Bhagavad-Gita Chapters 3 and 4
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
“The Bhagavad-Gītā presents the eternal knowledge of integrated life. It presents the wisdom of living life in fulfillment. It brings to light the wisdom of the Absolute for the evolution of man at any time and in any place. It provides a technique whereby the life of the individual is naturally aligned with Cosmic Life — Natural Law — the Will of God; whereby the individual enjoys the support of all the Laws of Nature and lives life in harmony and peace.” — Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Course Dates: Online self-study course
View the Free Introductory Zoom Session.
Course Leaders: Professor William Sands, Professor Keith Wallace and Raja Bright
Reviews: (From previous course) “Loving these classes.” —AT; “Terrific commentary and course.” —WF; More Reviews >
Prerequisite: This course is open to all Meditators, Sidhas, and TM Teachers. Prerequisite is the TM course. If you have not taken the previous course covering Chapters 1 & 2, then please take that course first, or read those chapters before starting this course.
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Course Fee:
- $125 general course fee
- $75 discounted course fee for full-time students, full-time TM organization staff, and low-income retirees.
- Some countries might have a discounted course fee of $65 or $35. To find out about your country, please check the list in the sign-up form.
Course Description
The Bhagavad-Gita (“The Lord’s Song”) presents, in Maharishi’s own words, the science of life and the art of living, and teaches us “how to be, how to think, and how to do.” It is a compendium of the supreme wisdom of life, providing the key to success, happiness, and evolution towards higher states of consciousness.
In this course we will explore the vast wisdom within this timeless text, in the light of Maharishi’s renewal of the essence of Vedic knowledge. Even though the Gita is widely studied, its essential wisdom has been lost to view for many generations. In order to amend this unfortunate misinterpretation, Maharishi composed his own commentary in language accessible to the modern age, which restored the Gita’s fundamental teachings.
Our study will include:
- Readings from the Gita
- Discussions and questions
- Lectures by Maharishi on the topics that we encounter.
This course will provide a deep dive into rarely-encountered gems from Chapters Three and Four of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Translation and Commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita. The previous course in this series covered Chapters 1 & 2. More courses in this series will follow.
Our study of Chapter Three explores the following themes:
- Gyana Yoga and Kriya Yoga: the path of knowledge and the path of action
- Right action: Its purpose and criterion
- Desire and anger: And how to rise above them to spontaneously perform right action
- The role of the “established intellect” in practical life
- ‘Yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi’: Elaborates on the theme, “established in Yoga, perform actions.”
Chapter Four explores the following themes:
- The tradition of gaining success in the world and freedom in Divine Consciousness
- The revival of knowledge in its purity after being lost and forgotten by man
- Raising man’s consciousness to that purity which places him on the divine level
- Divine reaction to man depends upon man’s action towards the Divine
- Gaining Divine Consciousness and rising to oneness of life
- Gaining the state of non-attachment and freedom from doubts.
Reviews from Chapter 1 & 2 Course
“Thank you very much for this great course. It’s wonderful.” —YP
“Thank you for sharing your extensive wisdom with us!” —SF
“Beautiful and exciting! Thank you all for providing this forum!” —CC
“Quite enjoyable.” —RL
“Great start. I hope we can continue with all 6 chapters.” —BS
“Wonderful ocean of Knowledge!” —MM
“Brilliant!” —SB
“This is great! Thumbs up y’all.” —ND
“This is one of the most beautiful and dynamic courses ever.” —KG
“The great wealth of knowledge and experience of dear Keith Wallace and all of you are invaluable.” —AS
“Beautiful insights.” —MB
“Very illuminating.” —CB
“Thank you so much for this course. It gives great understanding of our TM practice.” —PM
“I feel supremely fortunate to encounter this knowledge; the best gift.” —SB
“This is my first time around with the Bhagavad-Gita …it has been and is such an inspirational experience! Thank you for this.” —SF
“So very special to be here. Loving these classes.” —AT
“Terrific commentary and course.” —WF
“It’s absolutely perfect!! Loving loving this class with the three of you!” —RS
“Love this class! So grateful for finally being able to study the Gita. Thank you to our three teachers, Jalal and all the participants.” —CG
“It’s so reassuring, settling & joyful to hear Maharishi’s teaching. So many confusions dispelled so the truth shines out & makes complete sense.” —SB
“LOVE this class. Grateful!” —CV
“It is so great to go with you through this high knowledge of the Gita.” —MR
“It’s so relevant to today’s world situation.” —BS
“Suddenly discovering so much I never never found in these verses before! Magic!” —CB
“I think each verse is Vedic psychology.” —AA
“Such a joy to listen to your comments, insights, knowledge. A true blessing. Thank you kindly.” —AT
Course Leaders
Professor Keith Wallace, PhD
Professor Keith Wallace, PhD
Dr. Robert Keith Wallace did pioneering research on the Transcendental Meditation technique. His seminal papers on a fourth major state of consciousness—published in Science, American Journal of Physiology, and Scientific American—supported a new paradigm of mind-body medicine and total brain development. Dr. Wallace is the founding President of Maharishi International University and has traveled around the world giving lectures at major universities and institutes on Consciousness-Based(SM) health programs. He is currently a Trustee of Maharishi International University and Chairperson of the Department of Physiology and Health. Dr. Wallace has written a number of books, including Gut Crisis: How Diet, Probiotics, and Friendly Bacteria Help You Lose Weight and Heal Your Body and Mind, which integrates ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with the latest findings in modern medicine, and Self Empower: Using Self-Coaching, Neuroadaptability, and Ayurveda.
Professor William Sands, PhD
Professor William Sands, PhD
Dr. William F. Sands is an international administrator of the worldwide Transcendental Meditation organizations, with special responsibility for Maharishi Vedic Science. He is also Dean of the College of Maharishi Vedic Science at Maharishi International University.
Dr. Sands completed his undergraduate studies at Georgetown University and received his MA and PhD from Maharishi International University. His doctoral dissertation was on Maharishi’s Absolute Theory of Government in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇ, for which he received the Vyasa Award for the outstanding dissertation of his graduating class.
He has worked in various capacities in Maharishi’s global organizations for almost 50 years, including 15 years directly with Maharishi at his international headquarters in the Netherlands.
He has also lectured in over 30 countries, including in Europe, the Middle East, India, and throughout Asia, and has published articles on a variety of topics. He is a Sanskrit scholar and the author of four books, entitled: The Royal Path to Enlightenment, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and His Gift to the World, Maharishi’s Yoga Volume II: Yoga and Vedānta, and Everything Is Made of Vedic Sounds.
Raja Bright
Raja John Bright
John Bright began exploring meditation as a student at Princeton University in 1964, where he received a bachelor’s degree in the Near East Program and then earned an M.A. in international relations and contemporary Arabic poetry from New York University. In 1970 he was trained as a TM teacher under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, in Estes Park, Colorado and worked with Maharishi as a personal assistant until 1973. In 1972 he became the first administrative vice president of Maharishi International University, and later that year traveled to the Middle East, where he opened the first TM centers in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.
In recent years, John Bright has directed a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the benefits of the TM program to entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and businesses in Silicon Valley. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Country of World Peace, an international non-profit that administers the TM program and integrative health initiatives throughout the world. His academic specialty is the analysis of Maharishi’s new translation and commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita as a contemporary template for healing, human development, and leadership. He has led Bhagavad-Gita study groups for over 40 years around the world.
FAQ
How long are the videos available to view?
Videos are available to view for at least one year after signing up.
Where can I contact the organizer of this event with any questions?
Please email the Office of Continuing Education at ce@miu.edu.Or you can call 641-919-0045 during office hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 am – noon and 1:00 – 4:00 pm (Central Time).
What is the refund policy?
We offer full refunds to anyone who requests them before starting the third class.