Seeking Deeper Understanding / Interpretation into Qualities of a Devotee

[Guest guest]

Namaskara to all sadhakas,

 

In the 12th Chapter (Adhyaya), the Lord has described the qualities of a Bhakta.

When I think about them, certain qualities appear to

telescope into each other, while certain appear to be the same (a sort of

repetition). The repetition may be to emphasise on certain aspects of life.

 

Two examples can be quoted as follows:-

 

(A) Sama dukha sukha (12/13) (i.e. remaining even minded in all pairs of

opposites - pleasure and pain, favorable and unfavorable) and harsha marsha

mukta (12/15) (i.e. free from joy)

 

(B)santushta satatam (12/14) (i.e. ever remains contented )and

anpeksha (12/16) (i.e. free of any needs and necessities) and na

kankshati (12/17) (i.e. free of any desires)

 

Can some Sadhaka please put me wise on this aspect and tell me if my

interpretation is right or wrong.

 

namaskara

 

Suhas Gogate

----------------------------

 

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GUIDELINES FOR POSTING A RESPONSE:

 

1. The group is focused on the Holy Gitaji, therefore, only responses which

further clarify the understanding of Gitaji, will be posted.

 

2. Making reference of Gitaji shloka is highly encouraged - at least

once in the response. Wherever possible, please quote Gitaji or other

scriptures to substantiate your response.

 

3. Please be as concise and to the point as possible, respecting

sadhaka's time. Under no circustance the answer should exceed say one page at

the most (500 words or so).

 

4. Kindly limit personal feelings, opinions, beliefs etc. to the

extent that they further help in understanding the Gita shlokas

 

5. Kindly focus your writing to the subject at hand only.

 

6. Please do not include links to the other sites or other

organizations.

 

7. Complete reproduction of texts from any book is strongly

discouraged, however references may be made of the book or author(but not links

to other sites).

 

8. Kindly do not include your personal information such as phone

number, address etc.

 

9. Please do not address the response to a particular individual since the

message is going to the entire group.

 

10. Due to the large readership, only those responses will be posted

which are in line with the general philosophy of taking Shrimad

Bhagavad Gita as the reference.

 

11. Moderator at his discretion, may modify the posting, if content is unclear

for distribution or not directly related to the question being asked.

 

12. Please respond taking into consideration the novices, youth,

westerners, non-sectarian audience. Kindly limit the use of only

Sanskrit words, rather provide the English word with Sanskrit

bracketed wherever possible.

 

MODERATOR

Ram Ram

[Guest guest]

Re Saadhak Suhas Gogate's Query

 

Really a good question. The fact is that the qualities stated in

Chapter 12:13 to 12:19 are to be read in blocks independent of other

block. The kindness of the God allows a bhakta to choose any block

and concentrate on acquiring those qualities. Hence you find

repetitions . First Block is 13th and 14th verses- containing 12

Qualities. The second block is Verse no 15 containing 6 Qualities.

The third - verse 16- 6 qualities, Fourth- verse 17-5 qualities and

fifth set is verses 18 and 19 containing 10 qualities. They all are

independent sets .

 

A saadhak has option to adopt any one of them for practice- ( how

merciful the God is!). Precisely therefore you find repetition of

some qualities. Since the absence of likings (raag) and dislikings

(dvesha) and the absence of happiness and sorrow (Equanimity) are a

must for each saadhak, you find them repeated in each of the

blocks! Though they get repeated by different words but the

intention is common. For example in the first set , the aforesaid

are stated as " nirmam " - minelessness ( raag), " advesta " -

 

Hatredless- ( dvesha) , " sama dukha sukha " _ equal in sorrow and

pleasure. In the second set " harshamarsh bhayordvege " reflect the

absence of raag, dvesha, happiness and sorrow. In third set by

using " anapeksha " - desireless the absence of raag and by the

term " udaaseen " the absence of dvesha is indicated. " Gatavyathah "

denote absence of sorrow and happiness. In the fourth set - " na

kankshati " denote absence of raag and " na dvesti " denote absence of

dvesha! " Na hryashti " and " na sochati " denote absence of pleasure

and pain.In the final set - " sangvivarjit " for raag, " santushtah " for

dvesha, " sheetoshna sukh dukheshu samah " are used for happiness and

sorrow!

 

That God intended five sets or blocks of qualities is proved by the

fact that the term " me priyah " ( are dear to me) is used five

times!! Had all 39 qualities been intended to be one set - then

there would not have been need to use " me priyah " five times. Only

the last " me priyo narah " would have covered all.

 

The Gitaji is the voice of God! Where is the question of the fault

of repetition or for that matter any fault in the voice of God ! !

 

A Saadhak is entitled to idealise any one set based on his

individual liking,faith,ability,svabhav(nature) etc.

" absence of raag ( likings) and dvesha (dislikings) and remaining

equal in the happiness or sorrow is a must for all sets "

 

Jai Shree Krishna

 

Vyas N B

 

 

--------------------------------

Dear Sadhakas, Namaste!

 

Suhasji, your interpretation of the verses of Ch 12 - Bhakti Yoga,

is correct, according to my understanding of them. There is a common

thread that runs through v. 13 - v. 17, telling us the qualities of

a bhakta that is dear to Lord Krishna.

 

Lord Krishna, in this context, is Supreme Consciousness, which is

not different in essence, from consciousness of a Bhakta or all of

us for that matter. We don't generally know our essence, thus get

deluded to think and act as if we are ego, the strongest sense in us

of " me " . This ego just appears or arises in Supreme Consciousness

due to our conditiong. Our conditioning fools us and hides this

essence from revealing to us as our true identity being that of Sat-

Chit-Ananda or Being-Consciousness-Bliss.

 

The qualities Krishnaji describes of a Bhakta who is dear to Him are

all natural to Bhakta.

 

To be established as such a Bhakta who is compassionate, friendly,

free from " me " , forgiving, acting self-lessly in all situations,

has firm convictions out of unbroken trust in God, and all other

qualities Lord mentions, we need to be free from conditioning. This

means to realize beyond any shadow of doubt, that " me " is nothing

but creation of such conditioning, and not our true reality. Once we

are free from the attachment to " me " , we can use it very objectively

like a true Bhakta does, according to Lord, displaying above

qualities. Bhakta has advantage in freeing him/her from attachment

to " me' " and thus from the world because he/she is firmly anchored

in God only and nothing else is important!

 

In the same way all those who seek self-knowledge, or true gyan are

also Bhaktas-devotees of Truth which is God only.

 

The important thing to me is that Lord Krishna is Supreme

Consciousness speaking to Arjuna representing us all who are seeking

by various paths/means. We can be True Bhakta by developing such

qualities through Total devotion to God as prescribed in Gita.

Whatever may be our understanding of God, what matters the most is

the realization of such qualities, dear to God!

 

Namaskaras.....Pratap

(Pratap Bhatt)

-------------------------------

Chapt 12 is about quality of bhakta summarized.

regards

K G

(Krishna Gopal)

 

---

, " sadhak_insight "

<sadhak_insight wrote:

>

> Namaskara to all sadhakas,

>

> In the 12th Chapter (Adhyaya), the Lord has described the

qualities of a Bhakta. When I think about them, certain qualities

appear to

> telescope into each other, while certain appear to be the same (a

sort of repetition). The repetition may be to emphasise on certain

aspects of life.

>

> Two examples can be quoted as follows:-

>

> (A) Sama dukha sukha (12/13) (i.e. remaining even minded in all

pairs of opposites - pleasure and pain, favorable and unfavorable)

and harsha marsha mukta (12/15) (i.e. free from joy)

>

> (B)santushta satatam (12/14) (i.e. ever remains contented )and

> anpeksha (12/16) (i.e. free of any needs and necessities) and na

> kankshati (12/17) (i.e. free of any desires)

>

> Can some Sadhaka please put me wise on this aspect and tell me if

my

> interpretation is right or wrong.

>

> namaskara

>

> Suhas Gogate

> ----------------------------

>

> GUIDELINES FOR POSTING A QUESTION:

>

> 1. The group is focused on the Holy Gitaji and clarifying any

doubts, therefore only questions that pertain to Gitaji will be

posted in the future.

>

> 2. Please restrict the number of questions asked to only one at a

time.

>

> 3. Making reference of Gitaji shloka is compulsory - at least once

in the question.

>

> 4. Please be specific with the question, relating the practical

> difficulties being faced by the Sadhak. Specifics around, where is

the sadhak facing obstacles in his spiritual journey, in the

teachings of Geetaji, in principles laid down by Swamiji or other

Mahatamas are highly recommended to be included.

>

> 5. General questions will not be considered for future posting.

> e.g. " suicide " " solving world hunger " etc.

>

>

> GUIDELINES FOR POSTING A RESPONSE:

>

> 1. The group is focused on the Holy Gitaji, therefore, only

responses which further clarify the understanding of Gitaji, will be

posted.

>

> 2. Making reference of Gitaji shloka is highly encouraged - at

least

> once in the response. Wherever possible, please quote Gitaji or

other scriptures to substantiate your response.

>

> 3. Please be as concise and to the point as possible, respecting

> sadhaka's time. Under no circustance the answer should exceed say

one page at the most (500 words or so).

>

> 4. Kindly limit personal feelings, opinions, beliefs etc. to the

> extent that they further help in understanding the Gita shlokas

>

> 5. Kindly focus your writing to the subject at hand only.

>

> 6. Please do not include links to the other sites or other

> organizations.

>

> 7. Complete reproduction of texts from any book is strongly

> discouraged, however references may be made of the book or author

(but not links to other sites).

>

> 8. Kindly do not include your personal information such as phone

> number, address etc.

>

> 9. Please do not address the response to a particular individual

since the message is going to the entire group.

>

> 10. Due to the large readership, only those responses will be

posted

> which are in line with the general philosophy of taking Shrimad

> Bhagavad Gita as the reference.

>

> 11. Moderator at his discretion, may modify the posting, if

content is unclear for distribution or not directly related to the

question being asked.

>

> 12. Please respond taking into consideration the novices, youth,

> westerners, non-sectarian audience. Kindly limit the use of only

> Sanskrit words, rather provide the English word with Sanskrit

> bracketed wherever possible.

>

> MODERATOR

> Ram Ram

>