Sep 14 2024 30 mins
This episode considers some of the rich layers of meaning encoded in one of the Sanskṛt verses that is traditionally sung before study of the Bhagavad Gītā:
Sarvo’paniṣado gāvaḥ dogdhā gopālanandanaḥ |
Partho vatsaḥ sudhīrbhoktāḥ dugdhaṃ gītāmṛtaṃmahat ||
All the upanisad-s are like the cows, Kṛṣṇa, joy of the cowherders, is the milker. His dear friend Arjuna, son of Pṛtha is the calf. The skilfully oriented - those with a wise outlook - enjoy the nectarine milk that is the Gītā.
The Upaniṣad-s range far and wide, and include texts of diverse styles and of different focuses. The Gītā is regarded as the practical distillation - the milk - of all the Upaniṣad-s; and chapter two is the cream - the very essence of this deeply nourishing and supportive teaching.
The first chapter of the Gītā weaves the teaching of Kṛṣṇa’s dialogue with Arjuna on the kurukṣetra battlefield into the broader fabric of the Mahābhārata epic.
Chapter Two, in 72 glorious verses, then gives us the essence of the whole teaching which I’ll be exploring in the upcoming:
NEW ONLINE GĪTĀ COURSE October 2024-June 2025
More details here: https://jamesboagyoga.com/bgch2online/
Enrol here: https://jamesboagyoga.thinkific.com/courses/BGch2makingthewholefieldsing
Chapter Two was the first chapter I studied with my meditation teacher, the first I translated with my first Sanskṛt teacher Acharn Tassanee Sinsakul, the first I translated with my Indian Sanskṛt teachers in Mysore, and the first I taught direct from the Sanskṛt, now more than fifteen years ago.
I have had the privilege of exploring this chapter with groups more than a dozen times, but not now for several years.
I am keen to return to the Gītā and I’d like to invite you to join me on an in-depth immersive course that will bring us into vibrant proximity with Kṛṣṇa’s empowering, pragmatic counsel and the timeless, practical teachings of what is widely considered one of the very greatest of spiritual texts.
Similar to last year’s Living the Yoga Sūtra course, this will run for thirty sessions over more or less a ‘school year’ with an autum semester October until the first week of December, then a winter break, and a spring semester likely starting in February and culminating before the summer Solstice in June.
As on previous courses, the main sessions will also be preceded by half hour recitation practice during which we will learn and practice the 72 beautiful verses of chapter two.
Course details here: https://jamesboagyoga.com/bgch2online/
Enrol here: https://jamesboagyoga.thinkific.com/courses/BGch2makingthewholefieldsing