The Gita Way: Secret recipe to achieve the purpose of life

'The Gita Way' is an irreligious take on the tenets of the Bhagavad Gita. Without delving into either mythological or God-centric discourse, the book attempts to understand and explain various insights from the Gita through, in the author's words, derived theory and application. The Gita Way attempts to shed light on matters of self-realisation, and identifying and following the path to achieve the purpose of life. Within the framework of Vedic philosophy represented by Gita, this book explores: How to discover the swa-bhava, the inherent natural strength of our real-self? Is my profession aligned with my swa-bhava? What is my purpose of life? What is the real meaning of moksha, the liberation? How the realization of individual purpose leads us to attain supreme purpose we are born to achieve? Using the principles of Gita, this book presents innovative findings on theory of prarabdha, the luck or destiny, role of knowledge and karma, continuous improvement, yoga of universal harmony and yoga of devotion. To highlight few, in chapter combined discipline of knowledge and karma, authors introduce most important part of their researchCentring. Centring summarizes power of combined application of yoga of knowledge and karma along with simplified theory of spirit and supreme spirit. Chapter Vision of Universal Form and Yoga of Liberation simplifies the meaning of moksha, the state of liberation by linking it to the attainment of supreme purpose of life. Chapters on Yoga of Devotion and Continuous improvement focus on recipe of staying on the unique path of achieving individual goal. Unlike other books on Bhagavad Gita, the Gita Way is not a chapter wise discourse. Instead it presents deduced concepts in first place supported with relevant reference from the whole Gita. For example, in the first chapter of the Gita Way, you may get a reference of last chapter of Gita relevant to the topic of discussion. Contents: 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE GITA WAY 11 Development of The Gita Way 17 2. DEVELOPING A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN LIFE 25 Goal 28 Finding Unique Strength and Developing It 32 Joy of the Self-Hobby vs Profession 35 How to Set a Goal? 39 Doubt in any form is the Biggest Enemy to Self-realisation 45 The Story of Barbarika: Why was Barbarika Sacrificed? 47 3. YOGA OF KNOWLEDGE 51 Knowledge of Self 54 Elements of Self 56 Consciousness of Self-Identity 57 Intellect 60 Primordial Matter 62 Source of Perception and Action, One Mind and Five Senses 63 Physical Body and Fitness 63 False Goals such as Desire, Aversion and Pleasure 64 Required Qualities in Self 64 How Does One Achieve Absolute Knowledge? 67 Lack of Knowledge is Ignorance which creates Fear 71 4. KARMA YOGA 74 Prescribed Act and Prohibited Act 76 Yoga and the Attributes of a Yogi 79 How does One Achieve Equipoise? 80 Desire-Entrap 84 Hierarchy of Control 86 Theory of Prarabdha or Destiny 88 Butterfly Effect 90 Hurdles in the Path of Karma-Yoga 93 Vikarma 95 Law of Growth 96 Ultimate Dispassion: Nishkam Karma 97 How to stay on the Path of Karma-Yoga? 99 5. COMBINED DISCIPLINE OF KNOWLEDGE AND KARMA 101 Self-Realisation 102 Wisdom 104 Sacrifice 108 Centring and Power of Real-Self 112 Power of Real-self 113 Centring 116 Yoga of Self-Control 119 6. YOGA OF DEVOTION 121 The Cycle of Liberation 123 How does devotion come to us? 127 Devotion to Tame the Mind 129 Relevance of Devotion to the Theory of Prarabdha 130 Symptoms of Lack of Devotion 134 7. VISION OF THE UNIVERSAL FORM 136 Universal Form of Goal 140 Concept of Self 147 Redirecting the Purpose of Desire 150 8. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT ON THREE MODES OF NATURE 152 Inner Purification by Knowing Sattva, Rajas and Tamas 159 Sattva 159 Rajas 161 Tamas 164 The Gita Way of Continuous Improvement 165 Elimination of Waste 166 9. YOGA OF LIBERATION 170 How is Sattva linked with the Supreme Goal? 173 How does one attain sattva? 174 Non-violence in thoughts and Action. 175 Absence of Pride 175 Internal and External Purity 176 Steadfastness of Mind 176 Control of Body, Mind and Senses 176 Sincerity 177 Forbearance 177 Uprightness of Speech and Mind 177 Devout Service to the Preceptor 177 Austerity of Mind 178 Sattvika Intellect 178 Sattvika Sacrifice 179 Leadership by Creating Order Around 180 Yoga of Liberation 182