Thoughts on The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11: Verse 47

Transcript

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Hello and welcome to the Bearded Mystic podcast and I'm your host Rahul N Singh.

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Today we will be continuing on with my thoughts on the Bhagavad Gita and we will be looking at chapter 11 verses 47 to 55 and then that will be concluding this 11th chapter.

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Let's get started with verse 47.

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Sri Bhagavan spoke: As a kindness to you Arjuna, I have revealed my param roop, my supreme form, manifesting it entirely through the yoga maya of my unlimited Atma.

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This brilliant, unborn, original and universal form of mine has never been revealed so completely to anyone before you.

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Let's break this verse up a little.

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Sri Bhagavan spoke: As a kindness to you, O Arjuna, I have revealed my param roop, supreme form, manifesting it entirely through the yoga maya of my unlimited Atma.

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So Sri Krishna here is reminding Arjuna that it was his kindness that allowed him to see the Param Roop, the Supreme Form.

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Without the kindness of Sri Krishna, this would not have happened.

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So Arjuna asked for it, and then at the same time appealed and asked again for Sri Krishna's kindness to stop showing him this Infinite Form.

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So he's saying the kindness was there before, kindness is here now.

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That has not changed.

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This is why Sri Krishna wants to remind Arjuna that you asked for this.

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So don't expect that it should have been something different, you know, you asked for this.

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And then he says, manifesting it entirely through the Yoga Maya of my unlimited Atma.

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Yoga Maya is basically the mystical Brahman energies that act like a veil, protecting the True Identity from those who are not yet qualified to see this Truth, to see this Reality.

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So that's what Maya is.

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When it's done with Yog, when it's done in union with Brahman, then that's what it does.

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It acts like a veil and it hides both gross aspects to it and also the subtle aspects to it.

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And it hides the good and the bad.

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It tells, it gives us only what we need to see or perceive just enough to function properly in life.

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To put it bluntly, this whole manifestation of the Infinite Being that Arjuna saw was created through this illusionary veil beyond this is the unlimited Atma, so this is another way of seeing it.

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So the Virat Roop is just another Yoga Maya, just another form of Maya.

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And beyond that is the unlimited Atma, which is changeless, which is Nirguna Brahman.

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It is through Nirguna, remember, that Saguna is but Saguna can never be Nirguna.

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This is something we must fundamentally understand here.

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That yes, it manifested Itself through Yoga Maya but it's of that unlimited Atma.

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That unlimited Atma is that Real which does not change.

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So it's really important for us to realise that the limitless, Formless Awareness that presents this illusory manifestation that arises is from its own energy.

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Therefore we do not need to see it as something separate or anything different, but remember, Nirguna is Supreme.

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Then he says, this brilliant, unborn, original and universal form of mine has never been revealed so completely to anyone before you.

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So this Shared Being, which is contained within this Formless Awareness is brilliant because there's nothing second, there's nothing like It, there's nothing that comes to a close second to It.

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It's unborn, it's brilliant because it can destroy things without a trace, it can create things without a trace of Itself.

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It's that wonderful, it's that brilliant.

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It's unborn, it isn't born because it is a manifestation that appears, that's what Arjuna saw and it's original because it's a source of all existence.

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Everything is emanating from It and this manifestation is nothing but a reflection of the unlimited Atman.

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It's a universal form because it's the manifestation of all existence and this Shared Being has never been revealed to anyone like this before and Sri Krishna wants Arjuna to realize this that what he's been given is a unique opportunity.

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So this was no small ask from Arjuna, it was a big ask and Sri Krishna delivered.

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Verse 48.

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This cosmic form of Mine cannot be seen by reciting the Vedic mantras, by offering large donations, or by performing the Agnihotra Yajna, neither is it revealed to those who perform elaborate rituals, nor to those who undertake harsh and demanding tapasya.

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On this human loka, Arjuna, you are the only person to whom this form has been so fully revealed.

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Very interesting verse.

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So let's look at the first part.

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This cosmic form of Mine cannot be seen by reciting the Vedic mantras, by offering large donations or by performing the Agnihotra Yagna.

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So no Vedic mantras can be chanted enough to see the true extent of this Shared Being.

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Most people when they chant a mantra, it's mainly towards one specific deva or element.

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But if one can go beyond that and go towards the Formless, towards Brahman, then they may be able to see something a lot more, but Vedic mantras mainly are to do with worldly matters.

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And some people think they can offer large donations, you know, but this cannot be bought.

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Nobody can sell this to you.

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It has to be given freely.

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It has to be shared freely because Sri Krishna did the same.

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He didn't ask Arjuna for anything in return.

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He didn't say, go and fight now because I showed you this.

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He hasn't said this.

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Yeah, he showed it because Arjuna desired to see it.

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So he made it happen.

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But he never said, Arjuna, I'll only grant your wish if you fight this war.

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He doesn't even say that.

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That's why Arjuna has referred to him as kind and merciful.

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A lot of people think, oh, if I offer large donations, I would get somewhere better spiritually, I can get access to the busiest mandir, I can get access to the biggest guru there is.

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Yes, you may get front seat, but would you be able to see what a true disciple sees?

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That's the question.

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Nor by performing the Agnihotra Yajna, which is the offering of the ghee to the sacred fire.

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None of these things can help you see the full Shared Being nor do they make you worthy of it too.

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This is what Sri Krishna is saying and remember, a lot of people do these havans, these puja paths, these so many rituals, Sri Krishna is saying rituals will not get you there.

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You do the biggest yajna you want to.

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It's not going to get you this divine vision, this cosmic form.

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Then he says, neither is it revealed to those who perform elaborate rituals, nor to those who undertake harsh and demanding tapasya.

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So some people do really elaborate and difficult rituals, even then they cannot bear witness to this Shared Being.

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They do all these difficult rituals with so many instructions and so many requirements but even then they cannot get a sight of the Beloved, yeah, they still cannot get there.

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And some undertake harsh and demanding tapasya, they go up to the Himalayas doing all sorts of austerities, they starve themselves, they do so much but this again will never be enough to have this Shared Being, this Saguna Brahman, this Ishvara, this Nirguna Brahman to be revealed to them.

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And then he says, on this human loka, so in this human realm, Arjuna, you are the only person to whom this form has been so fully revealed.

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So out of everyone on this planet, who thinks they are the name and form, it is only Arjuna who has seen this fully revealed divine vision.

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The full extent of the manifestation, only he has seen it.

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Someone may ask a question, and I would even ask this question, has only Arjuna seen this divine form?

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And let me remind you of Guru Nanak Dev ji, because in the Japji Sahib, he says there's worlds upon worlds.

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He talks about the expansion of the universe or universes.

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So I would say that it's only in this situation, where an avatar has shown the disciple the divine vision.

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Yet, anyone that goes to a guru, anyone who does sincere devotion, sincere inquiry into the Self, they will get this vision too.

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But this vision isn't everything.

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Remember, it's still Yoga Maya.

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What is more important?

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Nirguna Brahman.

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If you see all this existence, in all its beauty and terrifying forms, will it get you closer to mukti?

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Yes or no?

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That's the question.

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So that's why for us we have to understand, yes, it's the first time and the only person that's had this revealed to them by Sri Krishna is Arjuna, but we can all experience this.

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It's no biggie.

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All we need is a Guru that will show it to us.

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But even the Guru will say this is temporary, don't go for this vision.

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There is something beyond it.

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Then verse 49.

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Do not tremble or remain in a state of bewilderment because you have seen my ghora roop, ghastly universal form.

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Be free of all fears and feel love and joy in your heart as you now behold my original roop, my all attractive, two armed transcendental form as Sri Bhagavan.

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Very interesting.

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We know about the ask in the previous episode, which was to see the four-armed Vishnu.

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What does Sri Krishna do?

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He's answered it here.

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So let's look at the first part.

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So do not tremble or remain in a state of bewilderment because you have seen my ghora roop, my ghastly universal form.

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So Sri Krishna wants Arjuna to not fear this ghastly side of the Shared Being.

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There's no point.

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There's no point fearing it, there's no point being scared of it, there's no point thinking that's what Sri Krishna is.

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It's a ghora roop.

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Remember he's beyond naam and roop.

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So there's no need for us to get stuck in any roop of Sri Krishna.

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And nor should he remain in a state of confusion or bewilderment or even awe and wonder at the horrifying or beautiful vision of the Shared Being that was possessed by him.

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Whatever form they saw of Sri Krishna there, Arjuna needs to forget about it.

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He does not need to be scared of it.

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He does not need to fear it.

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He says in the next part of the verse that be free of all fears and feel love and joy in your heart as you now behold my original roop, my all attractive, two armed, transcendental form as Sri Bhagavan.

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Sri Krishna tells him openly to be free of all fears.

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He says be free of all fears.

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We need to have freedom from all fears.

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There is nothing to be scared of.

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This is what he is telling him, to calm him down.

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Then he tells him to behold the form of his friend, Sri Krishna, as he's always seen him.

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So remember, he's gone from, he was asked about showing the four armed Vishnu, but even then, Sri Krishna didn't grant this.

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He said, see me as your friend.

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Because the spiritual friend is a higher relationship, it's a more beautiful and intimate relationship.

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And this is what Sri Krishna is hinting upon.

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And he says, feel love and joy in your heart.

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Now you see me as your friend.

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Keep this love.

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Feel that love and joy.

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And remain in this.

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There's no need to deviate away from this.

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There's no need to think of that other form.

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And he says the word all attractive, because the Guru's form is always attracting for us.

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Because it's beyond beauty, and it allows us to feel peace in the heart.

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We see our Guru and we are full of devotion.

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We see our Guru and we are full of that intimate love that cannot be replicated in any way.

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Then he also says, and this is interesting, the two armed transcendental form, this shows an important aspect that this form will also have to be transcended.

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That is Sri Krishna.

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It's also going to have a demise one day.

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It's also Mithya.

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What you refer to me as Sri Bhagavan, this is my transcendental form.

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Another way one can say is that if it's a transcendental form, then it's transcending form itself.

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That's another way to see it.

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And that is, that it's a spiritual and divine form of Sri Bhagavan, which is Sri Krishna.

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That's two ways of looking at it, where one can say you can transcend form or, it's the form that has already transcended, because it is of something divine.

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Two ways to look at it, two ways to interpret it.

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Then verse 50, Then Sanjay said to Dhritarashtra: After speaking those words of reassurance to Arjuna, Sri Krishna assumed his original and true form, having returned to his saumya vapu, beautiful and all attractive body, he calmed and consoled Arjuna who was still fearful and disturbed.

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We now see Sanjay narrate this to the Blind King.

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After speaking these words of reassurance to Arjuna, Sri Krishna assumed his original and true form.

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We know from here that Sri Krishna's words were reassuring for Arjuna, they definitely helped him.

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And then he returns back to his usual form as Sri Krishna, so this is then described.

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Then he says, having returned to his Saumya Vapu, the beautiful and all attractive body, he calmed and consoled Arjuna, who was still fearful and disturbed.

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Once he returned back to his form, which is beautiful and all attractive, all the devotees are in love with this form, which is pleasing to the eyes and gives coolness to the heart.

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Sri Krishna, then calms Arjuna with this sight that he can behold.

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And then he consoles him.

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He gives him a hug.

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He embraces him because Arjuna is still fearful.

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He's still disturbed and he wants Arjuna to transcend this.

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He wants to get rid of this.

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And when the guru hugs you, there's no other place you want to be.

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Trust me, there's a certain closeness you feel with that embrace and when I read this, I reflected upon when my guru would hug me and it brought back those feelings those memories where you literally felt you know heaven is right here.

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It's definitely here right now but that's the feeling you get.

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Blissfulness is right here.

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This is ananda, just being embraced by the Guru.

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Because when the Guru embraces you, when you feel that hug, you feel that nothing can harm you.

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And this is what's happening for Arjuna right now, as Sri Krishna hugs him.

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Then verse 51.

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Arjuna then spoke, O cause of the many births of all beings.

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Seeing your gentle and pleasing human like roop once again, I've regained my true nature and my heart is full of delight.

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Arjuna knows now how Sri Krishna is the source of all existence.

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So he says, oh cause of the many birth of all beings.

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Then he says, you know, seeing your gentle and pleasing human like roop once again, so it's very interesting.

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He's calmed down, he's composed, after seeing the pleasing and gentle form of Sri Krishna, but he has said something human like.

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So this form appears to be human, but it's something beyond that too.

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This is what he's hinting upon.

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And remember, we all have this human like roop, which is the Atma.

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The Atma, when it's reflected, it's the human body.

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That's all.

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And as he says, I have regained my true nature.

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What's his true nature?

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The Atma.

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He realizes he's the Atma again.

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That's the power of the embrace of the Guru.

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Therefore, he's full of delight and joy.

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Because once you go back to your true nature, there's only joy and there's only delight.

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There's only relaxation, there's only happiness.

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And that's exactly what Arjuna feels.

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Then verse 52.

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Sri Bhagavan said: This Vishwa Roop of mine, which I have just revealed to you, is extremely difficult to see, even the devas are constantly wishing to see that form.

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We are going to look at the whole verse altogether, it's a very short explanation, but this infinite Shared Being with all its parts is very difficult to see and comprehend, all at once.

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So even the devas have wished to see it, they have been begging for this vision, but even they cannot see it.

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Because it's extremely difficult for anyone to take in.

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He has said that they continuously still want to see this form.

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They still ask for this form.

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One thing to note is that Sri Krishna is telling Arjuna that look where I have placed you.

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You being my friend, do not see it as a detriment.

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Look what I have done for you.

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You know this is what he's trying to hint to him.

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Hopefully Arjuna understands this but this is really important to understand.

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Then in verse 53.

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But it is not through dana, yajna, tapasya, or the study of vedic knowledge that I can be seen in my universal form as you have seen Me.

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Let's look at this verse as a whole.

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He says but it's not through dana.

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We know that it doesn't matter how much charity you do, you still cannot see this truth.

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Charity is a by product of understanding your true nature.

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It should be selfless anyway.

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This is selfless seva.

00:21:04.338 --> 00:21:08.818
This is the seva that's done without wanting anything in return.

00:21:10.148 --> 00:21:14.898
So no matter how much you donate to a Guru, it doesn't mean that you will get the Gyana.

00:21:15.878 --> 00:21:18.608
Some people think they can buy the Gyana, it cannot be bought.

00:21:19.588 --> 00:21:21.878
There is no value you can put on the Gyana.

00:21:22.538 --> 00:21:36.459
If you put all the wealth of the world together, that still does not equal to a miniscule of the value of this Brahm Gyana, not even a minute aspect.

00:21:37.868 --> 00:21:41.159
It's not even worth a speck of dust of that truth.

00:21:44.878 --> 00:21:50.568
That's the value of this Brahm Gyana, this knowledge of Brahman, this insight into Brahman.

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.219
It's no ordinary matter.

00:21:53.686 --> 00:21:58.057
Even if someone does thousands of yajnas, they still cannot see the infinite form.

00:21:58.057 --> 00:22:02.836
They think, if I do this yajna, then the devas will be pleased, then I'll see the divine form.

00:22:02.846 --> 00:22:03.957
Many people are cunning.

00:22:04.557 --> 00:22:07.957
They think, let me put on this show of doing yajna.

00:22:09.076 --> 00:22:10.557
This will not be enough either.

00:22:11.477 --> 00:22:17.527
This is just a show of your influence, not necessarily your devotion.

00:22:18.817 --> 00:22:23.866
Then he says, nor though tapasaya do your austerities.

00:22:25.211 --> 00:22:27.281
Even then the capability is not given.

00:22:28.761 --> 00:22:37.771
I've mentioned in a previous episode how Mahatma Buddha did so much, but still he could have done all of that at home.

00:22:37.791 --> 00:22:39.291
He didn't have to starve himself.

00:22:39.842 --> 00:22:42.791
He didn't have to do all that he did to get to enlightenment.

00:22:44.692 --> 00:22:45.342
Same here.

00:22:45.682 --> 00:22:47.291
You can do all your tapasya.

00:22:48.172 --> 00:22:53.721
Do all the austerity, starve yourself, feel thirsty for many days, fast and all this.

00:22:54.781 --> 00:22:57.201
Be silent, do all of these things.

00:22:58.021 --> 00:22:59.711
It still cannot get you to the truth.

00:23:00.832 --> 00:23:05.122
They're good actions, they're good karma, but that's it.

00:23:06.182 --> 00:23:07.832
Not anything more than that.

00:23:10.031 --> 00:23:14.821
Nor by studying the Vedic knowledge will reveal this universal form, this virat roop.

00:23:15.241 --> 00:23:15.711
Why?

00:23:16.173 --> 00:23:17.903
Now this is telling because...

00:23:18.634 --> 00:23:32.924
Sri Krishna, although saying nobody has seen this form except for Arjuna, but at the same time, he isn't giving this concession that one, by seeing this form, one will become enlightened.

00:23:34.454 --> 00:23:37.724
So this is very telling, if you think about it.

00:23:37.775 --> 00:23:42.248
Before I go into why, studying the vedic knowledge will not reveal this universal form.

00:23:42.580 --> 00:23:47.691
Sri Krishna we know that he has already said that nobody has seen this form except for Arjuna, right?

00:23:49.221 --> 00:23:57.377
But he's also making this statement that it doesn't mean that if you see this universal form that you will reach enlightenment.

00:23:58.298 --> 00:24:02.228
He's not making that statement.

00:24:02.367 --> 00:24:06.077
Sometimes you have to read between the lines what is being said here.

00:24:06.907 --> 00:24:09.758
What is Sri Krishna really talking about?

00:24:11.988 --> 00:24:14.998
Remember, study of the Vedic knowledge is for Gyana.

00:24:16.298 --> 00:24:22.907
When we study Vedanta, it's so we can get liberation, so we can get freedom, so we can get mukti, this is the purpose.

00:24:23.038 --> 00:24:26.587
if you look, Arjuna saw this divine form, but did he get mukti?

00:24:27.127 --> 00:24:28.067
Did he get free?

00:24:29.157 --> 00:24:29.518
No.

00:24:30.607 --> 00:24:31.337
What happened?

00:24:31.387 --> 00:24:33.617
He became full of fear, he was trembling.

00:24:39.768 --> 00:24:44.057
So we know that seeing this divine form, this universal form is not everything.

00:24:44.807 --> 00:24:48.788
If you see Saguna Brahman in all its glory, it doesn't mean anything.

00:24:49.367 --> 00:24:50.884
All you're seeing is Yoga Maya.

00:24:54.228 --> 00:25:00.627
So even though this is amazing, it really isn't something we should wish for either.

00:25:03.577 --> 00:25:08.597
The question we must ask is what would we get from witnessing all of this?

00:25:09.248 --> 00:25:10.657
What will we achieve?

00:25:11.538 --> 00:25:12.708
What will be the end goal?

00:25:13.877 --> 00:25:16.367
If it doesn't bring us liberation, then what?

00:25:29.087 --> 00:25:30.347
Then verse 54.

00:25:31.512 --> 00:25:41.643
Only by pure and unwavering bhakti yog can I be seen, known and understood in my most essential, true and ultimate nature.

00:25:42.292 --> 00:25:51.903
O Arjuna, only in that way can you reach, attain and fully enter into the mysteries of my many divine forms.

00:25:52.202 --> 00:25:53.613
Let's look at the first part here.

00:25:54.343 --> 00:26:06.038
Only by pure and unwavering bhakti yog can I be seen, known and understood in my most essential, true and ultimate nature.

00:26:08.008 --> 00:26:10.218
First of all, one has to have pure devotion.

00:26:10.657 --> 00:26:11.708
Very important.

00:26:14.357 --> 00:26:18.788
It shouldn't be mixed with conditions and expectations.

00:26:20.748 --> 00:26:23.498
Our intentions must be very, very clear.

00:26:23.508 --> 00:26:25.278
So they need to be very, very pure.

00:26:25.778 --> 00:26:27.798
And our devotion needs to be unwavering.

00:26:28.397 --> 00:26:29.627
It cannot fluctuate.

00:26:30.067 --> 00:26:34.607
It cannot be that one day I will do so much bhakti, the next day I will do nothing.

00:26:34.837 --> 00:26:48.107
Or I keep bhakti for some weekend activity, but it's not my everyday daily life, that is wavering bhakti, that is conditional bhakti.

00:26:48.788 --> 00:26:52.607
Unconditional, unwavering bhakti is when it's constant.

00:26:52.847 --> 00:26:55.788
It's the same, we are always remembering the divine name.

00:26:56.428 --> 00:26:58.917
We are always remembering this Brahman.

00:26:59.587 --> 00:27:02.387
We are always in the awareness of this Brahman.

00:27:02.738 --> 00:27:09.038
We are absolutely in the knowledge and discernment of Aham Brahmasmi.

00:27:09.678 --> 00:27:10.758
There is only Brahman.

00:27:11.228 --> 00:27:12.327
I am only Brahman.

00:27:12.837 --> 00:27:14.117
I am only the Self.

00:27:15.387 --> 00:27:20.768
The name and form is something the Self possesses, not what I am.

00:27:22.055 --> 00:27:27.405
These very subtle nuanced points is what Bhakti Yog is.

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:33.920
Bhakti Yog is being stable and being consistent with Gyana.

00:27:35.130 --> 00:27:35.720
That is Bhakti.

00:27:37.336 --> 00:27:42.744
Here he says we must constantly utilize our emotions in the remembrance of the Lord.

00:27:43.295 --> 00:27:45.845
If we feel love, we do that.

00:27:46.355 --> 00:27:49.934
If we feel joy, we do remembrance of the Lord.

00:27:49.934 --> 00:27:54.724
Basically, anything we feel, we do in the remembrance of the Lord.

00:27:54.954 --> 00:27:59.615
I would even go far to say, if you feel angry, do it in the remembrance of the Lord.

00:28:00.914 --> 00:28:01.674
It's okay.

00:28:04.555 --> 00:28:07.704
But the bhakti should not waver.

00:28:08.765 --> 00:28:11.454
Neither should it fluctuate.

00:28:12.407 --> 00:28:23.954
Now what is he talking about here as he says only through bhakti yog can he be seen, known and understood in my most essential, true and ultimate nature.

00:28:23.954 --> 00:28:25.434
What does Sri Krishna mean here?

00:28:25.434 --> 00:28:29.904
Because this is a statement which is interesting.

00:28:30.984 --> 00:28:35.167
First of all, only by pure and unwavering bhakti can I be seen.

00:28:36.067 --> 00:28:37.157
What is to be seen?

00:28:38.978 --> 00:28:40.038
This existence.

00:28:41.127 --> 00:28:46.468
This existence is a reflection of That which I know.

00:28:46.867 --> 00:28:49.167
What is it that has the capacity to know?

00:28:50.327 --> 00:28:56.367
What is it that witnesses everything, that sees everything, but is not touched by anything or affected by anything?

00:28:56.708 --> 00:29:04.607
What is it that knows everything, yet cannot be known in itself, because to know it will mean it's an object.

00:29:06.428 --> 00:29:10.298
And what is it that is understood without any explanation?

00:29:10.847 --> 00:29:14.917
It is Nirguna Brahman, simply.

00:29:15.748 --> 00:29:20.548
That can be seen, known and understood in my most essential, true and ultimate nature.

00:29:20.778 --> 00:29:22.607
What is the most essential nature?

00:29:23.387 --> 00:29:26.077
First of all, it would be the Virat Roop, the existence.

00:29:26.087 --> 00:29:38.448
Without existence, without maya, It's not essential, but that's if you only believe in Saguna Brahman.

00:29:38.448 --> 00:29:42.837
If you believe in Nirguna Brahman, then what's the most essential?

00:29:43.397 --> 00:29:44.268
Awareness.

00:29:45.107 --> 00:29:46.097
What is most true?

00:29:46.518 --> 00:29:47.347
Awareness.

00:29:47.627 --> 00:29:49.238
What is the ultimate nature?

00:29:49.557 --> 00:29:51.728
Awareness, Consciousness.

00:29:54.798 --> 00:29:56.688
That reality which does not change.

00:29:58.972 --> 00:30:02.853
This is why Nirguna Bhakti is Supreme Bhakti.

00:30:04.643 --> 00:30:08.762
Worship the Nirguna and you'll get everything.

00:30:10.093 --> 00:30:11.752
Saguna comes part with Nirguna.

00:30:12.272 --> 00:30:16.313
But with Saguna, Nirguna is not a part of.

00:30:17.643 --> 00:30:19.472
Because with Saguna you'll be stuck there.

00:30:19.623 --> 00:30:21.232
That's the beauty of that Yoga Maya.

00:30:22.113 --> 00:30:30.488
But, if you know the true essential ultimate nature which is Nirguna then you can know everything.

00:30:32.678 --> 00:30:49.890
This this is a very what to say this is a very difficult concept to understand but if we understand this, we are moving forward and you may need to listen to a few times.

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:58.460
I had to study the Bhagavad Gita many times before I've come to this understanding and in years to come my understanding will deepen.

00:30:59.099 --> 00:31:07.569
So what I say today may not apply in the number of years later but or my explanation will become a lot better.

00:31:08.490 --> 00:31:21.630
One thing will not change is that I will always have a non dual understanding, that is something I can guarantee.

00:31:22.803 --> 00:31:34.472
Through bhakti, this ultimate reality, this Brahman can be seen, known and understood as awareness, simply.

00:31:36.432 --> 00:31:37.143
How can you see awareness?

00:31:37.143 --> 00:31:41.532
Awareness, the one that sees...

00:31:45.103 --> 00:31:53.788
becomes the seen, the one that knows becomes the known, and the one that understands becomes the one understood.

00:31:54.208 --> 00:31:57.917
That's what awareness does, that's what Pure Consciousness does.

00:31:59.798 --> 00:32:10.113
Then in the next part of the verse he says Oh Arjuna, only in that way can you reach, attain and fully enter into the mysteries of my many divine forms.

00:32:10.732 --> 00:32:23.363
Once one is in Formless Awareness, once one is established in Nirguna Brahman, one has already entered into the many mysteries, one has already entered into the mysteries of the many divine forms.

00:32:23.413 --> 00:32:25.373
We see this Maya is all good.

00:32:25.752 --> 00:32:30.643
There's no reason to condemn it, there's no reason to praise it, it simply is.

00:32:31.182 --> 00:32:31.603
And...

00:32:32.242 --> 00:32:33.242
We're all good with it.

00:32:34.363 --> 00:32:45.133
It is pure consciousness that is within those forms, it's not separate, it's just that one changeless underlying reality, which is awareness, Pure Consciousness.

00:32:45.623 --> 00:32:51.792
One must first reach and understand Formless Awareness, that's understood, how do we reach there?

00:32:52.022 --> 00:33:02.923
We take the aid of the Guru, the Guru then gives us the means to understand, the means to attain this Formless Awareness, this Nirguna Brahman.

00:33:04.593 --> 00:33:14.367
Then once we have attained this Formless Awareness with the help of the Guru, with the help of the teacher, the spiritual friend, we then make it our own.

00:33:14.837 --> 00:33:16.127
This is very important.

00:33:16.807 --> 00:33:18.448
We must make this truth our own.

00:33:19.008 --> 00:33:20.897
Arjuna has to make this truth his own.

00:33:22.627 --> 00:33:26.778
And then one must fully enter and abide in Formless Awareness.

00:33:29.428 --> 00:33:43.218
Only something that is Formless can entertain many forms, can comprehend it, can take it all in, can understand it, can understand the nuance and the complexities.

00:33:44.877 --> 00:33:48.167
Consciousness is the mystery that many cannot resolve.

00:33:48.307 --> 00:33:49.028
This is simple.

00:33:50.748 --> 00:34:00.228
Hence the one that has unwavering pure bhakti will be the one that sees that there is Awareness in all forms.

00:34:02.208 --> 00:34:06.877
Awareness never disappears, Consciousness never disappears.

00:34:08.588 --> 00:34:15.188
Then verse 55, which is the final verse for today's episode and of the chapter.

00:34:17.378 --> 00:34:39.101
O Arjuna One who is ecstatic bhakta lovingly dedicates all they do to Me, constantly thinking only of Me as the ultimate supreme being, and most loving friend, who has no attachments to matter, who is free of enmity with all living beings, and who is always devoted to Me, is certain to come to Me.

00:34:39.422 --> 00:34:44.362
This is a very, very important final verse.

00:34:44.641 --> 00:34:46.271
Many people quote this.

00:34:49.081 --> 00:34:51.621
But very few will understand this.

00:34:52.771 --> 00:34:56.012
We could literally do a whole episode on this.

00:34:57.472 --> 00:34:58.782
It is that powerful.

00:35:00.371 --> 00:35:03.461
But I'm going to summarize as much as I can.

00:35:04.291 --> 00:35:13.985
And maybe after August next year, when we've completed the Bhagavad Gita series, then we will look into...

00:35:15.715 --> 00:35:20.885
Maybe just doing a whole session on this one verse or aspects of this verse.

00:35:21.844 --> 00:35:23.925
Let's look at the first part of this verse.

00:35:24.244 --> 00:35:34.445
Oh Arjuna, one who is ecstatic bhakta, lovingly dedicates all they do to me, constantly thinking of me as the ultimate supreme being and most loving friend.

00:35:35.344 --> 00:35:45.724
First of all, whoever is an ecstatic devotee, yeah, forever enthusiastic, forever enraptured in that love.

00:35:48.094 --> 00:35:50.695
They dedicate everything they do to me, he says.

00:35:51.344 --> 00:35:53.735
That's the definition of an ecstatic bhakta.

00:35:55.235 --> 00:35:57.215
Everything they do is for the Lord.

00:35:58.284 --> 00:36:02.425
Everything they do is for Brahman, not for themselves.

00:36:02.434 --> 00:36:03.844
They are not selfish in any way.

00:36:05.635 --> 00:36:07.144
And everything is done through love.

00:36:07.452 --> 00:36:32.211
There is a Narad Muni, right, and in depictions you may see on TV, he is always saying Narayan, Narayan, anything he does, he does something mischievous, Narayan, Narayan, he does something really great, Narayan, Narayan, lovingly dedicates all they do to Narayan, or Sri Krishna or to Vishnu or to your isht-devta to anybody.

00:36:33.072 --> 00:36:34.782
Whoever you are fully devoted to.

00:36:36.121 --> 00:36:36.481
Yeah.

00:36:38.431 --> 00:36:49.242
You lovingly dedicate All you do, you brush your teeth, you think of your isht-devta praising your isht-devta.

00:36:50.632 --> 00:36:53.632
You are recording this podcast.

00:36:53.782 --> 00:36:54.442
Same thing.

00:36:55.132 --> 00:36:58.521
You listen to this podcast or watch this podcast.

00:36:58.527 --> 00:36:59.152
Same thing.

00:37:00.661 --> 00:37:08.197
You eat a meal, again everything you do, oh I'm feeding the Lord.

00:37:10.257 --> 00:37:13.777
You go to sleep at night, dedicate that sleep to Brahman.

00:37:18.266 --> 00:37:20.137
Everything is dedicated to Brahman.

00:37:22.806 --> 00:37:26.257
So who is the ecstatic devotee?

00:37:27.041 --> 00:37:33.041
The one who dedicates all thoughts, emotions, actions, results to this Formless Awareness, to Nirguna Brahman.

00:37:33.512 --> 00:37:35.422
Remember that is the ultimate way.

00:37:37.442 --> 00:37:45.681
And when one understands that Formless Awareness is the only ultimate supreme being, one is a true bhakta.

00:37:46.612 --> 00:37:51.771
One is an ecstatic bhakta, full of joy, full of ecstasy.

00:37:54.181 --> 00:38:03.516
And most of all, the one that makes it their most loving friend, they go to Formless Awareness, they attain Jivan Mukti.

00:38:04.827 --> 00:38:13.447
Because remember, as I've mentioned many times now, spiritual friendship is the highest relationship one can have.

00:38:14.757 --> 00:38:24.317
Once you have a spiritual friendship with anybody, even if it's your children, your spouse, your parents, your friends, your guru, everyone.

00:38:26.331 --> 00:38:30.822
Then you are living the highest relationship with all of them.

00:38:31.871 --> 00:38:34.152
Then you are in the highest relationship with all of them.

00:38:34.581 --> 00:38:37.052
Therefore, what do you do?

00:38:37.902 --> 00:38:45.335
You are constantly thinking of your Ishta Devta, your Guru, you're thinking of Brahman.

00:38:46.114 --> 00:38:47.985
This is the ultimate Supreme Being.

00:38:49.425 --> 00:38:51.125
And that's my most loving friend.

00:38:53.155 --> 00:39:03.744

Thoughts on The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11: Verse 47 - Verse 55)

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