Layer by Layer – How to Gain Deeper Insights from the Bhagavad Gita

Summary

The script explores the profound experience of revisiting the Bhagavad Gita, highlighting how personal growth leads to deeper understanding with each reading. It emphasizes the non-linear journey of spiritual learning, where the Gita serves as a guide for seekers at all stages. The metaphor of a candlelit forest path illustrates the gradual discovery of wisdom, while the importance of a guru or spiritual guide is underscored. The script also touches on the layered meanings in scriptures and poetry, using the example of a song with a double meaning to convey the transformative power of Sri Krishna's teachings.

Takeaways

• 📚 Reading or revisiting a text can yield new insights as one's understanding and maturity grow over time.
• 🌐 The Bhagavad Gita is a text that offers deep wisdom that can be understood in layers, with each reading revealing more profound meanings.
• 🔍 Spiritual studies, unlike academic courses, do not require prerequisites and are suitable for both newcomers and seasoned seekers.
• 🌱 The journey of spiritual growth is non-linear and personal, with each individual's readiness to understand the teachings varying.
• 🌟 The Bhagavad Gita is a foundational text that serves as a guide throughout one's spiritual journey, not just at the beginning.
• 🎼 Music and poetry can have multiple layers of meaning, with some works intentionally written with hidden messages or double meanings.
• 💡 The metaphor of walking in a dense forest at night with a candle illustrates the gradual process of spiritual discovery, where each step reveals more of the path ahead.
• 👫 The role of a guru is essential in spiritual growth, and in their absence, the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita can provide guidance and encouragement.
• 📖 Traditional commentaries and subcommentaries on scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita help to reveal and explain the many layers of meaning within these texts.
• 🎶 The song about a young girl learning to play the flute from Krishna symbolizes the process of understanding and internalizing the teachings of the Gita, layer by layer.
• 🌈 Personal transformation through the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita can lead to a life of gratitude, compassion, commitment to dharma, and inner peace.

Q & A

Why does the speaker mention reading the Bhagavad Gita multiple times?

The speaker mentions reading the Bhagavad Gita multiple times to illustrate how revisiting a text can lead to new insights and deeper understanding as one's own perspective and maturity evolve over time.

What does the speaker suggest is the key to gaining new insights from the Bhagavad Gita?

The speaker suggests that the key to gaining new insights is personal growth and maturity, as well as the increased ability to grasp subtle details and nuances with each subsequent reading.

What is the significance of studying the Bhagavad Gita in the original Sanskrit?

Studying the Bhagavad Gita in the original Sanskrit allows for a more profound understanding of the text, as it provides access to the deeper layers of meaning that may be missed in translations.

Why does the speaker compare spiritual growth to walking in a dense forest at night with a candle?

The comparison is used to illustrate the gradual and non-linear nature of spiritual growth, where one can only see the next step in front of them but can still make significant progress over time.

What role does a guru play in one's spiritual journey according to the speaker?

A guru serves as a companion, guide, and source of encouragement on the spiritual journey, helping to illuminate the path and provide wisdom and direction.

How does the speaker describe the process of understanding the Bhagavad Gita?

The speaker describes the process as one of layering, where each reading allows for the understanding of another layer of meaning, much like peeling back layers of an onion.

What is the significance of the metaphor of the flute in the song composed by the speaker?

The flute and the music it produces symbolize the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the process of learning to play it represents the journey of understanding and internalizing Sri Krishna's wisdom.

How does the speaker relate the process of mastering a musical instrument to understanding the Bhagavad Gita?

The speaker relates the two by emphasizing the need for practice and personal reflection in both cases, highlighting that just as mastery of an instrument requires time and effort, so does the assimilation of spiritual teachings.

What is the purpose of the song shared by the speaker about a young girl learning to play the flute?

The song serves as an allegory for the spiritual journey of learning to understand and embody the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, with the girl representing the seeker and the flute representing the vehicle of divine wisdom.

How does the speaker describe the transformation that occurs when one's life is deeply influenced by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita?

The speaker describes this transformation as a state of inner peace, compassion for others, commitment to the path of dharma, and a sense of being a source of well-being and support for others.

What is the importance of the Bhagavad Gita being a foundational text according to the speaker?

The importance lies in its accessibility and relevance to individuals at any stage of their spiritual journey, offering guidance and wisdom that can be built upon and revisited throughout one's life.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Transformative Power of Repeated Study

This paragraph explores the concept of revisiting texts like the Bhagavad Gita and discovering new insights with each reading. It emphasizes how personal growth and maturity enhance one's understanding of spiritual texts. The author shares a personal anecdote about studying the Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit, highlighting the depth of knowledge that can be revealed through repeated engagement with the text. The paragraph also discusses the non-linear nature of spiritual growth, contrasting it with the structured learning environments of colleges and universities. It concludes with a metaphor of walking in a forest at night with a candle, illustrating how each step in spiritual study illuminates a little more of the path ahead.

05:05

🎶 The Role of a Guru and the Bhagavad Gita as a Guide

The second paragraph delves into the role of a guru in spiritual growth and how, in their absence, the teachings of Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita can serve as a source of guidance and encouragement. It positions the Gita as a foundational text suitable for both beginners and experienced seekers, due to its layered meanings. The paragraph also touches on the importance of commentaries and subcommentaries in understanding the Gita's depths, particularly the commentary of Shankara for followers of Advaita Vedanta. It extends the metaphor of spiritual texts to poetry, explaining how repeated readings can intensify the experience and uncover hidden meanings, such as the allegorical representation of divine love in Sufi poetry and the stories of Radha and the gopis in relation to devotion to Sri Krishna.

10:11

🎵 The Metaphor of Learning to Play the Flute

Paragraph three uses the metaphor of learning to play the flute to describe the process of understanding Sri Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita. It narrates a young girl's encounter with Sri Krishna playing the flute, symbolizing the attraction towards divine wisdom. The girl's initial failure to play the flute and her subsequent learning process mirror the journey of grasping spiritual teachings, which requires patience, practice, and guidance. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of personal effort in internalizing teachings and the transformative effect of spiritual wisdom on one's behavior and outlook on life.

15:14

🌟 The Journey to Mastering Divine Wisdom

The final paragraph continues the musical metaphor, detailing the girl's progress in learning to play the flute and the challenges she faces in mastering the instrument. It parallels this with the spiritual journey of understanding and living by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. The paragraph discusses the need for consistent practice and reflection to internalize Sri Krishna's wisdom and the eventual transformation that leads to a life of compassion, commitment to dharma, and inner peace. It concludes with a reflection on the source of all wisdom and music being divine, and the individual's role as a conduit for that divine expression.

Keywords

💡Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse scripture that is part of the Indian epic Mahabharata. It is a conversation between prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, who serves as his charioteer, and contains teachings on duty, knowledge, devotion, and the nature of reality. In the video's context, it symbolizes the journey of spiritual growth and the discovery of deeper understanding through repeated study, as the speaker reflects on their evolving comprehension of the text over time.

💡Sanskrit

Sanskrit is an ancient language of India and the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is known for its rich philosophical and spiritual texts. In the script, studying the Bhagavad Gita in its original Sanskrit under a guru's guidance is presented as a transformative experience that deepens the speaker's understanding of its profound wisdom.

💡Guru

A guru in the Indian tradition is a spiritual teacher or master who imparts knowledge, provides guidance, and helps in spiritual growth. The script mentions the guru's role in facilitating a deeper study of the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in the pursuit of spiritual understanding.

💡Spiritual growth

Spiritual growth refers to the personal development of an individual's spiritual and religious life, often involving a deepening of understanding and experience of the divine. The video's narrative centers around the idea that spiritual growth is a non-linear journey, where repeated engagement with sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita leads to new insights and personal transformation.

💡Non-linear

Non-linear suggests a process or system that does not follow a simple, direct, step-by-step progression. In the context of the script, spiritual studies and growth are described as non-linear, meaning that progress is not strictly sequential but can be achieved through layered understanding and personal readiness.

💡Layers of meaning

The concept of layers of meaning refers to the idea that texts, particularly sacred ones, can have multiple levels of interpretation, from the literal to the metaphorical or allegorical. The script uses this idea to explain how repeated readings of the Bhagavad Gita can reveal new depths of wisdom.

💡Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that expresses one thing in terms of another, suggesting a resemblance. The script uses the metaphor of walking in a dense forest at night with a candle to illustrate the gradual process of spiritual discovery and understanding.

💡Sri Krishna

Sri Krishna is an incarnation of the god Vishnu in Hinduism and is the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita. In the script, Sri Krishna is portrayed as a guide and companion on the spiritual journey, offering teachings that provide encouragement and direction.

💡Bhakti yoga

Bhakti yoga is a path of spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on the loving devotion to a personal god or deity. The script refers to the romantic play of the gopis with Sri Krishna as a representation of the devotional practices that are part of bhakti yoga.

💡Advaita Vedanta

Advaita Vedanta is a system of Indian philosophy and spirituality that emphasizes non-dualism, the unity of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). The script mentions the commentary of Shankara, a prominent philosopher of Advaita Vedanta, as important for understanding the Bhagavad Gita.

💡Double meaning

Double meaning refers to a phrase or expression that can be understood in two ways, often with one being more profound or symbolic. The script discusses how certain stories and poems in spiritual literature have a superficial level and a deeper, hidden message that conveys spiritual truths.

Highlights

Reading or re-reading a text can lead to new insights as the reader grows and their understanding deepens.

The Bhagavad Gita offers profound wisdom that can be understood in layers, with each reading revealing more meaning.

Spiritual growth is a non-linear journey, unlike structured academic courses, and the Bhagavad Gita is accessible to both newcomers and lifelong seekers.

There are no prerequisites for studying the Bhagavad Gita, reflecting the flexible nature of spiritual learning.

The process of understanding the Bhagavad Gita is likened to walking in a dense forest at night, with each step revealing more of the path ahead.

A guru or spiritual guide can provide encouragement and direction on the path of spiritual growth, with the Bhagavad Gita serving as a guide when the guru is not present.

The Bhagavad Gita is a foundational text with many layers of meaning, making it indispensable for spiritual seekers.

Traditional Sanskrit commentaries, such as Shankara's, help to reveal and explain the layers of meaning within the Bhagavad Gita.

Poetry and scriptures often contain hidden messages or double meanings, inviting readers to explore deeper interpretations.

In Sufi literature and stories of Radha and the gopis, there is a deeper, spiritual meaning beneath the surface narrative of love and longing.

The metaphor of learning to play the flute represents the process of understanding and internalizing Sri Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita.

The song composed about Sri Krishna playing the flute has a double meaning, appealing to children and adults on different levels of understanding.

The process of learning to play the flute symbolizes the journey of mastering the language of devotion and divine love as taught in the Bhagavad Gita.

Years of practice and reflection are needed to fully assimilate and embody the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

When one's life is transformed by Sri Krishna's teachings, they become a source of well-being and support for others.

The ultimate goal of spiritual practice is to feel deep inner peace, compassion for others, and commitment to the path of dharma.

Transcripts

Have you ever read a book twice or watched the same video again and discovered many new

things that you had completely missed before? That happens to me a lot. For example, after I

read the Bhagavad Gita for the first time in the 1970's, when I read it again a year or so later,

I understood so much more. And when I finally studied it in the original Sanskrit under my

guru's guidance, I realized that whatever I had managed to glean from my previous

study was just the tip of the iceberg. Even today, each time I study or teach

the Bhagavad Gita, I find new insights. So, how does reading or hearing the very same

text again and again help you learn something new? Well, each time read or hear it, you are

not quite the same person you were the last time. Even though the teachings are the same,

you have changed. You have grown more mature and your ability to grasp

subtle details and nuances has increased. Not surprisingly, when I first read the Bhagavad

Gita, I didn't have the background or preparation needed to fully appreciate its teachings. Being

prepared is essential. In a college or university, before you can enroll in an advanced class,

you have to complete certain prerequisite courses first. So then, what are the prerequisites for

studying the Bhagavad Gita? Well, there aren't any at all. The Gita is suitable for newcomers and

life-long seekers alike. Why? Because spiritual studies are not rigidly structured or linear

like in a college or university. In fact, the journey of spiritual growth is highly non-linear;

it's not a step-by-step process like following a recipe in a cookbook.

Here's how it works. The first time you study the Bhagavad Gita, you understand it according to

your current level of preparedness. But the next time you read it, your level of preparedness will

have increased as a result of your prior study. So, you'll understand it more completely. And

each time you read the Gita, you'll be able to penetrate a little more deeply into its profound

wisdom. In this way, the Bhagavad Gita, like other scriptures, can be understood in layers.

With each successive reading, you'll be able to understand another layer. And, because of

the tremendous richness of the Gita's teachings, there are many layers waiting to be discovered.

A traditional metaphor compares this gradual process of discovery to walking in a dense

forest at night, with only the light of a candle to illumine the path in front of you.

The little candle flame reveals only a short distance, but when you take a step forward,

it illumines a bit more. With that little flame, you can actually travel for miles because it only

has to illumine what's right in front of you. This metaphor describes how you can progress on your

path of spiritual growth. The path is quite long, and you might not be able to see the goal yet,

but to proceed, you only have to see the very next step that's required.

On any journey, it's helpful to have a companion, especially one who can encourage

you and guide the way. Of course, on the path of spiritual growth, that companion is your

guru. But when your guru is not available, Sri Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita can

certainly serve as source of encouragement and guidance. In a manner of speaking, Sri Krishna

can accompany you on the path of spiritual growth. What could be better than that?

Sri Krishna's teachings in the Gita are meant to accompany you throughout your journey,

not just at the beginning. As we saw before, the Gita is not an introductory text, nor is it an

advanced text. It's a foundational text. And as such, it's indispensable. Also, because the Gita

has so many layers of meaning, many traditional Sanskrit commentaries have been written to reveal

and explain those layers. For followers of Advaita Vedanta, the commentary of Shankara is the most

important. That commentary itself has several layers, so subcommentaries have been written to

better understand Shankara's teachings. Many layers of meaning can be found in most

scriptures and their commentaries, and the same is true for most poetry as well. When you read a poem

again and again, each reading can make its imagery more vivid and make its feelings, its sentiments

more intense. Some poems are even intentionally written with a hidden message or double meaning

a that might not be obvious at first. For example, in Sufi literature, some poems that superficially

describe a young woman's anguish and yearning for her far-off lover actually represents a

person's yearning for God. In that poetry, the passionate union of young lovers represents a

spiritual seeker's complete union with god. A similar kind of double meaning can be found in

stories of Radha and the other gopis who loved Sri Krishna so dearly. At a superficial level,

those stories describe a handsome, young cowherd who enjoys flirting with pretty

girls from the village. But those stories also have a second meaning, a hidden message that's

far more profound. The pretty girls from the village represent us, all of us. Devotees

of Sri Krishna often say that Sri Krishna is the purusha, the only male that exists. In comparison,

all human beings are said to be female in nature. For this reason, the romantic play of the gopis

with Sri Krishna represents all the devotional practices that are part of bhakti yoga.

Long ago, I composed a song about Sri Krishna that also has a double meaning. It describes a

young girl who hears Sri Krishna playing the flute and loves his music so much that she

asks him to teach her how to play the flute. At a deeper level, the beautiful music Sri Krishna

plays represents the profound wisdom he taught in the Bhagavad Gita. The girl's repeated practice,

playing the flute, represents our ongoing process of understanding Sri Krishna's

teachings in the Gita, one layer at a time. Many children enjoyed singing that song here at

our ashram. Many adults also sang and enjoyed it, although they understood its meaning quite

differently than the children did. I'd like to share that song with you here. But first, let me

explain it very briefly. It's spoken by a young girl who hears Sri Krishna playing the flute.

A flute of reed you hold, Gopal, pressed gently to your lips.

Enlivened by your breath it sings beneath your fingertips.

A girl hears Sri Krishna playing the flute and is attracted by his sweet melodies like the gopis in

village who were attracted when they heard Sri Krishna playing the flute in nearby pastures.

Music attracts us because music is the language of the heart. All songs, of course, are written

in that very language. You might know that Bhagavad Gita literally means the song of God,

the spiritual song sung by Sri Krishna. And when you play upon your flute,

enchanting tunes take flight. Your soaring notes reverberate

and fill us with delight. Listening to beautiful music can make

us feel happy and peaceful and serene. Listening to Sri Krishna's teachings in the Gita can also

make us peaceful and serene because they draw us closer and closer to him. In the Bhagavad Gita,

Sri Krishna says again and again that he dwells within us all, in our own hearts.

Attracted by your song, I came to listen and be blessed.

And when you fixed your gaze on me, my heart leaped in my chest.

Krishna attracted the gopis with his sweet music. His name can be derived

from a verb that means to draw or attract. So, Krishna is the one who attracts us all.

We are all drawn to feelings of peace and serenity. According to Sri Krishna himself,

those feelings that arise in our hearts due to his presence inside us all.

And then you thrust your flute at me, you placed it in my hands,

Directing me to play a tune composed as you command.

Sri Krishna's beautiful songs represent his teachings, and his flute represents the

Bhagavad Gita where his teachings are found. Those teachings were recorded by rishi Vyasa

in the Mahabharata, a great epic that's been preserved through the ages and is available

for us all to read and enjoy. But I know not to play the flute,

I haven't learned your song. To place my lips and fingertips,

all that I know is wrong. To play the flute, you have to master

new skills and learn the language of music. To understand Sri Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad

Gita, you also have to learn a new language, not Sanskrit, but rather, the language of devotion,

the language of divine love, the language in which Sri Krishna's spiritual wisdom is found.

I tried to sound a single note but not a peep emerged.

Embarrassed and ashamed I sat; your song remained unheard.

The first time I read the Gita, because of my youthful arrogance, I truly thought I had

understood it. But in retrospect, I should have been terribly embarrassed by how little

of Sri Krishna's wonderful teachings I had actually grasped. I was so immature

back them. Completely clueless. I felt disheartened, having failed,

my head hung in dismay. But then you lifted up

my chin and urged me on to play. Even though I understood so little

of Sri Krishna's teachings in the Gita at first, I continued to be strongly attracted

to them. Sri Krishna attracts us all with his beautiful song of wisdom. That song not only

makes us feel peaceful and serene, but it also leads us to discover his presence within us.

You showed me how to place my lips and blow upon the flute.

You taught me how to play each note, no longer was I mute.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna gives us extensive, personal instruction, not about how to

play the flute, but he gives us spiritual guidance that helps us recognize the divine presence within

us. That presence is divine because it happens to be the presence of Sri Krishna himself.

My heart was filled with cheer and joy but I rejoiced too soon,

For when I tried to play your song each note was out of tune.

To master a musical instrument, a lot of practice is required. In the same way,

to assimilate or internalize the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a lot of personal reflection

and meditation is needed. Even though Sri Krishna is already present in your heart, his teachings

must be firmly established in your mind. At first my notes were harsh and shrill,

to play like you, I yearned. Each I day practiced what you taught,

and what you taught, I learned. Years of practice are needed to

become a talented musician, and years of assimilation are needed for Sri Krishna's

teachings to completely transform you. Now when I play your wondrous songs

the notes are pure and sweet. All those who hear your melodies

are blessed with peace complete. When your life has been transformed

by Sri Krishna's teachings, his wisdom will be apparent in your day-to-day behavior. Instead

of depending on others for your well-being and emotional support, you will become a source of

well-being and support for others. It is your flute on which I play,

the songs I sing, your own. What music can I claim as mine

when all is yours alone? When your life has been

profusely blessed by Sri Krishna's teachings, you'll not only feel tremendous gratitude,

but you'll also feel heartfelt compassion for others, you'll feel firmly committed to the

path of dharma, and of course, you'll feel deep, inner peace.