CH 8, Verses 12 & 13

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Chapter 8

Verses 12 & 13

 

Sarva-dvaaraani sa.nyamya mano hridi nirudhya cha /

muurdhny aadhaay'aatmanah praanam aasthito

yoga-dhaaranaam//

 

Om ity ek'aaksharam brahma vyaaharan maam anusmaran /

yah prayaati tyajan deham sa yaati paramaa.n gatim //

 

Having closed all the gates (senses,) having confined

the mind within the heart, having fixed his

life-breath in the head, engaged in firm Yoga,

uttering the one-syllabled ‘OM", - the Brahman and

thinking of Me, whosoever departs leaving the body, he

reaches the Supreme goal.

 

LESSONS FROM BHAGAVAD GITA – 80

As taught by Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji

 

And now, the Lord is going to declare briefly the goal

of the Imperishable Brahman.

 

"Having closed all the gates (senses,) having confined

the mind within the heart, having fixed his

life-breath in the head, engaged in firm Yoga,

uttering the one-syllabled ‘OM", - the Brahman and

thinking of Me, whosoever departs leaving the body, he

reaches the Supreme goal” (Chapter 8, Verses 12 & 13).

 

The Lord explains first the method by which one should

depart at the time of death to attain to the goal of

the Imperishable Brahman. First, one has to close all

the gateways of the senses. It means that one must

have self-control. Self-control consists in

controlling the senses and mind. When the doors of the

senses are closed the mind can be easily turned

inwards to concentrate on the Self. This is what is

meant by confining the mind in the heart. If the doors

of the senses are not closed, the strong winds of

sensual world may extinguish the lamp of wisdom, and

the mind may turn outwards. So to have the mind

control, sense control is absolutely necessary,

 

Having controlled the senses and the mind, one has to

fix the life-breath in the head. This could be done by

gaining control over the Prana (vital breath) through

breathing exercises. And by concentrating the mind

upon the Supreme Self one has to utter the

one-syllable OM.

 

‘Om’ is the Supreme Being, the Omnipresent Divine

Spirit, the life of our life and the soul of our

souls. It is the source of all existence. It is the

supreme intelligence, consciousness and Bliss. One

should concentrate his mind upon this word ‘OM’

reflecting upon its meaning.

 

Thus whoever, holding his life-breath in the head

utters the word ‘OM’ and casts off his body, goes to

the highest goal of Moksha. The idea is that death

involves on the giving up of the body and not the

destruction of the Self.

 

Everyone may not be able to practice this type of

Yoga, which involves control of breath.

 

 

 

 

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