So far in this series we have learned that the qualification for studying the Gita is to have faith in Shree Krishna, and to be surrendered to a God realized Saint, or Guru. Only by the Grace of the Guru, or Spiritual Master and through his explanations can we understand the true meaning of the Gita.
Q: What is the danger associated with learning the Gita on one’s own?
The greatest danger involved with trying to learn the knowledge of the Gita on one’s own is developing pride. Learning from the Guru saves us from this dangerous pitfall: the pride of knowingness. If someone studies the Gita on his own, he is bound to develop pride in his knowledge. It is human nature to want to be appreciated; therefore it is a common human fault to want to flaunt our knowledge to others to gain their respect and admiration. However, the development of such vanity is the opposite to the spiritual teachings of the Gita.
Our pride of “knowing” actually takes us farther from God, instead of closer. The more humble we are, the closer we come to God. The more proud we are, the farther we are from God. When we are humble, we feel that we belong to God and we depend on him totally. This is surrender, and this type of surrender is the essence of the Gita.
When we have pride in anything, then due to that pride, we feel that we are great, which means that we are not depending on God. In other words, the more pride we feel, the less surrendered we are. That means that someone who studies the Gita on his own and develops a pride of his learning is now farther from God than before he had studied the Gita. Ironically, even though he studied the Gita, which teaches surrender, he ended up being less surrendered by the end of his study.
How does one develop humbleness?
To the extent someone has imbibed the knowledge of Gita, they will become equally humble. More knowledge means more humbleness. More pride means the presence of ignorance. In other words, a learned scholar who studies the Gita on his own and ends up with more pride, has increased his ignorance, not his knowledge.
The only way to avoid this is to learn the Gita or any Hindu scripture from a God realized Saint, or Guru. The Guru, while imparting the knowledge, will also ensure the humbleness of his students and will not give knowledge to an unqualified person.
It is also important to keep in mind that we don’t get anything simply by hearing, reciting or memorizing the Gita. The teachings of the Gita have to be understood and practiced every day in one’s life. Only then will the knowledge of the Gita take root in our heart and only then will we realize the benefit of Krishna’s teachings. In other words, the theory must be put into practice. For this too we need the guidance of the Guru. It is only by practicing the teachings of the Gita under the guidance of a Guru that we develop true humbleness and surrender to Krishna.
How can we be qualified to truly know the teachings of the Gita?
If we were truly qualified to hear Krishna’s teachings, then we would immediately get God realized by listening to them, in the same way that Arjun did. So if we do not get God realized when we study the Gita, it means we have not understood it yet.
Anyone can study the Gita, whether they are a Sanskrit scholar or an illiterate person. However, the true Gita gyani is the one who, having learned the philosophy of the Gita, becomes humble, surrenders to Shree Krishna and becomes God realized.
Having understood the qualification for studying the Gita, we are now ready to start learning the main topics of the first chapter of the Gita, starting with the very first verse. But, please keep in mind that whatever I am sharing with you in this series is not my own interpretation of the Gita. I have not learned the Gita on my own. I am simply doing my best to explain in English what Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj has already taught the world through his speeches and books in Hindi, including Prem Ras Siddhant: The True Philosophy of Divine Love.
Disciple of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
Swami Nikhilanand Ji is a Canadian born Hindu spiritual leader based in Austin, Texas. He is a sanyasi disciple and pracharak of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.
Attracted to the teachings of Hinduism from a young age, Swamiji eventually let his deep spiritual longing lead him to India, where he was most fortunate to come under the guidance of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.
Thereafter, living in the ashrams of JKP, he extensively studied Hindi, the philosophy of the prime Sanskrit scriptures (Vedas, Darshan Shastras, Gita, Bhagwatam), and practiced meditation in the tradition of raganuga bhakti. In 2003, he was given sanyas.
Now, with the blessings of his Guruji, he offers satsang programs throughout America, engaging audiences with his clear explanations of Hindu philosophy coupled with inspired chanting of Sanskrit mantras and shlokas and charming nam sankirtan. His informative and compelling speeches provide practical insight into how to adopt the teachings of Sanatan Dharm into our daily lives, and inspire us to awaken our inner spiritual potential.
To stay in touch with Swami Nikhilanand Ji, like his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SwamiNikhilanand or follow him on twitter at https://twitter.com/Swami_Nikhil.
Swami Nikhilanand
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