A Woman’s Gita: Bhagavad Gita by and for Western Women

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In this episode of A Women’s Gita Podcast, Kamala Rose and Nischala Joy Devi explore karma yoga through the lens of the Bhagavad Gita, asking what it really means to live as an example for others. Starting from Gita 3.21, they unpack how “great persons” inspire the world not by words alone, but by the integrity of their actions.
Drawing on the life and work of Jane Goodall, they reflect on compassionate science, women’s leadership, and the power of seeing animals—and all of nature—as conscious beings deserving of love and respect. Kamala shares personal stories of growing up around female anthropologists and how seeing women in positions of intellectual and ethical authority shaped her own path.
Together, they consider what this all means for modern yoga teachers: moving beyond the idea of yoga as just a sweaty vinyasa class, and toward yoga as Ahimsa, loka sangraha (acting for the welfare of the world), and spiritual maturity. They also explore the Gita’s subtle paradoxes around action and non-action, and how to understand Krishna’s teaching as a practical call to conscious, selfless service in daily life.
Topics in this episode:
Karma yoga and Gita 3.21–3.25: acting as an example for the world
Jane Goodall as a model of compassionate, feminine leadership in science
Women, nature, and reclaiming an intimate relationship with the more-than-human world
Loka sangraha: acting for the welfare of all beings, not just ourselves
The responsibility of yoga teachers to embody Ahimsa and spiritual depth
Reconciling “nothing left to attain” with continuing to act in the world
Why meditation and quiet time are essential foundations for selfless service

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In this episode of A Woman’s Gita Podcast, Kamala Rose and Nischala Joy Devi sit “under the banyan tree” with Chapter 3, Verse 17–18 of the Bhagavad Gita and explore what it really means to move from constant doing to simple being. They unpack Krishna’s vision of the yogi who is no longer compelled to act, because she has discovered a deep, inner contentment and happiness in the Self alone.
Through storytelling, cross-traditional insights, and practical suggestions for daily practice, Kamala and Nischala show how the ideals of santosha (contentment) and karma yoga (selfless service) can coexist in a modern, busy, capitalist world—especially in women’s lives, where the pressure to constantly “fix, help, and manage” is so strong.

Key Topics Covered:
The meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.17–18:“One who rejoices in the Self” and is “not compelled to act”
How the compulsion to act shifts from self-centered to world-centered (welfare of all)

Santosha (contentment) as a radical practiceWhy “I am enough” and “I have enough” are revolutionary statements in a consumer culture
The difference between true contentment and laziness

From external rewards to inner fulfillmentHow capitalist conditioning trains us to seek happiness outside ourselves
Atma rati: happiness generated by the Atman, not by achievement or acquisition

The evolution from external ritual to inner realizationThe Vedic story of the gods hiding the Atman “inside” human beings
How ancient ritual fire becomes internalized as the fire of awareness and meditation

Mysticism and direct experience across traditionsYoga as the mystical branch of Hinduism
Parallels with Christian mysticism and the Beatitudes
“Be still and know…” as a universal doorway to the inner Self

Dynamic stillness and the challenge of not-doingWhat it means to be internally vibrant while outwardly still
Why Western culture fears stillness and glorifies busyness
Practical ways to start “making in as important as out”

Everyday practices to cultivate inner contentmentShort daily sittings to train the mind in “I am enough right now”
Using mantra at bedtime to fall asleep in a state of gentle awareness
Bringing santosha into a hatha yoga class as a closing practice

From ego-driven activity to selfless serviceHow the motive for action gradually shifts from “for me” to “for the welfare of the world”
Why one who serves selflessly is “not affected by any being or action”

This episode is for anyone who feels exhausted by constant doing, yet senses there must be a quieter, more grounded way to live, serve, and practice yoga—right in the midst of ordinary life.

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In this episode of A Woman’s Gita Podcast, Kamala Rose and Nischala Joy Devi dive deep into Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita, exploring verses 3.15–3.16 on selfless action, universal consciousness (Brahman), and the great “wheel” of reciprocity that sustains life.
Drawing from the Gita, the Upanishads, and lived experience as women, teachers, and long-time practitioners, they unpack how karma yoga calls us to serve others without attachment to personal gain—while also honoring the very real need for boundaries, rest, and self-care, especially for women who are often conditioned to over-give.
Through stories, scriptural insight, and practical reflections, this conversation invites listeners to reimagine service not as self-erasure, but as a path to a lighter heart, deeper connection, and a more sustainable way of living in the world.
In this episode, we explore:
The meaning of karma yoga and why “every selfless act is born from Brahman”
Verse 3.16’s image of the “wheel” (chakra) and how all of life turns through reciprocity
How universal consciousness expresses itself through everyday acts of service
The danger of indulging the senses and living “in vain” by ignoring the needs of others
The metaphor of weighing the heart against a feather and what makes a heart “light”
Why every spiritual tradition emphasizes service as a way to purify the heart
The tension between American individualism (“greed is good,” “look out for number one”) and the Gita’s call to selfless action
The connection between happiness, attachment, and constant wanting (“25% more”)
How art, music, and ritual keep the heart open in a culture that overvalues the mind
The role of daily practices (like meditation, lighting a candle, morning/evening reflection) as modern equivalents of Vedic fire rituals
The risk of burnout and over-giving, especially for women, mothers, and caregivers
Why true service must be paired with self-care and healthy boundaries
The Sufi teaching: “Never give from the depth of your well, only from the overflow”
How the four āśramas (life stages) point to a natural shift toward more practice in later life
Why it’s so helpful to begin spiritual practice early—not just in the “winter” of life
Tune in for a heartfelt, grounded exploration of what it really means to participate in the wheel of life with an open heart—offering, receiving, and learning to care for yourself as tenderly as you care for others.

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In this episode of A Women’s Gita Podcast, Kamala Rose and Nischala Joy Devi continue their exploration of Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita, turning toward the deep—and often misunderstood—concepts of yajna (sacrifice) and tapas (austerity, inner fire).

Drawing from traditional Gita verses, Vedic creation myths, and lived experiences as women, they unpack how sacrifice has been framed, who has been centered in those stories, and what it means to reclaim these teachings in a way that honors women, the Earth, and the interconnected web of life.

This conversation weaves together scripture, myth, feminist critique, and practical spirituality, inviting listeners to see their daily practice as an inner ritual fire that supports both personal transformation and the welfare of the world.

Key topics covered:

What yajna really means beyond “giving something up”
The Vedic worldview of interdependence: gods, humans, nature, and the “wish-fulfilling cow”
The Purusha Sukta and creation as an original cosmic sacrifice
Contrast between Vedic creation myths and the Genesis story (dominion vs. interconnection)
How religious worldviews shape attitudes toward women and nature
Women’s lived experience of sacrifice: childbirth, caregiving, and erasure from sacred narratives
The role of rain, food, and ritual in sustaining life and cosmic balance
Understanding tapas as daily, embodied practice—not extreme self-denial
The Gayatri mantra and Bargo as the purifying inner flame
Re-reading the Gita to include women’s voices without changing its core teachings

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Step beyond traditional boundaries in "Beyond Patriarchy: Reclaiming the Feminine in Sacred Texts." In this special episode, Kamala Rose and Nischala Joy Devi celebrate a year of groundbreaking dialogue by exploring how women’s voices have historically been sidelined in spiritual traditions—and how they are reclaiming their rightful place today. Drawing on the legacy of the Seneca Falls Convention and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and examining the Bhagavad Gita through a contemporary, inclusive lens, the hosts dive deep into how reclaiming the feminine transforms both faith and society.
Key topics covered:
The historic Seneca Falls Convention and its relevance to modern women’s rights
The influence of the Declaration of Sentiments and the Woman's Bible
The impact of patriarchy in both Western and Eastern religious traditions
How religious texts have reinforced and now challenge women’s subjugation
The importance of gender-neutral, inclusive interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures
Celebrating Chapter 9, Sloka 32 of the Gita as a verse of empowerment and equality
The role of spirituality versus institutional religion in fostering freedom and equality
Personal stories of empowerment, sisterhood, and advocacy in the yoga and spiritual communities