This video series is an explanation of India’s best-loved scripture approached from an entirely fresh perspective — one that combines its deep allegorical meaning with its down-to-earth practicality.

Introduction to The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita

Swami Kriyananda
Episode 1
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How can we find true happiness? The Bhagavad Gita is an extraordinary scripture that can provide all of the answers you will need to be victorious in life. The Gita is a part of the Mahabharata, an allegorical story describing the spiritual path as a battlefield. Why a battlefield? Peace isn’t something we get simply by not fighting, Swami Kriyananda … Read More

The Four Aspects of Mind

Swami Kriyananda
Episode 2
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The Bhagavad Gita shows us in allegorical form how man came from spirit and manifested from vibration into material form. The dialogue between Krishna (guru) and Arjuna (humble disciple) illustrates how we gamble away our happiness and peace of mind playing with the delusion and desires of this world. Warning: The dice are loaded. Swami talks about the aspects of … Read More

The Need for a Guru – The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita

Swami Kriyananda
Episode 3
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Swami Kriyananda talks about the critical significance and blessings of finding and having a guru. The disciple/guru relationship he explains, is ultimately one of deep attunement that allows the individual to transcend limitation and delusion so that they can find their one true essence. Kriyananda explains that the ego (our bundle of self-definitions) is the one thing we ultimately need … Read More

What Is the Source of All Suffering?

Swami Kriyananda
Episode 4
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Swami Kriyananda discusses many insights into the disciple-guru relationship. He highlights the transformative power of the Bhagavad Gita and shares stories from his personal journey with his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. Kriyananda states emphatically that no one needs to have a guru. However, those who are desperate to know truth and want to find God do need one. Kriyananda explains that … Read More

Overcoming the Ego

Swami Kriyananda
Episode 7
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Swami Kriyananda reads the second stanza (sloka) of the Bhagavad Gita and discusses the power of habits. Habits of course can be constructive or negative but all too often habits are destructive forces that bind us to detrimental behaviors. Kriyananda shares a few stories that demonstrate how bad habits can be overcome through the power of strong affirmation and by … Read More

The Chakras: The Seven Gates to Freedom

Swami Kriyananda
Episode 9
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Swami Kriyananda explains in some detail that the chakras are psychic centers in the spine that have their corresponding aspects in the astral body. A number of these centers are symbolically represented in the Bhagavad Gita by the legendary brothers – the Pandavas (Yudhishthira – throat center, Bhima – heart center, Arjuna – navel center, Nakula – solar plexus and … Read More

Awakening the Kundalini

Swami Kriyananda
Episode 10
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Chapter 1, Stanza 3 How do we awaken the power (Kundalini) that is within each of us? It is possible to awaken this power by bringing energy upward through spiritual practice to the brain. We possess a tremendous power that can be harnessed when we learn to be lions of self control. No matter the background or religion, it is … Read More