♦ There are ignorant people who speak flowery words and take delight in the letter of the law, saying there is nothing else. Their hearts are full of selfish desires, Arjuna. Their idea of heaven is their own enjoyment, and the aim of all their activities is pleasure and power. The fruit of their actions is continual rebirth. Those whose minds are swept away by the pursuit of pleasure and power are incapable of following the supreme goal and will not attain samadhi.

- Bhagavad Gita 2:42-44

♦ Those who abstain while allowing the mind to dwell on sensual pleasure cannot be called sincere spiritual aspirants. But they excel who control their senses through the mind, using them for selfless service.

- Bhagavad Gita 3:6-7

♦ Knowledge is hidden by selfish desire--hidden by this unquenchable fire for self-satisfaction.

- Bhagavad Gita 3:38-39

♦ True sustenance is in service and through it a man or woman reaches the eternal Brahman. But those who do not seek to serve are without a home in this world.

- Bhagavad Gita 4:31

♦ Those who know this truth, whose consciousness is unified, think always, "I am not the doer." While seeing or hearing, touching or smelling; eating, moving about, or sleeping; breathing or speaking, letting go or holding on, even opening or closing the eyes, they understand that these are only the movements of the senses among sense objects.

- Bhagavad Gita 5:8-9

♦ Closing their eyes, steadying their breathing, and focusing their attention on the center of spiritual consciousness, the wise master their senses, mind, and intellect through meditation. Self-realization is their only goal. Freed from selfish desire, fear, and anger, they live in freedom always. Knowing me as the friend of all creatures, the Lord of the universe, the end of all offerings and all spiritual disciplines, they attain eternal peace.

- Bhagavad Gita 5:27-29

♦ It is not those who lack energy or refrain from action, but those who work without expectation of reward who attain the goal of meditation. Theirs is true renunciation. Therefore, Arjuna, you should understand that renunciation and the performance of selfless service are the same. Those who cannot renounce attachment to the results of their work are far from the path.

- Bhagavad Gita 6:1-2

♦ When a person responds to the joys and sorrows of others as if they were his own, he has attained the highest state of spiritual union.

- Bhagavad Gita 6:32

♦ After many births the wise seek refuge in me, seeing me everywhere and in everything. Such great souls are very rare. There are others whose discrimination is misled by many desires. Following their own nature, they worship lower gods, practicing various rites.

- Bhagavad Gita 7:19-20

♦ Remembering me at the time of death, close down the doors of the senses and place the mind in the heart. Then, while absorbed in meditation, focus all energy upwards to the head. Repeating in this state the divine Name, the syllable Om that represents the changeless Brahman, you will go forth from the body and attain the supreme goal.

- Bhagavad Gita 8:12-13

♦ These two paths, the light and the dark, are said to be eternal, lending some to liberation and others to rebirth. Once you have known these two paths, Arjuna, you can never be deluded again. Attain this knowledge through perseverance in yoga. There is merit in studying the scriptures, in selfless service, austerity, and giving, but the practice of meditation carries you beyond all these to the supreme abode of the highest Lord.

- Bhagavad Gita 8:26-28

♦ Even a sinner becomes holy when he worships me alone with firm resolve. Quickly his soul conforms to dharma and he attains to boundless peace. Never forget this, Arjuna: no one who is devoted to me will ever come to harm.

- Bhagavad Gita 9:30-31

♦ Still your mind in me, still your intellect in me, and without doubt you will be united with me forever. If you cannot still your mind in me, learn to do so through the regular practice of meditation. If you lack the will for such self-discipline, engage yourself in my work, for selfless service can lead you at least to complete fulfillment. If you are unable to do even this, surrender yourself to me, disciplining yourself and renouncing the results of all your actions.

- Bhagavad Gita 12:8-11

♦ Integrated Self - Fitting our intellectual, emotional, and creative selves together as a consistent, synchronized whole. Finding our purpose and greater balance and harmony so that we achieve greater meaning, passion and purpose in our lives and careers, and also ignite our potential rather being thwarted by self sabotaging behaviors

Why is the integrated self so important? Because it is your integrated self that works to support your values, realize your purpose. And, it is your values or the alignment of your values and your ability to feel that you are on purpose that drives how you see yourself, your ability to tap into intrinsic motivation and to achieve happiness.

Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve. Realize the truth of the scriptures; learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, Arjuna, you will achieve your divine destiny.

- Bhagavad Gita 16:1-3

♦ By loving me he comes to know me truly; then he knows my glory and enters into my boundless being. All his acts are performed in my service, and through my grace he wins eternal life.

- Bhagavad Gita 18:55-56

♦ Make every act an offering to me (God); regard me as your only protector. Relying on interior discipline, meditate on me always. Remembering me, you shall overcome all difficulties through my grace. But if you will not heed me in your self-will, nothing will avail you.

- Bhagavad Gita 18:57-58