Thoughts on the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 13: Verses 25

Transcript

WEBVTT

00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:07.230
Hello and welcome to The Bearded Mystic Podcast and I'm your host Rahul N Singh.

00:00:07.349 --> 00:00:12.179
Thank you for taking out the time today to either watch or listen to this podcast episode.

00:00:12.750 --> 00:00:32.158
If you are really interested in supporting The Bearded Mystic Podcast, and you've found great benefit in listening or watching these episodes, then please do support this podcast on Patreon where you can get ad free and bonus episodes along with other benefits depending on the tier that you select.

00:00:32.183 --> 00:00:42.228
Your support means everything, and it really does help the podcast keep running efficiently and smoothly, and also widens the audience that this message can reach to.

00:00:42.314 --> 00:00:46.935
If you would like to know more about it, the details are in the show notes and video description below.

00:00:47.198 --> 00:00:55.597
On Saturdays at 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time there is a free virtual meditation session along with discussion and Q&A.

00:00:56.268 --> 00:01:02.917
If you're interested in meditating with us as a community, then you can find out the details in the show notes and video description below.

00:01:03.149 --> 00:01:12.662
Please do like, comment, and subscribe if you're watching this on YouTube and if you're listening to this on your favorite podcast streaming app, then please do give this podcast a five star rating.

00:01:12.662 --> 00:01:27.016
It helps the podcast get up in the charts and allows the algorithm to bring this podcast to new listeners and also do review the podcast if you can and make sure you do follow or subscribe to keep getting future episodes.

00:01:27.492 --> 00:01:37.591
So today we will be continuing on with my thoughts on the Bhagavad Gita and we will be looking at chapter 13, verses 25 to 29.

00:01:37.591 --> 00:01:40.486
Let's start with verse 25.

00:01:41.277 --> 00:01:49.296
Some yogis see the Atma and Paramatma through deep states of Dhyana in Ashtanga Yoga and meditation.

00:01:49.762 --> 00:01:58.391
Others use their Atma as the instrument to enable them to look directly at their own Atma and also to see Paramatma.

00:01:58.891 --> 00:02:09.102
Still, others practice the science of Sankhya or Jnana Yog to discern the Atma and Paramatma from the various categories of Prakriti.

00:02:09.451 --> 00:02:17.581
And finally, some serve Paramatma directly through karma yoga and in the process see their own atma.

00:02:17.581 --> 00:02:26.792
A very interesting verse by Sri Krishna and we're going to break this verse up so we can take a look into the deeper meanings in each line.

00:02:27.401 --> 00:02:35.592
So the first line is, some yogis see the atma and Paramatma through deep states of dhyan in ashtanga yoga meditation.

00:02:35.991 --> 00:02:40.062
So as we know, some Yogis will go through the path of meditation.

00:02:40.072 --> 00:02:42.421
Meditation seems to be very easy for them.

00:02:42.882 --> 00:02:44.181
They can flow with it.

00:02:44.421 --> 00:02:47.111
They find it a practice that they can really adhere to.

00:02:47.532 --> 00:03:04.012
And it's one where, you know, through certain body movements, one gets the body prepared and the mind prepared through breathing exercises, so that they can reach a state of samadhi, or reach a state of that undivided, indivisible consciousness.

00:03:04.012 --> 00:03:14.792
And they do that by sometimes concentrating on a word, on an image, on the breath, and all that is meant to do is make the mind steady.

00:03:15.081 --> 00:03:18.701
And by making the mind steady, it comes to a complete silence.

00:03:19.231 --> 00:03:22.842
And it's in that silence that they enter a deep state of Samadhi.

00:03:22.872 --> 00:03:26.312
So some people can see the Atma and Paramatma.

00:03:26.521 --> 00:03:32.461
That witness consciousness that is tied to the body and then the witness consciousness that pervades everywhere.

00:03:32.891 --> 00:03:37.252
They're able to witness that through Dhyan, very deep states of Dhyan.

00:03:38.442 --> 00:03:49.562
Then Sri Krishna says in the next line, Other use their Atma as the instrument to enable them to look directly at their own Atma and also to see Paramatma.

00:03:50.931 --> 00:03:51.352
So.

00:03:52.562 --> 00:03:59.602
I would also consider this to be the path of meditation, but it's, it can be considered to be something a lot deeper as well.

00:04:00.731 --> 00:04:09.352
What we do, we use our own mind and with its emotions and its thoughts, we start looking within our own self, we start analysing the mind.

00:04:09.592 --> 00:04:18.192
We do a self enquiry into where are my thoughts originating from, where are my feelings originating from, why are thoughts going from here to there?

00:04:18.531 --> 00:04:20.862
And you know, we do this careful analysis.

00:04:21.286 --> 00:04:32.646
Or, we go through the process of awareness, so we just become aware of the mind, we constantly observe the mind, and when we are observing the mind, we then find, as J.

00:04:32.656 --> 00:04:37.612
Krishnamurti says, the observer becomes the observed, that's when you start seeing Paramatma.

00:04:37.641 --> 00:04:42.461
That's when you start seeing that witness consciousness that pervades everything and everywhere.

00:04:43.281 --> 00:04:45.341
And that formless is the highest.

00:04:45.401 --> 00:04:50.271
Now, as Sri Krishna says, others use their Atma as instrument.

00:04:50.351 --> 00:04:52.971
Here the instrument is considered to be the mind.

00:04:53.302 --> 00:05:14.887
But, we can even take it a step further and say, even if one sees it as the individual consciousness, the Jeevatma, What happens then is that by using the mind to observe itself, we then find that there is an awareness, and then we link that awareness to the awareness, that consciousness, that seems to be pervading everywhere.

00:05:14.896 --> 00:05:18.086
It doesn't seem to be located in one thing alone.

00:05:18.547 --> 00:05:24.487
The practice here is simply that you become aware of formless awareness, or of being formless awareness.

00:05:25.226 --> 00:05:27.776
This can happen very easily.

00:05:27.992 --> 00:05:35.151
But just as easy as it is to grasp, as easy it is to allow it to slip away.

00:05:35.541 --> 00:05:38.151
So how can we stabilize ourself in this?

00:05:38.512 --> 00:05:40.492
Is to continuously do the practice.

00:05:40.721 --> 00:05:46.141
The problem is that once someone becomes aware of formless awareness, they normally let go of the practice.

00:05:46.562 --> 00:05:53.701
And because they let go of the practice, and because they think they've achieved something, they lose out on that stability that's required.

00:05:54.081 --> 00:06:26.877
That's why in majority of the non dual circles today is based on this concept of being aware, of being aware but to solidify and stabilize that awareness, we have to do certain practices, that's why people may do meditation, that's why people may do karma yoga, serving others, that's why some people may do bhakti, devotion, all those things are done so that we can become stabilised in being aware of being aware or being aware of formless awareness.

00:06:28.117 --> 00:06:33.997
And what happens is, as you utilise your mind, you observe your mind, then the observer becomes the observed.

00:06:34.326 --> 00:06:43.067
You then remove the duality because now you recognise that this observer is actually nothing but formless awareness itself.

00:06:43.377 --> 00:06:47.916
Therefore, that's the highest state that one can reach.

00:06:48.357 --> 00:06:50.226
And this is an easy one to do.

00:06:50.646 --> 00:06:53.747
Easy one to practice, easy one to even get to awakening.

00:06:54.137 --> 00:07:04.187
But to stabilize the awakening into enlightenment, that can be a challenge and that's why it's very essential to have a teacher when you're on this particular path.

00:07:05.737 --> 00:07:15.572
Then Sri Krishna says, still others practice the science of Sankhya or Jnana Yoga to discern the Atma and Paramatma from the various categories of prakriti.

00:07:15.841 --> 00:07:27.651
So this is the path of knowledge and one can utilize the path of neti neti even with the other one you can use neti neti but with this one you specifically will use neti neti so not this not this.

00:07:27.661 --> 00:07:42.122
So you negate everything until you get to pure consciousness and what you do is you negate anything that is prakriti and prakriti is defined as that which is unreal and it's unreal because it keeps changing, it keeps modifying, it decays, it dies, it's born.

00:07:42.382 --> 00:07:44.771
Whatever is subject to change is prakriti.

00:07:45.562 --> 00:07:49.502
You negate all of prakriti and then what you're left with is awareness alone.

00:07:50.442 --> 00:07:54.482
We keep negating until we get to that witness that cannot change.

00:07:54.541 --> 00:07:57.132
That Witness Consciousness, that Pure Awareness.

00:07:57.497 --> 00:08:04.406
That Pure Being that seems to still be there even when we negate even the negation itself.

00:08:05.997 --> 00:08:11.557
And that is considered to be the Purusha or as we refer it to as the Formless Awareness or Nirgun Brahman.

00:08:12.737 --> 00:08:19.987
The one thing I will say here is this Gyan Yog to discern the Atma and Paramatma from Prakriti.

00:08:19.987 --> 00:08:23.586
With this particular one, it's very important to 1.

00:08:23.596 --> 00:08:24.547
Seek a teacher.

00:08:24.547 --> 00:08:25.497
2.

00:08:25.677 --> 00:08:27.627
Make sure you are studying the scriptures.

00:08:28.057 --> 00:08:28.437
3.

00:08:29.357 --> 00:08:43.017
Make sure you're doing some sort of ritualistic practice, so what I mean by that is something ritualistic in the sense of maybe doing puja, doing meditation, something that you do for a little bit of time.

00:08:43.149 --> 00:08:48.159
All the paths that Sri Krishna talks about today, all of them can be done as a householder.

00:08:48.169 --> 00:08:52.529
You don't have to go off to the jungle, renounce life.

00:08:52.549 --> 00:08:54.679
You can literally do it while you're alive now.

00:08:55.940 --> 00:09:03.220
And then Sri Krishna says, and finally, some serve Paramatma directly through Karma Yoga and in the process see their own Atma.

00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:07.289
So some, through their own actions, they serve the highest in all.

00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:11.929
So they look at everyone as that highest self, that Brahman itself.

00:09:12.149 --> 00:09:24.340
They don't see anyone as an individual, name and form alone, they understand that people are much more than that and that's why they serve Paramatma directly by seeing It in all.

00:09:24.552 --> 00:09:30.952
Once you are able to see the highest in everyone and in everything, then you transcend the doership of actions.

00:09:31.408 --> 00:09:35.567
And these reactions from those actions are no longer associated to us.

00:09:35.577 --> 00:09:40.518
So you can do the greatest act, you will not get pride from doing good actions.

00:09:40.967 --> 00:09:45.107
And neither will you feel terribly bad if you do terrible actions.

00:09:45.368 --> 00:09:50.927
What you will do in both scenarios is look how to balance yourself and make yourself a better person.

00:09:51.618 --> 00:09:55.317
If it's good, you don't want to become egoic about it.

00:09:55.618 --> 00:10:01.577
And if you're bad and done some bad actions, you don't want to go drowning into the guilt of it.

00:10:01.868 --> 00:10:06.097
Accept your mistake, do something about it, improve your behavior.

00:10:06.118 --> 00:10:06.898
Simple as that.

00:10:08.467 --> 00:10:12.567
So by seeing the formless in all, they naturally become the formless itself.

00:10:12.868 --> 00:10:20.077
Essentially these three paths that Sri Krishna has referred to right now, can help people become one with formless awareness.

00:10:21.503 --> 00:10:23.572
Then verse 26.

00:10:24.033 --> 00:10:28.873
However, there are others who are not very skillful in learning Vedic knowledge.

00:10:29.143 --> 00:10:42.442
But even if they simply and sincerely hear from a Guru, and follow the instructions to focus upon and adore the Param Ishvara, they too can go beyond samsara, the cycle of repeated birth and death.

00:10:42.493 --> 00:10:44.523
Let's look at the first part of this verse.

00:10:44.682 --> 00:10:48.643
However, there are others who are not very skillful in learning Vedic knowledge.

00:10:48.972 --> 00:10:56.393
Now, not everyone can concentrate for long and not everyone can decipher what the Vedic knowledge really is and what it really means.

00:10:56.613 --> 00:10:59.692
It's open to a lot of interpretation.

00:11:00.503 --> 00:11:06.192
Now, some are also just not great with utilising their intellectual capabilities.

00:11:06.202 --> 00:11:10.493
Neither have people strengthened it, therefore, it's very difficult.

00:11:10.513 --> 00:11:22.298
And today, in in the sense of social media, how many of us can actually focus for a long time and actually really understand something and spend that time to really grasp that knowledge.

00:11:22.638 --> 00:11:27.427
And then the other aspect is some people may not find fulfillment in doing rituals.

00:11:27.697 --> 00:11:37.888
They may find that because they're not good at doing rituals, they may not be eligible to learn the Vedic knowledge, to learn the teachings of the Upanishads.

00:11:38.118 --> 00:11:42.028
Sri Krishna says, well, you know what, in the next line, he makes it very clear.

00:11:42.288 --> 00:11:54.707
But even if they simply and sincerely hear from a guru and follow their instructions to focus upon and adore the Param Ishvara, they too can go beyond samsara, the cycle of repeated birth and death.

00:11:55.038 --> 00:11:57.482
First of all, this is the path of devotion.

00:11:57.503 --> 00:11:58.942
That's what this means.

00:11:59.192 --> 00:12:01.302
If you simply and sincerely hear.

00:12:01.763 --> 00:12:06.253
Simply meaning, whatever the guru says, you must simply follow it.

00:12:06.533 --> 00:12:11.077
In the sense of, not blindly, You should seek to understand it.

00:12:11.077 --> 00:12:18.577
Now, what's funny is a guru, a genuine guru will always give you not a convoluted answer, but always a simple answer.

00:12:19.128 --> 00:12:24.738
And sometimes simplicity can be underwhelming and also be overwhelming.

00:12:24.748 --> 00:12:29.008
So sometimes we need complexity to explain the simplicity.

00:12:30.378 --> 00:12:35.587
Now, a guru will always give you honest and a sincere take on things.

00:12:36.148 --> 00:12:39.427
So you hear the message of the guru, you hear it.

00:12:39.873 --> 00:12:46.077
You nurture it and then you follow their guidance This is basically Shravana, Manana, Nidhidhyasana.

00:12:46.077 --> 00:12:51.322
Shravana meaning that you listen to the message, you listen to the teachings.

00:12:51.643 --> 00:12:55.533
Manana, then you fully have reverence for the teaching.

00:12:55.873 --> 00:13:00.873
You want to fully, you fully believe in the teachings, you contemplate upon the teachings.

00:13:00.942 --> 00:13:03.312
And Nidhidhyasana, you practice the teachings.

00:13:03.543 --> 00:13:06.013
You put it to practice, you put it to the test.

00:13:06.562 --> 00:13:09.072
That's what we must do.

00:13:09.697 --> 00:13:20.158
So, what happens there is, we listen to the Guru, He tells us, or She tells us, focus upon and adore the Param Ishvara.

00:13:20.177 --> 00:13:21.927
Now, who is the Param Ishvara?

00:13:22.207 --> 00:13:26.832
In this regard, if it said Ishvara, it would be Saguna Brahman.

00:13:27.052 --> 00:13:33.023
But he said Param Ishvara, so something beyond Ishvara in my opinion.

00:13:33.363 --> 00:13:34.373
So who is that?

00:13:34.523 --> 00:13:35.202
What is that?

00:13:35.273 --> 00:13:38.432
That's Nirgun Brahman, Formless Awareness.

00:13:39.023 --> 00:13:43.753
So once you are able to do that, that will be reaching the highest.

00:13:43.783 --> 00:13:44.913
That's the eventual goal.

00:13:45.302 --> 00:13:48.913
However, maybe we find that difficult.

00:13:49.192 --> 00:13:54.743
In this situation, what we can do is focus upon and adore the Shared Being or Sagun Brahman.

00:13:55.332 --> 00:14:13.852
That can be also considered as Param Ishvara, but what will happen is, once we understand that these attributes are originating from this Nirgun, then we let go of the ideas and concepts of the Param Ishvara or Ishvara or Sagun Brahman.

00:14:13.932 --> 00:14:15.962
We only see that one Nirgun.

00:14:16.273 --> 00:14:20.173
And we see that that is the cause and the manifest.

00:14:20.365 --> 00:14:30.144
Now, focusing upon it means doing certain practices, doing satsang, Sumiran, remembering this Lord.

00:14:30.725 --> 00:14:33.914
You know, these are the practices we do.

00:14:34.315 --> 00:14:37.875
We do constant meditation, mindfulness on this Formless.

00:14:38.154 --> 00:14:39.735
That's what we need to do.

00:14:39.774 --> 00:14:45.235
And, you know, look, for me, I only followed what my Guru told me.

00:14:45.414 --> 00:14:48.754
My Guru told me, be aware of this formless 24x7.

00:14:49.034 --> 00:14:59.445
And essentially, if you look into every episode of mine, you will see, not that I directly say this, but it's hinted upon.

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:20.299
Because for me, that is what helped me the most, that teaching and Shravana, I heard it, Manana, I believe that something can happen because of it and Nidhidhyasana, I then put it to the test and by putting it to the test, it made me believe in it more and I wanted to hear more about it.

00:15:20.889 --> 00:15:32.159
The more you do nidhidhyasana, the more you want to do Shravana and Manana, but if you just do Shravana, but you don't do Manana, you will not go beyond listening.

00:15:33.250 --> 00:15:43.057
If you do Shravana and Manana, but not Nididhyasana, then what you will find is you will listen, you will believe, but you will not be fulfilled.

00:15:43.537 --> 00:15:48.126
So that's why Sri Krishna says Focus upon and adore.

00:15:48.366 --> 00:15:50.267
Adore meaning have loving devotion.

00:15:50.297 --> 00:15:53.187
Know whoever your ishtdevta is.

00:15:53.417 --> 00:15:54.076
Praise them.

00:15:54.576 --> 00:15:55.697
Sing their glories.

00:15:55.976 --> 00:15:57.567
Talk about how much they've helped you.

00:15:57.576 --> 00:15:59.116
Have a conversation with them.

00:15:59.657 --> 00:16:03.677
You know, we can go that esoteric if we really wish to.

00:16:03.677 --> 00:16:16.596
Here, I would say, is if you want to go beyond samsara, the cycle of repeated birth and death, then it has to be full immersion into Nirgun Brahman or Formless Awareness.

00:16:16.826 --> 00:16:20.606
We must constantly focus and remain in awareness as much as possible.

00:16:20.787 --> 00:16:21.927
This has to be the key.

00:16:22.817 --> 00:16:32.586
Now, once we are able to do that, we will transcend samsara, we will go beyond the process of birth and death, and we will no longer enter this planet again.

00:16:33.466 --> 00:16:41.836
We will find mukti, which is liberation, and essentially what liberation does, it frees you from anything that puts you into a cage.

00:16:42.777 --> 00:16:46.267
You're truly, that's a true religious person.

00:16:47.317 --> 00:16:49.736
So Sri Krishna is trying to make us truly religious.

00:16:50.006 --> 00:16:54.216
Not a true Hindu, not a true Christian, not a true Sikh, not a true Buddhist.

00:16:54.886 --> 00:17:23.487
He's making us a true spiritual, realized being, that's essentially what he's doing and if we follow this then basically we know that all the four yogas of jnana yoga, karma yoga, raja yoga and bhakti yoga all has been covered in the last two verses.

00:17:23.487 --> 00:17:36.791
Then Sri Krishna says in verse 27 Then know, Arjuna, that any being, stationary or moving, arises from the union of the field of matter with the knowers of that field.

00:17:37.172 --> 00:17:54.241
So Sri Krishna wants to highlight what Arjuna will learn, yeah, that any being, whether stationary, this can be a planet, a tree, a flower, it could be moving, any animal or human being or molecules or particles or atoms.

00:17:56.271 --> 00:18:02.612
Everything has arisen from this field of matter, the whole samsara is made from matter.

00:18:03.811 --> 00:18:04.461
All of it.

00:18:04.842 --> 00:18:22.872
This whole universe is made from matter, is made from that particles of existence and the knowers of the field is the Atma, the Purusha and right now we see that Prakriti and Purusha are united in oneness and it is this union that brings existence into fruition.

00:18:23.152 --> 00:18:32.686
So very simply this verse is saying that any being stationary or moving arises from the union of the field of matter with the knowers of that field.

00:18:32.686 --> 00:18:37.336
So when awareness mix in with matter, you have creation.

00:18:37.876 --> 00:18:51.567
You take away matter, then there's only awareness, there's no creation or manifestation, and if you just take matter and there's no awareness, then matter is dead in a sense.

00:18:51.596 --> 00:18:54.027
It's, it is not alive.

00:18:54.737 --> 00:18:57.787
It's alive because there's a knower of that field.

00:18:57.787 --> 00:19:01.076
You have the field of matter and then you have the knower of the field of matter.

00:19:01.616 --> 00:19:10.916
That knower, without that knower of the field, we cannot move forward, we cannot transcend in the truest sense.

00:19:11.086 --> 00:19:13.646
So Arjuna has to understand this very truth.

00:19:15.567 --> 00:19:18.366
And there's a reason why Sri Krishna says stationary or moving.

00:19:18.366 --> 00:19:24.227
Because, for example, someone can turn around and say Well, how can a mountain be liberated?

00:19:24.227 --> 00:19:26.166
How can a mountain be full of consciousness?

00:19:26.166 --> 00:19:27.807
How can we see that as Brahman?

00:19:28.227 --> 00:19:30.146
That's why Sri Krishna says stationary.

00:19:30.376 --> 00:19:37.737
Even though everything is moving, but because of our ignorance, we think it is stationary.

00:19:38.686 --> 00:19:45.196
So Sri Krishna's making sure we understand that everything is pouring from the divine.

00:19:45.666 --> 00:19:48.446
Everything is arising from the divine.

00:19:49.346 --> 00:19:54.126
That is the way of a true devotee of understanding this truth.

00:19:54.757 --> 00:20:03.192
So when there's the union of matter and the witness consciousness, then we see existence for what it is.

00:20:03.192 --> 00:20:04.561
Then verse 28.

00:20:04.922 --> 00:20:13.172
One who sees the Supreme Controller as the Imperishable Reality standing within all embodied beings, sees things as they truly are.

00:20:13.281 --> 00:20:16.751
This is a very interesting statement and we're going to look at the verse as a whole.

00:20:17.221 --> 00:20:29.777
If we were to see reality as it is, to really see how it is truly presented, that would be spirituality covered altogether.

00:20:30.686 --> 00:20:37.767
Then there would be no question about which religion is right, which spiritual guru is right, what is the truth.

00:20:38.047 --> 00:20:40.547
All would be realised straight away.

00:20:40.547 --> 00:20:48.227
So, once we see that this Paramatma, this Nirgun Brahman is the Imperishable Reality.

00:20:50.277 --> 00:20:54.426
And this Imperishable Reality is within every single embodied being.

00:20:54.426 --> 00:20:58.116
Then we can truly see things as they are, which is the embodied being itself.

00:20:58.406 --> 00:21:04.126
So we have to see that the shared being is this Nirgun Brahman itself.

00:21:04.346 --> 00:21:06.676
This one imperishable reality.

00:21:08.396 --> 00:21:11.836
And this is a non dual understanding that Ishvara is Brahman.

00:21:12.301 --> 00:21:13.652
And the jiva is Brahman.

00:21:14.791 --> 00:21:23.531
This is a non dual understanding and this is why on this podcast and why I particularly believe that non duality is the answer.

00:21:24.231 --> 00:21:30.832
Now, does it mean that I'm going to tell other people who believe in duality that I'm right and they're wrong?

00:21:31.672 --> 00:21:35.692
Not necessarily unless I'm provoked to or if I'm reacting to something.

00:21:36.082 --> 00:21:49.291
But, otherwise, on this podcast, I understand if you can't get to non duality, but eventually you will have to go there, eventually you have to reach there.

00:21:50.321 --> 00:21:56.541
And this formless awareness is always standing within every being, and some know it and some don't.

00:21:57.311 --> 00:22:07.281
See, once you see this reality in everything, once you see this Nirguna Brahman in everything, Then, where does your temple begin, where does your temple end?

00:22:09.902 --> 00:22:13.332
Where does your satsang begin, where does your satsang end?

00:22:14.811 --> 00:22:18.362
Where does your remembrance of the Lord start, where does it end?

00:22:20.162 --> 00:22:33.922
If every embodied being is this One Reality, and remember embodied does not mean just this human form, but also anything that has a body, even an atom has a body.

00:22:35.271 --> 00:22:50.017
So when you consider that every atom It's just nothing but this One, then everything becomes divine, everything becomes beautiful.

00:22:50.777 --> 00:22:59.186
Everything then is seen as being available to worship.

00:23:00.727 --> 00:23:06.076
That is what a true devotee will see.

00:23:07.916 --> 00:23:19.491
So once we see and we are steady in that understanding that Brahman is everywhere and in everything.

00:23:20.602 --> 00:23:22.592
Then watch how our life changes.

00:23:23.122 --> 00:23:25.672
Watch how our outlook in life changes.

00:23:25.971 --> 00:23:29.432
We become more positive, we become more kind, more sensitive.

00:23:30.632 --> 00:23:39.882
And in today's day and age, it's very easy to hide behind a screen, be a keyboard warrior, harm other people.

00:23:41.382 --> 00:23:52.537
than to actually be sensitive and to understand, it's very difficult, but Sri Krishna wants us to see things as they truly are.

00:23:53.686 --> 00:23:58.676
So you see that all these things are embodied, these are things that are going to change.

00:23:59.517 --> 00:24:06.257
So essentially you're not worshipping that which is changing, you're worshipping the changeless within them.

00:24:09.666 --> 00:24:10.336
This is.

00:24:12.307 --> 00:24:19.067
the understanding that I've got from the Bhagavad Gita and from the teachings that I've grown up listening to.

00:24:20.826 --> 00:24:29.676
And once you see this Formless in everything, then what part of life is spiritual and what part of life is material?

00:24:30.967 --> 00:24:33.396
That line becomes incredibly blurred.

00:24:34.297 --> 00:24:36.557
In fact, there's no line.

00:24:37.057 --> 00:24:38.467
It all merges into One.

00:24:39.311 --> 00:24:42.301
And that is what happens when we awaken.

00:24:44.162 --> 00:24:48.132
And then the final verse of today's episode, verse 29.

00:24:48.912 --> 00:25:06.971
Once the Atma is permanently established in seeing the Param Ishvara, the Supreme Ruler and Director of all that exists, as existing in the same way, everywhere and at all times, then the individual Atma does not degrade their consciousness by allowing their attention to wander.

00:25:07.592 --> 00:25:13.211
In this way, they achieve the ultimate destination and highest state of being.

00:25:13.211 --> 00:25:14.561
Let's break this verse up.

00:25:14.561 --> 00:25:31.541
Once the Atma is permanently established in seeing the Param Ishvara, Supreme Ruler and Director of all that exists, as existing in the same way everywhere and at all times, then that individual Atma does not degrade their consciousness by allowing their attention to wander.

00:25:31.932 --> 00:25:39.521
So once the mind is completely and permanently identified with the Param Ishvara, one sees that it is everywhere.

00:25:40.051 --> 00:25:41.531
One cannot avoid it.

00:25:42.076 --> 00:25:48.406
One sees it as the complete truth, and one sees that this Lord is everywhere.

00:25:48.406 --> 00:25:52.287
There's not one single space in existence where this Lord isn't.

00:25:53.557 --> 00:25:58.186
So in this way, you can understand that nobody can escape Formless Awareness.

00:25:59.727 --> 00:26:08.961
And as they have their attention fixed on Brahman, they do not allow their mind to identify Or, check in as something else.

00:26:09.602 --> 00:26:13.682
So, they will not fall under the delusion again that they are the body and mind.

00:26:15.152 --> 00:26:17.801
They will no longer get stuck in attachments.

00:26:18.491 --> 00:26:20.481
They will no longer get stuck in desires.

00:26:21.332 --> 00:26:24.301
Because they know that the ultimate truth is Brahman.

00:26:24.301 --> 00:26:25.721
And does Brahman have a desire?

00:26:25.721 --> 00:26:26.152
No.

00:26:27.821 --> 00:26:29.041
Brahman simply is.

00:26:30.372 --> 00:26:33.031
And that devotee will only see Brahman.

00:26:33.801 --> 00:26:36.741
That mind can only conceive of Brahman, nothing else.

00:26:39.102 --> 00:26:39.551
Yes.

00:26:39.922 --> 00:26:45.922
It's the same world that is existing, but the world is not seen with the same eyes.

00:26:46.612 --> 00:26:49.981
And that is why we lead a spiritual life.

00:26:49.981 --> 00:26:55.221
This Param Ishvara is Brahman itself, and it witnesses itself in everything.

00:26:55.538 --> 00:26:59.638
It is existing in the same way, everywhere, and at all times.

00:26:59.638 --> 00:27:00.778
It's eternally true.

00:27:00.778 --> 00:27:29.544
Since it is the supreme ruler and director of all that exists, then Karma is transcended, as the highest does not accumulate any karma, nor any fruits, nor any reactions, nor does parabdha karma, the karma that's come from previous lives, or even this life, really affect the outlook that the devotee will have, it will still remain immersed in that pure awareness.

00:27:29.723 --> 00:27:34.493
Hence they never degrade their consciousness by allowing their attention to wander.

00:27:34.824 --> 00:27:37.604
They will no longer say, oh am I back to my body and mind?

00:27:38.284 --> 00:27:48.574
You will find their mind absolutely steady in the truth, absolutely steady in understanding that there is only Brahman, and I am Brahman, Aham Brahmasmi.

00:27:50.804 --> 00:27:52.864
They will not be convinced of anything else.

00:27:54.193 --> 00:28:01.038
So, If we find that we are going back into body, mind, identity.

00:28:01.564 --> 00:28:07.094
If it's beginning to identify again as body and mind, then we are degrading our awareness.

00:28:09.104 --> 00:28:11.253
Because we're allowing our attention to wander.

00:28:12.854 --> 00:28:21.173
We have to find that in the midst of all activities of life, as we're reading, sleeping, dreaming, eating, drinking, everything.

00:28:21.304 --> 00:28:33.173
In all actions, we have to find that changeless self, that observes all these actions but does not get affected by any of those actions.

00:28:34.729 --> 00:28:42.169
Then the second part of the verse is, In this way, they achieve the ultimate destination and highest state of divine being.

00:28:42.909 --> 00:28:47.648
So in this process, they achieve the ultimate destination of Jivan Mukti.

00:28:47.878 --> 00:28:49.568
Of liberation whilst alive.

00:28:50.429 --> 00:28:53.378
And they live ultimately as a Jivan Mukta.

00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:55.538
They will not live as anything else.

00:28:56.808 --> 00:28:59.118
They are friends to all, foes to none.

00:28:59.739 --> 00:29:01.788
They love all and they hate none.

00:29:02.358 --> 00:29:05.989
All they know and see is Brahman and Brahman alone.

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:10.278
That, in a nutshell, is the highest state of divine being.

00:29:10.808 --> 00:29:15.048
Desires may arise, but they don't afflict themselves onto the mind.

00:29:16.509 --> 00:29:18.788
They are very sensitive, very vulnerable.

00:29:19.138 --> 00:29:22.419
They understand other people, they're compassionate, they're peaceful.

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:24.358
Everybody wants to be around them.

00:29:25.648 --> 00:29:28.249
And they know their ultimate destination.

00:29:28.528 --> 00:29:33.828
They know that, essentially, they have to go to Nirankar.

00:29:35.249 --> 00:29:38.618
Essentially, they know that they have to go to the formless.

00:29:39.378 --> 00:29:43.108
And, not that they have to go to the formless, that they are the Formless.

00:29:43.388 --> 00:29:48.368
And they rest in that knowledge, they explore that knowledge, and they enjoy that knowledge.

00:29:48.368 --> 00:29:53.108
And once you've achieved this state, nothing more is needed to be achieved.

00:29:54.048 --> 00:29:56.818
And that is the end of the episode.

00:29:57.439 --> 00:29:59.239
Thank you very much for listening.

00:29:59.451 --> 00:30:08.332
If you liked what you heard and liked what you watched, please do share this podcast with your friends and family who may enjoy this content.

00:30:08.692 --> 00:30:11.632
Do follow me on social media to keep getting updates.

00:30:11.932 --> 00:30:20.541
Join the Bearded Mystic Podcast WhatsApp community group to continue the podcast discussion, details are in the show notes and video description below.

00:30:20.961 --> 00:30:27.352
If you would like to support the Bearded Mystic Podcast as we discussed earlier, do check out the podcast Patreon page.

00:30:28.057 --> 00:30:32.334
Your support means everything, and it helps this podcast keep running.

00:30:32.634 --> 00:30:35.423
Details are in the show notes and video description below.

00:30:35.753 --> 00:30:43.913
Please do rate this podcast five stars and do give a review either on your favorite podcast, streaming app or on our website.

00:30:44.243 --> 00:30:47.213
Details are in the show notes and video description below.

00:30:47.574 --> 00:30:51.584
Please do like and comment on this video and subscribe to this YouTube channel.

00:30:52.403 --> 00:30:56.378
Do follow or subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast streaming app.

00:30:56.888 --> 00:30:59.229
Thank you very much for listening to this episode.

00:30:59.588 --> 00:31:03.548
Let's end with the Shanti mantra and the Soham mantra.

00:31:04.628 --> 00:31:06.568
Soham Soham.

00:31:07.358 --> 00:31:08.229
I am That.

00:31:08.709 --> 00:31:09.519
I am That.

00:31:10.818 --> 00:31:17.278
Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti Aum Peace Peace Peace

Thoughts on the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 13: Verses 25 - 29)

Follow:

Featured Episodes

Thoughts on The Bhagavad Gita Episodes

Recent Episodes

Thoughts on The Bhagavad Gita Episodes

Wisdom of the Mystics Episodes

General Spirituality Episodes

Advaita Vedanta Episodes

Guided Meditation Episodes

Conversations with The Bearded Mystic Episodes

Thoughts on The Upanishads Episodes

Direct and Unfiltered Episodes

Oneness Conversations Episodes

Bearded Mystic Reacts Episodes

Browse episodes by category

New to The Bearded Mystic Podcast?