Years: April 2014 - July 2006 - June 2007 - July 2007 - June 2009
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Satyanarayana Dasa
Bhagavad Gītā has eighteen chapters, and each is designated as a type of yoga. The word yoga has many different meanings. In the Gītā it is used principally in the sense of the means undertaken to accomplish or to be united with one’s goal. Therefore, the word yoga can also be translated as “path,” as has been done here especially in the chapter titles. There are primarily three different types of yoga, namely, karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga, and bhakti-yoga. When we employ karma, or selfless action, for uniting with or reaching our goal, it is called karma-yoga. Similarly, when we cultivate jñāna, or the intuitive insight of our conscious identity with the Absolute, it is called jñāna-yoga. When bhakti, or devotion, is adopted as the means of attaining unity in love, it is called bhakti-yoga. In the case of the latter, bhakti is not only the means but also the goal.
The ego likes to praise itself and criticize others. This is the big pleasure of the ego. The ego hates being criticized. A healthy way of dealing with criticism is to see if there is any truth in it? But you have to be detached from your ego for this. Take the comment as if it is true, and then use it to improve yourself. The doctor gives injection to get rid of the disease. It may hurt, but it can help you.
