CHAPTER 8
THE YOGA OF THE IMPERISHABLE BRAHMAN
Dear All,
Now, we are getting
into the very core of Vedanta, from this chapter onwards.
Lord Krishna explains
how those who attain Him do not have to come again into this impermanent world
of sorrow and pain.
All beings, including
even the Gods, come again and again into this created universe from the state
of unmanifest being wherein they remained at the end of an age-cycle.
But the Lord exists
even beyond this unmanifest being. That radiant, imperishable Divine Reality is
the highest goal to be attained. Single-minded devotion of our heart is the
means of attaining this highest blessed state.
Even though there are
auspicious and inauspicious circumstances of departing from the physical body
and journeying forth, yet if one steadily abides in the Lord through firm
devotion and faith, then these conditions do not matter.
By always remaining
in tune with the Lord through pure love, everything is made auspicious, if one
can ever remain united with the Divine through deep devotion, constant
remembrance, regular meditation and continuous communion, then all times,
places, conditions and situations become auspicious and blessed. This is the
secret of invoking His Grace and attaining Him and becoming eternally free and
blissful.
Arjuna here asks Lord
Krishna about the meaning of the different terms referred to by Him in the last
two verses of the previous chapter.
Those who strive for
liberation from old age and death, taking refuge in Me, realize in full that
Brahman, the whole knowledge of the Self and all action.( Chapter 7-29)
Those who know Me
with the Adhibhuta (pertaining to the elements), the Adhidaiva (pertaining to the Gods), and Adhiyajna
(pertaining to the sacrifice), know Me even at the time of death, steadfast in
mind. (Chapter 7-30).
Arjuna asked, “What
is this that You are speaking? You said there is Brahma, the Absolute; then You
said there is adhyatma; then You
said there is karma; then You said there is adhibhuta;
then You said there is adhidaiva; then You said there
is adhiyajna. I cannot understand what all
this is, and You want me to bring them together into a total focus?”
Kiṁ tad brahma (8.1): “Which is that
Supreme Absolute that You are speaking of, O Lord?”
Kim adhyātmaṁ: “Which is that subjective self?”
Kiṁ karma: “Which is that action that You refer to?”
Adhibhūtaṁ ca kiṁ proktam: “Which is the objective world that You are speaking of? What does it
actually mean?”
Adhiyajñaḥ kathaṁ kotra (8.2): “Which is that
transcendent element which You spoke of as being between the subject and
object?
You refer to adhiyajna as an activity that You are performing in the
cosmos. What does it mean, Bhagavan Sri Krishna?”
The last question
was: “Also, how am I to think of You at the time of death?”
He wishes to know
what is the Supreme Being, what is Karma or action that He refers to, and what
is the meaning that pertains to this spirit, the elements and the center of all
things within this human body.
Beyond all things
manifest and unmanifest, beyond these names and forms, there is the Supreme
Being — Brahman. He indwells this body as the center of all things, including
even our own self (individual soul).
The secret of
reaching the Divine Being and thus freeing oneself forever from birth and death
and the pains and sufferings of this earth-life, is to constantly practice unbroken
remembrance of the Lord at all times, in all places and even amidst one’s daily
activities.
If one practices such
steady remembrance through regular daily Sadhana, then he will be rooted in His
remembrance even at the time of departing from this body at death. Thus
departing, he will go beyond darkness and bondage and attain the realm of
eternal blessedness.
One must practice
sense-control. The senses must be well disciplined and gradually withdrawn from
outside objects. The mind should be centered within upon God, by uttering Aum
or any Divine Name. By such steady practice daily the Lord is easily attained.
Love.
