Summary of the Entire Bhagvad Gita – As shared by Acharya Rahul ji

on 3/11/2016

Each of the 18 chapters may be summarized in one short sentence that gives
the essence of each chapter. So I’ll give each sentence and give a short
explanation on the chapter.

Chapter 1 is Arjuna Vishada Yoga - the Yoga of Arjuna’s Sorrow. The

sentence for this chapter is:
Wrong thinking is the only problem in life.

We know before the beginning of the war Arjuna’s problem was huge. He was
about to fight a communal war because his enemies had wronged him and his
brothers repeatedly and had stolen their territory. And the day before the war
Arjuna had sworn that he would kill them all. But once he went to the middle
of the battlefield and saw everyone, he no longer thought of them as his enemy.
He only saw his cousins, his grandfather, his Guru, his friends.
On the battlefield, he came out of the warrior mentality and into the family
man mentality. And he was the best warrior on his side; so that was very
problematic - a life and death kind of problem.
Arjuna’s problem was that he had wrong thinking.
Similarly all our major problems are caused by wrong thinking and are
increased by wrong thinking. The main problems we have are at work or with
money, with health, with spouse, kids and parents.
SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO ALL OUR PROBLEMS?

Chapter 2 - Samkhya Yoga - the Yoga of Knowledge

Right Knowledge is the ultimate solution to all our problems.
Our problem is like Arjuna, we don’t know exactly what our duty is, and when
to do it and how to do it. If we get clarity on these things, through study of the
scriptures and asking right people and through traditions and right thinking,
then we don’t have problems; we only have solutions.
The ultimate and immediate solution to all our problems; not only does it solve
all our problems but it dissolves all our problems, is to know who we are. Our
scriptures say that we are none other than that Brahman - which is
indestructible, beyond time and space, beyond joy and sorrow, pain and
suffering, victory and loss; then how can we ever suffer or experience pain?
THIS IS ALL GOOD AND FINE, BUT HOW DO I COME TO REALIZE THIS?

Chapter 3 - Karma Yoga - the Yoga of Action

Selflessness is the only way to progress and prosperity
Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna that the way to realize this is NOT to run to the
Himalayas, and study and meditate and never come back.
The way to eventually come to know this knowledge is through karma yoga;
Karma Yoga means that we should give up expectation for the results of the
action while still doing our best. We do our duty because it’s our duty, and we
don’t want anything in return. If a good result comes to us, then great; if a good
result does not come, that’s ok too. We have to give up the feeling of “More,
more, more. Me, me, me.”
And by doing this, we purify our heart, and it becomes much easier to realize
that we’re Brahman.
BUT HOW DO I GIVE EXPECTATION FOR THE RESULT OF WHATEVER ACTIONS I DO, AND
STILL DO MY BEST?

Chapter 4 – Jñāna-karma-Sannyāsa Yoga - The philosophy behind giving up

action
Every act can be an act of prayer
So, in order to give up the result of our action, we stop dedication the action to
ourselves, and we dedicate our to the Lord. Dedication action to the Lord
means, that we do the action to make the Lord happy because we love the Lord
and we have that gratitude for everything the Lord has given us. This is a real
act of prayer.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING WHEN WE DEDICATE OUR ACTIONS TO THE LORD AND GIVE UP
EXPECTATION FOR THE RESULT?
Chapter 5 - Karma-Sannyāsa Yoga - The Yoga of Giving up Action
Renounce the ego of individuality and rejoice in the Bliss of Infinity
When we practice this karma yoga, when we give up selfishness, when we love
the Lord more and more; then we’re thinking about serving others and serving
the Lord more and more; and we’re thinking about ourselves less and less. We
take care of our basic daily needs, but otherwise our life is dedicated for God.
We are no longer a self-serving individual, but we are an instrument for serving
the Lord. Slowly, slowly what happens?
That sense of individuality, that I am different from the Lord starts breaking
down, and a sense that the Lord is within me starts building up. And the sense
that I am doing the action breaks down, and the sense that the Lord is doing
the action through me builds up.
We renounce the ego, and we rejoice in that Bliss of the Lord within us.
What happens when we start just tasting this Bliss? Of course we want more
and more…
HOW DO WE GET MORE AND MORE?

Chapter 6 - Dhyāna Yoga - The Yoga of Meditation

Connect to the Higher Daily
We start meditating. And the Lord gives the manual for meditation, and He
tells many things about where to meditate, what to meditate upon, how to
meditate. How to deal with the restless mind?
We start connecting more and on a deeper level with the Lord within.
WHAT DO WE COME TO KNOW THROUGH MEDITATION, AND WHAT IS THE FINAL
EXPERIENCE SUPPOSED TO BE?

Chapter 7 - Jñāna-vijñana Yoga - The Yoga of Knowledge and the Direct

Experience of Knowledge
Live what you learn
We come to know that the Lord is everything in the universe but is not affected
anything in the universe.
We come to know our real nature is nothing but the Lord Himself.
We come to know also that because of Maya - delusion, we do not know that
we are the Lord.
And that to get rid of this Maya, we must seek the Lord, not wealth, not merely
a solution to mundane problems.
Seeking the Lord means learning about the Lord, and when we learn more
about the Lord, we become more like the Lord.
BUT THAT IS NOT EASY, SO… NEXT CHAPTER…

Chapter 8 - Akshara-Brahma Yoga - The Yoga of the Indestructible Brahman

Never give up on yourself
So for those for whom that deep meditation on the Lord’s nameless and
formless nature is difficult, the Lord gives some preparatory steps to help them.
The Lord says you continuously think of me with love in your heart; and if
your mind is still not being quiet, you chant OM while thinking of me.
But never give up, even if you are on your deathbed you keep thinking of me
continuously.

Chapter 9 - Rājavidyā Rājaguhya Yoga - The Yoga of the Royal Secret

Knowledge
Value your blessings
Arjuna this knowledge that I’m telling you… this knowledge of Bhagavad Gīta
is not just any ordinary knowledge. It is a royal secret, known by very few
lucky people… and even if they do hear it, they may not understand it… and
even if they understand it, they may not be able to abide in that knowledge.
Feel blessed, because we know about Bhagavad Gīta, we’re chanting
Bhagavad Gīta, we’re hearing it also, we’re starting understand it, and starting
to abide in it also.
And when we abide in it, that ultimate fulfillment will come. Liberation will
come. Final steps are coming.
Lord says in this chapter that even for a person who may have done so many
things wrong, if that person genuinely loves, worships and devotes himself to
the Lord, he becomes purified of all sins, including the impulse to do the sin,
and will always be protected by the Lord.
HOW CAN I LOVE THE LORD MORE?

Chapter 10 - Vibhūti Yoga - The Yoga of the Lord’s Glories

See divinity all around
Just like the wave comes from the ocean, stays in the ocean and merges back
into the ocean, and the whole time the wave is the ocean…
Similarly, the universe comes from God, stays in God, and goes back into God,
and the whole time the universe is God.
Think about this, and know this, and wonderment and love for the Lord and
his massive glory light up life because we See divinity all around us.

Chapter 11 - Viśvarūpa-darśana Yoga- The Yoga of the Vision of the Lord

Have enough surrender to see the Truth as it is
Knowing the Lord glories, when we fully give ourselves up to the Lord, the
Lord will reveal himself in the core of our own heart.

Chapter 12 - Bhakti Yoga - The Yoga of Devotion

Absorb your mind in the Higher
Progressively through karma yoga, and then by doing japa, pūja and havan,
and then meditating upon the form of the Lord, and then by meditating on the
Lord without form, and then finally meditating upon that Lord as Sat-Cit-
Ānanda - Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, our mind gets more absorbed in the
Highest.

Chapter 13 - Kṣetra-kṣetrajña Yoga - The Yoga of Discrimiation between the

Known objects and the Knower of objects
Detach and Attach
Love for the Lord is easiest when we understand that the world is limited and
temporary, and thus can only give limited and temporary joy; and when we
understand that the Lord is unlimited, and thus gives unlimited and permanent
Bliss. Detach your attention from the limited world and attach your attention
to the unlimited Self.

Chapter 14 - Guṇatraya-vibhāga Yoga - The Yoga of 3 Guṇas: Sattva, Rajas

and Tamas
Live a lifestyle that matches your vision
This vision of attaching ourselves to the unlimited Self happens best when we
live a Sāttvika life full of knowledge, alertness and selflessness; and is difficult
when we are rajasika - selfish, overly active and aggressive; and is most
difficult when we are tamasika - lazy and mean-spirited.
So must live a Sāttvika lifestyle that matches our vision of the Supreme.
Chapter 15 - Purushottama Yoga - The Yoga of the Supreme Person
Give priority to Divinity

This 15th chapter is the summary of the entire Bhagavad Gīta, even though it’s
not the last chapter…
Overall, in Bhagavad Gīta the message is that in our life, in our mind and in
our heart, we must give the Lord the highest priority and then we get the highest
result.

Chapter 16 - Daivāsura-sampad-vibhāga Yoga - The Yoga of Divine and

Demonic Qualities

Being good is a reward in itself

Let the scripture be your guide in knowing what is right and wrong, and follow
that only. Be good. Scriptures will never lead you to a wrong thing. A good
person will be most eligible for knowledge

Chapter 17 – Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga Yoga - The Yoga of three types of Faith

Choosing the right over the pleasant is a sign of power
We have so many choices in everyday life:
What do we have faith in? God or money? what to eat; What is the attitude
with which we do our duty; How do we think, speak and act with our mind,
speech and body; How should we give and whom should we give to?
We should always choose that which is sāttvik, which is selfless.
When we choose what is selfless, we get spiritual powers.
FINALLY…

Chapter 18 - Moksha-sannyāsa Yoga - The Yoga of Liberation and

Renunciation

Let Go, Let God – Surrender and be guided

When we’re good people and have desire for liberation and knowledge and we
retire and our responsibilities are less, we can let go of attachment to this world,
and let God fully come into our heart.