Simple Living, High Thinking #31: The Sweetness of an All-Good God

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Bhagavad Gita, Ch 5, Text 29

Time stamps and topics:

Intro: The theme of Chapter 5

7:37 - Text 29, the last text of Ch 5. Krishna has shifted the focus of knowledge to himself and knowing him. Krishna now becomes the object of knowledge.

10:02 - How is it that knowing Krishna will give me peace?

13:27 - The repercussions of acting as if we are the lords of material nature - dominating the planet's resources, killing animals for food, and exploiting the environment for the purpose of pleasing our material senses. We are setting ourselves up for so many miseries by perpetuating competition for resources, fighting for what we want, and creating an us vs them mentality.

11:47 - By recognizing that Krishna is the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, we can detach from competing with others and striving for our own material pleasures.

20:22 - What are the implications of Krishna being the ultimate enjoyer? What is really 'mine' in this world? How this philosophy reframes our biggest fears and insecurities in life. Are we focused on "my religion is better than your religion" or are we focused on a personal loving relationship with an all-good God?

26:52 - How does our enjoyment differ from Krishna's enjoyment?

29:59 - The importance of a personal deity - a deity with an individual consciousness versus a generic "energy" in the sky. It is impossible for us to have a personal loving relationship with a chemical or an energy. If we think of "the universe" sending us love or wanting the best for us, we are describing an individual consciousness with personal preferences (i.e. God). In order for love to exist, there needs to be a lover and a beloved. God gave us free will so that we could choose to love him. By not forcing our hand, he allows us to genuinely fall in love with him of our own accord, to create the most intimate loving relationship possible.

32:27 - How does one even approach the "Supreme Lord of all planets?" How is it possible to form an intimate loving relationship with an all-powerful omniscient God?

35:17 - Krishna is our ultimate well-wisher, having equal vision of all living entities. Krishna does not discriminate against 'lower' and 'higher' forms of life but sees us all with equal vision. At the soul level, we are all pure.

42:51 - How do you have an intimate loving relationship with an all-powerful God? Krishna, as our very best friend.

46:07 - The story of Prahlada, Hiranyakashipu, and Krishna's form as Narasimha.

Tukaram Prabhu's 10/30/2020 Bhagavad Gita class: https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachtemple/videos/663602427662325

Tukaram Prabhu's Instagram: @tukaram.das

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