141. Interplay of Energy and Matter


Life is an interplay of energy and matter. It all began with energy and then matter formed subsequently at different stages. The combination of molecules of matter gave rise to different types of compounds with varying properties which resulted in immense diversity. One such combination is the physical bodies of life forms which sustain on the energy coming from the arrangement of matter, known as food. Some life forms (trees) know how to make food from sunlight and others (animals) survive on the food made by them. In a nutshell, life is a game of energy and matter. 

This context would help us to understand some words used by Krishna like Brahma, Karma, Adhyatma, Adhibhutam, Adhidaivam and Adhiyajnah (7.28 and 7.29). Arjun wants to know about them (8.1 and 8.2) and Krishna says, "Adhibhutam is perishable nature; Adhidaivam is the purusha (residing in Pura i.e. city) and I am the Adhiyajnah here in the body" (8.4).

Adhibhutam is the matter or 'form' which gets perished in time; Adhidaivam is like 'formless' energy present in the body; and Adhiyajnah makes this play possible like a director of a drama, Krishna being that director.

Krishna said, "Detachment of cosmic energy capable of creation (bhuta-bhava-udbhava-karah visarga) is called karma." Energy is essential for anything to be done and karma is the play of energy which brings life to inert matter. Essentially, karma is the drawing of energy by life forms (matter) for their sustenance. What we perceive are the effects of this interplay which are known as karma-phal. 

Krishna says 'swabhav' (intrinsic nature) is Adhyatma (8.3). For example, silence is our 'swabhav', while languages are acquired. Swabhav is what remains when we shed the 'borrowed'. While acquiring skills and things, it's about not letting them drive us into comparisons or define who we are.

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