bhagavad-gita-workbook.pdf

Sri Bhagavad Gita
LIFE TRANSFORMATION WORKBOOK
© Vikram Khaitan

Ch 1: Bewildered Arjuna
• In this epic battle between the two scions of a clan, entire Aryavrata
(Indian subcontinent) plunged into a war. Both sides took stock of
their own and the opponents armies and sounded a war cry.
• Arjuna laments the ill consequences of war. It is always destructive
not only for the beings who die in war but the survivors, widows and
orphans become destitute forever. Righteousness and virtues are
destroyed and the resultant society becomes lawless and degraded.
Even the glory of the forefathers in heaven is tarnished.
• Seeking material pursuits by killing one’s own kin is a terrible
achievement that one should refrain oneself from.

Activity #1.1 1.
2.
3.
Think of one major
instance when you were
absolutely confused
before action. How did
you resolve it? How will
you resolve it if such an
instance arose today?

Activity #1.2
List down six major
value pillars in your
life (e.g. health,
education,
relationship, career,
money etc.) and rank
them in the order of
most important first.
# Value Pillars Rank
a
b
c
d
e
f

Activity #1.3
For each of the value
pillars listed in
previous activity,
assign the level of
your value
accomplishment on a
scale of zero to 10.
# Value Pillars Rank
a
b
c
d
e
f

Activity #1.4
List down what steps
you would take
beginning today for
each of the value
accomplishments to
improve the score by
2 points out of 10.
# Value Pillars Steps to Upscale
1
2
3
4
5
6

Ch 2: Eternal Soul
• The soul and the body are separate entities. While the body is mortal, the
soul is eternal. We are travelling eternally across eons and shall continue
doing so.
• We are all assigned to certain duties and we are bound for doing those.
We are entitled to action and not the consequences. However, we cannot
shirk duties merely because we cannot own the consequence.
• We must practice equanimity and remain calm and stable in all
circumstances. Acquiring higher level of intellect is like knowing that we
are a just a speck in the bigger scheme of things.
• A person of stable mind is one who controls all desires and judiciously
experiences through the senses. Such a person finds eternal bliss.

Activity #2.2
Who are you? List
out five things that
define you as a
unique person
besides your work,
profession,
designation.
# What defines me?
1
2
3
4
5

Activity #2.3
Close (not shut)
your eyes, and look
inward. Talk to
yourself. Who do
you see yourself as,
if you are seeing
from the outside?
Who am I?

Activity #2.3
If there is one
thing that you
wish to change
about yourself,
what would it
be? How would
you?
The One Thing to Change about me
How will I Change?

Activity #2.4
What in your
understanding is your
pivotal duty in this
world? To what
extent it aligns with
the expectations of
the world around
you?
My pivotal duty in this world
How it aligns with world’s expectation

Ch 3: Karma Yoga
• Action is inevitable. Nobody can shirk action. It is a basic necessity
even to keep the body alive. Even the Gods are bound by their duty.
• Gnyana yoga or the path of knowledge is for the intellectuals and
karma yoga applies to all.
• We learnt about how a yajna is performed and how it revolves the
cycle of sustenance.
• Each person must perform his karma in accordance with his/ her
nature.
• Lust is the prime evil which begets several other negative emotions.

Activity #3.1
List out five principle
contributions that
are required from
you (1) for yourself,
(2) for your family (3)
for Society (4) for
your nation (5) for
humanity at large.
# For Required Contribution
1 Yourself
2 Family
3 Society
4 Nation
5 Humanity

Activity #3.2
Participate in a
yajna
somewhere.
Define your
experience.
My Yajna Experience

Activity #3.3
Name one action
of your own that
sets an example
for the people
who follow you.
People shall follow my example for this

Activity #3.4
If there is some work
you have to do but are
dreadful of the
consequences to follow
you, then assign the
ownership of the cause
and consequence to
Krishna. Describe how
you feel now after doing
this.
My tryst with serendipity

Ch 4: Gnyana Yoga
• Gnyana yoga is the path of knowledge to attain the divine knowledge
about the supreme. Every intellectual person must pursue this path.
•
• The role of a Guru/ mentor cannot be undermined. Their guidance
enables inner illumination at a much faster pace and with minimum
efforts.
•
• Serendipity or surrender to faith helps to learn in the right manner with
minimum resistance.
•
• Krishna explains meditation, yoga, ashtangayoga (the eight-fold path),
pranayama, fasting and penances.

Activity #4.1 # Eight Fold Path Score
0-10
1 Ethical Rules
2 Virtuous Habits
3 Yogic Postures
4 Controlled Breathing
5 Inward to Outward. (Not controlled externally)
6 Concentration
7 Contemplation
8 Meditation
For each of the
elements of the
Ashtangayoga or the
eight-fold path, rate
your current stand on
the knowledge about
it. Give yourself
scores on a scale of 0
to 10.

Activity #4.2 I need a Guru / Mentor to guide for the following
Which are the
four aspects of
your life wherein
you feel you
need a mentor to
guide you?

Activity #4.3 Ways in which I can help educate the poor
List down three
things that you can
do to help educate
underprivileged
people around you.

Activity #4.4 My meditative experience
Sit relaxed and aloof.
Close your eyes. Set your
inner vision between
your brows, above your
nose. Breathe in and out
slowly. Focus on your
breathing. Do it for 15
minutes and describe
your experience.

Ch.5: Selfless Duty
• Though both paths lead to the divine, yet the action path is superior to the
knowledge path because it is universal.
• There should be constant awareness about the connection of the soul with the
divine.
• Duties must be performed selflessly, claiming no rights over its fruits and
consequences.
• All life forms are having the same soul and are part of the same divine God. See
them all equally.
• Give up lust, anger, and other sinister vices to get connected with God.
• Our real identity is the soul. Take charge of the body and make it work the way
you want. Do not succumb to the limitations and lethargy of the physical body.

Activity #5.1
Top 3 acts of selfless welfare I have done
List down three
welfare activities
that you have
performed in your
lifetime without
claiming attention
or praises.

Activity #5.2
A major charitable act I have planned to do in total secrecy
Make a note of one
charitable work
(not just donating
money) that you will
do within a month
for the under-
privileged but
without your folks
knowing about it.

Activity #5.3
I feel the following changes in myself after shutting away from
porn and feelings of anger for a month:
Consciously shut
yourself from all
forms of porn and
feelings of anger for
one month.
After one month,
write the changes
you feel in yourself.

Activity #5.4
After a month of practicing meditation, here is what I observe
about myself
My meditation time span has
increased from 10 mins to…
minutes
My flow of breath and pace of
breathing has improved
Yes / No
My focus and attention on my
brow was…
Sometimes/ Mostly/ Always
A major change I feel within
myself:
For one month, fix a time
slot (just 10 mins a day) to
meditate. Just close your
eyes and focus your vision at
the forehead between the
brows and breathe gently.
After one month, write the
changes you feel in yourself.

Ch.6: Dhyana Yoga - Meditation
• The soul of all beings is sub-part of the supreme eternal soul, hence the highest pursuit of
human life is to become free from the cycle of birth and death and merge into the supreme
soul.
• Meditation is a perfect way to connect the self with the supreme. This also goes for a
focused approach towards the work.
• There are simple steps to be followed for meditation. A peaceful mind is also a pre-
requisite.
• People are subject to karmic reactions and re-birth accordingly. Kind souls get another
chance to pursue the divine aim.
• Positive efforts are never wasted nor goes in vain. The goals achieved by one are further
progressed by another. This is how scientific researches are also cumulative efforts of
successive researchers.

Activity #6.1 One bad habit I will
quit today
One good habit I shall
inculcate today
Write one bad
habit that you will
quit today and one
pleasant habit you
will replace it
with.

Activity #6.2 List of what I need to get started with
meditation
Make a list of what
all you need to get
started with
meditation.

Activity #6.3 Who was I? Hence what am I?
Introspect what
could have been
your Karma in
past life so that
you are born such
in this life.

Activity #6.4 I’m thankful for these moments my luck
exceeded my actions
Make a list of
situations when
your luck
exceeded your
action. i.e., you
got more than you
think you
deserved.

Ch.7: The Divine Truth–Gyana Vijnyana Yoga
• The supreme God is not a living form, but a bodiless form of energy that
is all prevailing.
• The three forms of material nature are sattva (goodness), rajas (passion)
and tamas (ignorance). We are driven into action according to our basic
nature as per these.
• Those who are steadfastly devoted to the supreme God attain liberation,
whereas those who worship the celestial gods through Vedic rituals, are
appeasing them for material benefits.
• The aim of human life is to attain liberation from the cycle of birth and
death.
• 'Adhibhuta' (material energy), 'adhidaiva' (celestial energy), 'adhiyajna'
(sacrificial energy) are all part of His cosmic form and He exists in every
soul, just like how water exists through vapors, clouds, mist, rain and

Activity #7.1 Introspection Answer
Could I imagine
something
without
boundary?
How easy of
difficult it was?
My imagination
was like…
Sit in a meditative
posture and try to
imagine
something beyond
any boundary.
Describe your
imagination in
words.

Activity #7.2 Guna My traits to identify with the Guna
SATTVA
RAJAS
TAMAS
List out your traits
under each of the
three gunas. Can
you figure out
what is your
personality type?

Activity #7.3 My Prayer
If you were not to
ask for material
benefits for self or
anyone, what
would your prayer
be?

Activity #7.4 This is how I shall pray everyday
Take a vow to
spend at least five
minutes every day
to worship the
supreme God in
His cosmic form,
performing no
rituals.

Ch.8: Attaining Spirituality
• 'Brahm' is the supreme divine cosmic being and 'atma' is the
soul.
• At the time of departure from this body, if the thoughts are
about the supreme God, then one attains Him.
• Human timeline is based on a solar elliptic year. The cosmic
energy being timeless has a much greater span of occurrence.
All beings emerge from Him and merge back into Him.
• The illuminated path liberates the soul to eternity, whereas the
path of darkness brings back the soul to this world through re-
birth.

My favourite form
of God is…
How many times
a day I chant
God’s name
After chanting
God’s name for 21
days, I feel this
change within me
Think of a name of
your favorite God and
practice the utterance
of that name under
your breath. After
practicing this for
three weeks, jot down
the change you
observed within
yourself.

Activity #8.3 Before correct chanting Experience After correct
chanting
Chant the syllable
A-U-M in the right
manner and describe
your own
experiences.

Activity #8.4
"I am a part of this universe; part of this
universe is within me."
Write an affirmation
today as follows, and
repeat it every day in
your affirmation
book.
"I am a part of this
universe; part of this
universe is within
me."

Ch.9: Raj Vidhya - Gruha Yoga
(Ultimate Divine Secret)
• God is not a part of this universe, but the grand universe itself is the
God.
• At the beginning of the eon, all beings spring out of this universe and at
the end, all beings merge back into the universe.
• God is a friend of all beings who trust and reach him out. He accepts all
forms of love, devotion, and worship.
• He grants refuge in the universal abode to those who seek refuge in
him.

Activity #9.1
Names of Vishnu Avatara
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 10
Learn about all
the incarnations
of Vishnu to
understand how
divine
intervention
becomes essential
to restore the
cosmic order.

Activity #9.2
Moksha Nirvana
Study about the
difference
between 'moksha'
and 'nirvana'.

Activity #9.3
I have inculcated these ‘karmas’ like oblations in
sacrificial fire
Make a conscious
list of changes to
be made in the
approach towards
life so that every
action becomes an
oblation in the
grand sacrifice.

Activity #9.4
My checklist to embrace the Universe
What are the ways
to attain the
Universal God?

Ch.10: The Glory of God
• One can experience the existence of the universal God in everything, and
as the best of every being.
• Human body can harness enough energy within self along its axis in
alignment with the universal cosmic energy.
• Intellect, knowledge, free from doubt and delusion, forgiveness,
truthfulness, control over senses and mind, fearlessness, non-violence,
equanimity, satisfaction, penances, charity, fame, all these qualities of
beings are originated from the universal God and are required to be
pursued in life.
• The universal God is the 'Paramatma' or the divine soul in the hearts of all
beings. He is the origin, the contemporary, and the end of all beings.

Activity #10.1
The seven chakras are
Research about
chakras and the
wheels of energy
within.

Activity #10.2
I love and respect the following life forms.
I understand they are the same as me.
Practice gratitude
for the next five
days with a
deliberate effort
to recognize every
being with a soul
similar as self.

Activity #10.3
I would work upon myself to enhance the following five
qualities
What are the five
most important
positive quality
traits you resolve
to work upon and
enhance within
self?

Activity #10.4
Following five negative traits I would give up
What are the five
negative quality
traits you would
give up?

Ch.11: Virat Roop–The Universal Form
• Everything originates from the universe, dwells within
and, post disintegration, merges back into it.
• Human limitations may find the enormity of the
universe as overwhelming and fearsome, while the
learned ones can appreciate its true form.
• With the help of yoga and meditation, it is possible to
expand human capabilities beyond restricted beliefs.
• Chanting 'aum' has several benefits for the body and the
mind if it is learned properly and performed rightly.

Activity #11.1
I could experience my outward journey through the
following layers
Practice
meditation to
focus from
inwards towards
outwards to
experience
expansion of self-
identity.

Activity #11.2
I felt the rising vibrations in this manner
A
U
M
Practice chanting
of A-U-M to feel
the vibration rise
from the anus,
along the spine,
up to the head.

Activity #11.3
How far could I focus on my imagination
Focus on a zoomed-out
imagination to
visualize traveling
beyond the earth, solar
system, the galaxy and
see how far your
mental boundaries can
stretch.

Activity #11.4
The Universe (God) as I perceive
Try to sketch how you
perceive the universe
or your universal God
to be.

Ch.12:Bhakti Yoga–Path of Devotion
• Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion to inculcate the desire to
attain the supreme being.
• Bhakti yoga involves rituals with the physical manifestation
of God.
• Leaders with compassion and equipoise make better
decisions and provide greater sustained benefits to all
stakeholders.
• Devotional leaders aim at their personal spiritual growth as
well as encourage and support their teams as per their
commitment and capabilities.

Activity #12.1
I express gratitude for the following reasons
I’m grateful that I have received such tasteful
and nourishing food
Yes / No
I’m grateful that I have the health required to
consume and digest this food
Yes / No
I’m grateful for my trade / profession that
enables me to access such delicious food
Yes / No
I’m grateful to the farmers, cooks and all
others for bringing this food to my table
Yes / No
O almighty, thank you for providing this
delicious food to me. Please repeat this
kindness for me always.
Yes / No
For one week,
cautiously fold your
hands before every
meal and express
gratitude to the
universe for providing
a sumptuous meal on
your table. What do
you feel after a week?

Activity #12.2 How did I feel after sharing my food
It was easy to part with something I could use Yes / No
This act of sharing brought in a feeling of
equality with other beings
Yes / No
I experienced a sense of humility in me Yes / No
I felt like I shared food with the almighty Yes / No
For one week, at least once
in a day, break four parts of
a bread (or any food), give
one to an animal, another
to the birds, crumble the
third for insects, and eat
the last part yourself. What
do you feel after sharing
like this for a week?

Activity #12.3 My experiences after one month of charity
Once in a week for four
weeks, carry some food
or fruits with you to a
place where you could
find beggars, orphans or
destitute. Give it to
them. What change do
you feel after the fourth
week?

Activity #12.4 Amount Paid To feed how
many people
For how many
days
My feelings after donating money to feed the needy
Write a cheque for a
small donation to an
organization that could
feed the poor for a
period. What is your
feeling after that time
period is over?

Ch.13: Nature, Soul and Mind
• The three elements of existence are the field, the knower, and
the object of knowledge.
• We can consciously re-program the sub-conscious mind
through our conscious mind with the help of meditation and
affirmations.
• What we sow is what we reap. Consequences of karma carry
the burden on the soul.
• Integrity of actions comes from the depths of the mind, hence
mind your thoughts.

Activity #13.1 Who am I ?
At Conscious
Level
At Sub-Conscious
Level
At Un-concious
Level
Make a three columnar
analysis about self. Who
you are at your
conscious, sub-
conscious and un-
conscious level?

Activity #13.2 3 things to change
about myself at sub-
conscious level
My Strategy for making this
change happen
List three things that you
wish to change in your
sub-conscious level.
Write a strategy of re-
wiring the sub-conscious
mind.

Activity #13.3 Following are my affirmation statements. For
each, there is a separate notebook.
Make a notebook of
affirmations. Write your
daily affirmations as one
of the first activities
after waking up or as the
last activity before
sleeping.

Activity #13.4 My dream analysis
My dream at sub-conscious level:
Point of congruence with conscious mind:
Point of conflict with conscious mind:
Observe and list out your
dreams. Try to interpret
how much they are in
congruence or conflict
with the conscious mind.

Ch.14: Three Qualities of Material Nature
• Actions of every person are determined by their inherent
material nature.
• There are three principal classifications of gunas, namely
sattva (compassion), rajas (passion) and tamas (ignorance).
• Present life is also influenced by the balance of past life
karma, and the karma of this life may affect the next life.
• To avoid rebirths, the karmic balance has to be exhausted by
striving to rise above gunas by practicing steadfastness.

Activity #14.1 Analysis of my ‘gunas’
My sattva traits:
My Rajas traits:
My Tamas traits:
Make a list of your gunas
that identify you with
sattva, rajas, tamas.
Which one is
predominant in you?

Activity #14.2 Five actions to transcend my ‘gunas’
Write five things you
should do to transcend
from one guna to
another.

Activity #14.3 Five risks to
degradation
Preventive actions to be
taken
Make a list of five things
that will surely degrade
you as a person. Now
write their
corresponding opposite
to prevent you from
degradation.

Activity #14.4 I shall help this
person
This is how I shall help
them to transcend
As a leader, how will you
help transcend people
around you (family,
friends, colleagues)?

Ch.15: The Supreme Yoga
• Desires are endless and unbridled desires develop, like the
Ashwath tree, where it is hard to find the origin of the roots.
• The tree of desires can be hacked only with the axe of
renunciation.
• A misconstrued reflection is an unstable foundation for
setting up an organization. The leader has to cut through
illusions and set up a vision based on core values.
• Leaders must develop higher consciousness to raise the
organizational aim from material gains to serving the
societies they operate within.

Activity #15.1 Milestone
Years
I see myself as
this
Action required
now
Next year
In 2 years
In 3 years
In 5 years
In 10 years
How do you see yourself
in five / ten years from
now? Work backwards
for years 4,3,2,1, six
months, three months,
and what should you do
right now for it?

Activity #15.2 My sinister urges How I shall hack them
Honestly, list out certain
sinister urges from the
depths of the sub-
conscious mind that the
conscious mind tries to
suppress. How would
you hack these?

Activity #15.3 Things that my conscious mind is over-writing on
my sub-conscious dark desires
Spend 15 minutes a day
for meditation during
which let the conscious
mind continuously tell
and affirm to the sub-
conscious mind that you
have distanced yourself
from these dark desires.

Activity #15.4 My previous dream
pattern
My present dream
pattern
Observe the pattern of
your dreams during
sleep. Did the dream
pattern change after the
self-talk?

Ch.16: Divine and Demonic Nature
• There are good qualities that are essential for developing a
wonderful personality and lead a good life.
• A good leader must imbibe as many qualities and positive
traits to become a role model for the others to follow.
• Leaders cannot lead effectively unless they know themselves
and their teams well.
• Virtuous leaders must avoid lust, anger and greed, the three
gates of darkness and derision.
•

Activity #16.1 Tick the virtues I have
Fearless Purity of Purpose Spiritual
Knowledge
Charity
Self Control Perform
Sacrifices
Study Vedas Austerity
Simplicity Non Violence Truthfulness Freedom from
Anger
Renunciation Tranquillity Averse to find
faults
Compassion for
all
Non
covetousness
Gentleness Modesty Steady
determination
Vigourous Forgiveness Fortitude Cleanliness
Free of Envy Free of self
glorification
My Score is ________ out of 26
Honestly evaluate and
check your score for the
26 qualities of virtue.

Activity #16.2 Development plan for this month
One virtue that I
need to develop in
myself
How I plan to
develop it in a
month
What is my
assessment after a
month
Of the virtues that are
lacking, pick one most
important trait to
develop over the next
one month.

Activity #16.3 Tick the vices I possess
Anger Arrogance Lust Greed
Bewilderment Jealousy Grief Fear
Depression Laziness Discrimination Laziness
Loneliness Desperation Temptation Sinfulness
My score is ________________ out of 16
Honestly evaluate and
check your score for the
16 vices.

Activity #16.4 Self correction plan for this month
One vice that I
need to correct in
myself
How I plan to
correct it in a
month
What is my
assessment after a
month
Of these vices, pick one
of the most critical vices
to get rid of over the next
one month.

Ch.17: Types of Faiths
• As a leader, make a self-evaluation of which of the qualities
(goodness, passion or ignorance) are predominant in you.
• Leaders should constantly evaluate how their qualities shall
contribute towards personal, professional and organizational
goal.
• Leaders should observe the qualities of their teams and help them
improvise.
• Leaders must analyse the congruence between the food that is
supposed to be eaten with the food that is provided to the
employees at the work-place.
•

Activity #17.1 My guna analysis
Prominent Traits Corresponding guna
My prominent guna is _________________
Identify your guna
w.r.t. the traits you
possess.

Activity #17.2 My guna development plan
Prominent Guna: Desired guna:
My strategy to enhance my guna:
Development time frame _____ days
Make a list of changes
to be made within the
self to gain the desired
guna.

Activity #17.3 My quarterly self assessment
Then Now
My self-development satisfaction score is ______ %
After three months
from now, compare
the changes you have
achieved through
conscious efforts.

Activity #17.4 AUM-TATT-SATT
Do I understand Aum-tatt-satt Yes / No
How frequently do I chant Rarely / Mostly / Always
Have I got this under my breath No / Almost / Yes
Practice the chanting
of AUM-TATT-SATT
under your breath.

Ch.18: Renunciation & Liberation
• Renouncement is not about taking refuge in inaction. It is about
relinquishing the proprietorship over the fruits of action while deploying
their occupational strengths at work.
• Leaders should strengthen their resolve to cultivate goodness in the areas of
habits, faith, diet, knowledge, actions and work to aim for happiness.
• Determined and steadfast leaders break free from the clutches of the inner
vices: lust, anger, ego, greed, delusion and jealousy.
• Leaders must aim at unison of faith and strive towards goal congruence
between personal and organizational goals.

Activity #18.1 Universal Divinity
Am I stuck in religious rituals Yes / No
Am I aligned with the grandeur
of the universe
Rarely / Mostly / Always
My Sattva guna score is _____ %
Check yourself
whether you are still
engaged in religion
and rituals or have
aligned with universal
divinity.

Activity #18.2 My yoga and meditation
Am I voluntarily doing yoga
everyday
Rarely / Mostly / Always
Am I able to meditate everyday Rarely / Mostly / Always
Have I imbibed deep breathing Rarely / Mostly / Always
By now, have you set
up a regular morning
routine for yoga &
meditation?

Activity #18.3
I am what I eat
My consumption of
sattvic food
Rarely / Mostly / Always _____%
My consumption of
rajasic food
My consumption of
tamasic food
Check what you eat &
drink. Is it aligned
with nourishment and
health for the body
and mind?

Activity #18.4
What drives my karma
Sattvic Rajasic Tamasic
Knowledge Money Greed
Devotion Fame Jealousy
Call of Duty Ambition Competition
To Serve Others Success Deadlines
Check your drivers for
action. Are you working for
money & fame? Or is your
life in a constant meditative
state of mind, willing to
perform karma without
material expectations?

Aum Tatt Satt!
I hope you had a great deal of
introspection and received enough
motivation for self-development.
There is a lot to know and discover
by reading the Bhagavad Gita.
Here is an authentic translation of
the Bhagavad Gita in simple English
language.
Get your personal copy on Amazon
/ Flipkart
- Vikram Khaitan

bhagavad-gita-workbook.pdf

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to bhagavad-gita-workbook.pdf

Similar to bhagavad-gita-workbook.pdf (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

bhagavad-gita-workbook.pdf