Hari Om,

1.  By the end of Chapter 4 Krishna has established the paths of
Action (Ishwar Arpan Budhi) and the path of renunciations (Prasad
Budhi). So now at the beginning of Chapter 5 Arjuna asks the opening
question as to which of the 2 paths is superior.

2.  Krishna responds by saying that both paths leads to the same goal
which is divine reality, however for most of us it the the path of
action that is easier to follow.  This advice is lovingly given
because Krishna understands human nature very well.  As humans we are
predisposed to action and so long as we can act in a way that our
action itself is an offering to the lord as a sacrifice as a selfless
action we will be able to cleanse our minds and prepare ourselves for
the path of renunciation that is sure to follow with the right
knowledge. (Verses 5.1-5.9)

3.  In Chapter 6 lord Krishna gives us the technology to realize the
self knowledge and the is the art of meditation.  Krishna also makes
it clear to us that it is only self effort that can lift us to the
divine.  Just as a hungry person has to eat himself to quell the
hunger and no one else can eat on his  behalf.  Similarly it is
dedicated disciplined SELF effort that is the sure path to spiritual
success.

4.  At this point it is worth while to pause and consider the central
theme  that the first 6 chapters are  centered upon.  It is clear that
the first 6 chapters are centered upon "the individual) or the Jiva.
Philosophy asks very simple 3 questions
Who am I (what is my role, what should I do, how should I do it,
purpose of life etc )  :    These are all answered in the first 6
chapters.
The next Question that any philosophy would ask is What is this
creation this Jagat that I see around my self. :  The next 6 chapters
(chapters 7 to 12) deal with the questions to do with creation.  And
then the next 6 chapters (Chapters 13 to 18) deal with the next
question and that is about the connection or relations between the
Jiva and the Jagat.  In this way the entire Bhagawad Gita lays out the
philosophy that is indicated by the Mahavakya TAT TWAM ASI.  THAT THOU
ART.

5.  To help is think about creation and the basis of all creation lord
Krishna gives many many examples like asking us to focus on the thread
in the pearl necklace.  the most beautiful pearls will not form a
necklace without the thread.  The pots can be of many shapes sizes and
colors but all of them are essentially clay.  Lord Krishna is pushing
us to think of the substratum that upholds everything in the universe
and that Substratum is the lord himself.

6.  Just as space is in everything and everything is in space.
Similarly the lord is in everything and everything is in the Lord. We
know that space or the universe itself is accelerating  changing but
for every change one needs a reference.  What is the reference against
which the space is changing...  The scientific minds STOPS...  This is
where we take help from Philosophy  that substratum against which the
space itself changes is the Lord himself.

Next class we will start Chapter 13 and start exploring the last part
of the Philosophy. The connection the relationship between the Jiva
and the Jagat.