Krishna begins a new chapter by explaining the step-by-step system of overcoming the gunas and empowering your dharma focus, which in turn subjugates the lower modes of rajas and tamas. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.1-3.

Krishna explains 10 ways in which the gunas impact our consciousness and again emphasizes the connection between sattwa, dharma and jnana. He explains that by cultivating sattwa we become more dharmic and by being dharmic we gain jnana, transcendental knowledge of the self. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.4-6.

Krishna continues His explanations of the effects and power of the gunas over our minds and how we can use the gunas in the form of this body and mind to overcome those very same gunas. Then Uddhava asks Krishna why people act like dogs, asses and goats, and Krishna explains to Uddhava the power of rajas. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.7-11.

Krishna finishes his explanation of the gunas to Uddhava and opens the way for Uddhava to ask about Hamsa Avatara. We dedicated a good part of the class to talk about the importance of being the observer, o being in charge of our minds, of directing our minds in the right direction. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.12-16.

In this class we hear Krishna telling Uddhava about the little known but fascinating Swan Avatar, Lord Hamsa. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.17-22.

The Swan Avatar teaches the four Kumaras deep spiritual knowledge about the nature of the self and the path to spiritual libertation. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.23-25.

The Swan Avatar continues to teach the four Kumaras. In this class, we learn about the fourth stage of consciousness, beyond waking, sleep and deep sleep. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.26-29.

The Swan Avatar continues to teach the four Kumaras. Krishna continues to explain the powerful realization that comes from observing the 4 stages of consciousness and how by focusing on the cycle of dream and wakefulness one can understand the transitory nature of material existence. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.30-31.

We continue with the Swan Avatar’s teachings to the four Kumaras. By focussing on ourselves as observers, we can perceive we are not the body or the mind, and simultaneously experience the happiness of the soul, the bliss of being. The real separation of materialists and yogis comes in the sense of not being guided by kama, lobha and krodha, but, instead, dharma and bhakti. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.32-35.  

We finish in this class the teachings of the Swan Avatar to the four Kumaras. We start with the startling example of what we can learn from a drunkard. I spoke about the importance of taking care of your body, even though we no longer identify with it, as part of spiritual practice, as part of our loving offering to Krishna. In this respect, I explained the concept of tapas, of opting out of kama and choosing instead dharma and bhakti. In this class, we covered verses 11.13.36-42.