This blog topic addresses the question as to how to make use Gita practically in our lives. If you haven’t read the Part 1 of this blog, please read it first, Practise Gita in Life Part 1. Read Blog 1 here. From step 5, we know what is the eligibility criterion for Moksha.
Step 8: Know the importance of Spiritualized food (Prasadam)
Being born in this material world, we are affected by 4 things. Janma (birth), Mrtyu (death), Jara (Old age) and Vyadhi (Disease). This human body that we have attained as a means for liberation is also subjected to these four. Our main aim cannot be achieved without talking about how to avoid the diseases prevalent in the world, and also why they take place in the first place.
As per BG 3.13, by eating food which is not offered to Krishna, we are all eating sin.
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ।
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ॥
yagnyashiShTaashinaha santO muchyantae sarvakilbiShaihi
bhunjatae tae tv agham paapaa yae pachanty aatmakaaraNaat
The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.
Avoiding just this one mistake will keep us healthy. Let us see in the next step, how to transform food into prasadam.
Step 9: How to have Spiritualized, purified food (prasadam)
Spiritualise the food by saying the 2 slokas, 15.14 & 4.24 and offer all the meals we take to Krishna. BG 15.14 says that Krishna as the fire in our stomach, digests the food.
अहं वैश्वानरो भूत्वा प्राणिनां देहमाश्रितः ।
प्राणापानसमायुक्तः पचाम्यन्नं चतुर्विधम् ॥
aham vaishvaanarO bhootvaa praaNinaam daeham aashritaha
praaNaapaanasamaayuktaha pachaamy annam chaturvidham
I am the fire of digestion in every living body, and I am the air of life, outgoing and incoming, by which I digest the four kinds of foodstuff.
BG 4.24,
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् ।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥
brahmaarpaNam brahma havir brahmaagnau brahmaNaa
hutam brahmaiva taena gantavyam brahmakarmasamaadhinaa
A person who is fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness is sure to attain the spiritual kingdom because of his full contribution to spiritual activities, in which the consummation is absolute and that which is offered is of the same spiritual nature.
Apart from these slokas, there are also mantras specific to a parampara which are recited so that food can be offered to Krishna through the Gurus and acharyas of the parampara.
It is important to eat food which has been offered to Krishna. Krishna further says that, not only food can be offered to him but also every work that we do should be done as an offering to Him.
Step 10: Perform every work for Krishna
The previous sloka, BG 4.24 talks of a much bigger concept which we have to follow at every stage of our life, in every activity. In fact, the core aim of this blog is to follow this completely. We must consider sincerely that each activity we all do, all the time, is an act of yagnya or yaga, and we must do it with absolute sincerity, keeping in mind that it is a yaga that we are performing. BG 9.27 also emphasises on doing work for Krishna. We can start off in a simple way by saying “Krishnaarpanam” before doing any work. Having done that, we should try to do the work without attachment to the results but for the pleasure or satisfaction of Krishna.
In fact, in each of His instructions, Krishna has told us of the corresponding benefit(s), but we have not mentioned any of those benefits in this blog. That is because, we shall carry out all these instructions, strictly following BG 2.47 i.e, without attachment to the results of the work. BG 2.47,
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥
karmaNy aevaadhikaaras tae maa phaleShu kadaachana
maa karmaphalahetur bhoor maa tae sangOstv akarmaNi
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Just keep doing our own duty (swadharma), without thinking of any result, even where the end result is mukthi.
Step 11: Become Lord Krishna's devotee
While following the above steps, slowly we get purified and come to the understanding that, Krishna is the supreme Lord. We develop the love for Lord Krishna. “Vaasudeva Sarvam iti”
Krishna finally tells us (18.65) that we should become His devotee, worship Him, bow to Him, always think of Him. BG 18.65,
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु ।
मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे ॥
manmanaa bhava madbhaktO madyaaji maam namaskuru
mam aevaishyasi satyam tae pratijaanae priyO asi mae
Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus, you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
How is it possible to always think of Him in our timeless world, for the people who are always fully engaged in job or business or profession?
Step 12: Think of Lord Krishna always
For this common problem of busy lives, an uncommon solution is given by Krishna in BG 8.7.
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च |
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम् ||
tasmaat sarvaeshu kaalaeshu maam anusmara yudhya cha
mayyarpita-mano-buddhir maam aevaishyasyasanshayam
Therefore, always remember Me and also do your duty of fighting the war. With mind and intellect surrendered to Me, you will definitely attain Me; of this, there is no doubt.
What is the solution? It does not require us to allot separate time to think of Krishna. Whatever we might be doing, think of Him and do that job.
Having followed the above 10 steps, continuously, I am sure we will come to a stage where we can say to Krishna what Arjuna said in 18.73. “Karishyae Vachanam Tava”, meaning, “I shall do whatever you say!” BG 18.73
अर्जुन उवाच ।
नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत ।
स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः करिष्ये वचनं तव ॥
arjuna uvaacha
nastO mOhaha smRutir labdhaa tvat prasaadan mayaachyuta
sthitO asmi gatasandaehaha kariShyae vachanam tava
Arjuna said, My dear Krishna, O Achyuta, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.
Hare Krishna.
Sarvam Shri Krishnarpanamastu