Talks given by Anand S Rao at Chinmaya Mission Boston - Newton on Sundays

1. Maximum Happiness to the Maximum Number of People for the
Maximum Time
CHINMAYA MISSION BOSTON
The Holy Geeta – The Divine Song
Summary of Chapter 12
2015

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Group Activity – Class Discussion
Share your experiences on
how you put ‘Seeing the Lord
in everything and everyone’ to
practice

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Chapter 12 – The Yoga of Devotion
Arjuna: “O Supreme Lord! Who is a better Yogi ? Devotees who always worship you or those who
worship the imperishable and unmanifest Brahman (Verse 1)
Krishna: “Those who, fixing their mind on Me, worship Me, ever steadfast and endowed with
Supreme faith, these, in my opinion, are the best in Yoga (Verse 2)
Krishna: “Those who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest, the omnipresent,
the unthinkable, the unchangeable, the immovable and the eternal… Having restrained all the
senses, even-minded everywhere rejoicing ever in the welfare of all beings – verily they also come
unto me. (Verses 3-4)
Ladder of Hope (Verses 8-11)
(A) Fix mind and Intellect on the Lord
(B) Yoga of constant-practice
(C) Perform actions for the Lord’s sake
(D) Renounce fruits of all actions

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion
O Supreme Lord! Who is a
better Yogi?
• Devotees who always
worship you OR
• Those who worship the
Imperishable and the
Unmanifest Brahman (Gita
XII-1)

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion
Those who, fixing their mind on Me, worship Me, ever
steadfast and endowed with Supreme faith, these, in my
opinion, are the best in Yoga – Verse 2

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Story of Sabari
Shabari had a very tender compassionate heart. How she came to sage
Maathanga and stayed at his hermitage is a very interesting story.
Her marriage was arranged by her parents, and as was the custom
among the Aadhivaasis , a goat was to be offered to the tribal Goddess,
on the night previous to the ceremony, in order to win the grace for the
couple. When Shabari came to know about this slaughter, she wept, and
fell at the feet of her parents, praying them to save the goat. She asked, "
How can our married life be happy, when the dying bleat of this goat is
the prologue? " But, the father pushed her aside and proceeded with the
cruel rite. That night, Shabari stole out of that den of torture, and hid
herself in the depths of the jungle that was not far off.
When day dawned, her parents as well as the groom's party were
plunged in grief and anxiety; they combed the area, even where she
was lying low amidst the thick bushes, and they went back, saying
among themselves, " She could not have gone to the hermitage, for no
women would be given asylum there " . She heard these words and so,
she concluded that the hermitage was the safest place for her. She felt
that some monk will take pity on her, and not send her back. Maathanga
espied her and gave her permission to be in his habitation.
He told her that God in the form of Sri Raama was coming to the
hermitage some day, since he has been exiled into the forest for 14
years and He is eager to save the monks and seekers doing Thapas
(penance) in the forest from the ravages of the demonic enemies of
peace! Raama, he said, was proceeding from one region to another,
with His consort, Seetha and His brother, Lakshmana.

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Story of Sabari
From that day Shabari had no other thought than of Raama, no other
desire than the desire to have the Dharshan of Raama, the chance to
touch His feet and the opportunity to speak with Him. Her heart was
saturated with the Raamarasa (the sweet juice of the Raama
principle). She had no other Japam or Dhyaana (repetition of God's
name or meditation) or spiritual exercise. She spent her time
preparing for the visit of Raama to the hermitage; just as she
cleaned the paths, she cleaned her heart, too. Pebbles and thorns
disappeared from both, through her efforts. She walked through the
undergrowth and removed overhanging creepers and briars, for she
imagined Raama would not have combed His hair and it might get
caught. She broke the lumps of earth, for she feared the tender soles
of Seetha will be hurt when she walks over them. She gathered fruits
and tubers from the jungle trees and plants and kept them by every
day, for no one knew when Raama will arrive! And, she took no risks.
She tasted every fruit, whether it was bitter, sour or sweet, so that
Raama could eat the best. She smoothed the surface of all stones that
lay by the side of the tracks in the jungle for, she expected Raama,
Lakshmana or Seetha to sit upon any one of them when they got tired
of walking. She hoped that one of them would rest awhile on one of
the rocks she had polished with great care. Thus her heart became
Raama Hrudhaya (Raama's heart)!
Shabari was so immersed in Raama that the ascetics lost all lost all
awareness of her sex; they allowed her to remain in the hermitage,
after Maathanga related to them her high level of Sadhana (spiritual
practice). Maathanga also left his body and gave up his hermitage to
Shabari, saying, 'you alone deserve to be here when Raama arrives!'
The Saadhana that Shabari did to earn the bliss of serving Raama, you
do, when you serve Sai Raama in these children. By this service, you
realise the self.

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion
Those who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the
unmanifest, the omnipresent, the unthinkable, the
unchangeable, the immovable and the eternal…
Having restrained all the senses, even-minded
everywhere rejoicing ever in the welfare of all beings –
verily they also come unto me. (Verses 3-4)

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Ladder of Hope
Fix Mind and
Intellect on the
Lord
Fix your mind on Me Only, place
your intellect in Me; then,
(thereafter) you shall, no doubt, live
in Me alone (Verse 8)

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Ladder of Hope
Yoga of
Constant
Practice
Fix Mind and
Intellect on the
Lord
If you are unable to fix
your mind steadily
upon Me, then by the
‘Yoga-of-constant-
practice’, seek to
reach Me, O
Dhananjaya (Verse 9)

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Ladder of Hope
Perform Actions
for the Lord’s
sake
Yoga of
Constant
Practice
Fix Mind and
Intellect on
the Lord
If you are unable to
practice Abhyasa
Yoga, be you intent on
performing actions for
My sake; doing so,
you shall attain
perfection (Verse 10)

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Ladder of Hope
Perform
Actions for
the Lord’s
sake
Yoga of
Constant
Practice
Fix Mind and
Intellect on
the Lord
If you are unable to do
even this, then taking
refuge in Me, self-
controlled, renounce
the fruits-of-all-actions
(Verse 11)
Renounce fruits
of all actions

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Ladder of Hope
Renounce fruits
of all actions
Perform Actions
for the Lord’s
sake
Yoga of
Constant
Practice
Fix Mind and
Intellect on the
Lord

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Chapter 12 – Class Discussion
• Exercise 1: Substitute ‘Lord’ by ‘Country’.
What are the similarities and differences
between ‘patriotism’ and ‘devotion’?
• Exercise 2: Discuss how the Ladder of
Hope can be applied to ‘Getting into your
favorite college’ or an athlete winning the
Gold medal in an Olympics event

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Patriotism and Devotion
Patriotism
Those who worship the
• Imperishable – exists
over centuries
• Indefinable – abstract
concept
• All pervading - ‘You can
take me away from Kansas
– but you can’t take Kansas
out of me’
• …..
Devotion
Those who worship the
• Imperishable
• Indefinable
• All pervading
• Unthinkable
• Unchanging
• Immovable
• Eternal

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Verses 13-20
Qualities of a true devotee
1. He who hates no one…
2. Who is friendly and compassionate…
3. Free from possessiveness and egotism…
4. Equal in the face of pain and pleasure…
5. Patient…
6. Who is a Yogi…
7. Who is always satisfied…
8. Self-controlled…
9. Firm in his resolve…
10. Whose mind and intellect are fixed on me…

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Verses 13-20
Qualities of a true devotee
1. He who his Lord’s devotee…
2. He by whom no one is put into difficulty…
3. Who is never disturbed by anyone…
4. Who is free from happiness, impatience, fear, and agitation…
5. Devotee, who strives not for any result
6. Pure, expert, and impartial…
7. Free from desire and anxiety…
8. One who neither rejoices nor frets…
9. Neither hankers or laments…
10. Who has renounced both good and evil…

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion – Verses 13-20
Qualities of a true devotee
1. Filled with devotion to the Lord
2. One who is equal to friends and enemies…
3. Equipoised in honor and disgrace.,.
4. Alike in heat and cold, pleasure and pain…
5. Free from attachment…
6. Indifferent to blame and praise…
7. Controlled in speech…
8. Satisfied in gain without endeavor…
9. Without any fixed residence….
10. Even minded
11. Fully engaged in acts of devotion

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Chapter 12 – Yoga of Devotion
Practical Application:
Concept: 36 qualities of a true devotee – friendliness, compassion,
absence of hatred, etc….
• Fix Mind and Intellect on the Lord
• Train the Mind to focus on the Lord
• Perform actions for the Lord’s sake
• Renounce fruits of all actions

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Overall Summary - Concepts
• The ‘essence’ or life force that enlivens all forms and beings is HIM
• They are in ME – I am NOT in THEM – I Support all beings
• The Lord is in Everything and Everyone
• Everything, everyone, across all times is in HIM
• 36 qualities of a true devotee – friendliness, compassion, absence
of hatred, etc….

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Overall Summary – Practical Application
• See beyond the ‘name’, ‘form’ and ‘function’
• See the positive aspects of every ‘thing’ and every ‘one’ – little acts of
kindness can bring enormous ‘goodness’ to the world and ‘peace’ within
you
• Royal Secret:
– Fix your mind on Me;
– Be devoted to Me,
– Sacrifice to Me, bow down to Me
– Having thus united your (whole) Self with Me, taking me as the
Supreme Goal, you shall come to Me
• If you cannot do that
−Train the Mind to focus on the Lord
−Perform actions for the Lord’s sake
−Renounce fruits of all actions