Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Satsangh Posting of Verses from Krishna Janmashtami

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

To celebrate the Krishna Janmashtami day which happens to be the coming Friday

the 14th of August, Radheji will begin posting the verses from Chapter 15. The

title of chapter 15 is " Yoga of the Supreme Spirit. " You will all agree that it

is very auspicious to start reading the verses that explain the Yoga of the

Supreme Spirit, Lord Krishna on His birthday.

 

Sankara introduces this chapter by pointing out that not only is the result of

action dependent upon Isvara, so also is the result of the pursuit of knowledge,

moksa . Even though the acquisition of knowledge requires only an adequate means

of knowledge and the availability of the thing to be known, many other factors

are required to create conducive conditions for the knowledge both to be pursued

and to take place. The mind, antahkarana, where the knowledge has to be gained,

must be prepared, and that preparation depends on Isvara's grace. Because of

that, Bhagavan says that those who worship him with devotion first gain mental

purity, antahkaranatuddhi,, and then knowledge, both by his grace. Being free

from the gunas, they gain moksa. People who are not yet ready also gain

knowledge by Isvara's grace.

 

What have we to say about those who know clearly the truth of the Self,

atmatattva? This truth of the Self is presented in this chapter. Bhagavan Sri

Krishna discusses the nature of the Self in greater details. This chapter is

quite short and with beauty and brevity it indicates and explains the Infinite.

Lord Krishna assures, " those who without confusions know Him as the Person

Supreme, know all " . He extols this theme that gives liberation to all from

sorrows, agitations and restlessness. The Lord affirms that those who master

this most secret teaching will become `wise' and all their duties will get

accomplished.

 

This chapter begins with the declaration:

" People say that the Asvattha, the eternal sacred tree grows with its roots

above and its branches below, and the leaves of which are the Vedas; those who

know this know the Vedas. Its branches growing out of the three qualities with

the objects of sense as the lesser shoots, spread forth, some above and some

below; and those roots which ramify below in the regions of mankind are the

connecting bonds of action. Its form is not thus understood by everyone; it has

no beginning, nor can its present constitution be understood nor has it any end.

When one cuts down with the strong axe of dispassion this Asvattha tree with its

deeply-imbedded roots, then that place is to be sought after from which those

who there take refuge never more return to rebirth. The reason for this is that

it is the Primeval Spirit from which flows the never-ending stream of

conditioned existence. "

 

The spirit having assumed life in this world of conditioned existence, draw

together the five senses and the mind in order that it may obtain a body and may

leave it again. The deluded do not see the spirit and gets attached to the body,

mind and intellect. But those who have the eye of wisdom perceive it, and

devotees who industriously strive to do so see it dwelling in their own hearts.

Be aware that the brilliance of the sun which illuminates the whole world, and

the light which is in the moon and in the fire, are the splendor of the same

spirit.

 

I look forward to read the postings by Radheji on Janmashtami.

 

With my warm regards,

 

Ram Chandran