-5th chapter: verses 27, 28, 29. 6th chapter: verse 1
The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on September 18, 2020.
-In the 4th chapter, Lord Krishna gives an exposition of Karma-Sannyasa, but advises Arjuna to practice Karma-Yoga. A spiritual seeker should begin practicing Karma-Yoga by reducing his attachment to work and its results. Karma-yoga helps him achieve inner purity and to reach the level of spiritual fitness, so that one day he can practice renunciation in the true sense of the word.
-In the 5th chapter, Lord Krishna explains that the purpose of Karma-Yoga is to achieve Chitta-Shuddhi (inner purity), so we can instinctively practice non-attachment. Gradually, this leads to the stage of Moksha (liberation), where we experience Akshayam-Sukham (everlasting happiness).
- The 27th, 28th, and 29th verses introduce Dhyana-Yoga, the art of meditation, discussed in detail in the 6th chapter.
- 27th & 28th verse: “Keeping out all external objects, keeping the gaze steady between the eyebrows, controlling the incoming and outgoing breaths, with senses, mind and intellect fully under control, with Moksha as his supreme goal, free from desire, fear and anger – a man of meditation attains Moksha and becomes ever free.”
- External objects are kept out through non-attachment and by practicing restraint, so the sense organs do not flow towards them. A beginner should practice by focusing on a higher ideal, such as mantra or the form of a spiritual person, whose association fills his mind with spiritual ideas.
- The left eye represents Krodha (anger) and the right eye represents Kama (desire) – together they represent the world. When we transcend both kama and krodha, we attain even-ness, which is the symbol of Atman, represented by the mid-point. Then we go beyond all duality and all opposites, such as good and bad, pain and pleasure.
- During meditation, one should sit in a proper seat, with head, body and neck in a straight line (Sthira-sukham-aasanam). Eyes should neither be completely closed nor completely open – they should be “as if” gazing at the tip of the nose. A beginner will experience darkness within if eyes are complexly closed. If eyes are open, they drag the mind to the external world.
- There is a relationship between the flow of breath and our thought currents. When our mental balance is altered, it is accompanied with a slight disturbance in the breathing system. If we regulate our breath and make it rhythmic, we calm the mind.
- The sage sublimates all his emotional elements – desire, fear, anger, skepticism, negativity, anxiety – to one supreme goal of attaining Moksha. These emotional elements, dedicated to God, do him no harm. He becomes Mukta (liberated).
- 29th verse: “Such a sage is liberated and attains eternal Shanti (peace). He sees God as Suhridam Sarva Bhutanam - the friend of all beings - as the dispenser of all yajnas. He sees God as the giver of all grace and benefits for whatever spiritual practices we undertake. From this understanding, he derives eternal peace.”
- He does not want anything for himself. He lives his life spreading harmony and joy among all living beings.
- Mahabharata says: “God is the friend of all created beings, always engaged in the welfare of the whole creation”.
- 6th chapter, 1st verse: “The one who performs his duties without thinking about the fruits of his action – he is the ideal man of renunciation.”
- We only renounce what we earn, and what is the result of our own work. When we give up what we struggle for, that is real renunciation.
- A real Yogi is both a karma-yogi and a karma-sanyasi. He continually does his duties, but mentally gives up any claim to the results of his actions. He practices action and renunciation at the same time. This is the natural characteristic of a highly evolved spiritual person.
- Shankaracharya discusses the characteristics of a spiritually enlightened person to remind us that these characteristics constitute the road by which we should travel to reach the goal that the enlightened person has reached.