A Simple Gita – My New Book: Bhagavad Gita in simple terms

A Simple Gita

The Bhagavad-Gita – with all its depth and detail – in simple, succinct, straightforward terms.

Available in paperback, kindle and pdf here: http://www.vicdicara.com/gita

Astrological Caste System?

I just want to quickly say that you cannot declare what someone’s “varna” is by looking at their horoscope! Especially not by simply looking at the Nakshatra of their moon. If you want to get some idea of where they most likely are on the spectrum of various varnas, for the purpose of selecting an ideal career – you can do that, if you blend the nakshatra in with the varnas of the rashi, navamsha, and planets. Here is an old example I once gave in this regard: Career Assessment in Vedic Astrology.

You cannot look at a horoscope and say – “you are a shudra” or “you are a vaishya” etc. etc. It is absolutely preposterous to anyone who understands the difference between the pre-modern, corrupt caste system and the beautiful, ancient varna system. The horoscope is an artifact of an individual’s birth. Social status based on a factor of birth is caste. It is bogus. The varna system is based on actual behavior and character (“guna and karma“). That is why Krishna declares in Bhagavad Gita catur-varnyam maya srishtham, guna-karma-vibhagasa - “I created the four social classes, differentiated by character and behavior.”

Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

Bhagavad Gita, Plain and Simple – My Translation

Would You like to Learn Bhagavad Gita? I would love to share with you what I have learned of it. Elephant [Yoga] Journal is doing a serial publication of my translation of the Gita, called Bhagavad-Gita, Plain and Simple. Today they published Chapter 1: Desparate Depression of a Great Yogi. Please read it here: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/09/desperate-depression-of-a-great-yogi-vic-dicara/ Your comments and questions are very, very welcome! Every week they will publish the next section, so please stay tuned! Thank you, Vic DiCara PS – They previously published the introduction, which gives a little background info about me, if you are interested.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami on Astrology

Astronomical calculations of stellar influences upon a living being are not suppositions, but are factual, as confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Every living being is controlled by the laws of nature at every minute, just as a citizen is controlled by the influence of the state. The state laws are grossly observed, but the laws of material nature, being subtle to our gross understanding, cannot be experienced grossly. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (3.9), every action of life produces another reaction, which is binding upon us, and only those who are acting on behalf of Yajña (Viṣṇu) are not bound by reactions. Our actions are judged by the higher authorities, the agents of the Lord, and thus we are awarded bodies according to our activities. The law of nature is so subtle that every part of our body is influenced by the respective stars, and a living being obtains his working body to fulfill his terms of imprisonment by the manipulation of such astronomical influence. A man’s destiny is therefore ascertained by the birthtime constellation of stars, and a factual horoscope is made by a learned astrologer. It is a great science, and misuse of a science does not make it useless. Mahārāja Parīkṣit or even the Personality of Godhead appear in certain constellations of good stars, and thus the influence is exerted upon the body thus born at an auspicious moment.

This suitable arrangement of astral influences is never a creation of man’s will, but is the arrangement of the superior management of the agency of the Supreme Lord. Of course, the arrangement is made according to the good or bad deeds of the living being. Herein lies the importance of pious acts performed by the living being. Only by pious acts can one be allowed to get good wealth, good education and beautiful features.

- excerpted from his commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.12.12