A new way to discipline oneself by Bhagavad Ch 12 inputs

1. Self Improvement Series
YOGA OF DEVOTION

2. • As a student Arjuna begins with the perennial question
which baffles mankind . Should one worship God with a
form or as a formless Reality ?
• Lord Krishna answers by giving the relevance of both
types of worship to spiritual development.
• One caters to the devotional while the other to the
intellectual seekers

3. Form and Formless Worship
• Worshippers of both the Manifest as well as the
Unmanifest reach God
• The devotional need a form or an idol for worship. They
lack the capacity to foucs their concentration on the
unmanifest Ideal without the help of an Idol.
• The intellectual or the introvert can concentrate on the all
pervading formless Reality.
• Either way a seeker finally uses single-pointed
concentration and meditation to gain Enlightenment.

4. Progressive Ways to Reach God
• Self purification through continuous practise self discipline
.The practise helps you withdraw the mind from the world
and concentrate on the Self
• If you cannot practise spiritual disciplines then surrender
all your actions to the Lord .Perform actions for his sake .
• If this is also not possible keep the Goal of Realisation in
mind while acting in the world.You may satisfy your
desires but renounce the anxiety for the fruits of your
actions.

5. Characteristics of the Formless Reality
• Aksaram (Imperishable) -Brahman is the imperishable
substratum upon which the perishable world exists. All
things and beings in this world perish but the underlying
Reality that supports them exists forever
• Anirdesyam(Indefinable) -The Reality has no properties
and language cannot define it
• Avyaktam(Unmanifest)-The Transcendntal Reality cannot
be perceived , felt or conceived.It remains beyond the
reach of the body,mind and intellect.

6. • Sarvatragam(Omnipresent) - Brahman pervades the
waking, dream and deep -sleep states of consciousness.
It exists beyond these three realms
• Acintyan(Unthinkable)- Thinking is confined to the objects
of thought. When the pure Consciousness illumines an
object you become conscious of the object . The pure
Consciousness without objects has therefore no thoughts.
Unthinkable.
• Kutastham(Unchanging)- The body,mind,intellect,
thoughts all change.But the Atman that enlivens the body,
mind and intellect ever remains the same.The changeless
substratum upon which all the changes in the world occur.

7. • Acalam (Immovable) - For an object to move there must
be a place where it does not exist . Since Brahman is all
pervading there is no place where it does not exist. Hence
Brahman remains immovable.
• Dhruvam(Eternal) - The world at any time is transient,
fleeting,impermanent. But Brahman supported the
pastworld,supports the present world and will support the
future world.Brahman exists before time- past,present and
future .Eternal.

8. • Before delving into meditation the introvert seekers need
to prepare themselves through physical, mental and
intellectual discipines .These disciplines qualify them to
then effectively use them terms to reach the Supreme
Reality ,God.
• Physical discipline aims at gaining control over the
senses.Be a master and not a slave to the sense objects
of the world.
• Your mind must remain pleased with the welfare of your
fellow beings.Develop a feeling of love and affection
towards one and all.
• Perceive the Unity in the Diversity. Having disciplined

9. The 4 facets of discipline
• Knowledge is better than practise
• Meditation is better than knowledge
• Renunciation of fruit of action is better than meditation

10. Qualities of a Devotee of God
• Advesta Sarva Bhutanam- Not hating any being
• Maitrah-Friendly
• Karunah-Compassionate
• Nirmamah-Free from attachment
• Nirahankarah-Free from egoism
• Samah Duhkha Sukhah-Balanced in pleasure and pain
• Ksami- Forgiving
• Santustah Satatam-Ever perfectly content

11. • Yogi- One uniting with the Self
• Yatatma-Self controlled
• Dridha Nischaya-Having firm conviction
• Mayi arpita manobuddhih- With mind and intellect
dedicated to Me
• Yasmat na udvijate lokah- By whom the world is not
agitated
• Lokat na udvijate yah- Who is not agitated by the world
• Harsa amarsa bhaya udvegaiah muktah - Freed from joy,
envy, fear and anxiety

12. • Please feel free to contact me at :
• sdasgupta444@gmail.com