BG Realized
BHAGAVAD GITA AND SELF - REALIZATION
„BHAGAVAD – GITA & SELF – REALIZATION” Part 1
15.11.2019
This are the 'Reflections' on Bhagavad-gita (as a research for a book I am writing), seen from the perspective of 'SELF-Realization', which means the connection of this text with meditation on 'One's Own' gradual process and progress on the path 'Back to Godhead'.
In Bg1.1 purport Srila Prabhupada mentiones “Gita-mahatmya” (“Glorification of the Gita”), there it says that one should read it very scrutinizingly, with the help of a person who is a devotee of Sri Krsna and try to 'UNDERSTAND IT WITHOUT PERSONALLY MOTIVATED INTENTION',... then one surpasses all studies of the Vedic Visdom and all scriptures of the world.
Here also Lord Krsna is called 'THE FATHER OF RELIGION'.
Bg1.24 givs the introduction of the first step on the Self-Realization progress: overcoming Ignorance. Arjuna here is calld 'Gudakesa', which means ONE WHO CONQUERS SLEEP. Sleep also means IGNORANCE. So Arjuna conquered both Sleep and Ignorance, because of his friendship with Krsna. We read further that as a great devotee of Krsna, he could not forget Krsna even for a moment, because that is the nature of a devotee. Either in working or in sleep, a devotee of the Lord can never be free from thinking of Krsna's name, form, qualities and pastimes. Thus a devotee of Krsna can conquer both Sleep and Ignorance simply by thinking of Krsna 'CONSTANTLY'. This is called KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS or SAMADHI.
In ch.2 we have ANALYTICAL STUDY of the BODY and the SPIRIT SOUL.
In verse 7 Arjuna, after deep transformation from material concept - complexity of 'Dharma' – religion, to the transcendental vision impacted to him by Krsna, finally SURRENDERS to Krsna. This inaugurates serious talk between the 'Original Spiritual Master of the science of Bhagavad-gita, Krsna' and the 'First Disciple for Understanding the Gita, Arjuna'. Srila Prabhupada wrotes here: “By nature's own way the complete system of material activities is a source of PERPLEXITY for everyone. In every step there is perplexity, and therefore it behoves one to approach a bona fide spiritual master who can give one proper guidance for executing the purpose of life.” Here, from Padma Purana we learn that to become a master one must be a Vaisnava, no matter what family he/she is born, which means one must be 'EXPERT in the Science of Krsna Conscious'.
Further explanation we have in the purport to v.14: “One has to follow the prescribed rules and regulations of religious principles in order to rise up to the 'PLATFORM of KNOWLEDGE', because by Knowledge and DEVOTION only can one Liberate himslef from the cluthes of Maya (Illusion).” This platform of Knowledge means that there is 'NO IGNORANCE' present in one's life ('turiya', Fourth dimention), no Sleep understood directly as Sleep and indirectly as 'Sleep when you are awake'.
The next important step in Self-realization is mentioned in v.17, the understanding of the SOUL described as 'THAT WHICH PERVADES THE ENTIRE BODY (CONSCIOUSNESS). Purport explains: “This spreading of consciousness is limited within one's own body. The pains and pleasures of one body are unknown to another. Therefore each and every body is the embodiment of an individual soul, and the symptom of the soul's presence is perceived as individual consciousness.
“The Soul is ATOMIC in size (Svetasvatara Upanisad 5.9 says that the size of the Soul is smaller than matrial Atoms, this are 'SPIRITUAL ATOMS'). The Soul can be perceived by 'Perfect Intelligence'. This atomic Soul is floating in the five kinds of air (prana, apana, vyana, samana and udana), is situated in the heart, and spreads it's influence all over the body of the embodied living entities. When the Soul is purified from the contamination of the five kinds of material air, 'It's Spiritual Influence is Exhibited'” (Mundaka Upanisad 3.1.9).
“The 'hata-yoga' system is ment for controlling the five kinds of air encircling the Pure Soul by different kinds of sitting postures – not for any material profit, but for 'LIBERATION of the MINUTE SOUL' from the entanglement of the material atmosphere.” Here Srila Prabhupada recomends yoga exercises undirectly, many people nowadays practice yoga, or so called yoga, but actually in some sense this is our goal, to achieve freedom (by any means) from material entanglement, liberation of the Soul to serve the Lord properly, from right platform...
… cont.
'BHAGAVAD – GITA & SELF – REALIZATION' Part 2
22.11.2019
This section of ch.2 we focuse now, explains the basis of Self-Realization, the difference between BODY and SOUL. Previously Srila Prabhupada mentioned in purport to v.17 some hata-yoga's benefit for liberation of the Soul from matter, in connection to the Five Airs, which must be purified. I will give here some very general idea of it:
This Five Airs are situated on the level of Pranamaya, the second covering of the Soul (connected to the 4th or/and 5th Chakra, on a gross body and as well subtle levels), so all this Airs, Vayus have a sit in different parts of the body. The First, Prana Vayu, connected to the Air element, is situated in the Heart, it is vitality, motivation, speed, and it is coming to us in prana energy from the sun and food. On a subtle level this Vayu gives heightened sensitivity, which can be used to inner awareness. It gives us inspiration for our spiritual divelopment. Second Air mentioned by Srila Prabhupada is Apana Vayu, the 'air that moves away', elimination. It is the downward and outward flow of energy in the body. Situated mostly in the lowest part of the body. This two Vayus are the most important, bringing profound spiritual effects, connected to the Earth element. Next, Samana Vayu, the 'unifying breath' is active mainly in the area of the navel, fire digestion of food. It is a concentrating, absorbing and consolidating force. As the mental level, it facilitates the digestion of ideas, gives discrimination, mental concentration, and balance, creates one-pointedness of the mind that leads to medittion – on the Lord, and futher to Samadhi – concentration on the Lord. It gives power to seek our True Nature, therefore it is a profoundly transformative agent for spiritual transformation, related to Fire element. Fourth Air is Udana Vayu 'that which carries upward', responsible for the ascension of energy. Helps awaken our higher spiritual and creative potential. It is active primarily in the region between heart and head. It's functions are growth, speech, expression. It is related to Ether element. And last, Vayu, Vyana is 'outward moving wind'. It moves from the core to the periphery, pervading the entire body and causing the circulation of blood. It is so called 'omnipresent prana'. It governs free flow of thoughts and feelings in the mind. Vyana Vayu is fundamental in making us feel and function as an integral whole. It is associated with Water element.
As we can see, this Vayus, Airs work constantly on us, when recognized and properly used or activated, they can help us practically to make study progress. Srila Prabhupada used to have a massages with oil every day, and we know his conversations from morning walks, erc., this was his way to help himself to keep balance between Body and Soul. So each of us can find his own, effective way for this balance on this Pranamaya platform of Self-Realization and on all other platforms.
The process of purification, which means rising consciousness through the different, gradual levels or steps is very complex. To make it helpful to all, it will be explained more clearly, I hope in my book.
Krsna and Srila Prabhupada said to us many wonderful things here (ch.2) regarding the Soul. For ex. in the purport to v.18 we read: “In Vedanta Sutra the living entity (Soul) is qualified as as LIGHT because he is part and parcel of the Supreme Light. As sunlight maintains the entire universe, so the light of the Soul maintains the entire Body.” V.20 p.: “Sometimes the Soul is called the STEADY, or 'kuta-stha'... The soul does not at any time become old, as the body does. The so-called old man, therefore, feels himself to be in the same spirit as in his childhood or youth. The changes of the body do not affect the Soul...”
In the purport to v.25 Srila Prabhupada wrote: “ There is no source of understanding the identity of the father except the authority of the mother. Similarly, there is not source of understanding the SOUL except by studying the Vedas... The Soul is inconceivable by human experimental knowledge. The Soul is consciousness and conscious – that also is the statement of the Vedas, and 'WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT'... The Supreme Soul is infinite, and the atomic Soul is infinitesimal. Therefore, the infinitesimal Soul, being unchangeable, can never become equal to the infinite Soul, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This concept is repeated in the Vedas in different ways just to confirm the stability of the conception of the Soul (repeated – like may other important statements of the Absolute Truths, in order that we understand the matter thoroughly, without error).”
In v.22 Krsna compares the Body to a 'Dress', which is continued in the purport to v.28: “...we must remember always that the body is like a dress; therefore why lament the changing of the dress? The material Body has no actual existence in relation to Eternal Soul. It is in something like a DREAM. In a dream we may think of flying in the sky, or sitting on a chariot as a king, but when we woke up we can see that we are neither in the sky, nor seated on the chariot... (Both at the beginning [of creation] and at the end, all elements: earth, water, etc. remain unmanifested, and only in the middle are they manifested, and this does not make any difference. So sometimes the Body is manifested... for some time – no lamentation for matter, material body v.27)... The Vedic wisdom encourages Self-Realization on the basis of the 'Nonexistence of the Material Body'”.
Haribol!
“BHAGAVAD – GITA & SELF – REALIZATION” Part 3
29.11.2019
From the previous theme about 'Body and Soul', we are coming to the next theme “Sva-Dharma', 'One's specific duties'
The Lord is the giver of such 'Sva-dharma', 'dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam', “Only the Lord can manufacture a system of religion”(SB 6.3.19), for the benefit of all, for the purification, and gradual progress on the path of Self-Realization.
Srila Prabhupada explains in ch.2, purport to v.31: “There are two kinds of 'sva-dharmas', specific duties. As long us one is not liberated, one has to perform the duties of his particular body in accordance with religious principles in order to achieve 'Liberation' (freedom from material bondage). When one is liberated, one's 'sva-dharma' – specific duty – becomes 'Spiritual' and is not in the material bodily concept. In the bodily conception of life there are specific duties for the brahmanas and ksartiyas respectively, and such duties are unavoidable (here Arjuna acts as an example for all of us, initially he is in the process of surrendering to the Lord, which means not yet liberated, he must follow his ksatriya duties – fight, which is the will of the Lord as well). 'Sva-dharma' is ordained by the Lord (clarified in ch.4). On the bodily plane 'sva-dharma' is called Varnasrama-dharma (varna: sudra, vaisya, ksatria, brahmana; asrama: brahmacari, grhasta, vanaprasta and sannyasa), or man's steppingstone for spiritual understanding. Human civilization begins from the stage of Varnasrama-dharma, or specific duties in terms of specific modes of nature of the body obtained (Varnasrama is on the level of gross purification, 'Sva-dharma' is considering more subtle levels). Discharging one's specific duty in any field of action in accordance with the orders of higher authorities (gurus) serves to elevate one to a higher status of life.”
Further in the purport to v.38 we read:...”He who acts for his own sense gratification, either in goodenss or in passion, is subject to the reaction good or bad. But he who has completely surrendered himself (as Arjuna finally does, freeing himself from all obligations) in the activities of Krsna consciousness is no longer obliged to anyone, nor is he a debtor to anyone (normally the law of karma force one to many obligations), as one is in the ordinary course of activities. (SB 11.5.41)
We can see and experience in our devotional activities that in due course of time we are more and more independent, free from any spoken words of our superiors, parents, etc. We have the power to say what is our will, according to the knowledge of the will of God. This process makes us like Arjuna conscious of Krsna and of His plan according to our gradual purification.
Hare Krsna!
“BHAGAVAD – GITA & SELF – REALIZATION” Part 4
10.01.2020
Continuing this topic we will discuss further chapter 2, and the next theme 'Karma-yoga'.
After the analytical study - Sankhya, of the real nature of the Soul, Krsna says in v.39: “ Now listen as I explain it in terms of working without fruitive results,.. when you act in such knowledge you can free yourself from the bondage of works.”
'Karma-yoga' is the first 'Yoga' presented in Bhagavad-gita by Krsna, controlling the senses through the gradations of many 'Yogas': 'Karma-yoga', 'Jnana-yoga', 'Bhakti-yoga'. We are bound by duties or works in many ways, we are born with duties to our parents, society, nation, etc. All this ropes work on us in 'UNSEEN' way. We cannot escape from them because they are too strong obligations. Actually our umbilical cord, seen in a subtle way as a 'Silver Rope' is keeping us here within this material condition. Even if we want to get away from it, even if we think we can, even if we feel it is enough or so one, we cannot free ourself from this subtle bondage. Our connection to our mother (our own mother, mother as a symbol of material energy – Durga, Mother Earth, etc.) in material sense, mainly in subtle sense is so strong that it will keep us here until we would finish the process of 'Self-Realization' finally. That is why this process is so important, it involves all spectrum of purificatory elements, platforms beginning exactly with 'Karma-yoga'.
Krsna is giving Arjuna the solution, also to us. Srila Prabhupada in the purport here says: “Arjuna's proposal not to fight was based on 'Sense Gratification'... All these individuals (souls) are working in the material world for sense gratification, and under the spell of material energy they are thinking of being enjoyers. This mentality is dragged to the last point of liberation when the living entity wants to become one with the Lord. This is the last snare of 'maya', or sense gratificatory illusion, and it is only after many, many births of such sense gratificatory activities that the 'Great Soul' surrenders unto Vasudeva, Lord Krsna, thereby 'FULFILING the Search After the Ultimate Truth'.”
That 'Surrender' has also it's own levels on the way of the process, the gradations, on each step this surrender is more and more mature, deep, serious, advanced... ”Arjuna has already accepted Krsna as his spiritual master by surrendering himself unto Him. Consequently, Krsna will now tell him about the working processs in 'buddhi-yoga' (direct communion with the Lord), or 'karma-yoga', or in other words, the 'Practice of Devotional Service Only for the Sense Gratification of the Lord.”
Hare Krsna!
“BHAGAVAD – GITA & SELF – REALIZATION” Part 5
31.01.2020
The introduction to 'Pure Work' or Karma-yoga in the light of Self-realization is presented here, explained by Krsna and Srila Prabhupada's purports.
Ch 2 v.40: “...In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” p. “Activity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense gratification, is the 'Highest Transcendental Quality of Work'... Even small beginning... any work in Krsna consciousness has permanent effect, even though not finished... the next beginning is from the point (ended)... Work in Krsna consciousness carries a person again to Krsna consciousness, even after the loss of the body. At least one is sure to have a chance in the next life of being born as a human being (in a nice family)”.
v.41p.: “When one is situated in Krsna consciousness, 'All Activities are on the Absolute Plane' (he need no longer endeavor for good results in his activities), for they are no longer subject to dualities like good or bad. The 'Highest Perfection' on Krsna consciousness is 'Renunciation of the Material Conception of Life'. This state is automatically achieved by 'P_r_o_g_r_e_s_s_i_v_e' Krsna consciousness...
Service in Krsna consciousness is, hovever, best practiced under the 'Able Guidance' of a spiritual master, who is the bona fide representative of Krsna, who knows the nature of the student, and who can guide him to act in Krsna consciousness...
The whole process, however, depends on 'Perfect Knowledge of the Soul' (described earlier), beyond the conception of the body – 'NOT THEORETICALLY BUT PRACTICALLY', when there is no longer a chance for sense gratification manifested in fruitive activities. One who is not 'Firmly Fixed in Mind' is diverted by various types of fruitive acts.”
Further, in v.44 Prabhupada wrote: “SAMADHI means 'Fixed Mind'. The Vedic dictionary Nirmukti says, 'samyag adhiyate...' 'When the Mind is Fixed for 'UNDERSTANDING the SELF', it is said to be in Samadhi'”. Here the gradation, the steps are going higher from sense controll (gross) by Karma-yoga, to mind control (subtle).
In verse 45 Krsna tels about the nest, 'Highest' step: “The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be 'Free' from all Dualities and from all Anxieties for Gain and Safety, and be established in the SELF.” p.: “All activities involve 'Actions... & Reactions' in the three modes of material nature. They are ment for fruitive results, which cause bondage in the material world. The Vedas deal mostly with fruitive activities to gradually elevate the general public from the 'Field of Sense Gratification' to a position on the 'Transcendental Plane'. Arjuna, as a student and friend of Lord Krsna is adviced to rise himself to the transcendental position of 'Vedanta Philosophy' where, in the beginning there is 'brahma-jijnasa' or 'Questions on the Supreme Transcendence' (When the 'karma-kanda' section of the Vedas is finished, then the chance for spiritual realization is offered in the form of Upanisads: the mark of the beginning of transcendental life)... This transcendental position is achieved in full in Krsna consciousness when one is 'Fully Dependent' on the 'GOOD WILL OF KRSNA'”.
Hare Krsna!