Gita Wisdom Teachings by Joshua M. Greene (Yogesvara)

Recorded on May 15, 2021 How we see the past shapes our understanding of the present. Scholarship defines the past as something shaped by temporal human forces, primarily politics, power, and market trends. Wisdom traditions, on the other hand, see the past as shaped by universal, timeless truths. In this dialog, religious studies professor Ravi Gupta and host Joshua Greene explore competing narratives of the past, their impact on the present and their role in shaping humanity's future. Ravi M. Gupta (Radhika Ramana) holds the Charles Redd Chair of Religious Studies at Utah State University. He is the author or editor of four books, including an abridged translation of the Bhagavata Purana (with Kenneth Valpey), published in 2017 by Columbia University Press. Ravi has received four teaching awards, a National Endowment for the Humanities summer fellowship, three research fellowships, and a book award. He is a Permanent Research Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and a past president of the Society for Hindu Christian Studies. His current research focuses on the Bhagavata Purana's Sanskrit commentaries. He enjoys teaching World Religions, Hinduism, Sanskrit, and Religious Studies Theory and Method. gitawisdom.org

Elsie Maio joins Joshua for a talk about spirituality in the workplace. gitawisdom.org

This month we speak with renowned artist/writer/filmmaker, Iain McCaig. ​Iain McCaig and Joshua Greene have a forty-year history as collaborative storytellers. Whether to entertain or enlighten, their relationship sprang from a mutual desire to create stories to remember and share them with the world, Join them for an intimate conversation about creation and collaboration, of a forty-year journey to tell an ever-changing version of ’The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ and the story of ‘Hanuman', and their joy of using make-believe to search for the truth. gitawisdom.org

A talk about the confluence of Bhakti teachings and contemporary family and personal therapy. Topics include: - The pathologies that accompany a life of devotion - Translating terms of devotion into modern clinical language - Risks and rewards on the journey to selfhood Part of a new monthly interview series: In Good Company. Go to gitawisdom.org to sign up for the newsletter updates about upcoming interviews and to attend the live recording sessions. Guest Speaker For 25 years, Cristina Casanova (Krishna Lila) was Assistant Director of Guidance for the New York City Department of Education with a focus on crisis management and family therapy. She teaches in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University. For more than 40 years she has been a Bhakti yoga practitioner who integrates wisdom from the traditional yoga texts into her approach to therapy. Host Joshua M. Greene (Yogesvara) is well known to the yoga community for his books and podcasts on the intersections of contemplative practice and daily life. A former instructor in the Religion Department of Hofstra University, Greene’s biographies of Holocaust survivors have sold more than ½-million copies worldwide. Gita Wisdom links: web - gitawisdom.org facebook - gitawisdomteachings Instagram - gitawisdom

An inner-city shooting, a yoga class in Qatar, a WWF wrestling match, and battling the voices in our own heads. These are just a few of the topics Joshua and Jules cover in this podcast and there's a story about how yoga connects them all. Jules is a renowned teacher of asana yoga, meditation, chanting, and yoga philosophy. Jules, who started practicing yoga at age 6, is now considered one of the leading teachers of the Jivamukti Yoga method, teaching the method worldwide as well as facilitating at the very highly regarded teacher training programs. Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded Oct 27, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

An inner-city shooting, a yoga class in Qatar, a WWF wrestling match, and battling the voices in our own heads. These are just a few of the topics Joshua and Jules cover in this podcast and there's a story about how yoga connects them all. Jules is a renowned teacher of asana yoga, meditation, chanting, and yoga philosophy. Jules, who started practicing yoga at age 6, is now considered one of the leading teachers of the Jivamukti Yoga method, teaching the method worldwide as well as facilitating at the very highly regarded teacher training programs. Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded Oct 27, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded on June 16, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded on June 16, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Recorded @June 9, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Recorded @June 9, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Joshua Greene and Martin Fleming (Akhandadhi) discuss the recent findings in consciousness studies, the nature of consciousness, the study of subjective experience. Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded July 7, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Joshua Greene and Martin Fleming (Akhandadhi) discuss the recent findings in consciousness studies, the nature of consciousness, the study of subjective experience. Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded July 7, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Featuring special guest Kamala Radha. A fascinating conversation about the duties of an interfaith death doula and some very practical advice. A few of the topics covered: - end-of-life care - caring for the caretakers - the Death Positive Movement - creating a legacy - finding meaning in loss - grief support - how to talk to kids about death Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded June 30, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

Featuring special guest Kamala Radha. A fascinating conversation about the duties of an interfaith death doula and some very practical advice. A few of the topics covered: - end-of-life care - caring for the caretakers - the Death Positive Movement - creating a legacy - finding meaning in loss - grief support - how to talk to kids about death Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded June 30, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

-Does yoga have a place in the conversation amidst protests and violence? -A change in policy doesn't mean a change in the heart. -Relief from miseries is not the goal of yoga, but a starting point. -What does it mean to live a yogic life? A note: At the time of this recording, demonstrations have erupted across all 50 states to protest police brutality after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. This class was recorded the day after President Trump ordered federal officers to tear gas a large crowd of peaceful protesters in front of the White House. Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded June 2, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

-Does yoga have a place in the conversation amidst protests and violence? -A change in policy doesn't mean a change in the heart. -Relief from miseries is not the goal of yoga, but a starting point. -What does it mean to live a yogic life? A note: At the time of this recording, demonstrations have erupted across all 50 states to protest police brutality after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. This class was recorded the day after President Trump ordered federal officers to tear gas a large crowd of peaceful protesters in front of the White House. Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded June 2, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

How do you steady the mind like a lamp in a windless place? In this session we talk about - meditating on Krishna in the heart - the faults of individualism - importance of community - the connection between improv and the Gita's description of a steady mind - not resisting discomfort Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded May 26, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

How do you steady the mind like a lamp in a windless place? In this session we talk about - meditating on Krishna in the heart - the faults of individualism - importance of community - the connection between improv and the Gita's description of a steady mind - not resisting discomfort Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded May 26, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

How do we live up to the ideal character of people from the Gita and Bhagavatam or the examples set by enlightened gurus? Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. For information on attending a class, visit www.facebook.com/pg/gitawisdomteachings/events.

How do we live up to the ideal character of people from the Gita and Bhagavatam or the examples set by enlightened gurus? Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. For information on attending a class, visit www.facebook.com/pg/gitawisdomteachings/events.

-Equanimity takes a lifetime of training -Uncovering the underlying issues -The value of mediation training Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded May 12, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

-Equanimity takes a lifetime of training -Uncovering the underlying issues -The value of mediation training Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts Recorded May 12, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

-Yoga is self-evaluation of the highest order -Don't be a fanatic - take the middle path -Sincere effort attracts a teacher -Regulate your behavior -Making the distinction between what we want and what others expect -The Gita gives you more to discover each time you go back to it Show notes at gitawisdom.org/podcasts Want to join the classes live on Zoom? Go to bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

-Yoga is self-evaluation of the highest order -Don't be a fanatic - take the middle path -Sincere effort attracts a teacher -Regulate your behavior -Making the distinction between what we want and what others expect -The Gita gives you more to discover each time you go back to it Show notes at gitawisdom.org/podcasts Want to join the classes live on Zoom? Go to bit.ly/GitaClassInfo

The discussion continues about the nature of an inner life and giving up attachments. BG 5.22-5.25 Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recorded at EverVeda on June 27, 2019. Running time: 33 minutes

The discussion continues about the nature of an inner life and giving up attachments. BG 5.22-5.25 Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recorded at EverVeda on June 27, 2019. Running time: 33 minutes

Detachment is often misunderstood. It doesn't mean we don't experience emotions or that we withdraw from the world; it's quite the opposite. We'll talk about what detachment really means and how to cultivate that quality. BG 5.19-5.21 Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recorded at EverVeda on June 6, 2019.

Detachment is often misunderstood. It doesn't mean we don't experience emotions or that we withdraw from the world; it's quite the opposite. We'll talk about what detachment really means and how to cultivate that quality. BG 5.19-5.21 Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Recorded at EverVeda on June 6, 2019.

What is a guru? Who is qualified? How does one find a guru? What is the relationship between guru and disciple? What are the qualifications of the disciple? And more. Week 31 of the Long Island Gita Wisdom Series recorded on May 9, 2019. Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

What is a guru? Who is qualified? How does one find a guru? What is the relationship between guru and disciple? What are the qualifications of the disciple? And more. Week 31 of the Long Island Gita Wisdom Series recorded on May 9, 2019. Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Action, forbidden action, and inaction and the resulting karmic reactions are covered. We discuss the different kinds of karma, how karma plays out over lifetimes, and whether or not we, as spiritual practitioners, are obliged to assume greater social responsibilities. Lastly, we touch on the psychology of karma. BG 4.16-4.18 Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Recorded on Oct 25, 2018

Action, forbidden action, and inaction and the resulting karmic reactions are covered. We discuss the different kinds of karma, how karma plays out over lifetimes, and whether or not we, as spiritual practitioners, are obliged to assume greater social responsibilities. Lastly, we touch on the psychology of karma. BG 4.16-4.18 Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Recorded on Oct 25, 2018

Michael White is a senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Roslyn, NY. He joins our Gita class to talk about the role people of faith bring to social activism. -------------- gitawisdom.org/podcast

Michael White is a senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Roslyn, NY. He joins our Gita class to talk about the role people of faith bring to social activism. -------------- gitawisdom.org/podcast

Topics: -Varna-ashram system (the four castes and four life stages) -Vedic conception of work and distribution of wealth Additional topics: -Becker's "The Denial of Death" and it's parallels to the teachings of the Gita -Agha, the terrible demon Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Topics: -Varna-ashram system (the four castes and four life stages) -Vedic conception of work and distribution of wealth Additional topics: -Becker's "The Denial of Death" and it's parallels to the teachings of the Gita -Agha, the terrible demon Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

SummaryWho and what are the demigods and what is their role?Topics include:- Worship of the demigods- How demigods differ from Krishna and his avatarsOther topics:- The intention behind service- Yogi scientist Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa)- The mysterious universe and yogic powers- How to develop love of GodWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaVisit us at GitaWisdom.org

Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Shaunaka Rishi visits our class for an enlightening chat with Joshua about the Bhagavad Gita, Vedic culture, interfaith communication, dogma, and a variety of other topics.

Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Shaunaka Rishi visits our class for an enlightening chat with Joshua about the Bhagavad Gita, Vedic culture, interfaith communication, dogma, and a variety of other topics.

Deity worship is sometimes confused with idolatry. This brief Q&A addresses the differences and some of the history. Recorded during Long Island Series, Week 15 (August 9, 2018)

Why do we become apathetic about spiritual practices? Rational excuses can disguise deeper causes. Bhakti practices, in particular, challenge us to confront our material discomforts—and often it is easier to pretend we are “One”. We should take care not to avoid the very relief we seek. [BG 4.9, 4.10] Topics include: - An explanation of "ego" or How material ego differs from the spiritual self - Why people reject the idea of an eternal self - Why people reject the idea of God as a person Additional topics: - Meaning of the chant Govinda Jaya Jaya - The Nine Stages of Bhakti - The Bhagavad Gita as a non-sectarian text Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Deity worship is sometimes confused with idolatry. This brief Q&A addresses the differences and some of the history. Recorded during Long Island Series, Week 15 (August 9, 2018)

Why do we become apathetic about spiritual practices? Rational excuses can disguise deeper causes. Bhakti practices, in particular, challenge us to confront our material discomforts—and often it is easier to pretend we are “One”. We should take care not to avoid the very relief we seek. [BG 4.9, 4.10] Topics include: - An explanation of "ego" or How material ego differs from the spiritual self - Why people reject the idea of an eternal self - Why people reject the idea of God as a person Additional topics: - Meaning of the chant Govinda Jaya Jaya - The Nine Stages of Bhakti - The Bhagavad Gita as a non-sectarian text Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

BG 4.7 explains that Krishna appears in this world when there is a decline in morality, a rise in violence, when leaders rule against the well-being of their citizens. The current state of the world seems to fit this description. So, where is Krishna now? Topics include: - Krishna’s purpose for appearing in the world - The different avatars of Krishna Additional topics include: - How do we know Krishna is the Supreme? Why take him at his word? - A brief telling of Krishna’s birth and the lifting of Govardhan Hill - Street chanting - The arrival of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

BG 4.7 explains that Krishna appears in this world when there is a decline in morality, a rise in violence, when leaders rule against the well-being of their citizens. The current state of the world seems to fit this description. So, where is Krishna now? Topics include: - Krishna’s purpose for appearing in the world - The different avatars of Krishna Additional topics include: - How do we know Krishna is the Supreme? Why take him at his word? - A brief telling of Krishna’s birth and the lifting of Govardhan Hill - Street chanting - The arrival of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Arjuna, who grew up with Krishna, questions how Krishna taught the science of the self to the sun god at the dawn of time. [BG 4.4 - 4.6] Topics include: - The role of karma in shaping our lives and bodies - Why we don’t remember our past lives - What happens when we are liberated - The story of Jada Bharata Additional topics include: - Three obstacles to chanting - The story of Kalman Shapira, the rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Arjuna, who grew up with Krishna, questions how Krishna taught the science of the self to the sun god at the dawn of time. [BG 4.4 - 4.6] Topics include: - The role of karma in shaping our lives and bodies - Why we don’t remember our past lives - What happens when we are liberated - The story of Jada Bharata Additional topics include: - Three obstacles to chanting - The story of Kalman Shapira, the rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Until now, Krishna has not given any hints as to his true identity. In Chapter 4 Krishna reveals he taught this ancient knowledge to the sun god at the dawn of the millennium. [BG 4.1 - 4.3] Additional topics include: - An explanation of the invocation om namo bhagavate vasudevaya - The power of the Gita teachings for good and evil - The role of faith in understanding the Gita Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Until now, Krishna has not given any hints as to his true identity. In Chapter 4 Krishna reveals he taught this ancient knowledge to the sun god at the dawn of the millennium. [BG 4.1 - 4.3] Additional topics include: - An explanation of the invocation om namo bhagavate vasudevaya - The power of the Gita teachings for good and evil - The role of faith in understanding the Gita Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter 3 of the Gita points to the pathology of conditioned life and obstacles on the spiritual path. This class includes a summary of the Vedic story of Dhruva, the boy king who found God through meditation. Additional topics include: -How our spiritual knowledge can help us navigate life’s challenges -The role of guru Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter 3 of the Gita points to the pathology of conditioned life and obstacles on the spiritual path. This class includes a summary of the Vedic story of Dhruva, the boy king who found God through meditation. Additional topics include: -How our spiritual knowledge can help us navigate life’s challenges -The role of guru Class notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook We are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada