Unconditional Love
The Challenges
Chapter 13 Real Knowledge
Nature, the Enjoyer, and Consciousness
Kick
Women In Trouble
Chapter 14 What is Goodness, Passion and Ignorance?
The Three Modes of Material Nature
Which Path Will You Walk On?
Respect for Women
Chapter 15 Arjuna Learn To Detach Yourself
The Yoga of the Supreme Person
Smile Your Way
Ego Vs. Love
Chapter 16 Good People Bad People
The Divine and Demoniac Natures
Five Robbers
Game Changing Buffet Dinner
Chapter 17 Arjuna Every Person Nature Is Different
The Divisions of Faith
What You Believe Is What You Achieve
Difficult People
Chapter 18 Arjuna Let Go Your Self Doubt
Conclusion-The Perfection of Renunciation
Journey From Head To Heart
The Boatmen
Om Bhoor Bhuvah Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayaat
Oh Creator of the Universe
We meditate upon Thy Supreme splendor
May Thy radiant power illuminate our intellects,
Destroy our sins, and guide us in the right direction!
On a beautiful Friday afternoon, I landed in Goa and soon checked into a beautiful and luxurious resort next to the beach. I was here to conduct a two day spiritual retreat program based on the teaching of The Bhagavad Gita.
After settling down from a long journey I thought of checking the resort and the venue that was set up for the spiritual program. The resort was vibrating with positive energy and guests were having a gala time some were with families, some newly married couples, some were in a group and some were all by themselves. I also met the yoga trainer, coordinator and co-host of this program. After having dinner at the resort’s fine dining restaurant, I sat in the lobby for some time, as that was the only place where I could get free access to Wi-Fi. The lobby was connected to two fine dining restaurants and a lounge.
Soon my eyes landed on a beautiful woman sitting in the lounge. She was looking beautiful, stunning and gorgeous wearing a short black dress. She seemed to be alone and was drinking like there is no tomorrow. I noticed she was also smoking and could make out that she was taking drugs too. Soon a guy came up to her talked to her for some time, wrote some number on a tissue paper and disappeared. After some time, the woman got up, falling wobbling walked out of the lounge towards the rooms. I don’t know why, but I thought of following her thinking she might need some help. She then stopped in front of room no. 102 and rang the bell. It was clear that she didn’t go to her room but to the room of the guy who wrote his room number on the tissue paper. The girl entered the room and anyone can guess what could have happened inside that room that night. I went back to my room waiting for the spiritual session to begin tomorrow.
I woke up at 6.30 am and went on the beach for a morning walk. As I went a little ahead on the beach I saw the same woman wearing the same black dress she wore last night sitting and crying profusely on the beach. Her face was swollen and her kajal was spread all over her face. I stopped by her and asked what happened. She was reluctant to even face me and cried non-stop. I sat next to her trying to pacify her. I introduced myself thinking she might stop crying and would try to talk to me. She did stop crying, looked at me but didn’t utter a word. I asked her name and she said, “Shikha”. I told her, “Listen I am here to conduct a two day spiritual program why don’t you join in. I am a complete stranger to you, but just join in for your own good if you don’t like it you are free to leave anytime. There is a yoga session happening for all the participants of our program. If you wish to join you can else just change and come here after an hour to join me for a fun session on the beach.”
She did turn up on the beach exactly at 8am. “Good morning everyone, I welcome you all to this very special spiritual retreat in Ggggggoooooaaaaaaa.” “I am going to pass this ball to each one of you, just tell us your name where you have come from and what made you join this spiritual program.” There were 25 participants, everyone introduced himself or herself, so did Shikha.
The fun session begins. “Everyone come close and listen up carefully. Each of you need to pick up one dirty coal basket, run collect water and pour it into this bucket kept here on the sands in front of the shack. Whoever fills the bucket close to the red line in 5 minutes will be the winner of this game. Note even though this is not a group game this is your game, do what it takes to win and your time starts now.” Everyone started running and were enjoying, playing, falling, laughing during this fun game. The moment they used to fill the coal basket and run towards the bucket, the water would leak from the basket. Some used different strategies formed a team, placed their hands below to stop the water from leaking and could manage filling the bucket with some water. The game came to an end. I informed them, “The winners of this game will be announced in the beginning of the spiritual program. Please carry your coal baskets and hand it over to me at the training room. You can go back to your rooms, get ready, have breakfast at the resort restaurant and we shall all meet at seminar hall 02 on the 1st floor at 10 am sharp.”
It was 10 am and everyone was assembled in the seminar hall. I was again happy to see Shikha join in. “I again welcome you all to this spiritual retreat program which is based on the teaching of The Bhagavad Gita. Before we begin let me set some ground rules of this program.
1. I request everyone to keep your mobile phones on silent mode. Will give you all 15 sec to do so.
2. You are not allowed to move in and out of the training room. You can do so when we take a short break after 2 hours or at the time of games or activities.
3. You can make a note of any question coming to your mind and ask me by raising your hand or at the end of each session.
4. I would encourage everyone to write notes during the training session.
5. Keep smiling always and let’s start with full josh and positive energy.
I asked everyone, “How many of you have read The Bhagavad Gita?” Very few hands were up. “How many of you know a bit about The Bhagavad Gita?” Many more hands showed up. “Can everyone tell me something about The Bhagavad Gita?” One participant said, “It is an ancient holy book of Hindu dharma. The