How to Use Gita Flow to Deepen Your Study of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is
(These suggestions currently apply only to Chapter 2, but we in time will add the relevant material to the other chapters as well.)
What Gita Flow Provides
There are three downloadable PDFs connected with the Easy Read Gita Flow:
- Lectures to Hear
- Comprehensive Gita Flow, with explanatory notes and evidence
- Reflections
Beneath each verse in the Easy Read Gita Flow, you will find one or more of four letters: H, E, A, R.
H — Hear
There is a link to a lecture by Śrīla Prabhupāda on that verse. You can find the links in the Comprehensive Gita Flow or in the separate Lectures to Hear PDF.
E — Explanation and Evidence
We explain where we derive our understanding of the verse and provide evidence from Śrīla Prabhupāda and the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava ācāryas to support it.
A — Arjuna’s Partial Understanding
We explain where Arjuna appears to have had only a partial understanding of Kṛṣṇa’s teachings and provide the evidence supporting our interpretation.
R — Reflection
We include a Reflection on that verse. A Reflection may draw attention to something in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purport, provide additional information, or offer one of my Insights into the verse. If you would like to understand what we mean by an Insight, please read Useful Tip 11.
How to Use Gita Flow
- Study Bhagavad-gītā As It Is
Read the verse and purport in Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. You may study one verse at a time or a group of verses together.
- Read the Comprehensive Gita Flow
Read the Explanatory notes in Comprehensive Gita Flow, together with the evidence.
The purpose is not simply to accept our understanding, but to see why we understood the verse in this way and to consider the evidence for yourself.
- Do Your Own Work
Write down, in your own words, what you think Kṛṣṇa is communicating.
Ask yourself:
- What is Kṛṣṇa saying in this verse?
- Why is He saying it here?
- How does this verse develop from the previous verse?
- How is the argument or teaching developing?
Try to explain the verse or section as if you were explaining it to someone who knows nothing about the Bhagavad-gītā.
Do not simply copy Gita Flow. Śrīla Prabhupāda wants us to think for ourselves and explain the teachings in our own words.
Also write down anything you find confusing or any doubts you have about the flow of Kṛṣṇa’s teaching.
- Hear Śrīla Prabhupāda
If there is an H beside the verse, listen to the relevant lecture by Śrīla Prabhupāda.
We have provided a list of lectures for most of Chapter 2 in the Lectures to Hear PDF.
- Read the Reflection
If there is an R beside the verse, read the corresponding Reflection.
Then ask yourself:
- What is this Reflection about?
- Did I find it helpful?
- Did it deepen my understanding?
- Do I agree with it?
- If I do not agree with it, why not?
The purpose is not simply to accept these reflections, but to think carefully about them.
- Discuss what you have studied
Set up a regular discussion group with other devotees.
We strongly recommend that your group members study Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings on discussing the Bhagavad-gītā. These are presented in the 10 Principles available on the Improving Sanga website.
Improving Sanga: 10 Principles
We also recommend studying the 20 Useful Tips:
Improving Sanga: 20 Useful Tips
The Assimilation Questions can help you learn and practise the Principles and Useful Tips.
Improving Sanga Assimilation Questions
We will help groups where the members commit to doing the above work. Once your members have read these sections of the website and answered the Assimilation Questions, reach out to us on WhatsApp for more support.
Come together as often as is practical for the members of your group to discuss your respective understandings and doubts.
7. Seek One-to-One Guidance
For more personal guidance, approach a devotee you think can help you deepen your understanding of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is or clarify your doubts.
This could be your dīkṣā-guru, one of your existing śikṣā-gurus, a mentor, your spouse or another family member, a friend, or a devotee in your discussion group.
Ask someone you trust and who has time to discuss the Gītā with you.
Take your questions to them. Discuss the passages you find difficult. Over time, you may find that some devotees are particularly helpful, and they may become an important source of personal support.
Initially, however, we encourage you to cast your net widely and seek help from different devotees.
If you would like more support from us
You can use one, several, or all of the suggestions above.
However, if you are prepared to commit to all seven steps—and to take personal responsibility for learning and practising the Improving Sanga 10 Principles and 20 Useful Tips—you can reach out to us for further support.
We are eager to support devotees who are prepared to invest time and energy in seriously understanding Bhagavad-gītā.
You can contact us via WhatsApp, and we can discuss how we can support you.
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