Date: July 21, 2001
Length: 1 hour 13 min

Swami discusses the lessons of the second half of the first chapter of Bhagavad-gita, centering on the theme of material attachment as the first great hurdle that must be overcome in spiritual life. Material attachments comprise the false ego, and we are prepared to defend such attachments with all manner of rationalizations, as Arjuna demonstrates in his litany of objections to fighting with his family members. But he also demonstrates the ideal attitude of a disciple by bringing his dilemma to his guru, Krsna, who will take the situation to the higher ground of spiritual truth from which the true nature of material attachment--violence to the soul--becomes apparent.