Gita Daily Verse

Here, Shree Krishna describes more telltale signs of people possessing demoniac natures. They are vile, malicious, cruel, belligerent, and insolent. Although they do not possess righteous qualities themselves, they enjoy finding fault in everyone else. They consider themselves all-important, and as a consequence of this nature of self-aggrandizement, they are envious of other’s success. If ever they are opposed in their schemes, they become enraged and cause agony to others as well as to their own selves. Consequently, they disregard and disrespect the Supreme Soul who is seated within their own hearts and the hearts of others. Whom do demoniac people disregard and disrespect when blinded by egotism, strength, and arrogance? 🔴 The celestial gods who control the physical elements 🟢 The Supreme Soul present in their own body and in the bodies of others 🔵 The societal leaders and kings who govern the land 🟡 The ancestors who passed down traditional wisdom

Virtuous people perform sacrifice to purify the self and to please God. The travesty is that demoniac people also perform sacrifices, but with an impure intent. They do grandiose ritualistic ceremonies so as to look pious in the eyes of society. But they do not adhere to the injunctions of the scriptures, and instead perform sacrifices for personal advertisement and pretentious display. However, the injunction of the scriptures is: gūhitasya bhaved vṛiddhiḥ kīrtitasya bhavet kṣhayaḥ (Mahabharat) “If we advertise a good deed we have done, its merit decreases; if we keep it secret, its merit multiplies.” In this verse, Shree Krishna dismisses the ritualistic ceremonies of the demoniac by saying that they are incorrectly performed. What happens when a person advertises a good deed they have performed? 🔴 Its spiritual merit decreases 🟢 Its merit multiplies manifold 🔵 It creates positive karma for their future generations 🟡 It cancels out past negative karmas immediately

Under the sway of the ego, people identify with their mind and become confined by its dysfunctional and repetitive thought patterns. They become practically possessed by their own mind, which goes on and on like a broken record, and they live in the reality their thoughts create for them. One such favorite thought pattern of the impure mind is complaining. It loves to whine and feel resentful not only about people but also about situations. The implication is, “This should not be happening,” “I do not want to be here,” “I am being treated unfairly,” etc. Every complaint is a little story that the mind makes up and the individual completely believes in it. The voice in the head tells sad, anxious, or angry stories about one’s life. And the poor individual, under the sway of the ego, accepts what the voice says. When complaining aggravates, it turns into resentment. Resentment means feeling bitter, indignant, aggrieved, or offended. When the resentment becomes longstanding, it is called a grievance. A grievance is a strong negative emotion connected to an event in the past that is being kept alive by compulsive thinking, by retelling the story in the head of “what someone did to me.” In this verse, Shree Krishna says that the demoniac who choose to live in the mesh of delusion created by the ego become bewildered by numerous thoughts of the poorest quality. Consequently, they obscure their own destiny. Humans are free to perform karmas by their choice, but they are not free to determine the results of their actions. The results are bestowed by God in accordance with the law of karma. The Ramayan states: karama pradhāna bisva kari rākhā, jo jasa karai so tasa phala chākhā “Actions are important in this world. Whatever actions people perform, they taste the corresponding fruits.” Hence, everyone has to face the karmic consequences of their actions. The Bible also states: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32.23)Thus, in their next lives, God casts those who choose to cultivate demoniac qualities into inferior states of existence. The principle is very simple: ūrdhvaṁ gachchhanti sattvasthā madhye tiṣhṭhanti rājasāḥ jaghanya guṇa vṛittisthā adho tiṣhṭhanti tāmasāḥ (Garuḍ Purāṇ) “Those who act out of sāttvic mentalities rise to the higher levels of existence; those who act out of rājasic mentalities remain in the middle regions; and those who act out of a tāmasic mentality and are inclined toward sin descend to the lower levels of existence.” What happens to individuals who act out of a tāmasic mentality and are inclined toward sin? 🔴 They rise to higher levels of existence 🟢 They remain in the middle regions 🔵 They descend to the lower levels of existence 🟡 They break free from karmic consequences entirely

Happy Onam! 🌼 Why does King Mahabali return every year? Watch this auspicious Onam reel 🔗 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ey7rPdcK3 Learn how King Bali’s complete surrender won Lord Vamana’s blessings—and teaches us the deeper meaning of Sharanagati. 🙏 Do share this inspiring story with your family and friends. 🌼✨

*How do demoniac persons deluded by ignorance view themselves and their accomplishments? 🔴 As humble servants of God who owe all their success to divine grace* 🟢 As powerful, self-sufficient enjoyers who believe "I am like God Himself" 🔵 As helpless victims of destiny who must continuously repent for their sins 🟡 As strict renunciants who seek to discard all material possessions

Ignoring all morality, the demoniac presume they have a right to enjoy whatever they find pleasurable. They make concerted efforts to orchestrate events to fulfill their ambitions. Realizing that the ritualistic practices of the Vedas will help them become materially affluent, they even perform ritualistic ceremonies to accrue abundance and fame from them. However, like the vulture that flies high but keeps its sight fixed low, the demoniac sometimes rise in social status, but their actions remain mean and lowly. Such people respect power and believe in the principle of “might is right.” Hence, they do not hesitate in even harming or injuring others to eliminate obstacles in the fulfillment of their desires. The Sukti Sudhakar states that there are four kinds of people: eke satpuruṣāḥ parārthaghaṭakāḥ swārthān parityajya ye sāmānyāstu parārthamudyamabhṛitaḥ swārthā virodhena ye te ’mī mānav rākṣasāḥ parahitaṁ swārthāya nighnanti ye ye tughnanti nirarthakaṁ parahitaṃ te ke na jānīmahe “The first kind of people is the saintly personalities who sacrifice their self-interest for the welfare of others. The second kind is common people who believe in engaging in the welfare of others, provided it does not harm them. The third kind is the demoniac who do not mind harming others, if it helps fulfill their self-interest. There is also a fourth kind of people who harm others, for no reason (except sadistic delight). There is no suitable name for them.” Shree Krishna vividly describes the degraded nature of the demoniac-mentality. Blinded by pride, they think along these lines: “I was born in a wealthy and aristocratic family. I am rich and powerful, and I do what I like. There is no need for me to bow down before God because I am like God myself.” In most cases, when people say “I,” it is their ego speaking, not them. The ego contains personal identifications with opinions, external appearances, resentments, etc. This ego builds a personality of its own, and under its sway, people identify with thoughts, emotions, and bundles of memories, which they see as integral parts of themselves. The ego identifies with owning, but the satisfaction of having is usually short-lived. Concealed within it is a deep-rooted dissatisfaction of “not enough.” This unfulfilled want results in unease, restlessness, boredom, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. Consequently, a much distorted perception of reality is created, which further alienates their perception of “I” from the real self. The ego creates the biggest untruth in our lives, and makes us believe what we are not. Thus, for progress along the saintly path, all the religious traditions and saints urge us to dismantle our egotistic thought patterns. The Tao Te Ching teaches: “Instead of trying to be the mountain, be the valley of the Universe.” (Chapter 6) Jesus of Nazareth also stated: “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place so that when the host comes, he may say to you, friend, move up higher. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:10-11). Saint Kabir put this very nicely: ūñche pānī na ṭike, nīche hī ṭhaharāye nīchā hoya so bhari pī, ūñchā pyāsā jāya “Water does not remain above; it naturally flows down. Those who are low and unassuming drink (God’s grace) to their heart’s content, while those who are high and pompous remain thirsty.”

😊 A humorous story with an important message we can all remember. https://youtube.com/shorts/h8mxKptjAQc ▶️ Watch till the end!

Money is the means for enjoying the world. That is why materialistic people who are driven by insatiable desires accord such priority to accumulating it in their lives. They do not even hesitate to adopt unlawful means for earning wealth. Therefore, double punishment awaits them for their unethical conduct. The Bhāgavatam states: yāvad bhriyeta jaṭharaṁ tāvat svatvaṁ hi dehinām adhikaṁ yo ’bhimanyeta sa steno daṇḍam arhati (7.14.8) “One is entitled to keep only as much wealth as is necessary for one’s maintenance (the rest must be given away in charity). If one accumulates more than one’s need, one is a thief in the eyes of God, and will be punished for it.” What is the punishment? Firstly, at the time of death, the wealth one earned will not go along—it will be snatched away. Secondly, according to the law of karma, one will be punished for the sins committed in earning the wealth. Just as, if a smuggler is caught, not only are his goods confiscated, but he is also punished for breaking the law. What primary factors drive materialistic individuals to accumulate wealth by unjust means? 🔴 By a sense of social duty and family obligation 🟢 By hundreds of desires, lust, and anger 🔵 By the fear of losing spiritual merit 🟡 By the guidance of scriptural injunctions

Materially inclined people often reject the spiritual path on the grounds that it is too burdensome and laborious, and the final goal is too distant. They prefer to pursue the way of the world that promises to provide immediate gratification, but they end up struggling even more in the worldly direction. Their desires for material attainments torment them and they undertake enormous schemes to fulfill their aspirations. When a cherished object is attained, for a moment they experience relief, but then new anguish begins. They are worried about the object being snatched away and they labor to retain it. Finally, when the inevitable separation from the object of attachment takes place, there is only misery. Thus, it is said: yā chintā bhuvi putra pautra bharaṇavyāpāra sambhāṣhaṇe yā chintā dhana dhānya yaśhasāṁ lābhe sadā jāyate sā chintā yadi nandanandan padadvandvāra vindekṣhaṇam kā chintā yamarāja bhīma sadandvāraprayāṇe vibho (Sukti Sudhakar) “People experience untold worries and stress in worldly endeavors—bringing up children and grandchildren, engaging in business, accumulating wealth and treasures, and acquiring fame. If they show the same level of attachment and concern for developing love for Shree Krishna’s lotus feet, they will never again have to worry about Yamraj, the god of death (for they will cross over the cycle of life and death).” But the demoniac-minded refuse to accept this blatant fact because their intellects are convinced that worldly pleasures are the highest experience of joy. They cannot even see that death is patiently waiting to carry them off to miserable destinies and more suffering in future lives. How long do the anxieties (chintām) of materially obsessed individuals persist? 🔴 Until they achieve their material goals 🟢 Until they accept spiritual knowledge 🔵 Until the moment of death (pralayāntām) 🟡 Until they retire from worldly work

By giving vent to insatiable lustful desires, the demoniac-minded develop terribly impure etheric hearts. They become full of hypocrisy and pretend to be what they are not. Their deluded intellect embraces wrong ideas and their pride makes them believe that nobody is more intelligent than them. Attracted to the fleeting pleasures of sense objects, their intellect becomes mean, selfish, and arrogant. Thus, they disregard the injunctions of the scriptures and go contrary to what is proper and truthful. What leads the demoniac-minded to believe that nobody is more intelligent than them? 🔴 Their deep study of secular philosophy 🟢 Their accumulation of vast material wealth 🔵 Their deluded intellect and pride (mada) 🟡 Their ability to debate spiritual leaders successfully

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ELyKuDxwM Enjoy this short clip from Swamiji’s Kathopanishad lecture today on Day 1 of the Dallas Spiritual Retreat You can participate online in retreat - https://www.jkyog.org/txretreat

Bereft of true self-knowledge, the demoniac-minded fabricate distorted views of the truth with their impure intellects. An example of this is the theory of Charvak, a well-known materialistic philosopher in Indian history. He said: yāvajjīveta sukaṁ jīvet, ṛiṇaṁ kṛitvā ghṛitaṁ pivet bhasmī bhūtasya dehasya punarāgamanaṁ kutaḥ [v2] “As long as you live, enjoy yourself. If drinking ghee gives you pleasure, then do so even if you have to take a debt for the purpose. When the body is cremated, you will cease to exist, and will not come back in the world again (so do not worry of any karmic consequences of your actions).” In this fashion, the demoniac-minded reject the eternality of the soul and the possibility of karmic reactions, so that they may engage in self-serving and even cruel deeds without any qualms. If they happen to possess power over other humans, they impose their misleading materialistic views upon them as well. They do not hesitate to aggressively pursue their self-centered goals, even if it results in grief to others and destruction to the world. In history, humankind has repeatedly witnessed megalomaniac dictators and emperors, such as Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, etc. who were motivated by their perverse views of the truth and brought about untold suffering and devastation to the world. *How are misdirected souls who hold fast to materialistic worldviews described regarding their intellect and impact on the world?* 🔴 Possessing great intellect and creating peace in society 🟢 Possessing small intellect (alpa-buddhayaḥ) and arising as enemies of the world 🔵 Possessing divine vision and reforming spiritual practices 🟡 Possessing deep detachment and living harmlessly in isolation