Today we read a new chapter titled “The Avatara as Divinity” where Swami Ranganathananda explores the essence of the Avatara from a historic and spiritual lens and the impact of such “heroes” in our socio cultural traditions and ethos. He elucidates effortlessly on this “concentrated and intense life energy” and its impact on humanity.

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Music Information:

"Magic Garden" - Composed by Martha Mier

Performed by Parijat Sarkar

Today we will read a short but a very significant chapter titled “The Avatara as History Maker” where the Swami gets into a very unique and poignant perspective Indian spiritual traditions. In today’s parlance, the word avatar has a very comic of comedic but well meaning reference to a caricature of oneself on social media platforms and the like. This is the 21st century. In our 21st episode, we will go back to the origin of this word and the wisdom behind it.

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Music Information

"Interlude" - Composed by Martha Mier

Performed by Parijat Sarkar

In this episode we will conclude the chapter we began last time and read more on the Swami’s take on the nature of the Self of the Human being. True to his vast encyclopedic knowledge,Swami Ranganathananda speaks of this Vedantic concept and and finds synchronicity with the works of HG Wells, GP Wells and Julian Huxley.

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Music Information

Song of Peace - Composed by Martha Mier

Performed by Parijat Sarkar

Today we start reading a new chapter that the Swami has titled “ The Central Theme of the Gita” where the Swami prefaces the core message of the Gita from the perspective of the Greatest Teacher – Sri Krishna and his role as the “parthasarathi” or the charioteer of Arjuna, but literally and figuratively in being the warrior prince’s friend philosopher and guide.

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Music Information

"Song of Peace" Composed by Martha Mier

Performed by: Parijat Sarkar

Today as we conclude this chapter, we begin with the concepts of desire and desirelessness , and Swami Ranganathanandaji ties it all beautifully to Arjuna’s humility and submission to his divine friend, philosopher and guide, Sri Krishna.

It may be of interest to know these lectures were delivered in Sind, which is currently in Pakistan, during the months of February and March in 1946, a year before India’s independence.

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Music Information

Song: Mirage

Composer: Chris Haugen

Website: https://soundcloud.com/chris-haugen-551939035

License: Free To Use YouTube license youtube-free

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

In this episode the Swami introduces the idea of Guru and Shishya that is of utmost significance in ancient Indian traditions, and exemplifies it so beautifully with Sri Krishnaand Arjuna in these two pivotal roles.

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Music Information:

Song: Awakening

Composer: Steffen Daum

Website: No URL available

License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music powered by BreakingCopyright:https://breakingcopyright.com

In today’s episode we will pick up where we left off and read Swami Ranganathanandaji’s take on the concepts of “ethicalsense” and how it is a by product of spiritual growth, and some of the deeper nuances in the Gita, that we can often miss. He talks about how Ethical sense and Spiritual Growth go hand in hand in the words of Sri Krishna to Arjuna and compels us to see the relevance of these universal truths even today.

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Music Information

Song: Mirage

Composer: Chris Haugen

Website: https://soundcloud.com/chris-haugen-551939035

License: Free To Use YouTube license youtube-free

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com

In today’s episode Swami Rangananthanandaji beginswith the initial mental tonic that Sri Krishna offers to Arjuna as he urges him to rise and cast away his faint heartdedness. The Swami then elucidates how this tonic is not just for Arjuna alone but is a wake up call to all of us who are doused with lethargy in mind and body. He then goes on to talk about the innate divinity of the Human being that is the essence of Vedanta. The paragraphs I will read today are a beautifultransition of some potent verses for our warrior prince from the words of the Lord, and the Swami unfolds a deeper truth that is relevant and relatable even in the present day.

Music Information:

Song: Purpose

Composer: Jonny Easton

Website: https://www.youtube.com/jonnyeaston

License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com