Bhagvad Gita chapter 12 , Flowcharts and Overview for easy reading and understanding. BHAKTI YOGA

1. GITA Chapter 12 , Overview and Flowcharts
Compiled by
Dr. Medicherla Shyam Sunder Kumar
samc108@gmail.com

2. Based on teachings of
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya Swami

4. Swami Paripoornananda Saraswathi

5. Swami Paripoornananda Saraswathi

6. Chapter 12 :
Bhakti Yoga
{20 Slokas / Verses}
Prabhupada comments on this chapter in the purport to
verse 20: “In this chapter, from verse 2 through the end, from
'mayy avesya mano ye mam' (fixing the mind on Me) through
'ye tu dhar mamrtam idam' (this religion of eternal engagement),
the Supreme has explained the process of transcendental service
for approaching Him.
Such processes are very dear to the Lord, and He accepts a person
engaged in them.”
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami

7. Connection between Chapter 11 and Chapter 12
After hearing of Lord’s inestimable, impersonal opulences, Arjuna Again wants to hear about
‘devotional service’
To clarify his ‘position as a devoteea devotee’’, who works for Krishna, as opposed to a, who works for Krishna, as opposed to a ‘‘jnanijnani’’ whowho
renounces workrenounces work
To clarify his position as being attached to the personal form of Krishna, as superior to the
Universal Form or the Unmanifested Brahman
Because some persons might mistake the awe-inspiring universal form shown in Chapter 11 to
be more significant than Krishna’s two-armed form
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami
AA.Shri Krishna ended the chapter 11 ( The seed of bhakti yoga was planted) with the
message that Ishvara is in everything, and everything is in Ishvara.Ishvara is in everything, and everything is in Ishvara.
BB.But since our senses see the world and not Ishvara,But since our senses see the world and not Ishvara,
we need a way towe need a way to constantly be aware of Ishvaraconstantly be aware of Ishvara’’s presence.s presence.
Till we get to a state where this happens effort-lesslyeffort-lessly,
Shri Krishna asks us to take up the path of bhakti or devotion,to take up the path of bhakti or devotion,
where we constantly abide in the faith that Ishvara is in everythingwhere we constantly abide in the faith that Ishvara is in everything, and
everything is in Ishvara.

8. Bhakti is love for love's sake.
There is no selfish expectation here.
There is no fear.
It is called 'Parama Prema Rupa' .
Intense devotion and supreme attachment to God.
The chapter ends with a list of thirty nine qualities of a perfected devoteea list of thirty nine qualities of a perfected devotee
DESIRE + SACRIFICE
The term Bhakti comes from the root
'Bhaj' , which means 'to be attached to God'.
LOVE
PERSON / ANIMAL
PLACE
AN OBJECT
DIRECTED
TOWARDS
LOVE + SURRENDER BHAKTI
DIRECTED
TOWARDS
" GOD "
=
=
The term Bhakti comes from
the root 'Bhaj' , which means
'to be attached to God'.
https://www.slideshare.net/drshama65/mastering-the-emotions-bhakti-yogappt

9. Why is it is called the Yoga of Devotion ?
It starts with Bhakti and ends with Bhakti,
and so it is called the
Yoga of Devotion.
As this discourse expounds
the principles of Bhakti, It is
entitled Bhakti yoga

10. A. Bhakti superior to
Impersonalism
(12.1-7) .
B. Progressive Stages
of Devotion (12.8-12)
C. Qualities Which
Endear One to Krishna
(12.13-20)
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami
Gita - Chapter 12 -

11. A. Bhakti over
Impersonalism (1-7) .
B. Progressive Stages
of Devotion (8-12)
C. Qualities Which
Endear One to Krishna
(13-20)
Gita - Chapter 12 -
A1. One who fixes his mind on
Krishna and worships Him with
great faith, is more perfect than
one who worships the
impersonal feature of the
Absolute. (12.1-2)
A2. Impersonalists can advance,
but it is very difficult (12.3-5)
A3. Krishna personally
delivers His ananya bhaktas,
very swiftly (12.6-7)
12.1. Arjuna presents this important question.
The question is: "Which are better, the
personalists or the impersonalists?”
12.2. Krishna gives a very clear answer: There
is no doubt that personalists are higher than
impersonalists.
12.5. At best it is a very difficult process.
Explain why impersonalism is harder than
personalism.
Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport that the
jnana yogi may meet a devotee, and by
his grace become a devotee (see 4th paragraph).
Otherwise he will not achieve Krsna directly..
7.3
12.3-4. When Lord Krishna says that the
impersonalists “at last achieve Me” we should
understand that He means His
impersonal Brahman feature, which is, in one sense,
not different from Him.
Or it may mean Krsna directly, but through a round
about process.
(12.6-7)
The purport of this verse is that a
devotee does not need to practice
astanga yoga in order to transfer his
soul to the spiritual planets. The
responsibility is taken by the Supreme
Lord Himself. He clearly states here that
He Himself becomes the deliverer.
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami

12. Summary of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12
AA.Shri Krishna ended the chapter 11 ( The seed of bhakti yoga was planted) with the
message that Ishvara is in everything, and everything is in Ishvara.Ishvara is in everything, and everything is in Ishvara.
BB.But since our senses see the world and not Ishvara, we need a way toBut since our senses see the world and not Ishvara, we need a way to constantly beconstantly be
aware of Ishvaraaware of Ishvara’’s presence.s presence. Till we get to a state where this happens effort-lesslyeffort-lessly,
Shri Krishna asks us to take up the path of bhakti or devotion,to take up the path of bhakti or devotion,
where we constantly abide in the faith that Ishvara is in everythingwhere we constantly abide in the faith that Ishvara is in everything, and
everything is in Ishvara.
Arjuna began this chapter by asking the question:who is superior?
SAGUNA
worship Ishvara with form
NIRGUNA
who worship him without form,
KRISHNAKRISHNA recommends worship of Ishvararecommends worship of Ishvara
with form for the majority of devotees. Thewith form for the majority of devotees. The
key qualifica-tion, however,key qualifica-tion, however, is that ofis that of
single pointed devotion.single pointed devotion.
MMost of us whoost of us who still have a little saatvikstill have a little saatvik
ahamkaara,ahamkaara, which is the sense of distance orwhich is the sense of distance or
separation between us and Ishvara, worshipseparation between us and Ishvara, worship
of theof the formless Ishvara is quite difficult.
journey through the bhagavad gita

13. A. Bhakti-yogis – Those persons
who are in full Krishna
consciousness and engage in
devotional service of the Lord
B. Jnana-yogis – Those who follow
the path of inconceivable,
unmanifested, impersonal feature
of the Supreme Lord
Process of Bhakti-yoga is direct – It is a
process of being in direct service with
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami
Gita - Chapter 12.5 -
1. Two groups of transcendentalists discussed
The Bhakti-yoga accepts the Deity of
Krishna as worshipable because
there is some bodily conception
fixed in the mind, which can thus be
applied
Process of Jnana-yoga is very
troublesome – It is very difficult for
him to simply theoretically
understand that he is not this body
impersonal feature of the Supreme
Lord
Same goal – Both ultimately bring one to the same goal

14. A. Bhakti over
Impersonalism
(12.1-7) .
B. Progressive Stages
of Devotion (12.8-12)
C. Qualities Which
Endear One to Krishna
(12.13-20)
12.8. The highest stage. Absorbed in trance.
smartavyah satatam visnor.......
12.9.12.9. If you can’t do that than practice vaidhi sadhana bhakti (like us).
12.10. If you can’t do that then try to do nishkama karma yoga.
12.11. If you can’t do that then try for sakama karma yoga.
12.12. If you can’t do that then read Prabhupada’s books (1st sentence of
verse)
2nd sentence is basically presenting an alternative process to
cultivation of knowledge for people who are on this low level. It is a process
of meditating on the Supersoul.
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami
Gita - Chapter 12 -
Why ‘renunciation of fruits’ is mentioned as better than ‘meditation’ – Although karma-yoga is
the lowest on the yoga-ladder, Krishna says that it is better than meditation, because it is more
practical and it does not disturb the mind with harsh and impractical requirements for
renunciation

15. This is the idea of "matkarmaparamo bhava".
by purity of mind
liberation is attained
Nishkam Karma leads to perfection.
This is recommended to those who are not able to still the mind in Dhyana.
Only, those actions should be done in a spirit of self-surrender to God.
They should be done to win God's grace and not for obtaining selfish rewards.
This idea should be firmly held in the mind while performing all good work in the world.
By such actions the mind is purified
GITA CH 12, v 10
What are good actions ?
Japa, prayer, ,namasamkirtan worship, vows of fasting and silence,
all these come under good actions for the sake of God.
And such actions should be offered to the Lord,without any desire for personal reward.
This is simply Nishkama Karma.

16. How about sinful or bad actions ? What are good actions ?
Bad actions are not included
here, because they are
already prohibited by the
Sastras (scriptures).
No one should do sinful acts.
Worship of God,
singing His name and
glory,
charity,
works of social welfare,
all these are good
actions and they should
be surrendered to God.
(Isvararpanam,
Ramarpanam, or
Krishnarpanam).
OFFERING ACTIONS TO GOD
GITA CH 12, v 11

17. EASY METHOD OFFER EVERY ACTION TO GOD- BUT HOW ?
For example, if we want to offer a rose to
the Lord,
we first select a beautiful, fragrant bloom.
Then we remove the insects thorns or any
imperfect leaves from the stem.
we make our offering as beautiful and pure as
possible.
Every action we perform should be like
this.
Our actions must be saturated with the
fragrance of love and sacredness and
must be good and pure.
This is the true 'Yoga of Action' as laid down in
the Gita.
- Divine Discourse on Gita, 1987. BABA
GITA CH 12, v 11

18. The last four shlokas laid out a series of stages that enable us to access Ishvara based
on our qualifications.
Access to Ishvara
based on
our qualifications.
They were laid out
in descend-ing
order,
Most qualified
Least qualified
Jnyaana yoga was prescribed for those
who have given up attachment to the body
Bhakti yoga for those who can perform
every action for Ishvara,
karma yoga for those who can
dedicate the results of their actions
to Ishvara.
Abhyaasa yoga for those who can sit for meditation
GITA Ch 12, v 12
BG_journey through the bhagavad gita

19. Mechanical practice
He first says that
knowledge is superior to
mechanical practice
Better than knowledge
is meditation
Better than meditation
is renunciation of the
fruits of actions,
peace immediately
follows
How to Practice Bhakti (Gita 12.8-12)
Here, Shri Krishna provides a recap of those four
shlokas as well as providing some additional insights
of each stage.
Knowledge means acquiring discrimination and discipline at mental and intellectual levels.
A correct knowledge of the implications of the spiritual practices and the scriptures is necessary
to make them fruitful
Spiritual practices mean listening to discourses on scriptures, performing
rituals etc in a routine manner without understanding the significance behind
them. .
Here, the word meditation is used in the sense of a higher kind of knowledge,
one that does not create a distinction between the knower and the known, an
attempt by the intellect towards a better understanding of the knowledge
acquired. Anxiety about the future causes agitation in mind. An agitated mind is
not suitable for meditation.
The excellence of 'Karmaphala tyaga' Is declared.
Renunciation of the fruits of actions while practising self-control and seeking refuge
in the Lord destroys the desire in the seeker which is the source of unrest and brings
about the inner calm and peace. For one tranquil in heart the cessation of ignorance
comes without delay.

20. T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4k40uSJ9lY 1HR 24 MTS

21. Gita Chapter 12 : Verse 12 ---Bhakti Yoga--- 4 STEPS TO ATTAIN PEACE
--Abhyasa, repeated practice is the first step.
This is karma ( action) in God consciousness.-
The repetition of action , gives rise to jnana ( knowledge).
To live in the presence of God is jnana.
This knowledge must be assimilated and directly perceived.
Dhyana, meditation, is the result of jnana of knowledge .
What you read in scriptures or hear from the realized master
must be directly perceived. It is possible through meditation,
the complete dissolution of the mind .
Shanti, peace, is the highest step of spiritual attainment.
Peace, bliss, and joy are nature of God Himself.
When you are merged in Godconsciousness, you perceive
inner peace, the greatest spiritual wealth. Shanti and
samadhi, the supreme divine commuion, are one.
1st step
2nd step
3rd step
4th step
http://kriyavansinlove.blogspot.com/search/label/abhyasa%3Bkarma

22. Very nice list of good qualities which Lord Krishna says are dear to Him.
The qualities described in verse 12.20 are most important, because they are directly devotional.
The qualities mentioned in the other verses are largely in the mode of goodness. Krishna is here
summarizing the whole process of devotional service
The main quality is found is verse 12.20.
“Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage
themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.”
So Lord Krishna has made it very clear that pure devotional service is the highest standard of life,
and it should be aspired for by everyone. This concludes the second and main section of
Bhagavad-Gita.
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami
A. Bhakti over
Impersonalism
(12.1-7) .
B. Progressive Stages
of Devotion (12.8-12)
C. Qualities Which
Endear One to Krishna
(12.13-20)
Gita - Chapter 12 -

23. OM SHANTI
OM SHANTI
OM SHANTI
Om- let all the deficiencies of this PPT go away
Tat- let this give Bhagavan great happiness
Sat- let this give true lasting benefits