199. One root, One origin



Krishna says, "When someone perceives the variety of living beings as rooted in One that has expanded Itself into the many, they then merge with Brahman" (13.31). As per contemporary scientific understanding, the universe started about 14 billion years ago from a single point (singularity) and is expanding even today. This process of expansion created a large number of stars and planets. It also brought a variety of living beings into existence. This verse conveys the same using the language of its time. 

While this knowledge can be easily attained, this verse indicates the ability to see 'One origin' in the present moment when we encounter different life forms and different situations created by them resulting in the triggering of many emotions within us. When we perceive 'One origin', we get freed from 'mine and yours' syndrome and in that sense, this verse also can be taken as a definition of Moksha which is the ultimate freedom here and now. 

Krishna further says, "The Paramatma (Supreme Soul) is imperishable, anaadi (without beginning), and nirgun (devoid of any gunas -qualities). Although situated within the body, It neither acts nor is it tainted (13.32). The sky holds everything within it, but being subtle, does not get contaminated by what it holds. Similarly, atma (soul) which pervades the body is not affected by the attributes of the body" (13.33). To explain a similar intricacy, Krishna gave the example of the Lotus leaf which doesn't get wet despite being in contact with water. Similarly, the soul is also not affected by the attributes of the body. 

The sky is all around us and it holds everything, but doesn't get contaminated because it neither gets attached to anything nor does it identify itself with something. It is about remembering this aspect whenever we see the sky and some meditation techniques use this aspect.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1. Start with Ahankaar

Image
Bhagavad Gita is a 700 verse conversation between Lord Krishna and Warrior Arjun in the battle field of Kurukshetra.  Just before the start of war, Arjun gets the feeling that war would kill many of his friends and relatives and argues that this is bad from many points of view.  Arjuns dilemma eminates from his presumption that " I am doer" - Aham karta and is also known as Ahankaar . This Ahankaar keeps us telling that we are distinct, but reality is different. Though ego is usually given as meaning to Ahankaar , but ego can be taken as one of many manifestations of Ahankaar . The entire conversation is about this Ahankaar , be it directly or indirectly and Krishna gives various paths and milestones (yardsticks) to get rid of it. If we take Kurukshetra war as a metaphor, all of us enter into a situations, like Arjun did, in our daily lives be it in family, work place and interms of health, wealth, relationships etc. As long as one lives, these dilemmas are natu
Read more

179. Shifting Goalposts

Image
A doctor, working at a mental hospital, took a friend to show him the hospital. His friend saw a man in a room with a photo of a woman and the doctor explained that the man loved that woman and got mentally unstable when he couldn't marry her. In the next room, there was another man with the same woman's photo and the doctor explained that he got mentally unstable after he married her. This ironic story explains how fulfilled and unfulfilled desires can have similar disastrous consequences.  The same thing happened with Arjun. At the beginning of the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita titled ' Vishwaroopa Darshana yoga ', he wanted to see Krishna in HIS original form. But he was frightened when he saw the Vishwaroopam of Krishna. Shaken, Arjun now desires to see Krishna in his human form. Similarly, our goalposts in life keep shifting with time. Krishna shows his Vishwaroopam in which Arjun sees that all his enemies are entering into the mouth of death.
Read more

194. HE Dwells in Hearts of All

Image
Krishna says, "'That which is to be known' is the Sustainer, Destroyer and Creator of beings; indivisible and yet existing as if divided in living beings (13.17). The Light of lights; Beyond the darkness. He is knowledge, the object and the goal of knowledge. He dwells in the hearts of all (13.18). Realising this, My devotee attains My Being" (13.19). "He dwells in the hearts of all" was dealt with earlier when Krishna said that he who has perfected in yoga finds the wisdom in the self (4.38). Shraddha-vaan (one with Shraddha ) and Jitendriya (one who conquered senses) obtain wisdom leading to parama-shanti (supreme peace) (4.39). The ignorant, devoid of Shraddha is ruined and there is no happiness for him in this world or another (4.40). HE is indivisible and yet exists as if divided in the living beings, the inability to comprehend this at the existential level is the source of misery. It is like the proverbial elephant and five blind men w
Read more