Gita Wisdom Teachings by Joshua M. Greene (Yogesvara)

Recorded on May 15, 2021How 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.Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Elsie Maio joins Joshua for a talk about spirituality in the workplace.\n\ngitawisdom.org"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "This month we speak with renowned artist/writer/filmmaker, Iain McCaig.\n\n​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.\n\ngitawisdom.org"]]Visit us at 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 selfhoodPart of a new monthly interview series: In Good Company. Guest SpeakerFor 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.HostJoshua 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.Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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.\n\nJules 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.\n\nShow notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts\nRecorded Oct 27, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Show notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts\nRecorded on June 16, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Recorded @June 9, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Joshua Greene and Martin Fleming (Akhandadhi) discuss the recent findings in consciousness studies, the nature of consciousness, the study of subjective experience.\n\nShow notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts\nRecorded July 7, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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:\n- end-of-life care\n- caring for the caretakers\n- the Death Positive Movement\n- creating a legacy\n- finding meaning in loss\n- grief support\n- how to talk to kids about death\n\nShow notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts\nRecorded June 30, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "-Does yoga have a place in the conversation amidst protests and violence?\n-A change in policy doesn't mean a change in the heart.\n-Relief from miseries is not the goal of yoga, but a starting point.\n-What does it mean to live a yogic life?\n\nA 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.\n\nShow notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts\nRecorded June 2, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

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

[[:encoded, "How do we live up to the ideal character of people from the Gita and Bhagavatam or the examples set by enlightened gurus?\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast.\nFor information on attending a class, visit www.facebook.com/pg/gitawisdomteachings/events."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "-Equanimity takes a lifetime of training\n-Uncovering the underlying issues\n-The value of mediation training\n\nShow notes: gitawisdom.org/podcasts\nRecorded May 12, 2020, via Zoom. To join the live conversation, visit bit.ly/GitaClassInfo"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

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

[[:encoded, "The discussion continues about the nature of an inner life and giving up attachments. BG 5.22-5.25 \nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. \n\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook.\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. \nRecorded at EverVeda on June 27, 2019.\nRunning time: 33 minutes"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast. Questions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook.\n\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.\nRecorded at EverVeda on June 6, 2019."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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.\n\nWeek 31 of the Long Island Gita Wisdom Series recorded on May 9, 2019.\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast.\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook.\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast.\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook. \nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada\nRecorded on Oct 25, 2018"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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. \n--------------\ngitawisdom.org/podcast"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Topics:\n-Varna-ashram system (the four castes and four life stages)\n-Vedic conception of work and distribution of wealth\n\nAdditional topics:\n-Becker's \"The Denial of Death\" and it's parallels to the teachings of the Gita\n-Agha, the terrible demon\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast.\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook.\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami\nPrabhupada."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

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

[[:encoded, "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."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Deity worship is sometimes confused with idolatry. This brief Q&A addresses the differences and some of the history.\n\nRecorded during Long Island Series, Week 15 (August 9, 2018)"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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]\n\nTopics include:\n - An explanation of \"ego\" or How material ego differs from the spiritual self\n - Why people reject the idea of an eternal self\n - Why people reject the idea of God as a person\n\nAdditional topics:\n - Meaning of the chant Govinda Jaya Jaya\n - The Nine Stages of Bhakti\n - The Bhagavad Gita as a non-sectarian text\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook.\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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?\n\nTopics include:\n- Krishna’s purpose for appearing in the world\n- The different avatars of Krishna\n\nAdditional topics include:\n- How do we know Krishna is the Supreme? Why take him at his word? \n- A brief telling of Krishna’s birth and the lifting of Govardhan Hill \n- Street chanting\n- The arrival of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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]\n\nTopics include:\n - The role of karma in shaping our lives and bodies\n - Why we don’t remember our past lives\n - What happens when we are liberated\n - The story of Jada Bharata\n\nAdditional topics include:\n - Three obstacles to chanting\n - The story of Kalman Shapira, the rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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]\n\nAdditional topics include:\n - An explanation of the invocation om namo bhagavate vasudevaya\n - The power of the Gita teachings for good and evil\n - The role of faith in understanding the Gita\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "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:\n-How our spiritual knowledge can help us navigate life’s challenges\n-The role of guru\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

Bhagavad Gita 3.21: The importance of good qualities in a leader.Topics include:- Developing good qualities- Krishna’s instructions on meditationWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaVisit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Bhagavad Gita 3.6: Being honest about our spiritual capabilities.\nTopics include:\n - Realistically assessing our daily practice\n - A brief explanation of the four regulative principles\n - An explanation of the Hare Krishna mantra\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Third chapter Bhagavad Gita begins with a concise summary of how knowledge is attained and the formula for lasting prosperity (BG 3.3). \n\nAdditional topics include:\n - The cycle of ages: satya, treta, dvapara, and kali yugas.\n - Why do some people resist pursuing what would make them happy?\n - Who are the demigods (devas), what do they do and what is our relationship with them?\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Are spiritual intuitions and rational thought antithetical or complimentary?\n\nTopics include:\n- Interviews with leading physicists on the existence of God\n- Questions and answers on the nature of devotional life\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

Understanding the guru-disciple relationship is critical to appreciating the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita.Topics include:- The role of guru- Approaching a guru- Responsibilities of the discipleAdditional topics include:- Radha: the embodiment of devotion- Krishna: the Source of all creationWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaVisit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "This week we summarized topics from the previous three classes. Topics include:\n - The purpose of yoga\n - The symptoms of life\n - The impersonal brahman\n - The distortion of Krishna’s pastimes\n\nAdditional topics include:\n - Brahma’s creation story and the Govinda Prayers\n - How to show compassion to those we disagree with\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Personhood is critical to understanding the Gita. This class we discuss the personhood of the self and the Supreme and biases against personal divinity. \n\nTopics include:\n- Summary of last week’s class\n- The three levels of realization\n- The Bhagavad Gita and questions of religion\n- The challenges of a personal divinity\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook at bit.ly/gitafbgroup\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "To give the Bhagavad Gita context, in week 2 we talk about the Mahabharata and the backstory of events leading up to the Bhagavad Gita. Additional topics include:\n\n- Summary of last week’s class\n- The first teaching of Bhagavad Gita - you are not the body\n- Perspectives on the nature of the self\n\nClass notes available at www.gitawisdom.org/podcast\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group on Facebook\nWe are reading from Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "This is the first podcast in a new series, Gita Wisdom: Long Island Series, recorded at EverVeda. In this class, we cover the following:\n\n- Why read the Bhagavad Gita?\n- How to chant verses from the Gita\n- What is bhakti?\n- And we touch briefly on the topics of enlightenment and spiritual progress\n\nClass notes and homework available at https://bit.ly/2FZ75ia\nQuestions? Join the Gita Wisdom Discussion Group at https://bit.ly/2I2ZgV5\nWe’re reading from the book Bhagavad Gita As It Is: http://a.co/iGQyteX"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "This special edition is a discussion between David Life, co-founder of Jivamukti Yoga; Ray Ippolito, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy for the Catskill Animal Sanctuary; and your host, Joshua M. Greene about the connection between veganism and a yoga lifestyle. \n\nTopics include vegan vs. plant-based diet, vegan companies being purchased by non-vegan companies and where the ethical line should be drawn, how to educate the educators about diet and lifestyle choices, and how to be an effective advocate."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "If the eternal self seeks pleasure (ananda), is desire wrong? Can a spiritualist be both realistic about needs and sincerely strive to transcend them? A workshop at Absolute Yoga, Long Island, 10-15-17."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "A workshop with written exercises you can do at home, including: creating lifetime, five-year, and 6-month goals; how to keep a spiritual diary; and how to determine what daily sadhana practices are right for you. \n\nTime for the writing exercises has been cut from the recording. If you would like to try the exercises, please pause the podcast at the appropriate times. \n\nRecorded at the Long Island Yoga Association, 10-14-17."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Part 2 of 2. Is there a morally rational foundation to yogic concepts such as karma and reincarnation? A presentation at Absolute Yoga, Long Island, 9/10/17."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Is there a morally rational foundation to yogic concepts such as karma and reincarnation? A presentation at Absolute Yoga, Long Island, \n9/10/17 Part 1 of 2."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "A discussion about the joys of prasadam: sanctified food. Discover how to integrate even simple meals into your yoga practice. This conference call includes stories from the Bhakti tradition, insights into the dark side of commercial foods, and practical tips for transforming a meal into a spiritually inspiring experience."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Gita Wisdom 5.21.2017"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Workplace and Spirituality"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Are Utopian descriptions in sacred texts sheer myth? A discussion at New York's Bhakti Center held May 3, 2017."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "The Shock of a Lifetime"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Each of us faces a journey to complete awakening. Will we embrace that\nchallenge? Or will be remain in the maya world? Discover the stages of\nthe Hero Journey in this talk about Srila Prabhupada, the late great\nmaster of Krishna consciousness, given at The Bhakti Center on April\n14, 2017."]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM 5.14.24"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org

[[:encoded, "Yoga and the Sixties"]]Visit us at GitaWisdom.org