Vedic Prachar on ShrimadBhagwadGita 01/04/09

Summary of talk on ShrimadBhagwadGita, given at Atlanta Vedic Temple on 01/04/09 by Acharya VedShrami.
(This is part of the continuing series of lectures on ShrimadBhagwadGita)
English Summary provided by: Mr. Vikas Bagga

Currently the series is covering the Meaning of Bhagwd (Bhagwan)

Earlier Sections covered the topic on defining "Who Am I?" and meaning of the term "Bhag" (Wealth) and the six attributes for one to be called Bhagwan.

Last Sunday's talk concentrated on expanding the understanding of Bhagwan.
Bhagwan is to be differentiated from the terms God (English) or other terms such as Prabhu, Parmatma, Ish or Ishwar. The latter set of terms refers to Creator of the Brahmaand or the Universe. The Super Natural being.

Some of the terms that have been introduced are:
Bhag refers to Opulence or Excess. The term also refers to 'Superb'. Bhagwan is a term coined for any one who possesses these qualities.

Kurukshetra which implies the Self as a battlefield, Bhoomi which implies the operating platform or environment in which we exist and survive.

The word Gita just refers to a song or musical composition. Thus any reference to the holy book should be by its full phrase - ShrimadBhagwadGita and not just Gita,

Every parent would want to see the attributes of Bhagwaan in their child. There are 3 attributes be followed by every parent, if they would like to raise good kids.

1. Prashasta/Prashast: This refers to harboring purity of thoughts by the father and mother to be. It is implied that if you want to have great children, even before conception, both parents should do Tapsya (Tapasya implies a self-discipline or austerity willingly expended both in restraining physical urges and in actively pursuing a higher purpose in life) to obtain the purity of thought. To illustrate the point, Rukmini told Krishna that she wanted to have a offspring that was as great as Him, Krishna advised her they would need to do Tapasya to obtain great offspring.
2. Dharmik/Dhaarmiki: This does not refer to going to temples and swirling incense in front of moorti (idols) but reaching out to the soul.
3. Vidwaan/Vidushi: This refers to being learned intellectual. Self study is the knowledge we obtain that allows us to earn a livelihood, such as getting an education degree from school. But it is important for a person to obtain Shiksha of Vedic knowledge and scriptures. This also helps you become a Vidwaan/Vidushi and step forward to becoming Mahaan (Great).

Swasti - Refers to being healthy. This refers to our responsibility keeping our self and all our faculties (body parts/organs) to function as they were deemed to perform. Aswasth refers to being unhealthy or even allowing unhealthy conditions to prevail in ourselves. It is thus necessary and our moral obligation to maintain our health, if we want to develop the purest thoughts and intellect within us.