do this you will master your mind and your mind will be your slave. Encourage the children to discuss how they will apply this technique in their dayto-day life.

Review how this lesson was able to help you gain better control of your emotions and consciously reduce the negativity within you. When we take action to heal this in ourselves, we will be in a better capability to project positive vibrations into creating the reality we desire.

Authored by THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

mahātmānastu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtimāśritāḥ bhajanty ananyamanaso jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam

O Pārtha (son of Prithā), the great souls, who are not deluded, are under the protection of My Divine nature. They are fully devoted to Me with a singlepointed mind as they know Me as the origin of all creation, the unchangeable.

Devotion is one of the most powerful ways to reach God

satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaśca dṛḍhavratāḥ namasyantaśca māṁ bhaktyā nityayuktā upāsate

Always chanting My names and glories, fully striving with great determination, bowing down onto Me, these great devotees of firm resolve, perpetually worship Me with devotion.

Complete devotion puts us in a completely different plane.

jñānayajñena cāpyanye yajanto māmupāsate ekatvena pṛthaktvena bahudhā viśvatomukham

Some worship Me by acquiring and spreading wisdom of the Self [jñāna-yajña]. Others worship Me in My non-dual form in oneness, in My infinite form as many, and in My Universal form

When we show our devotion to someone, we surrender ourselves to him or her.

Krsna speaks about bhakti or devotion in these verses. You see, devotion can be one of the most powerful ways to reach God. Many saints showed the world the path of devotion. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was devoted to Krsna. He sang songs and danced in ecstasy while singing about Krsna. Mira was another devotee of Krsna who was in love with Him. Mira's devotional songs, Mira bhajans, are sung even today to show her devotion towards Krsna.

Devotion is one of the most powerful ways to reach God, however, it depends on how we express devotion. Many people go to temples. Some people have a habit of going to a particular temple every week. Going to temples becomes a fashion statement. Making mechanical visits to the temple is just a sort of ego. We mostly go to temples to ask for something. We make business deals with God. As long as God gives what we want, he is our God, otherwise, He is no longer God. Our prayers should express our devotion, gratitude, and love to God. All great devotees of Krsna and Rama showed complete gratitude and love. When devotion reaches that state, they reach the ultimate consciousness.

Prayers are powerful, however, we should not get stuck at prayers. They are good for initial stages. When we pray, we are stuck in words. We should go beyond words. Our devotion should help us see the ultimate energy behind the idol of Krsna or Rama. Actually, complete devotion puts us in a completely different plane. When we show our devotion to someone, we surrender ourselves to him or her.

Krsna continues to explain to Arjuna the ways in which people worship Him. Here he talks about the path of jnana, knowledge: those following the path of knowledge try to worship Me by acquiring and propagating knowledge. Understand, mere accumulation of knowledge only increases ego. It does not give enlightenment. Internalize the knowledge by meditation and contemplation, and relate it to experiential wisdom. Then the breeze of joy will flow into your life. Many people read many books and scriptures. Many people discuss spirituality and have debates over this subject. Debates are not wrong, but the motive with which they discuss should be correct. If they discuss to show others how much they know, then they are debating purely out of ego. Please be very clear, if we show off our knowledge to show how much we know, there is no use of that knowledge.

The only way knowledge in the scriptures helps us is through experience. Instead of debating, apply it in day-to-day activities. See the results on yourself first. Only when we experience it, we have the right to speak about it to others. Till then, they are mere words. Meditation helps us here, especially in the path of jnana or knowledge. You see, in the path of devotion all we have to do is pray to some form. We must completely surrender. Actually that is difficult. In the path of devotion at least we have someone to whom we can pray and look up to. In the path of knowledge, there is no reference point. There is nothing called you and He. In the path of devotion, there is a clear separation between Krsna and us. Here, Krsna says that everything is Krsna. Everything is one.

When we meditate, we connect to our inner space. The scriptures, the Upanisad, talk about microcosm and macrocosm. Actually, they are one and the same. If we talk about this knowledge without experience, all our knowledge is only words. The difference happens when we experience that truth. During meditation, we merge with the cosmic energy. We enter that space where our inner space merges with the outer space. In the path of devotion, even if we meditate on the form, after a point we will see that there is no form. We experience the same thing as in the path of knowledge. Nothing is better than the other.

To allow the child to cognize various paths to worship and determine which method helps them to feel most connected to the divine.

• 1. What are two (2) main ways in which one can offer worship?
• 2. How do you prefer to worship to best feel connected to the divine?
• 3. What do you understand by worshipping beyond form?

• 1. Colour pens
• 2. Art Sheet

Encourage children to paint an example of devotion. Let them discuss their ideas. They may want to draw something from their puja set, a musical instrument to play devotional tunes, people singing songs of devotion, prayering, or dancing. Or they may draw the object of their devotion, their guru, their favourite deity, so on.

Bhakti, devotion can be expressed in many forms

Have someone demonstrate and teach the children some basic classical Hindu dance movements. Alternative is to practice the Karanas in the Yoga Prathama Vinyasa Krama 108 Asana Sequence.

• 1. Encourage the children to hold Vaakyartha Sadhas on meditation and bhakti. Discuss how meditation helps bhakti, how chakti is a form of meditation. Even contemplating a beautiful scenery or flower like a rose, when done from a quiet inner space, can be a meditation.

There are many different ways people worship the Divine. We have customized paths for our personal growth. So naturally wherever one is, one can grow and reach the level we are supposed to reach.

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

ahaṁ kraturahaṁ yajñaḥ svadhāham ahamauṣadham mantro 'hamahamevājyaṁ aham agnir ahaṁ hutam

I am the ritual, I am the sacrifice, I am the offering, I am the herb, I am the mantra, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire,

Everything that we see is Paramaśivaśakti or universal energy.

pitāhamasya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ vedyaṁ pavitram oṁkāra ṛksāma yajureva ca

I am the oblation. I am the supporter of the universe, the father, the mother, and the grandfather. I am the object of knowledge, the sacred syllable "OM" , and also the Ṛg, the Yajur, and the Sāma Vedas

Divine energy fills and overflows in all the places.

gatirbhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṁ suhṛt prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ nidhānaṁ bījamavyayam

I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the refuge, the friend, the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the substratum, and the immutable seed.

When we worship some idol or form, we actually worship the formless energy behind that idol.

tapāmy aham ahaṁ varṣaṁ nigṛhṇāmy utsṛjāmi ca amṛtaṁ caiva mṛtyuśca sadasac cāham arjuna

I give heat. I send, as well as withhold, the rain. I am immortality, as well as death. I am also both the Eternal and the temporal, O Arjuna.

God is energy and He fills all space and is omnipresent.

Krsna says in specific terms what He is. He is the creation of the act, the actor, and the action. He is the fire to which the sacrifices are made. He is also the offering, and He is the sacrifice as well. He is the seer, the seen, and the seeing, all in one.

He tells Arjuna that everything has come from Him. Everything that we see is Paramaśivaśakti or universal energy. We are all Brahman. Divine energy fills and overflows in all the places.This is what Krsna says in these verses. Whatever name we may give It, It is present everywhere. When we worship some idol or form, we actually worship the formless energy behind that idol.

'First start meditating on the form, then you can go to the formless.' Our mind is like a drunken monkey, jumping from here to there. We need a form to bring our mind to the present. Once we master this, meditating on the formless becomes easier. Meditating on the form should only be a starting point. We should understand that we are worshipping through that idol and not the idol itself. Actually, it is religions that give shapes and forms to this divine energy. Thousands of years ago, our sages have clearly said in the Upanisad that everything is energy and everything arose from energy. Now it has been proven scientifically that there is ether even in a vacuum. This energy is all- pervading. Only recently has science understood this truth. We now know with the help of powerful tools that 99.99% of an atom is empty space with continuous vibrations. Each and every body is filled with energy

Today science says, 'Everything is filled with energy.' Our enlightened masters expressed it this way, 'God is energy and He fills all space and is omnipresent.' This energy can only change form; it cannot be destroyed. You see, when we switch on a light, electrical energy is converted into light energy. In the same way, universal energy is everywhere. Once we realize this great truth, we see that everything around us is the same as us. When I say everything, I mean everything is Krsna, everything is Brahman.

To help the child understand the concept of energy being present in everything around us.

• 1. What are some things around you that you recognise as having energy?
• 2. Do you think inanimate objects are also energy? Why?
• 3. Do atoms contain energy?

• 1. Paper
• 2. Pencils
• 3. Sketch pens

Ask each child to discuss what they value in their life a lot. Ask them the reason why they value that specific thing. Encourage the children to visualize and think about their value of life and draw that picture.

Energy is in everything around us, even when we do a picture of our visualization, we are putting energy into creating our reality, or giving life to the picture.

• 1. Small disposable cups (2 per child)
• 2. Earth (Soil) (enough to fill the cups half way) or cotton
• 3. Mustard seeds
• 4. Water
• 5. Permanent marker

Fill the cups a little more than half with earth. Have enough cups so that each child will receive 2 cups. 1 cup with the word LOVE written on it, and 1 cup with the word ANGER. Both cups should also have the children's name written on it, so they can differentiate and take care of their own cups.

Review the activity and how it relates to our thoughts affecting our daily reality and consciousness on the whole.

Energy impacts our very being and life around us.

Talk about positive and negative energy. How positive energy gives us strength and negative energy makes us sick and ill. Studies have proven that plants have feelings too, that when they are subjected to anger, they do not grow well, but when they are showered with love, they flourish. So this is a bit of an experiment that we will try out.

With these cups, we will put the mustard seeds inside and put just a bit of water every day. Now with the cup of LOVE, we are going to say all sorts of positive things, direct positive energy towards it, and talk to it, and they can even name their plant if they like. With the ANGER plant, we are going to direct all our anger towards. Talk to it negatively, when you are feeling upset go and discuss it with your plant, shout at it! And over the period of 2 weeks, keep observing how the 2 plants grow. The love plant will flourish, and the anger plant will wither or show stunted growth.

Encourage the children to hold Vaakyartha Sadhas on

"When I say everything, I mean everything is Krsna, everything is Brahman."

How does this relate to their school? Their parents? This lesson?

God is energy and He fills all space and is omnipresent.' This energy can only change form; it cannot be destroyed. You see, when we switch on a light, electrical energy is converted into light energy. In the same way, universal energy is everywhere. Once we realize this great truth, we see that everything around us is the same as us. The divine is omnipresent around us, in form and formless form of energy, therefore, when we cognize this truth, we are able to consciously connect with God in various dimensions of our life.This energy is all-pervading. Each and every body is filled with energy

Part 4: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

traividyā māṁ somapāḥ pūtapāpā yajñairiṣṭvā svargatiṁ prārthayante te puṇyam āsādya surendra-lokam aśnanti divyāndivi devabhogān

Those who practice the vedic rituals and drink the soma juice worship Me indirectly seeking the heavenly pleasures. They go to heaven and enjoy sensual delights

When we understand that the whole universe is divine,when we experience Vishnu, meaning when we experience eternal bliss,we attract Lakshmi, wealth!

te taṁ bhuktvā svargalokaṁ viśālaṁ kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṁ viśanti evaṁ trayīdharmam anuprapannā gatāgataṁ kāmakāmā labhante

Once they have thus enjoyed heavenly sense pleasure, they are reborn on this planet again. By practicing vedic rituals as result oriented actions, they are bound by the cycle of birth and death.

Continuously, the universe cares for you. The Divine waits for you. It responds to your thoughts.

ananyāścintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yogakṣemaṁ vahāmy aham

When you reside in My consciousness, always fixed in undivided remembrance, whatever you lack I give [yoga]. And whatever you have, I preserve [kṣema].

I take care of you in all ways. I give them whatever they want spiritually and materially and I take care that it stays with them. I take care that nobody takes it away from them.

ye'pyanyadevatā bhaktā yajante śraddhayā'nvitāḥ te'pi mām eva kaunteya yajanty avidhipūrvakam

Even those who worship other deities, they too worship Me, O Kaunteya (son of Kuntī), but without true understanding.

ahaṁ hi sarvayajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhureva ca na tu mām abhijānanti tattvenātaścyavanti te

I am the only enjoyer [bhokta] and the only Lord [prabhu] of all sacrifices. Those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature are born again and again.

The whole of Existence responds to our inner space.

Krsna speaks about the attitude with which we read scriptures or perform rituals. Scriptures have immense knowledge. Rituals have immense power. They are meditations, yet, they are useless if done with fear and greed.

When we do pious activities with fear or greed, though we see some transformation, we will go back to where we started. That is what Krsna means by Indra loka, the momentary transformation or elevation of our state. When we perform certain rituals: when we do puja, or prayer, or we read scriptures, it should become a meditation. Our ego, our fear, and our greed should not come in the way. Do things with intensity.

The next verse is the main core that reveals the secret. Krsna tells Arjuna and all of us: 'Those who always worship Me, those who always reside in Me, ananyascintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate, people who have become Me, people who reside in eternal consciousness: to them, I carry what they lack and I preserve what they have. I personally take care of them.' Understand, no other incarnation has revealed this truth so clearly

He says, 'If you reside in eternal consciousness, divine energy, bliss consciousness, I take care of you in all ways. I give them whatever they want spiritually and materially and I take care that it stays with them. I take care that nobody takes it away from them.' This is a beautiful statement and assurance'. Anyhow, understand, Existence responds to our thoughts. Only based 'on our thoughts, we create relationships, friends, society, our circle, and naturally, our whole world. Again and again, Vedanta says, drsti-srsti, we create what we see. We create the universe from the angle of our vision. When our drsti (vision) changes, the srsti (world around us) changes too. By changing our vision, we change the world around us.

In each one of us, the power of coincidence, the power to create, exists. All we need to do is open that. Understand that we have the power to create the coincidence. Trust that your consciousness is connected to the universe. Continuously, the universe cares for you. The Divine waits for you. It responds to your thoughts. We create what we want. We have the power to create the world when we are conscious, when we are in the waking state. When we can create a world in the dream state, can't we create that in the waking state? We can do it. Even now, we create our world.

The answer is simple. We do so because we have vested interests in our sufferings. Somewhere we feel comfortable when we suffer. When our inner consciousness changes, when we reside in eternal consciousness,we automatically attract the power of coincidence. We attract the power of coincidence. The moment we understand that the whole universe is pervaded by the Existential energy of Vishnu, we attract Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort, who represents wealth! When we understand that the whole universe is divine,when we experience Vishnu, meaning when we experience eternal bliss,we attract Lakshmi, wealth!

To help the child discover the inner bliss within them to create the life they seek.

• 1. What is the meaning of drsti-srsti?
• 2. What is meant by , 'ananyascintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate'.
• 3. Share an incident in your life when your divine consciousness manifested what you asked for?

• 1. Pens
• 2. Pencil
• 3. Paper

Encourage the children to draw the world. Let the children draw as much of it as they are able to draw.

Connect them to the fact the whole world is a holographic structure. What is drawn is the unique perspective and expression of how the child cognizes the world and what they can manifest through their vision.

Encourage the talk about the responsibility of saving electricity. You probably hear a lot about saving electricity in the media. However it is important to consider the reasons why you would do so. When you are fully informed about the benefits of saving electricity your own personal endeavors to do so will have a greater depth to them. This increases the chances that you will make a difference in the long term, rather than just as a fleeting experiment.

Perhaps the most immediately attractive benefit to saving electricity is the amount of money that you save. Shutting off the lights and keeping your electric heat at a reasonable level will save you money every month.

Saving energy doesn't just benefit you. It benefits the world at large. Electricity is usually produced at plants burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal. These produce greenhouse gases and other pollutants that harm the environment.

Turning off your television for a set period each day and engaging in a physical activity will make you healthier and look better from the exercise.

When the child is able to understand the positive effects that saving electricity has on the world, they will grow with the cognitions of understanding how to preserve life in the world, the same way Krsna speaks about preserving and protecting what we have.

Encourage the children to do the SDK. Ask them to visualize and write down the incidents in their lives where they stole things from others. They can write as many incidents as they can.

• 1. Sit and visualize and then relive them in your inner space and relieve them from your lives.
• 2. Do this at least 5 times or till you stop seeing the effect of those past thoughts on your life.
• 3. Then relive them using the mirror and relieve those thoughts using the mirror where you are just a mere spectator and the past is like a movie running in the mirror
• 4. Then sit with 5 other people individually and go on sharing with them. These five people can be your father, mother, sibling and friends.
• 5. Listen to the completion stories of at least five other people. Teaching Samaskara Dahana Kriya, making people do Samskara Dahana Kriya is the most powerful way of spreading global peace.

When you feel the responsibility for existence, you become existence and existence feels responsible for you. You will get what you want, ultimate things will happen only when you start happening as you want. So be responsible, never steal anybody 's thing.

Those children who cannot write can draw the incidents or an adult can help them to pen down the incidents.

When you feel the responsibility for existence, you become existence and existence feels responsible for you? The more positive thoughts and actions we project in the universe can help us to manifest the reality we desire. When we take care of our inner space, automatically, the outer space showers on us. Existence responds to our inner bliss and blesses us. Never think that the universe is mere matter. It is live intelligence.

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

yānti devavratā devān pitṛān yānti pitṛ vratāḥ bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti madyājino'pi mām

Those who worship the deities will take birth among the deities; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship Me will live with Me.

Once we are enlightened, we merge into universal consciousness.

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati tad ahaṁ bhaktyupahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

Whoever offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept and consume what is offered by the purehearted

The Existence, the Divine is so alive that It responds to even simple things.'

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva madarpaṇam

O Kaunteya (son of Kuntī), all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, give them as an offering to Me.

Even though He is all-pervading, even though He is big, he accepts any small thing given with love and devotion.

śubhāśubha-phalair evaṁ mokṣyase karma-bandhanaiḥ sannyāsa-yogayuktātmā vimukto māmupaiṣyasi

You will be freed from all reactions to good and evil deeds by this renunciation, You will be liberated and come to Me.

The universe is intelligence. It responds to our thoughts, deeds, and consciousness

Krsna talks about the kind of life that we lead now. The last thought that we have at the time of death determines our next birth, next life. This is the truth. Actually we need not go to the extent of life and death. We see this in daily life itself. Our last thought affects our first thought. Every night we die and every morning we take birth. During the day, when we are in the waking state, we use our gross physical body or sthula sarira to carry on with our activities. When we sleep, if we have dreams, we use the subtle body or suksma sarira to travel to the places that we see in our dreams.

When we are in deep sleep, when we have no dreams, then we are in our causal body or karana sarira. When we sleep at night, we actually change bodies. We are not aware that this happens. In our dream, we have created a world in which we live. Our gross body is on the bed, while our subtle body is active in the dream. In the same way, the causal body is active during the deep sleep state.

We see that our last thought before sleeping affects our first thought upon waking. If we come back from the office with a frustrated mood about our boss, we wake up with the same mood in the morning. If we sleep with a blissful smile on our face, we will be happy the next morning.

One more thing you need to know is that whatever feeling we wake up with in the morning, that same feeling stays with us throughout the day. If you wake up dull in the morning, you will be dull throughout the day. If you wake up energized, you will be active and energetic throughout the day. When we are continuously aware of the

Existential energy, when we continuously meditate on It, we will have only the same thought when we leave the body, also. And It will ensure that our next birth takes us closer to this energy and liberates us from the cycle of birth and death.

Simplicity is the great quality of the Divine. He says, 'patram, puspam,phalam, toyam'. Just a leaf, a flower, a fruit, a little water... simple things are enough. I accept it. I am pleased. I respond to it.

'He says in the fourth verse of this chapter: maya tatam idam sarvam jagadvyaktamurtina' I am allpervading, great, ultimate, divine.'

Now He says, even though He is all-pervading, even though He is big, He accepts any small thing given with love and devotion. Even if we know somebody is big or great, we can't relate with him unless he relates with us, unless he comes down to our level. Real greatness is not only being great. He must be able to relate with everybody.

Here, Krsna creates a way, even for ordinary people to relate with Him. On the one side He declares with authority His greatness. On the other side He shows us how to relate with Him. He says, 'Even if you offer a leaf, flower, fruit or water with love, I accept it. I relate with it.' That is why, from time immemorial, enlightened masters are requested to live by begging, so that people can relate with them. In Bharat, sanyasis live by begging. Even Buddha lived by begging, so that we can relate with Him. When we give food, we talk to Him and relate with him, we feel that He is like us. When we give cookies to our child and he opens it, we say, 'Give one to Mommy!' It is not that we don't have a cookie or we want it, but if the child gives it to us, how happy we feel! We feel connected. And we know he wants to connect to us: he wants to relate with us.

Similarly, when we offer something to the Divine, don't think that He does not have it and so you are offering. He is the one who gives everything to us in the first place! But when we offer, we show to the Divine: I want to connect to you. We show a green signal for the Divine to enter into our space.

We do not understand that by letting go, by surrendering to the Existential energy, we will be free. All our burdens will be gone. We do not realize this. All enlightened masters have spoken about surrender. It is the easiest way, however, we make it the most difficult due to our ego.

There are three levels in which we can surrender to the Existential energy. The first level is surrender of our actions. Whatever we do, good or bad, surrender them to the universal energy.

The second level of surrender is that of intellect and mind. Our mind continuously analyzes!

The third and the most difficult level of surrender is that of the senses. If the master says something, the disciple takes it as it is. That is the level of surrender. When we reach this level of surrender, we are one with the Divine. The Divine takes care of us

To help the child become more aware of Existential Energy.

• 1. What do you understand as Existential energy?
• 2. What is sthula sarira, suksma sarira and karana sarira?
• 3. What can one do to create a positive shift in their daily lives?

• 1. Chart Paper
• 2. Scissors
• 3. Sketch pens and/or Color pencils
• 4. Crayons

Each person should get a chart paper cut into a heart shaped card. There should be enough colouring materials for everyone to share.

Discussion: Talk about the term "Causeless Love" – Love without a purpose. What it means and how to try it out with the people you meet.

You can give an example of a new student coming to join their class, and with no ulterior motives or purpose, what is something you could to make him/her feel comfortable and welcome? Ask each child for examples. The beautiful thing about causeless love is that although you are helping someone or giving someone love, for no personal gain: you are giving yourself love as well! Through loving others, you receive love too. And it heals you from feeling restless. How can you feel uncomfortable when you are busy helping someone else? Feeling uncomfortable or shy is just thinking about yourself, worrying about what other people are thinking about you! But if you love someone else, you open your heart to give love, and you receive love through being open! "Love is meant to be shared!" "Love was not meant to stay in your heart, love is not love until you give it away!"

Explain that as an activity for causeless love, we are going to make a card, and give it away to a complete stranger! Why? Because that is a form of causeless love; giving something from your heart. With no purpose other than you love them as another being in this universe and want to make the whole world happy!

Allow each one to colour and decorate their card, and give their gift away to a complete stranger and come back with their story of whom they gave it to, and how it made them feel.

Love is contagious, love is like a smile. Smile at someone, not just with your face, but with your heart, and they will feel the love and in turn smile at others. I believe we could make the whole world a happier place if we sent smiles all over the world creating positive energy!

• 1. Cushions or mat for children to sit on
• 2. Instrumental music (optional)

This is a lovely activity to do in a group, a meditation that all can enjoy about love.

Gather the class and explain what we are about to do, ask them to close their eyes and picture themselves aslove, pureliquidlove overflowing to every part of theirbodies.

When theyhave their eyes closed you cangive them soft instructions while the music is playing quietly in the background. Speak slowly and calmly, and pause for some timebetween the instructions.

Review the activity and how it relates to our thoughts affecting our daily reality and consciousness on the whole.

• ➢ "Focus on your heart region. Exclude everything else. Focus only on the heart".
• ➢ "Visualize your heart as an endless reservoir from where blessings can flow".
• ➢ "Feel everyheartbeat deeply.Let everybeat resound throughout you".
• ➢ "Feel everyheartbeat deeply.Let everybeat resound throughout you".
• ➢ "Between theheartbeats, feel the energy oflovehappening".
• ➢ "In the deepest parts of yourbody, mind and soul, the love energy is waiting tobe acknowledged."
• ➢ "Invite the love energy of the heart to flow and fill these deepest parts of yourbody, mind and soul".

This meditation helps them to focus and even become love; they should carry this with them. The more effort they put into this meditation, the more theyget from it.

Continue with the discussion about how we can express love. Expand on this: 'When we become love, our actions will speak love.' What kind of actions can we do to express our love? Practice expressing love by using words which will express love. For example: sweet, beautiful. Discuss what kind of words we will use, what kind of voice.

"When we offer all our actions to the universal energy, It takes care of us". When we understand that we can create a positive shift in our lives by surrendering our actions to Existence and building our relationship with the Divine even in the smallest, simplest gesture, our daily lives, our thinking and even the people in our lives will start aligning through the cosmic principles to create the best reality for us. Krsna says this clearly. Every enlightened master makes this promise. When we surrender ourselves to the master, to the Divine, to the universal energy, it takes care of us. When we offer all our actions to the universal energy, It takes care of us. The entire burden on our shoulders is offloaded. We are free from all the results of our actions. This is the promise of every enlightened master.

Part 5: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

samo'haṁ sarvabhūteṣu na me dveṣyo'sti na priyaḥ ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cā'pyaham

I am equal to all beings. No one to Me is hateful or dear. But, whoever worships, offers enriching service onto Me in devotion, is in Me and I am also indeed in him.

A river flows continuously, happily, without bothering about who comes in contact with it. The same is the case with an enlightened master.

api cet sudurācāro bhajate māmananyabhāk sādhureva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi saḥ

Even if the most sinful person engages himself in devotional service, He is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.

When we understand that the Whole is our friend, we will relax and enjoy the whole of Existence.

kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā śaśvacchāntiṁ nigacchati kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati

He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O Kaunteya (son of Kuntī), declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

When we understand the whole cosmos is intelligence, our whole life will be blessed with what we want.

An enlightened master wants nothing from this world. After realizing the supreme knowledge, he is beyond material pursuits, what can he want from anybody? He is here out of his compassion to awaken mankind into this reality. A true master is never envious of anybody. Envy enters us when we think that somebody else has something we do not have and something that we want. There is nothing wrong with desiring something because we need it.

See, each one of us is born with a certain set of desires and we bring with us the energy to fulfill them, also.Mahatma Gandhi says beautifully, 'The universe has enough to satisfy each man's needs, however, it does not have enough to satisfy a single man's wants.' Our needs become wants when we look at others and accumulate their desires into our own list.

If you notice in life, most of our actions are governed by comparing our lives with others. Buddha says, 'Nothing exists but in relationship.' See, all adjectives of good, bad, tall, thin, ugly, beautiful, come when you compare with others, right? Imagine you are alone on an island and there are no other human beings. You are by yourself. Would these adjectives make sense or have relevance to you? Something is good, because something else is bad in comparison to that. So, our lives are run by constant comparison with those around us.

Naturally, when someone has something that we like, and which we do not have, emotions like envy and jealousy are bound to come. They have to.

When we have a clear view about what we really want, then we will spend all our energies in fulfilling those needs, without worrying about what others want or think.In this verse, Krsna says that he does not dislike anybody. He also says that He is not partial to anyone. Normally, in our lives we are partial to those who are helpful to us. From childhood, we are taught to love those who are potentially useful in our lives. We make friends based on whatwe get back in return. An enlightened master wants nothing. He gives constantly. He radiates love, because that is his true nature. A river flows happily from one region to the other all the way from the hills to the ocean. It meets various kinds of stones and grass along the way. All kinds of people bathe in it: even buffaloes bathe in it. Does the river differentiate? Does the river say, 'No, I will give water only to such and such a person?' No! A river flows continuously, happily, without bothering about who comes in contact with it. The same is the case with an enlightened master.

Now Krsna says, 'If one is engaged in devotional service, then even if he commits the most abominable actions, he is considered saintly. He quickly becomes eternal and attains eternal consciousness. O Kaunteya, son of Kunti, declare it boldly, that My devotee never perishes.'

He goes on to say that His devotee never perishes. He says, 'Not only I am declaring to you, you declare to the wholeworld, My devotee never perishes.' He says, 'He who quickly becomes righteous and understands this truth enters into eternal bliss, eternal consciousness, O son of Kunti, Kaunteya: declare it boldly, pratijanihi means 'declare it boldly', that my devotee never perishes.'

Decide, 'From today I will live in a blissful mood, in a blissful way, in utterly relaxed consciousness.' You will attract wealth.

To help the child cognize the truth that "Existence is intelligence"

• 1. What does an enlightened master want from his disciples?
• 2. What is meant by "Existence is intelligence?"
• 3. Explain one cognitive shift to help attract wealth in one's life.

• 1. Paper
• 2. Pencils
• 3. Sketch pens
• 4. Eraser

Encourage one child to hold a second child's hand to help them draw a picture. The second child must close his/her eyes. While drawing, the second child must totally believe in the first child who is guiding his/her hand and cooperate with him/her.

Live in a blissful mood, in a blissful way, in utterly relaxed consciousness

Ask the children to take turns on these steps:

• 1. Tell a story as if you are God or Mother Nature and have to take care of everything in the world. What would all your commitments be?
• 2. Second, tell a story as if you are a king or a queen and explain what all your commitments would be.
• 3. Do the same as a mom or dad and finally as a kid. Now that we know from this exercise that our commitments are really small and that we can really keep them, let's be integrated with our commitments starting from today

List and discuss the commitments you have given to others over a week and see if you have kept them. List the commitments you have given to yourself and see if you have kept them. Why did you miss any commitments? Complete it and over the next to B week observe the word you give to yourself and others.

Integrity means honoring every word you utter to yourself and others. Each time you honour the word you give to others their confidence in you grows. Each time you honour the words you give to yourself, your confidence in you grows. Success is nothing but you having confidence in you and others having confidence in you. That is all; life is complete.

"Existence is intelligence", therefore our thoughts and actions are directly related to the reality we seek to manifest. When we live life by honoring integrity to ourselves and others, the Cosmos in turn aligns us to living our best reality. Understand that Existence is intelligence. You will never die because you will be in Existence somewhere in some form. This body may move, however, you will be there forever. When we understand the whole cosmos is intelligence, our whole life will be blessed with what we want.

Authored by

THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

mām hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye'pi syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ striyo vaiśyāstathā śūdrās te'pi yānti parāṁ gatim

O Pārtha (son of Prithā), anyone who takes shelter in Me, women, traders, workers or even sinners can approach the Supreme destination.

When devotion matures, consciousness flowers.

kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām

How easier then it is for the learned, the righteous, the devotees and saintly kings who in this temporary miserable world engage in loving service unto Me.

When we have a clear view about what we really want, then we will spend all our energies in fulfilling those needs, without worrying about what others want or think.

manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṁ namaskuru māmevaiṣyasi yuktvaivam ātmānaṁ matparāyaṇaḥ

Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and bow down to Me. Thus, uniting yourself with Me by setting Me as the supreme goal and the sole refuge, you shall certainly come to Me.

All one needs is devotion to attain Krsna consciousness. The point Krsna makes here is that irrespective of caste, a person who has faith and devotion to Him can attain Him.

When we think that the Whole is our enemy, we will be continuously antagonizing it. When we understand that the Whole is our friend, we will relax and enjoy the whole of Existence.The whole chapter reveals this single secret: that is the cosmic energy the whole universe, is intelligence. It responds to our thoughts and again and again, It answers our dreams, our thoughts, and our very consciousness.

Again and again, Krsna talks about the correct understanding of rituals and sacrifices made in front of God. We see numerous people going to the temple. They take one hundred and one coconuts and break them in front of the deity. In the Tirupati temple of Lord Venkatesvara, people offer their hair as a sacrifice. If we offer hair and pray and come back home,nothing is going to happen. When we sacrifice something, it represents the surrender of our ego. When we sacrifice our hair in Tirupati, we surrender our ego to Lord Venkatesvara.

People ask me, 'Are sacrifices wrong? Is worship and sacrifice for a particular deity wrong?' No, it is not wrong. We should understand that we are not worshipping or sacrificing to that one particular deity. We must go beyond that. When we make a sacrifice from our being, we merge with the Existential energy. We do not see a difference between one deity and the other. Every deity will then appear the same.

Everything is Krsna or Rama or Jesus or Buddha. This is what Krsna says here. He is the only enjoyer of all sacrifices. When we understand his transcendental nature in everything around us, any small thing that we give from our whole being to even a rock becomes a sacrifice. That rock need not be carved into a statue of Krsna or Siva. We need not name it because we see the energy behind that rock.

These two verses must be carefully understood. If not, they can be conveniently used as a justification to do whatever one wants. See, Krishna does not give a license to do whatever we want here. If we are classifying an action as good, bad, saintly, or sinful based on guidelines laid down by society or someone else, then be very clear we operate at the conscience level. No action is good or bad in itself.

There is a deeper layer of operation called consciousness. Conscience is different from consciousness. In consciousness, we become spontaneous. When consciousness flowers, we know what needs to be done and what is right at that point in time. When this happens, even if an action seems to violate the norms of society, it is always for the good. It may not be evident to society, but a person operating from consciousness can never do anything against the benefit of humanity. Krsna killing demons may appear like the act of a criminal. Yet He established truthfulness and justice by doing it.

When devotion matures, consciousness flowers. Devotion may seem different from knowledge when it is not ripe. Krishna says that His devotee never perishes. Devotion is not simply offering worship daily to Krsna's photo, lighting camphor, lamps, and offering garlands. When one is a true devotee of Krsna, he becomes Krsna. He experiences Krsna consciousness. The ultimate consciousness is whereno good, bad, evil, or virtue exists.

Devotion, knowledge, and wisdom appear to be different when they are not ripe. When they mature, they become the same. One experiences true wisdom at the peak of devotion or peak of knowledge. Krsna says, 'Anyone can reach Me through devotion, whether they are women, traders or workers, or even sinners.' He makes a point that there is no pre-qualification.

Krsna's message is the same. All one needs is devotion to attain Krsna consciousness. The point Krsna makes here is that irrespective of caste, a person who has faith and devotion to Him can attain Him. A person may follow any profession: if his inner space is cleansed, he can attain and experience Krsna consciousness. All practices like meditation and rituals, cleanse the inner space. When this space is cleansed, transformation automatically happens.

In the last verse of this chapter Krsna says, 'Engage your mind, always thinking of Me. 'Please understand that the whole universe, the whole cosmos, is intelligence, and it responds to our thoughts, it responds to our consciousness, to our very being. The entire universe responds to each and every thought that we have.

So we must be careful about what we think. See, our inner space reflects the outer incidents. The entire universe responds beautifully to each and every thought. When the thought patterns are positive, only positive incidents are attracted

To help the child understand how operating out of pure consciousness cleanses our inner space and the entire universe responds to us.

• 1. What is the difference between conscience and consciousness?
• 2. How can we cleanse our inner space?
• 3. What is the qualification to attain Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

• 1. Paper
• 2. Pencils
• 3. Sketch pens
• 4. Eraser

Encourage children to draw a picture which they think is impossible to draw.

While working without integrity, the first quality you will feel is that everything is impossible. In impossible, if I can exist, nothing is impossible. Impossible itself is "I am possible."

Go around the class and write on a piece of paper all you want to do for others. For example: I will be nice I will help someone get into the school bus ..... The next day find out what everyone did or did not do for each other.

The entire universe responds beautifully to each and every thought. When the thought patterns are positive, only positive incidents are attracted.

Help the children hold Vākyārtha Sadhas on the difference between conscience and consciousness. How should we classify an action as good, bad, saintly, or sinful based on conscience and consciousness? How do we use guidelines laid down by society? If no action is good or bad in itself, what makes it good or bad?

To help the discussion, let the children choose an event that happened at school, for example, at lunchtime one of the children was walking around tapping everyone on their head. Was it good, bad, saintly, or sinful? Did the school have guidelines for the event?

When consciousness flowers, we know what needs to be done and what is right at that point in time.

When we really, intensely understand this truth: the whole universe is energy, the whole Existence is energy, please be very clear, yoga and kṣema (success) happens in our life.When we understand this truth, not only in this world, wherever we go, we are protected. We relax into the consciousness that Existence continuously protects us, takes care of us.