Gita Acharan

K rishna said that my noble devotees, having obtained Me, are no longer subject to punar-janma (rebirth) (8.16) which otherwise is the abode of grief (8.15). Understanding punar-janma or rebirth is important in this context. In line with its literal meaning, rebirth is commonly understood as the attainment of a new life after death; however, it can also be interpreted as the birth of a new situation around us. Situations keep evolving around us on a regular basis which are perceived by the senses with their cognitive biases. When a situation ends, the ripples generated by it in us would give birth to many more situations because of our responses or behaviour. For example, a bad day at work can carry over and spoil the evening with family. Krishna called this cyclic process an ‘abode of grief’. But for those who attained Paramatma , these sense inputs disappear like rivers in an ocean. Hence there is no scope for creating new situations. We have no control over exter...

I n the Gita, both Arjuna and Krishna use ‘I’ and ‘Me’, but the meaning and context of usage are entirely different. Arjuna’s ‘I’ is divisive or exclusive and Krishna’s ‘I’ is inclusive. While Krishna is the ocean, we are but drops within it, living under the illusion of individuality known as ahankaar . When a drop sheds its illusion of individuality and unites with the ocean, then it becomes the ocean. Krishna indicates this when he says, “The ‘realised’ come to Me and will be free from the cycle of punar-janma (rebirth) when they realise about My life and actions which are divyam (divine)” (4.9). Certainly, realisation means inclusiveness or oneness and the ability to accept contradictions. All the actions are bound to be divine when they emerge from inclusiveness. Punar-janma , is usually interpreted as a cyclic process of the attainment of a new life after death. However, it can also be interpreted as the birth of a new situation around us. When a situation ends,...