The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita

Swami Kriyananda shares some of his personal stories and gives us an inspiring talk from a passage in the Bhagavad Gita. He also explains a very powerful meditation technique that uses the mantra Hong-Sau for watching and calming the breath. He explains that breath is a mechanism of the body that can be transcended. When the mind and body are calm and still, as many yogis have shown, it is possible to go beyond the breath and reach a state of breathlessness. Swami Kriyananda discusses a phrase from the Bible, "Be still," and another from Pantanjali’s Yoga Sutras, "Yogas vritti chitta nirodh" (Still the feelings of the heart). Both statements speak to the necessity of calming the heart and mind to mitigate the forces of life’s ups and downs, our likes and dislikes, our attractions and repulsion, etc. This constant tussle describes the ongoing battle in each individual's nature. We can learn through the dedicated practice of meditation how to live securely in the Self and find our lasting happiness in Bliss—the true nature of each one of us. *********** Based on The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda as remembered by his disciple, Swami Kriyananda, Crystal Clarity Publishers. Swami Kriyananda worked with Paramhansa Yogananda in 1950 while the master completed his commentary of the Bhagavad Gita. At that time, Yogananda commissioned him to disseminate his teachings worldwide. Kriyananda has in his lifetime lectured, taught, and written 150 books based on Yogananda's teachings. You can find more information about meditation here: Learn to Meditate

Chapter 1, Stanza 45

Chapter 2, Stanza 71

Chapter 1, Stanza 2

Chapter 2, Stanza 40