Bangalore Diaries

In the previous chapter, we learnt about the omnipresent aspect of the Para Brahman and how Yoga is the way to reach him. Sri Krishna keeps re-emphasising on this aspect of practicing Yoga as the way to reach him. In this chapter, we focus on how to achieve him i.e. Parabrahman at the time of death. There are some concepts that are explained multiple times through out the chapter which is captured in essence below. The chapter opens in a beautiful way with Arjuna posing a barrage questions to Sri Krishna. In our Itihasas and Puranas, questions lead to discussion and discourse through which we get gems that are part of Nitya Anushtana. For example, Vishnu Sahasranama recited by Bheeshma is in essence the response to 6 existential questions posted by Yudhishtira. 
In similar fashion, Arjuna poses few simple, yet profoundly important questions.  अर्जुन उवाच । किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम । अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥ 8.1॥ अधियज्ञ: कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन...

The name of this chapter is very interesting - Jnana (Knowledge) and Vijnana (In a basic level, it can be considered as what we call as Science). This combination of words is quite special. For those who are familiar with Ganapati Atharvashirsha , we can recollect this phrase: त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि ॥ You are of the nature of Gyana (Spiritual Knowledge) (Self-Manifesting within the Core of our Being as Bliss-Consciousness), and You are Vigyana (Giving the Spiritual Vision of the whole World from the standpoint of the Greater Consciousness). I particularly like this translation of Vijnana i.e. vision of the whole world from the standpoint of Greater consciousness. In this chapter, Sri Krishna’s teachings start to take us to a slightly higher dimensions compared to the previous chapters. Thus far, Sri Krishna has been advising Arjuna (and through him us mere mortals) about the importance of developing equanimity, performing Nishkama karma etc. However, in this chapter, Sri Krishna...