Bhagvad gita chapter 17 , (Revised 2021) The flowcharts and overview

Revised and updated in 2021.
Bhagvad gita chapter 17 , The flowcharts and overview black and white for printing.
Chapter 17: Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga Yoga (The yoga of the classification of the threefold faith) - 28 verses. Krishna mentions three divisions of beliefs, thoughts, deeds and even eating habits corresponding to the three gunas (17:4-10).
• ,
• Faith in Gita ,
Shraddha or Faith

The flowcharts and overview

1. Compiled by
Dr. Medicherla shyam SunderKumar
[email protected]
{ 28 Slokas / Verses}
BHAGVAD GITA CHAPTER 14 FLOWCHARTS
1
Based on teachings of
1-Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
2-Bhagvad_Gita_Notes_Complete_Gauranga_priyarabhu

2. Based on teachings of
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Bhagvad_Gita_Notes_Complete_Gauranga_priyarabhu

3. CHAPTERS

4. Swami Paripoornananda Saraswathi

6. Chapter 17 :
Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga Yoga
{28 Slokas / Verses}
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami

8. I. Title of the discourse ;
Sraddha (faith) is threefold-
Sattvic,
Rajasic and
Tamasic.
The qualities and actions of the three types of men
endowed with the threefold faith are described in this
Discourse, and so it is entitled "Sraddhatraya vibhagayoga".
GITA Ch 17 ,

9. How this Discourse is connected with the previous one?
How would it be described-Sattvic, Rajasic, or Tamasic ?"
A doubt cropped up in Arjuna’s mind when he heard it, and he presents his
doubt to the Lord at once. "What would be the position of a person who is
conducting worship with faith (Sraddha) though it is contrary
to the Sastras ?
At the end of the previous Discourse, the Lord declared
categorically that no good could be achieved without adhering
to the Scriptural ordinances.
{

10. The 16th chapter is his
udara (ABDOMEN)
17 & 18 chapters are
his mangalakara pAdas
(Feet).
The next ten chapters
(6-15) are his arms,
The first five chapters
(1 to 5) are his face,
Shri mahA Vishnu extolls the glory of
Shrimad Bhagavad-gIta to Shri MahA
Lakshmi dEvi.
"GItA mE paramaM rUpaM" -Shrimad Bhagavad-gIta is
sAkshAth pratIka of Lord Shri Krishna.

11. BHAGHAVAT GITA
NIRVANA / SALVATION
SAMADHI
JNANA
YOGA
EQUANIMITTY
ONE POINTEDNESS
1. BE FEARLESS
2. FOLLOW LAW OF DHARMA/KARMA
3. LAWS OF MODERATION
4.DON’T GIVE UP SADHANA
(PRACTICE)
5. HAVE FAITH
KARMA
KANDA
1 –6 Ch
7 -12 Ch
UPASANA
WORSHIP
JNANA
KANDA
13 –18 Ch
RATIONAL
( XI
TH
CH PRACTICALS)
(PRACTICAL VEDANTA)
Gita is not mere a talk. It is practice of Vedanta
Death is an Important event in life
Man has sufficient time to prepare for it

12. Gita chapters 2 & 18 like bookends.
Gita chapters 1, 3 through 17 are sandwiched between ch 2 & 18
Gita chapter 2
Gita chapter 3
Gita chapter 4
Gita chapter 5
Gita chapter 6
Gita chapter 7
Gita chapter 8
Gita chapter 12
Gita chapter 11
Gita chapter 13
Gita chapter 14
Gita chapter 16
Gita chapter 18
Gita chapters 1, 3 through 17
18Th Chapter
The summary ofall instructions
OF ALL OTHER CHAPTERS
OF “BHAGVAD GITA”
Gita itself in one chapter “ THE ART OF LIVING ”
The Second Chapter
a synopsis of the whole
subject matter

13. fifteen stories
in theform of
fifteen chapters.
The Chapter XVI provided
a dome on the top of the temple,
Divine and demonic
Chapter XVII furnished
a round frame
at each level
3 Fold division of FAITH
Then sage Vyasa set up securely the pinnacle
in the form of Chapter XVIII
and unfurled the flag of the Gita on it.
This pinnacle testifies that the temple
is finished and nothing remains to be done.
Moksha sanyasa Yoga
THE TEMPLE
Temple in the form of the Gita
and has come to the rescue
of all beings in every way

14. TEMPLE
Temple in the form of the Gita
and has come to the rescue
of all beings in every way
Some walk around
the temple
by reciting the Gita,
while others take shelter
in side and hear the Gita
recited.
Shravana
Still others enter the sanctuary of the
temple in the form of the knowledge
of the Gita and put it in to practice.
Get access to Lord Krishna
through the knowledge of the Self
Nidhidhyasa
But all of them get the same access to the temple of, salvation
By reciting or knowing the meaning of the
Gita and contemplating on it.
Manana

15. sow seed of a sacred
thought in the field of his
heart, it grows into a
gigantic tree of spiritual
power and confers the
fruits of peace and bliss
FAITH-SEED
BLISS is the
FRUIT
GITA Ch 17

16. GITA CH 17
Sraddhais
earnestness, perseverance,
determination, and steadfastness.
Sraddhaalone is not enough. It
should be strengthened by
nissamshayaor absence of doubt
or scepticism.
Sraddhaand nissamshayaare the
two banks of the stream of life.In
other words, spiritual advancement
cannot be achieved without
persistence and faith.
Every slokain the Gîtâ
is important. There are seven hundred
slokasin all.
Similarly, a single slokafrom the Gîtâis
enough to bring the light of wisdom and
dispel the darkness of ignorance.
But without 'sraddha' or perseverance,
the Bhagavad Gîtâwill remain a sealed
book. There is no liberation and spiritual
enlightenment for the slothful. -Summer
Showers in Brindavan 1979, p. 28.
A matchbox may contain as many as 50
sticks. But, a single match is enough to
light a lamp for dispelling the darkness
of a place.

17. Krishna rightly feels that the above generalized doubt of Arjuna requires some analysis. He says, “śraddhā, which is
the result of previous dispositions, is of three types –depending on sattva, rajas and tamas. Every human being is a
product of this śraddhā. His personality is defined by it and it is built around it. A person is what his śraddhā is”
(17:2-3).
Śraddhā is an important component in the process of knowledge.
We have seen that the endeavor of the Gita is to enable the seeker to transform himself from his
lower self to the higher self of Brahman.
The Gita shows the path but the traveler has to be equipped with all necessary goods for travel.
Śraddhā is like the travel expenses in the spiritual path. It is called śraddhā-vitta, the wealth of
dedication.
What is śraddhā?
Śraddhā is something more than mere faith or trust.
It is a conscious and willing choice to follow the time-tested path of wisdom.
It is an attitude of mind which is the result of the accumulated impressions/dispositions
(vāsanā-s or saṃskāra-s) of the previous birth, carried over to this birth.
•What is Sraddha?
Capacity in intellect to know and appreciate the Sastra, absorb and
assimilate the noble ideals completely to bear upon all actions is called
Faith –Sraddha.
•Faith gives direction, dash, destination for one’s determination.
{
https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/

18. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
THE IGNORANT THE JNANI

19. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
•3 Religious disciplines.

20. Chapter 14 has given an introduction to the subject of the
modes. But it is such an important subject that Lord Kåñëa is
now going to give a more detailed elaborati
Spiritual World
Material World
Learning GUNAS
aim of helping us to become
extricated from our entanglement

21. The Three Stages of Faith
https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=5033
1-Blind Faith: 2-Informed Conviction
3-Personal Realization:
simple belief without the
support of either knowledge or
experience. Keeping our faith
strong in this phase depends
heavily on the company we
keep.
Belief strengthened by a
sound understanding of
Hindu philosophy.
The personal experience
transforms informed
conviction into certainty.
Good company we keep
Satsangh
darshan of visiting swamis
a systematic and consistent manner to
increase your knowledge about Hindu
philosophy and practices
comparing Hinduism with the world's
other major religions to understand how
they differ and how they are similar.
Established by one's own
spiritual, unsought-for,
unbidden revelations,
visions or flashes of
intuition, which one
remembers even stronger as
the time passes.

22. STAGES OF FAITH
1-Blind Faith:
Faith in its initial stage is simple
belief without the support of
either knowledge or experience.
Keep good company.
The cultivation of faith can be
compared to the growth of a
tree.
2-Informed Conviction:
studying in a systematic
and consistent manner to
increase your knowledge
like a medium-size tree,
strong and not easily
disturbed.
3-Personal Realization:
In the third stage of faith,
personal experience
transforms informed
conviction into certainty.
like a full-grown tree which
can withstand external
forces.
"Religious Faith is to believe what you
do not see. The reward of faith is to see
what you believed."
The mystery of life and beyond life, is
really better understood through faith
than through intellectual reasoning."

23. FAITH (SHRADDHA)
1
Shraddhaa is that
powerful force from within
propelled by which all the
faculties of a person act in
their respective fields
3-Personal Realization:
In the third stage of faith,
personal experience
transforms informed
conviction into certainty.
like a full-grown tree which
can withstand external
forces.
" Through faith men come to prayer,
faith in the morning, faith at noon and
at the setting of the Sun. O Faith, give
us faith!
Rig Veda Samhita, X.151.1-5
He emitted life, and from life came
faith, then space, wind, light water,
earth, the senses, and the mind.
Atharva Veda, Prashna Upanishad, IV.4

24. F
•Natural condition of mind = Creative poise of
mind. It can eliminate Rajas + Tamas.
RAJASIC + TAMASICSATTVIC
•Mind disturbed =
Rajas + Tamas active.
•When Rajas + Tamas
minimised, mind in Sattva, pure.
•Rajas + Tamas is dirt floating in mind, held in
suspension in Sattva.
••Satva decays when mind flooded by Rajas +
Tamas.
•Steadiness comes with Sattva.
https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
Rajas Tamas
-Vikshepa -Aavarna
-Agitation, projections.-Veiling
-Misapprehension. -Non-apprehension.
Trick of Maya / Mind

25. YAGNA -DANA -TAPA
GITA Vinoba Bhave.pdf

26. 3 sets of duties (debts) we were born with. Yes, we should fulfill these duties, but what is the method of
doing so? The yoga of activity -three kinds
Vinoba Bhave
A-The first is the body that wraps us.
This too wears out day by day. We wear
out by use of our mind, our knowledge, our
senses
The society into which we are
born, our parents, our brothers
and sisters, our neighbors
What is the purpose of yajna?
To make up for the harm that has
been caused to creation -
SELFLESS SERVICE
Another purpose is to purify the
things we use.
A-TAPA (Pay debt to the BODY
Tapas, austerity, has been
prescribed in order to remove the
defects and distortions that arise in
the body.
C-DANA(Pay debt to the SOCIETY
B-YAGNA(Debt to universe)
NATURE Selfless service
Through yajnawe maintain
equilibrium in NATURE
ThroughDANA we maintain
equilibrium in SOCIETY
Through TAPAwe maintain
equilibrium in the BODY
The offerings I make to the body to
sustain it for service are yajna. The
FOOD accepted for the sake of
service is holy.

27. YAGNA
(Selfless service)
4 Dials for observation of mind
The objective to make it Satvic.
https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
DANA
(Charity)
TAPA
(Renunciation)
SRADDHA
(FAITH)

28. Yajna, dana, tapas, all should be made pure.
GITA Vinoba Bhave.pdf
We saw in the 14 th Chapter
the philosophy of making our
actions sattvik.
17th chapter the Gita explains
its application.
pure (Sattvic)
In this plan of purification, the Gita has two aims
The service that is being rendered
to the world through my external
actions of yajna, dana and tapas
viewed from within,
yajna, dana and tapas
be described aspiritual exercise.
even this action has at last
to be surrenderedto the Lord.
that is why it is essential that
inward feeling should combine with
outward actionaccording to rule
and order
even this action has at last
to be surrendered to the Lord.

29. Why did krishna mention Yagna, Tapa, Dana ?
THEY SANCTIFY MIND
Each obstacle has an antidote using which it can be removed.
Here is a table summarizing this.
Urge
Activity (Yagna)
Selfless service
To live
3.11, 4.28.)
(9.26, 17.14)
Charity (Dana)
To know
(17.20)
Renunciation (TAPA)
To be happy
13.7 to 13.11, 16.1 to 16.3, 17.14
to 17.16.)
Body (Shareera) Physical (Sthoola)Mental (Sookshuma) Causal (Kaarana)
Nature (Guna) Inertia (Tamas) Activity (Rajas)Harmony (Sattva)
Primary ObstacleDesire or Lust (Kaama)Greed (Lobha) Ego (Matha)
Antidote
(Correct with)
Activity (Yagna)
Selfless service
Charity (Dana) Renunciation (Tapas)
Aspect of RealityExistence “I”(Sat) Consciousness (Chit)Bliss (Aananda)

30. ARVIND RAO -https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/...-/name/A+Guide+to+Bhagavad+Gita.pdf
In the farm-land called human mind we sow the seeds such as yajña, charity or austerity and irrigate the field with the
water called dedication (śraddha).
Dedication is also compared to the wealth that is required to travel the path of self realization.
Scripture is so kind to humans that it shows a remedy to those who are not acquainted
with the nuances or complexities of rituals and procedure.
The chapter began saying that the spirit of dedication would be
enough.
Envisaging some lapses even for this, the scripture has now suggested
the three words denoting Brahman which would redeem human
actions from all lapses

31. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/

32. A. ONE’S
MODES
DETERMINE
ONE’S
ACTIVITIES:
FAITH AND
WORSHIP IN
THE MODES
(17.1-7)
B. FOODS IN
THE MODES
(17. 8-10).
C.
SACRIFICES
(17. 11-13).
D. AUSTERITY
(17. 14-19).
E. CHARITY
(17. 20-22).
F. THE
CONCLUSION:
OM TAT SAT
(17.23-28).
Gita-Chapter 17 Outline of sections:

33. A. ONE’S
MODES
DETERMINE
ONE’S
ACTIVITIES:
FAITH AND
WORSHIP IN
THE MODES
(17.1-7)
B. FOODS IN
THE MODES
(17. 8-10).
C.
SACRIFICES
(17. 11-13).
D. AUSTERITY
(17. 14-19).
E. CHARITY
(17. 20-22).
F. THE
CONCLUSION:
OM TAT SAT
(17.23-28).
Gita-Chapter 17 Outline of sections:
Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya
Swami

34. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
Arjunas Question :
•Is it Sattwa, ?
•People do ritual with Sraddha without knowing how to perform.
People who offer prayer to the
deities with following Sastras
stipulations.
What about people who offer prayer to
the deities without following Sastras
stipulations ?
•Is it Tamas ?.•Is it Rajas ?
••On what basis, their Antahkarana is working?
GITA Ch 17, Verse 1

35. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
How to know what is persons Sraddha?
By Dieties he worships •By nature of his worship.
GITA Ch 17, Verse 4

36. FOOD
GITA Vinoba Bhave.pdf

37. GUNAS & FOOD

38. BG 17.8:
Satvic foods promotes
longevity,
virtue,
strength,
health, happiness,
and joy are
juicy,
smooth, substantial, and
nutritious. Persons in the
mode of goodness like such
foods.
Satvik: Sattvic foods are those that
lead to clarity of mind and physical
health. These foods are to be
consumed on a regular basis. Fruits,
vegetables, nuts, milk and dairy
products, raw honey come under this
category.YOGI
unfortunately it lacks many vital nutrients like
Vitamin B12, D3, Carnosine, Creatine,
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), Heme-iron,
Taurine. These vitamins can be found only in
fishes and meats. Vegetarians often suffer
from one of these vitamin deficiencies.
BG 17.9:
Foods that are too
bitter,
too sour,
salty,
very hot, pungent,
dry, and
chiliful,
are dear to persons in the
mode of passion. Such
foods producepain,
grief, and disease
Rajasic:Rajasic foods are those
that have a stimulating effect on
the mind and body. These foods
lead to aggressiveness and
irritability. For instance, the meat
of hens, birds, fishes etc fall
under this.
BHOGI
in order to live an active life and
work hard one needs to consume
Rajasic food.
BG 17.10
The foods liked by
people in the mode of
ignorance are stale,
tasteless,
putrid,
rotten,
refuses,
and impure.
ROGI
Tamasic: These food are said to
have sedative effect on the mind and
body. According to yoga, these foods
are to be avoided as they can cause
mental dullness and physical
numbness. Beef, pork, mutton,
mushrooms, alcohol, onion, garlic etc
come under this category. In Hinduism
red meats such as beef and pork are
prohibited as they are thought to
increase the tamasic gunas in a person.
Pigs and swines for instance, prefer to
live in filthy areas and eat filth, and if a
person consume their flesh, he/she will
be led through the mode of ignorance.
He/she will think like the pigs and act
accordingly.
http://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/
https://www.quora.com/Why-does-Krishna-in-the-Gita-say-
that-food-determines-the-gunas-of-a-man-Does-it-mean-that-
eating-non-veg-food-leads-to-bad-behaviour

39. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
GITA Ch 17, Verse 4
17.8-10 FOOD
17.8
17.9
17.10

40. https://twitter.com/satvikorganic

41. GITA Vinoba Bhave.pdf

42. Mans offenses
Knowingly or
Un knowingly
This & past life
Imprint carried in Chitta
Like dust on mirror
Annam brahma (Solids)
(Brahma gives us food)
Raso Vishnu (Liquid essence)
(Vishnu the ability to find its essence)
Pakto Devo Mahesvara Enjoyer of the meal)
(Shiva cooks this essence into us)
Evam Jnatva Tu Yo Bhunkte
(When you eat with this awareness)
Anna Dosho Na Lipyate
(The food becomes pure and no toxins stay in you)
Partaker prays for TRINITY TO ENDOW WITH
TRIKARANA SUDDHI ( HEAD,HEART & HANDS)
By this food is SANCTIFIED)
MALA
( IMPURE OR
TOO MANY THOUGHTS )
FOOD
Avoid impurities
The quality of food is the chief formative force
for
Moral conduct
Good habits
Spiritual effects
vessel cooked-Clean vessels (patra suddh
Food used for cooking (Padartha suddhi)
The process of cooking (Paaka suddhi)
Food obtained by unfair means
Cook with habits, attitude mental condition, & thoughts
while cooking creates vibrations
Things bought by fair or unfair means
Regulate food habits
The law of moderation.
the inner conscious (Antahkarana-mind,intellect,memory & ego )
is dependent on intake of food
Your activities shape your character.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU FEED ON.
Sprinkle water on the
food
& offer food to GOD.
Person serving
Clean habits ,character & conduct
Living habits
including recreation
Free from –hate anger,worry & indiffernce while serving
Cheerful cheerful,humble & full of love while serving
Persons mind should not dwellon wicked & vicious
thoughts.
Offer to GOD 4/24
Take as prasaada
Serve with love Correct impurities
by oy offering to GOD
How ?

43. 1/2
FOOD
1/4
WATER
Fill 1/2 of the stomach
withFOOD
Fill 1/4 th of
stomach with
water

45. FAITH (SHRADDHA)
FOOD (AHARA)
SACRIFICE (YAGNA)
CHARITY (DANA)
GITA Vinoba Bhave.pdf

46. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
GITA Ch 17, Verses 4-22
17.4
17.8-10
17.11-13
17.20-22

47. TAPAS
Basis of Gunas and Instruments
GITA Vinoba Bhave.pdf

48. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
GITA Ch 17, Verses 14-19
Basis of Gunas 17-17-19
Basis of Instruments 17. 14-16

49. Bhagvad gita Study by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
A. ONE’S
MODES
DETERMINE
ONE’S
ACTIVITIES:
FAITH AND
WORSHIP IN
THE MODES
(17.1-7)
B. FOODS IN
THE MODES
(17. 8-10).
C.
SACRIFICES
(17. 11-13).
D. AUSTERITY
(17. 14-19).
E. CHARITY
(17. 20-22).
F. THE
CONCLUSION:
OM TAT SAT
(17.23-28).
Gita-Chapter 17 Outline of sections:

50. OM-TAT-SAT
GITA Vinoba Bhave.pdf
BRAHMAN-All three words independently and together reveal Brahman.
17. 23 to 28describe the three notations of Brahman –OM. TAT. SAT
Krishna explains as to how these are employed in order to
enhance the sanctity of the actions performed.

51. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
OM •SAT.•TAT
BRAHMAN AWARENESS -All three words independently and together reveal
Brahman.
CHAPTER 17 –VERSE 23
“Om tat sat” –
This has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman.
By that were created formerly, the Brahmanas, Vedas and Yajnas
(sacrifices).
•It may so happen that even when the above activities are done with a sāttvika frame
of mind, there may be some lapses taking place unknowingly. In order to redeem from
such lapses Krishna suggests that the utterance of three words which denote Brahman
would nullify the defects and sanctify all actions.
•People do ritual with Sraddha without knowing how to perform.

52. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
BRAHMAN-All three words independently and together reveal Brahman.
Verse 23 to 28 describe the three notations of Brahman –aum, tat and sat.
Krishna explains as to how these are employed in order to enhance the sanctity of the actions performed.
CHAPTER 17 –VERSE 23
“

53. SUN is called SAT(Paramatma,
God beyond creation),
The Sun rays in side the prism are TAT
(Sri krishna consciousness or
God in Creation or Parashakti)
The Rays that are coming out of
Prism are called OM
(Prakriti or Pra Pradhanam or Adi
Shakti).
The result is Pradhanam or visible
world or prapancham.
GITA CH 17 Verse 23
OM TAT SAT
OM
SAT
TAT
Om tatsaditinirdeso brahmanah trividhah smritaha…
Gita 17th adhyaya 23rd shloka.
Every thing came out of SAT TAT OM.
For everything one must chant OMTATSAT and then start one’s work.

54. https://21stcenturybhagavadgita.wordpress.com/page/5/

55. https://vedantastudents.com/downloads/class-notes/
OM •SAT.•TAT
OM
The wise persons
recite the word
‘Aum’ both while
beginning and while
concluding any
ritual like yajña,
charity or austerity.
This would sanctify
all such acts.
SAT
People recite the word ‘sat’ when
some good act has been performed
by someone or
when an act is done in a praise-
worthy manner.
In events like marriages and such
other auspicious occasions the
elders recite the word ‘sat’ in
approval of the same.
Any act done in the spirit of karma-
yoga is also called ‘sat’.
‘Sat’ is the existence principle of
Brahman and hence acts done with
devotion are approved by that word.
All actions done without devotion
are called ‘asat’, the opposite of the
above.
It means that such acts are as good
as useless and false. Such acts
would not yield any worldly result or
heavenly result.
TAT
Those seekers who
wish to attain purity of
mind and who do not
desire the fruit of their
actions would recite
the word ‘tat’ both at
the beginning and at
the end of such acts.

56. Tasya Vachakah pranavah :
Om is the sound symbol of Paramatma.
Tajjapas tadartha Bhavanam (Patanjali)
Therefore, the utterance of Om has become the practice at the
beginning of any form of Karma. Every Mantra has the symbol Om
prefixed to it. But when the symbols Om Tat Sat are uttered, their
meaning should be kept in mind, and the Supreme Brahman should
be meditated through these symbols.
"The name (Om) should beuttered repeatedlyand its
meaning should be deeply contemplated."—If there are any
errors and mistakes in the practice of Karma (Yajna, Japa,
Dhyana etc.) all of them arc rectified by the utterance of these
three symbols of Brahman Om Tat Sat.
GITA Ch 17 , Verses 23

57. All mantras acquire power when their meaning and significance are
clearly contemplated in the mind.
It is declared that Vedas and Yajnas were created from this triple
designation (On Tat Sat). So it is the origin, the source of the Vedas.
Another interpretation for Om Tat Sat-
Om: Para Brahman;
Tat: That (Brahman alone);
Sat is (reality)
Every-thing else in the entire objective universe is only a shadow unreal
(Mithya).
The very essence of all the Vedas is, as it were, distilled into that one symbol
'Om’ So, the utterance of this sacred syllable is equal to the study of all the
Vedas.
{
GITA Ch 17 , Verses 23

58. Therefore the Mantra Om Tat Sat, implies the
very highest truth of all the Vedas and the Sastras—
Brahma satyam jagan mithya
(Brahman is real, the universe is unreal).
The Name of the Lord takes away sin
All this is very well. But the question now arises, "This Name, 'om tat
sat,' is only for the pure man. What is the sinner to do?
Is there a Name which even in the mouth of a sinner is beautiful?"
The Name om tat sat has this power too.
Thus the aspirants should utter this unique Mantra, contemplate
the reality of Brahman, reject the unreal world, and develop
dispassion and knowledge. They should firmly establish them-
selves in Brahman, the only reality.
GITA Ch 17 , Verses 23

59. The A U M of the OM, represents the om tat sat principle,
the "That is the Truth", "I am the Truth", "the Truth is One" principle.
The OM is the everpresent voice within the echo of the divine call,from
the cavity of the heart. Listen to it, be thrilled by it; that is the inner
adoration, of which the external pujaor ritual worship is the outer
symbol. With the ego rampant and rambling, how can the mind be
balanced and faith be steady? Contemplate the OM, the symbol of the
inner flame, which shines through the waking hours, the dream twilight
and sleep night. That way you can earn grace abundantly. -Sathya Sai
Speaks VII, pp. 364-5
GITA Ch 17 , Verses 23
Omsummarizes the Vedasand their teachings. Om-tat-
sat, says the Gîtâ. Tat(that) which sat(is) isOm, the One. All this is
Brahman, the One without a second.
Tatis used to indicate that the objective world is taken by the senses
to be separate and afar; it means "that" and "that" is always far, and
separate.
Satmeans "is", "the is", "this"!
When you recognize thetatas "is" or sat, it becomes "this";
it is no longer object, it is subject, and the merging of object and
subject manifests as the Om! - Sathya Sai Speaks VII, p. 455

60. OM SHANTI
OM SHANTI
OM SHANTI
Om-let all the deficiencies of this PPTgo away
Tat-let this give Bhagavan great happiness
Sat-let this give true lasting benefits