Value: Krishnaversation - December 2025

Fourth Week: Path of Meditation

Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda defines meditation as the natural state of Awareness, and not any particular action, worship or Japa, though these are helpful means to quiet the mind. The path of action, devotion or knowledge are incomplete if they do not quiet the mind, helping it to abide in the Self through meditation.

Meditation is to see the beauty of God with your eyes closed

External worship and adoration of God is necessary to turn the mind’s attention from the world. Such a mind should subsequently realize His presence in one’s own heart through meditation. Once the beauty of God is realized, the soul starts to revel in the constant presence of God everywhere. Lord Krishna says, ‘He who sees me everywhere and everything in Me, he does not perish and I will never be absent for him.’

At the peak of meditation He alone speaks

A very well-known phrase says, ‘In prayer you speak while God listens, and in meditation He speaks and you listen.’ Saints and sages who are selfless also tirelessly work in the world. For what purpose? They work per the command of Bhagavan. They listen to Him in meditation who guides them to accomplish His work. Only when we shed our desires, He will start working through us! Pujya Gurudev said, ‘Only ann empty reed can render His music!’

Inside-out is action; outside-in is meditation

When we constantly engage in expressing our desires through actions,  we unknowingly move away from our own center, the Self. This departure from the Self is the cause of all sorrows. Disregarding this, we try to obtain temporary joys through fulfilling the demands of the mind. Once the ability to bring our mind to the Self is mastered, desires will naturally diminish. For, drying up the ocean of desires impossible to accomplish even after many thousands of births.

In conclusion, i found this attempt to explain and share my thoughts on the values from Bhagavad Gita a very fulfilling experience. By the blessings of Bhagavan and Pujya Gurudev, I could regularly write the blogs to inspire myself and the readers.

May the blessings of all the saints and sages be with us, to steadily walk the path toward our self-unfoldment and eternal joy!

 

Value: Krishnaversation - December 2025

Third Week: Path of Knowledge

That is regarded as complete knowledge, which never faces any contradiction. Intellectual knowledge has a limited scope, since conclusions drawn from available data within a given period can be overturned by subsequent data. Most scientific theories and conclusions of every passing era face the same fate. However, the awareness of the Self that doesn't change its nature, nor is influenced by anything external to it, is the only knowledge that lasts forever without any contradiction.

Doing without knowing is like painting without a wall

Bhagavan Krishna advises Arjuna that practice without knowledge is inferior to practice that is informed by understanding. While consistently engaging in certain actions may lead to skill and efficiency, it does not necessarily result in growth or progress. To illustrate this point, wise individuals have often shared the following story:

An owner of a teakwood forest employed two skilled young men to cut wood for the local supply. Both were given similar axes to use. One of the men completed his job within the allotted six hours, while the other took over eight hours to accomplish the same task. When asked about the difference in their productivity, it was discovered that the first man sharpened his axe every morning before starting work, while the second man used the same dull axe for many days. The story concludes with the statement, "Efficiency is enhanced by improving the quality of the tools you use!"

Knowledge enhances the quality of your actions. With knowledge, you can also identify and eliminate actions that do not contribute to your growth and progress.

The end of darkness cannot be found in darkness

When we dwell in the darkness of ignorance, we often remain unaware of its dangers. When those around us also continue to live in ignorance, seeking only fleeting joys, we struggle to find a way out. It is only when we receive guidance from a compassionate soul that we begin to recognize how long we have existed in this darkness of ignorance, perhaps for many lifetimes. The end of darkness can never be found in the darkness.

Darkness is the absence of light, but light is not the absence of darkness

As we journey along the path of knowledge, we come to realize the significance of the light that guides us. Light serves as the only true remedy for darkness. Vedanta teaches us about the illusion of darkness; it is merely the absence of light. If darkness were real, it could not vanish in the presence of light.

On the other hand, light does not fade away in the presence of darkness, which demonstrates that light is real while darkness is not. This analogy applies to knowledge and ignorance as well. The absence of knowledge is ignorance, which is only an illusion that can lead to harmful consequences. In contrast, knowledge is real, and when it is fully established, there is no danger of ignorance.

 

Value: Krishnaversation - December 2025

Second Week: Path of Devotion

Devotion is not a path with roads leading to Bhagavan; rather, it is a path that Bhagavan builds to reach your heart. Did Mother Sita build the bridge, or did Sri Rama? It was her total dedication to Bhagavan that allowed Sri Rama to find His way to her. The same is true for Ahalya and Shabari.

Religious ceremonies, festivals, and rituals cannot be considered acts of devotion on their own unless they are performed with complete surrender and love for Bhagavan. These practices have been passed down through generations to help us cultivate steadfast devotion to Bhagavan.

Bhagavan will be your friend if you have none as your enemy

While addressing Arjuna's question about the nature of devotion, Bhagavan Krishna offered a simple piece of advice: "Eschew animosity to become my devotee."
 
Many of our negative feelings stem from preconceived notions related to caste, color, community, religious faith, and social status. We often categorize the world into three groups: those we dislike, those we like, and the rest we don't care about.
 
I once heard a touching story about a young boy who wanted to see God and kept asking his mother about it, though she couldn't provide a satisfactory answer. One day, on his way home from school, he sat on a park bench to eat his lunch. Beside him sat an elderly man. The young boy smiled and shared his food with the man, and though they did not talk, they shared a warm connection.
 
When the boy returned home, he cheerfully told his mother, "Today I saw God sitting next to me, and I shared my food with him. He looked old!" Meanwhile, the elderly gentleman happily spoke to his daughter, saying, "Today, I had lunch with God. I never thought He could be so young!"

When your mind is with Bhagavan, rest will happen

Bhagavan is on Everest! Yes, He is ever-rest. He doesn't feel any anxiety about the future because He knows what lies ahead. If you watch a movie for the second time, you won't experience the same anxiety about the plot twists and turns that you felt the first time. Similarly, Bhagavan is aware of everyone's past, present, and future. He smiles when we express our worries and agitations.
 
Bhagavan Krishna assures us: "Keep your mind on Me, and you will remain forever restful." A true devotee experiences the same peace that Bhagavan has when he completely trusts Him, surrendering his mind entirely to Bhagavan's will.

All in One is knowledge, One in all is devotion

A deep study of Vedanta enhances our understanding of Oneness, recognizing that the entire universe, encompassing all things and beings, is part of a singular substratum known as Brahman. Realizing this Oneness is the key to fostering peace among communities from various cultures, religions, and regions.

Devotion, on the other hand, cultivates our ability to perceive the One divine presence in everyone. While our senses may focus on the myriad names, forms, shapes, and colors in the world, our developed minds can transcend these differences and recognize the One presence that exists in us all. When we acknowledge that the same One is present within us and in others, we naturally develop a love for all.

It is akin to seeing yourself in multiple mirrors; you remain the same in all reflections. Don’t you love each one of them?

 

Value: Krishnaversation - December 2025

First Week: Path of Action

We conclude this final month of our year-long discussions on spiritual values with the most significant highlights from the conversation between Bhagavan Krishna and Arjuna. The term used by a well-known Vedanta Acharya, Madhusudana Saraswati, for this conversation is samvada, which means "intelligent communication" and not merely a list of instructions from one to another. It does not refer to commandments or rules.

Arjuna was the best warrior of his time, a renowned archer and accomplished leader. For someone like him, who is already an efficient warrior, Bhagavan Krishna's conversation begins with the theme of "efficiency in action." The reason for this focus is that, at the outset of the war, Arjuna was confused about the purpose of the conflict. Krishna provides numerous insights to help him gain clarity.

We see a few of them below:

Detach, and the world cannot touch you

Presently, we all act according to our direct or indirect attachments. A working person engages in daily duties mostly out of attachment to family members or for profit and prosperity, a king does so for 'his' kingdom, and so on. The possible failures and other uncertainties from the world cause fear, anxiety, stress, etc., which would make one inefficient while working, as in the case of Arjuna. 

Bhagavan Krishna's advice is: Do not stop doing what you need to do, but do your best, without attachment to action or the results. Then the world will not touch you; you will remain like the lotus on the water. 

One who chases his own shadow can never rest

The entity that drives you to act day after day is a phantom that resembles you. It remains discontent and unhappy, regardless of how much you provide for its demands. Even in a state of detachment, it will continue to seek results!

Bhagavan Krishna explains that God does not create any actors, actions, or attachments to results. These arise solely from 'habit.' You have developed a habit of chasing after the shadow that continuously eludes you, causing your mind to pursue various things and beings. Only by turning your attention to the ever-present Self can you discover true and eternal rest.

Selfless action is where there is less 'self' and more action

A person who has discovered inner peace acts out of compassion for others. Their actions are driven by choice rather than compulsion from within or outside influences. As a result, their actions are free from personal gratification, demands, desires, or ambitions.

 

Bhagavan Krishna emphasizes that such a person serves as an example for others to follow. They may appear to work tirelessly with ambition, but only those who observe their calm demeanor amidst a busy schedule will truly understand the depth of their connection to the restful Self.

 

Value: Meditation - November 2025

Fourth Week: Meditation & Life

An elderly, devout, wise person said the following inspiring words: 'One who knows the Self does not desire, he who knows you doesn't get angry, and one who knows both doesn't suffer.' As long as we ignore the Self, we do not think of these three as choices: desire, anger and suffering. 

Maintaining serenity

Is pursuing a desire a choice? Is there an alternative to desire? Are you prepared to let go of that desire if you achieve what you seek from it before you begin? If you reflect on this correctly, you will. The practice of meditation aims to attain a peace that is far greater than any happiness derived from achievement.

That man attains peace who, abandoning all desires, moves about without longing, without the sense of ‘l-ness’ and ‘my-ness.' (BG 2.71)

Bhagavan Krishna promises infinite peace through regular practice of meditation with assertion and negation, which we discussed earlier. How? Because this culminates in abidance in the Self, in which the individual's dominant ego, that which seeks happiness through desire, reduces itself to a single thought of 'I am the Self'  

Deal with the unpredictable

While you pursue peace, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges that life brings. The journey is filled with unpredictable twists and turns, resulting in both positive and negative experiences. Should you shut your eyes and remain passive, or should you engage and risk losing your peace?

Wise individuals advise us to engage peacefully in every situation. This means avoiding the creation of new crises and not allowing our egos to drive selfish decisions. Consider how you can effectively participate in resolving crises by setting aside your ego, rather than perpetuating problems by clinging to it.

Regular meditation is key to reducing the ego. While constant reflection, known as atma vichara, can help convince your intellect, true freedom comes only when you reside in the Self, merging all thoughts into the vast ocean of the all-pervading Self.

 

Value: Meditation - November 2025

Third Week: Focus in Meditation

We all know how to focus. For instance, when reading a book, our attention is on the words, their meanings, and our understanding of the subject. When driving a car, we focus on the road and the traffic around us. Is the focus the same in meditation?

In meditation, focus is essential, but it should not be directed toward anything familiar to the mind. The goal is to reach the deeper layers of the mind—its underlying essence, where thought flows originate. This is akin to observing the riverbed through the flowing water.

External support

Traditionally, the worship known as upasana of your favorite deity should conclude with meditation. After invoking the presence of Bhagavan in an idol, you should focus exclusively on Him. The external form serves as a support to remove your attention from all other thoughts and to maintain your concentration on the divinity that the deity represents.

Gently chanting the name of Bhagavan, in a way that you can hear it while gazing at the form, will help calm your mind. This is neither the loud chanting of Vedic mantras and stotrams nor the repetition of names with a japa mala. It is simply a soft whisper to help you maintain mental stillness.

After a few weeks of practice, you will be able to visualize the form of Bhagavan in your mind with your eyes closed, while continuing to whisper the name or chant silently within your mind.

Internal support

The inner stillness that is gained from the above practice should be followed by abidance in the higher Self and not just remain as emptiness. For this, you can choose verses from the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita or other texts to meditate on. Essentially, these are used to assert the nature of the Self and negate the false notions of oneself, popularly known as anvaya and vyatireka, respectively.

Through this practice, you begin to affirm and abide in the eternal presence, and simultaneously recognize the false nature of the ego and discard what you have been living and identifying with for many lifetimes. 

A verse from Mundakopanishad:

यत्तद्-अद्रेश्यम्-अग्राह्यम्-अगोत्रम्-अवर्णम् -अचक्षुश्रोत्रं तद्-अपाणिपादम् |

नित्यं विभुं सर्वगतं सुसूक्ष्मं तद्-अव्ययं यद्-भुतयोनिं परिपश्यन्ति धीराः || १.१.६

The men of wisdom know the Self to be everywhere, which cannot be perceived by the senses, cannot be grasped, having no roots and qualities, having no eyes, ears, hands or feet (these are negations - that which you are not), which is eternal, omnipresent, all-pervasive, supremely subtle, imperishable and the womb of all beings (these are assertions - that which you are)

A verse from the Bhagavad Gita:

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित् नायं भूत्वा-अभविता वा न भूयः |

अजो नित्यः शाश्वतः-अयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे || २.२०

This Self is never born or dies. (negation) Having come into existence, again it never ceases to be.  It is unborn, eternal, undecaying, ancient. It is not killed when the body is killed (assertions)

Value: Meditation - November 2025

Second Week: Meditative mind

A mind prepared for meditation should have limited or no worries. This doesn’t mean it is free from the complexities of worldly life, but rather that it is eager to explore the depths of inner silence, thereby spending less time in brooding. It is willing to let go of all mundane concerns to attain the inner tranquility and stillness that are natural to the Self, the divine presence within.

Eliminate mental hang-ups

The past is gone, and the future is yet to come. Neither has any reality in the present moment. However, accepting this truth can be challenging for us. If you are eager to practice meditation, you should set aside both the past and the future without hesitation. Just as you distance yourself from the world when you go to sleep, do the same here.

 

When you wake up from a deep sleep, what do you feel accomplished? Nothing, except for a good rest for your body and mind. Meditation is similar; there is no external achievement you will feel after practicing it. Like sleep, it requires minimal effort, exertion, and free of anxiety.

 

Just like the body and mind need rest in sleep, the soul also needs rest. It has been on a journey for a long time, gathering both pleasant and unpleasant experiences through various bodies and lifetimes. It finds rest in meditation, where all attachments to past experiences are set aside. After an exhausting road trip, when you arrive home and look at your travel map, you may be surprised by how far and wide you have traveled. In the same way, you will gain awareness of your soul's journey upon awakening from deep meditation. Thereafter, the mental preoccupations with life's trivialities will no longer occupy your mind.

Golden rule - Silence

Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji once shared a story: There was a devotee who went to the temple every day to pray. One day, he realized, “Each day I talk to God through my prayers, but I never listen to Him. Today, I will try to hear what He has to say.” So, he decided to remain silent. However, his mind kept chattering. He thought, “I still cannot hear Him; perhaps I need to quiet my mind.” When he finally succeeded in calming his thoughts, he entered a state of deep meditation. After this experience, he no longer visited the temple. When asked why, he replied, “I have found the Lord within me. Whether I worship Him internally or externally makes no difference.” This is the highest form of devotion, where one reaches the depths of meditation through sincere practice. Silence can be understood in two ways: when you do not speak, that is silence; when there are no thoughts, that is stillness. Outer silence has two aspects: the first is your choice to remain silent, and the second is observing the silence that already exists when there is no sound. Both forms are beneficial for meditation. This is why Bhagavan Krishna advised Arjuna to choose a place of solitude for meditation or to meditate at a time when the world has not yet awakened. Schedule time each day to practice silence. Commit to this practice diligently for a few weeks until it feels natural. Gradually work on silencing your thoughts during this time as well. Observe your thoughts without engaging with them.