Krishna tells Arjuna: ‘Concentrate on your Inner Self, the image of the Eternal Spirit, which, like It, is immortal! Fear not to fight the senses and to destroy the attachment to the body! This, sooner or later, you will be compelled to do!’
— Paramahansa Yogananda
Continuing with our offerings of discourses on the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, we bring you the second in a two-part series titled “Understanding the Nature of the Soul” by Swami Smaranananda Giri, a senior sannyasi of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.
In this discourse, Swami Smaranananda Giri draws on Paramahansa Yogananda’s commentary on Slokas 16 to 30 of Chapter II of the Bhagavad Gita, God Talks with Arjuna, where he dwells on the nature of the soul, which is unchangeable. These verses elucidate the eternal and indestructible essence of the soul, distinct from the perishable body and mind. The soul, imperishable and unchanging, is neither born nor destroyed, and transcends the dualities of life and death. By realizing this truth, one can overcome attachment to the body and embrace the changeless spiritual self within.
This discourse was live-streamed from YSS Noida Ashram and is available for viewing on the YSS website and YouTube channel.
Previous Talks on Bhagavad Gita
Please click here to view the previous series, each with multiple parts, by Swami Smaranananda Giri.
About the Scriptural Commentary
Paramahansa Yoganandaji, the author of the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, interprets the Bhagavad Gita with divine insight. In his interpretation, exploring its psychological, spiritual, and metaphysical depths — from the subtle causes of everyday thoughts and actions to the grand design of the cosmic order — Yoganandaji presents a sweeping chronicle of the soul’s journey to enlightenment.
Clearly outlining the Gita’s balanced path of meditation and right activity, Paramahansaji shows how we can create for ourselves a life of spiritual integrity, serenity, simplicity, and joy. Through our awakened intuition, we come to know the right course to take at every crossroad on the path of life, to determine what shortcomings are holding us back and what positive qualities are moving us forward, and to recognize and avoid pitfalls along the way.
God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita – Available from our bookstore!
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