Gita Acharan

  The fifteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is called ' Purushottama Yoga '. The title comes from the following verse where Krishna says, "I am beyond the perishable ( prakriti -nature) and am even higher than imperishable ( kootastha -soul). Hence, I am proclaimed as Purushottama (Supreme Being) in the Vedas and in the world" (15.18). Once awareness starts setting in, two fundamental questions we face are what are we supposed to do and what are we supposed to know? Krishna earlier answered the first question when he told us to relinquish any action (immaterial of what we are doing) unto HIM; to be devoid of egotism ( nir-mama ) and desires ( nir-aasha ) (3.30). Krishna answers the second question and says, "The undeluded knows me as Purushottama , knows all. He worships Me with his whole being"(15.19). Though it is a simple and open secret, 'knowing all' is when the knowing is at the existential level. Krishna earlier said to remember Him all

  Paramatma is like an eternal ocean and atma is an imperishable drop that is surrounded by the perishable human body. Krishna describes that ocean and says, "Know that brilliance to be mine which residing in the sun illuminates the world, which is in the moon as well as in fire (15.12). Permeating the earth, I nourish all living beings with energy. Becoming the moon, I nourish all plants with the juice of life (15.13). Having become Vaishvanara (fiery power), I exist in the body of living beings, united with prana (inhalation of breath) and apana (exhalation), I digest the fourfold food (15.14). I am seated in the hearts of all beings; and from Me come Smriti (self awareness), Gyan (wisdom) and Apohan (clarifying doubts). I alone am to be known by all the Vedas, am the author of the Vedant , and the knower of the meaning of the Vedas" (15.15).   Firstly, Krishna says He is the brilliance of the sun (sunlight) and nourishes all living beings with energy. Plants co

  Krishna explains about 'The Creation' at different places and indicates that the entire existence is the coherence of prakriti  (nature) and  purush  (spirit). HIS womb is the mahat-brahma (great prakriti) into which HE places the seed ( purush ) which is the cause of the birth of all beings (14.3). Gunas (qualities) and vikar (evolution or change) are born of prakriti (13.20) and prakriti is also responsible for cause and effect; Purush is responsible for experiencing the polarities of sukh (pleasure) and dukh (pain) (13.21). Krishna further elaborates and says, "There are two kinds of beings ( purushas ) in creation, the  kshar  (perishable) and the  akshar  (imperishable). The perishable are all beings in the material realm. The imperishable is called kootastha (soul) (15.16). But there exists another eternal Highest Being called Paramatma (Supreme Soul). Permeating the three worlds, HE sustains them (15.17). Essentially, it is eternal Paramatma , imperish

  Krishna gave a blueprint of life when he said that a part of HIM manifests as an individual soul and attracts the senses which are a part of prakriti (nature). Essentially, it is desire that attracts senses. For example, the desire to see or hear attracts the sense organs of the eye or ear. He further explains about the process of the embodied soul leaving the body and entering a new body. Krishna says, "As the air carries fragrance from place to place, so does the embodied soul carry the mind and senses with it, when it leaves an old body and enters a new one (15.8). The deluded do not perceive the soul residing or departing or experiencing the world of the gunas . Those with the Eye of Wisdom see (15.10). The yogis striving for liberation see Him existing in themselves; but those who are unpurified and undisciplined are unable to perceive Him even when they struggle to do so" (15.11). Purity is nothing but the balance between pleasure-pain; profit-loss; victory-defeat (

The creation is said to be HIS leela or divine play and there is nothing to be taken seriously here. This play follows some rules. Krishna explains these rules and says, "A part of My eternal self manifests as a living soul in the world of beings and attracts six senses and the mind which are a part of Prakriti (15.7). Presiding over the mind and the senses of hearing, sight, touch, taste and smell, he (the embodied soul) experiences the objects of the sensory world" (15.9). Krishna earlier talked about prakriti (nature) and purush (spirit) as beginningless. Gunas (qualities) and vikar (evolution or change) are born of prakriti (13.20). Prakriti is responsible for cause and effect; Purush is responsible for experiencing the polarities of sukh (pleasure) and dukh (pain) (13.21). Together, these verses present a blueprint for life.  Firstly, a part of HIM is inside each living being which we call the soul and in that sense we are never separate from HIM.

Krishna says, "Those freed from pride and delusion, evils of attachment conquered, ever established in the Self, desires having completely gone, well-liberated from pairs of opposites of pain and pleasure, such un-deluded reach My eternal Abode" (15.5). Essentially, these are the qualities of HIS Abode and once we attain even one of them, we are in HIS abode. Another indication is that HIS abode is not somewhere out there but is here and now waiting to be discovered.  Krishna gave qualities or benchmarks to help us in the journey to HIS abode. These include being friendly and compassionate; being nir-mama (sans-I) and nir-ahankaar (sans -I am doer); not hating any being; balanced in pleasure and pain (sama-sukh-dukh) and forgiving (kshami) ; being ever-content and free of agitation; being free from jealousy, fear and anxiety; being free from expectations and selfishness in all undertakings (12.13 to 12.16). Being humble, forgiving; being dispassionate (vairagya