Swamiji illustrates how one’s swadharma expresses itself no matter what with a humorous anecdote with Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. If we don’t express our own swadharma, we cannot work with efficiency and a sense of fulfilment. When life gives us opportunities to live out our swadharma, we must seize them, for they will open many doors for us! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Our karma (work) is an expression of our swadharma (personality). Arjuna’s duty is to fight and protect his country and Krishna reminds him of this. Swamiji teaches us to look at our swadharma and what work we inherently want to engage in, by which we can exhaust our vasanas and purify our mind! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

We all have physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual personalities with different needs and desires, curating our swadharma, our individual duty. The same situation outside is also processed by them differently. Arjuna, like us all, sees the battle only physically and emotionally. Krishna now begins to guide us through these four levels to help resolve our own internal conflicts. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at...

Swamiji illustrates that the texture of the water will determine the quality of the reflection of the Sun reflected in it. Similarly, as our mind and vasanas, so our expression of the Divinity within us. When we decide to clear the water, we add a purifier to it, and when we aim to purify our mind, we must add inspiration from the Higher into our minds. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

The Atma in discussion remains a wonder to all, be one a scholar or a dullard. Even more wonderful is the Master who can explain to us what words fall short of describing! With His characteristic examples, Swamiji explains how the subtleness of the Atma and Jiva can be understood. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Continuing these important verses of the Geeta, Krishna reiterates to Arjuna that there is no need to grieve. Birth and death is inevitable to the body but O Arjuna, realise that the relatives you grieve for are not the body but the eternal, unchangeable, imperishable Atma (Self). The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

In this very important verse from the Bhagavad Geeta, Krishna shares a powerful analogy of how the jiva (soul) casts off the body and takes a new one just like how one would shed off old garments and wear new ones. Swamiji delves into the law of action and reaction as he sheds more light into this nuanced topic. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

We live in the delusion that we are this body. Swami Swaroopananda guides us to recognise the perishable and changing nature of this body. He urges us to instead identify with the Atma - the Self; that is unborn, undying and cannot be destroyed by anyone or anything. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Krishna shares pivotal verses that will support a spiritual seeker in their meditation. He reiterates the nature of one’s Self as that which is changeless and the eternal Truth that pervades everything. Krishna urges Arjuna to get up and recognise that which is imperishable. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Krishna continues to help Arjuna cultivate a higher viewpoint from which he can see how small his problems truly are, giving him the strength and wisdom to be able to solve them, rather than run away. Swamiji breaks down Krishna’s words about this new vision and guides us on how we can cultivate it ourselves. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

All our experiences, happy or sad, have a beginning and an end. But the more we complain about what we cannot change, the more the sorrow and pain magnify! When the mind is disturbed by sorrow, we brood over the change and become more easily influenced by future fluctuations. In forbearing the changes in the world outside, we can gradually come to identify with the changeless within us. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at...

We experience the world around us as pairs of opposites, giving us joy or sorrow, based on our likes and dislikes. When our sense organs come into contact with the sense objects, then only do we experience these dualities, just as when we touch electricity, we get the shock! In this episode, Swamiji teaches us the secret to overcoming these ‘shocks’ around us! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

To comfort Arjuna’s grief, Krishna reveals the truth of how there never was a time when any of us did not exist. The ‘I’ Krishna speaks of is the Self of everybody, not the individual ego-centric identity we associate with. Understanding the permanence of the one true Self is a hallmark of the wise student of the Bhagavad Geeta! The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

The cause of our sorrow is our false expectations born of misunderstanding one thing to be something else. Identifying with the individual ego, we grieve for the natural phenomenon of death, and lose sight of our Dharma. Knowledge of what Dharma is lifts us out of sorrow, and here Krishna, the Jagad-Guru, establishes Dharma by taking Arjuna as His disciple. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

Through his signature storytelling, Swamiji illustrates the paths of Shreyas and Preyas - goodness and pleasure. Arjuna’s humility helps him open up to Krishna’s guidance, demonstrating an ideal disciple’s character and surrender. Krishna begins His song with a gentle scolding of Arjuna’s misery and Swamiji gives us a short, but powerful lesson from Krishna’s first words of the Geeta. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at...

Swamiji explains that the notions of “I” and “mine” arise when we don’t know who we truly are, leading us to misidentify our swadharma. Arjuna's response to Krishna reveals this, when he seeks to abandon his duty as a warrior to live a renunciate’s life to avoid the war. Arjuna’s outburst peaks when he surrenders to Krishna and enquires into what will lead him to the greatest good. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at...

Grief like Arjuna’s leads one to enquire into what is the cause of one’s sorrow. How can we find permanent solutions to our problems and gain shreyas - the supreme good? Swami Swaaroopananda explains how Krishna begins by calling out Arjuna’s despondency as ignoble and un-Aryan, in an attempt to prod at his pride and shake him out of self-pity. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caught at https://clix.chinmayamission.com/product/geeta-marathon/

As we do our Japa of the Gāyatrī Mantra, the mind quietens.  We must deepen our Sādhana by contemplating that Truth which the Mantra is indicating. In this concluding episode, Swamiji explains how the Mantra reveals to us our true nature, that of Existence (Sat), Consciousness (Cit) and Bliss (Ānanda)!

The 3 vyāhrtis Bhūh, Bhuvaḥ and Svaḥ, prefix the Gāyatrī Mantra, which Ādi Śaṅkararacharya tells us indicate the nature of the Truth. Oṃ, with which the Mantra begins, is the subtlest of all symbols for, and is the closest indicator of that same Truth. Swamiji gives us further insight into Oṃ, distilled from the vast knowledge of the Upaniṣads.

In this episode, we hear from Swami Swaroopananda about Ādi Śaṅkararacharya’s commentary on the Gāyatrī Mantra, which tells us that the Gāyatrī Mantra reveals the truth about the relationship between the Jivatma and Paramatma. Swamiji breaks down the meaning of each word of the Mantra, taking us deeper in contemplation on the divine Gāyatrī Mantra!

The vibrations of the Gāyatrī Mantra create the right mental atmosphere so we can gain the right knowledge to overcome our limitations. Swamiji explains how understanding the Mantra can lead us to know the Truth of our eternal nature.

The Gāyatrī Mantra illustrates the brilliant values and qualities the Sun embodies, and gives an ideal to aspire to. Swamiji shines a light on how regular Japa (chanting) of the Gāyatrī Mantra leads us to develop a calm, concentrated, devoted mind, in which all noble values can be cultivated. As our practice of Gāyatrī Japa deepens, our intelligence gains clarity and our knowledge deepens.

Swami Swaroopananda goes further into the profound significance of the Upanayana Samskara and the inspiration it provides us with. Swamiji gives us a brief definition of the Gāyatrī Mantra and the inner significance of a Vedic tale told at the time of the receiving the Gāyatrī Mantra - blending tradition with science in his characteristic storytelling style!

Intelligence is not purely genetic, it is something that can be invoked and cultivated. Swami Swaroopananada talks about the tradition of the Upanayana Samskara, its significance and how the initiation into the Gayatri Mantra was given in childhood. This tradition facilitated the development of the intellect and prepared students for the highest knowledge - something we can still aspire to today!

Dive deeper into the science of the Gayatri Mantra is to understand how by chanting this Mantra properly, our mental impurities are removed and our mind can be attuned to the vibrations of eternal knowledge and power in the universe. Swamiji explains how the Gāyatrī Mantra reveals to us Dharma, the means to reach the Ultimate Goal, the Infinite, Eternal Bliss!