Saturday, March 14, 2015

PRELUDE TO TWELFTH CHAPTER OF BHAGAVAD GITA

Twelfth chapter is a small chapter consisting of 20 verses but is a very important chapter, which puts the entire Vedic teaching in essence. We can say the 12th chapter is Veda saraha. This chapter happens to be the final chapter of the middle portion of Bhagavad Gita beginning with the 7th chapter. Madyama Shatkam dwells upon eswara swaroopa and is based on 11th chapter. Madyama Shatkam talks about the importance of eswara anugraha or eswara kripa. For this, we require our effort with grace of God. Effort and grace are complimentary like the two wings of a bird. We have to learn to look at the whole universe as eswara’s body. Towards the end of the chapter, Krishna includes a statement. A person proceeds from eka rupa eswara to vishwa rupa eswara only if he has one important qualification. If this qualification is not there, other religious disciplines that he does viz., Vedas etc will be useless and it will not work. Naturally, Arjuna was curious to know what that qualification is. Krishna answers Arjuna about this important qualification, which is Bhakti or Devotion. What should I do to be a Bhakta is a question? What is that Bhakti which Krishna highlighted in the 11th Chapter?

12th chapter is a commentary on what is Bhakti. That is why 12th chapter is entitled Bhakti Yoga and dwells on Bhakti. Krishna is expanding further on Bhakti. Therefore, we have to connect the previous discussion with the 12th chapter. Bhakti is discussed in the 7th chapter. Krishna himself talks about 4 types of Bhakti in the 7th chapter. We have to build up on this. A Bhakta has to progress through 4 stages. Initially we worship the lord to solve our problems. This is called Aarta Bhakti. Children before the exams are Aarta Bhaktas. Preparing to the next stage is Ardarthi Bhakti. Whenever we start a fresh thing Viz., a business venture, a house warming ceremony, a married life there are so many slips between the cup and the lip. We do varieties of pujas for the success of worldly ventures. This is Ardarthi Bhakti. This is also non-spiritual Bhakti. Gradually we have to progress to Jignasu Bhakti. The others who worship are the seeker of knowledge (Jijnasu Bhakti is the enquirer) and the wise (Gnani Bhakta) who are the men of knowledge who have attained to self-illumination. Be devoted to God, whatever be your motive. Devotion will purify the motive in due course. We have to understand that everything in this world is perishable. Eswara Gnanam and surrender to the Lord is the only solution for the problem of Samsara. For a seeker of Moksha this conversion is called Mumukshu Bhakti or Jignasu Bhakti.

I want Moksha but I don’t know how to get Moksha. There are so many people attaining Moksha through different methods. Study of Veda gives Eswara Gnanam. Krishna makes it very clear in the 4th chapter. You should be interested in receiving the knowledge through a Guru by way of spiritual education program. Things will happen and will work only if the mind is ready to receive the knowledge and assimilate the knowledge received. Fitness for receiving eswara Gnanam should be there. Therefore, Krishna recommends preparatory discipline.

Two important Yoga’s are there for getting Gnana yoga. They are Karma yoga and Upasana yoga. Karma yoga is for diluting Raga Dvesha. Without this (Karma yoga), our mind will not be quiet (3rd Ch). Second is Upasana yoga. Our mind should not be pre occupied. A preoccupied mind is a smaller mind and cannot focus attention to a guru’s teaching. Mind must be 100% available. For that Upasana yoga, meditation in one form or other is required. Only at that time of Dhyanam mind will have every thought also. A Jignasu Bhakta must go through three Yogas. He has the longest Bhakti duration. He has to do Karma yoga and Upasana yoga for Gnana yoga prapti and Gnana yoga for getting Gnana prapti. Karma yoga, Upasana yoga and Gnana yoga put together is Bhakti Yoga. Krishna calls it Annanya Bhakti. Jignasu Bhakti will become Gnana Bhakti. Gnana Bhakta is a liberated person. 12th chapter can be briefly divided into two parts. First is 3 yogas presented by Krishna. This is discussed up to 12th verse. When a person has done all the 3 yogas he will get converted into a Gnana Bhakta.

What is the Life style of a Gnani Bhakta? What benefit he will get by becoming a Gnani Bhakta? The description of a Gnani Bhakta (Chitapragna) is given in 2 Chapter BG Ver 54 to Ver 72.  By Chitapragna Lakshanani is meant natural or spontaneous traits of a Gnani. A Chitapragna of the 2nd chapter is Gnani Bhakta of 12th Chapter (Para Brahma, 12 Ch, Ver 20). Jignasu Bhakta will become a Gnani Bhakta. Krishna divides from 3 to 5 stages of yoga. 2 levels of Karma yoga, 2 levels of Upasana yoga and 1 level of Gnana yoga. Krishna tells the first level of Karma yoga as Sagama karma. He permits worldly desires. The second level of Karma yoga is doing Pancha Maha Yagna. The first level of Upasana yoga is meditation upon my own favorite deity. The second level of Upasana yoga is Vishwa rupa dhayana. I meditate upon Vishwa rupa eswara as descriped in 11th Chapter. Learn to look at the Universe as the body of the lord. The Fifth and final step is Gnana Yoga consisting of Shravanam, Mananam and Nidhith yasanam. We finally come to Nirguna Eswara Bhakti. This beautiful Bhakti Yoga package is talked about in the 12th Chapter and the chapter starts with Arjuna’s question to Krishna.


Be Blissful

S.SEKAR

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