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by fleurzsa
Its okay if u didn抰 notice me...
But as a learner i will follow this thread till the end..
Sure ... your choice.
Maybe I had used the wrong words..
These all r about Hinduism poems, especially for Dewa Krishna, isn抰 it?
Nope, the proper word here is BY.
Krishna SPOKE or if you like, SANG (as illustrated in many of Hindi and Tamil movies) those words.
Unlike most words from Gods (as illustrated by Abrahamic Religion), the message is not given to one person who have some duty to spread it to the masses, this words were heard and understood by over a dozen people who were there to listen to the sermon (according to Mahabratha).
Both Good guys AND Bad guys were there ... and all of them listened to it and understood it, so it couldn't be brush aside as one man's fancy to hide his guilt (Arjuna did show a lot of guilt in need for battling his family, friends and gurus). |
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[Continue from where I have left out ... ]
At the end of many lives, the man possessed of knowledge approaches me, believing that Vasudeva is everything. Such a high-souled man is very hard to find.
[Actually this is continues of the above verses.
After living through many lives and deaths and rebirths, the man who possessed the knowledge of God will finally reach Vasudeva (God of ALL Gods) and return back to Him. Then, the Man's journey is over.]
Those who are deprived of knowledge by various desires approach other divinities, observing various regulations, and controlled by their own natures. Whichever form of divinity any worshipper wishes to worship with faith, to that form I render his faith steady. Possessed of that faith, he seeks to propitiate the deity in that form, and obtains from it those beneficial things which he desires, though they are really given by me. But the fruit thus obtained by them, who have little judgment, is perishable.
[Those who worship other Gods/divinities do so because of various desires.
Everything which those who worship other divinities gets are actually from Him also but the actions which cause by them (whether merit or sin) is perishable.
Meaning, a person who wish to have wealth go and worship some diety (No, those tomb worshipping is not one of them), and even so He gives them what they seeks, this people have little or not wisdom how to use such "gifts" properly and thus generates merit or sins which is temporarily only.
Those who has merit will spend it in heaven and return back to the Earth and those who misuse it will spend it in hell and return back to the Earth. The beneficts of this "gifts" will not be useful to him who do not know to whom he should be concentrating in serving to.]
Those who worship the divinities go to the divinities, and my wotshippers, too, go to me. The undiscerning ones, not knowing my transcendent and inexhaustible essence, than which there is nothing higher, think me, who am unperceived, to have become perceptible. Surrounded by the delusion of my mystic power, I am not manifest to all. This deluded world does not know me unborn and inexhaustible.
[Nothing is higher than Him and when those who have knowledge of Him seeks Him, He who cannot be reached by others (who has no knowledge of Him) will be reachable.
Earlier, Krishna stated that the world (and the universe) is created from Maya or mystical powers which creates illusions. He is hidden Himself from sight of others using this illusional world and when one has His knowledge, they will know that He is unborn and inexhaustible (never began and never ends).
I know, Arjuna, the things which have been, those which are, and those which are to be. But nobody knows me. All beings, Arjuna, are deluded at the time of birth by the delusion, O descendant of Bharata, caused by the pairs of opposites arising from desire and aversion. But the men of meritorious actions, whose sins have terminated, worship me, being released from the delusion caused by the pairs of opposites, and being firm in their beliefs
[He is everything that came, everything that comes and everything that will come but Man cannot see it because they are born with delusions.
All men have two sides - one born out of desires and another born from aversion. Those who are controlled by desires will not reach Him.
ONLY those who work for Him and worship Him, whose sins are terminated, will be release from delusion of the sensors which caused by his desires and aversion. ]
Those who, resting in me, work for release from old age and death, know the Brahman, the whole Adhy鈚ma, and all action. And those who know me with the Adhibh鹴a, the Adhidaiva, and the Adhiyajna, having minds devoted to abstraction, know me when they depart from this world.
[Footnote from the site I get this information from :
"Adhibh鹴a": the whole of inanimate creation and its relationship to the divine.
"Adhidaiva": the spiritual world and its relationship to the divine.
"Adhiyajna": the relationship of sacrifice to the divine.
Krishna is saying, "those who know me as the Infinite Spirit, the inner self, the material world, the divine world, and the world of the sacrifice." the Infinite Spirit (Brahman) and the individual soul (atman) ]
[Namely .... those who knows Him and His relationship on the Material world, spiritual world and the world of sacrifice, when they depart from this world will reach Him. ]
Translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telano, 1882
Edited and annotated by Richard Hooker |
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[We continue. ]
Arjuna asked, "What is that Brahman, what the Adhyatma, and what, O best of beings, is action? And what is called the Adhibh鹴a? And who is the Adhiyajna, and how in this body, O destroyer of Madhu? And how, too, are you to be known at the time one departs from this world by those who restrain their selfs?"
[Brahman is God, you will know what is Adhyatma, Adhibhuta and Adhiyajna later.
Adhi roughly means something which is eternal or supreme over others, or some could say the basics.]
Krishna answered, "The Brahman is the supreme Being, the indestructible. Its manifestation as an individual self is called the Adhyatma. The offering of a sacrifice to any divinity, which is the cause of the production and development of all things, is named action.
[Three questions has three answers.
Who is Brahman? Answer - God, the indestructive supreme being.
Who/what is Adhyatma? Answer - Manifestation of Brahman as an individual Self.
We are product of Karma or actions we have taken, when He choose to act or do something, He will do so as a manifestation which Hindus call Adhyatma (Supreme Soul, roughly translated).
Offering of sacrifice which cause production and development of things are called action. Also known as Karma. You offer your time and effect to something (not only divinity) thus you cause action to happen. ]
The Adhibh鹴a is all perishable things. The Adhidaivata is the primal being. And the Adhiyajna, O best of embodied beings, is I myself in this body.
[All perishable things in the universe is called Adhibhuta. Primal beings (a.k.a Souls I persume) are called Adhidaivata (Buddhist have similar concept of Primal Beings).
Adhiyajna (Yajna also means Sacrifice so it could be translated as Ultimate Sacrifice) is Krishna in His present body, being there along the Humans to teach them about God.
PS : Sorry, Christians, Jesus was 3000 years bit too late to call himself a Sacrifice. Someone beat him to it.]
And he who leaves this body and departs from this world, remembering me in his last moments, comes into my essence. There is no doubt of that.
[I think Muslims can understand this. They have similar concept of saying some holy words before one release his last breath. ]
Also, whichever form of divinity he remembers when he finally leaves this body, to that he goes, O son of Kunti, having been used to ponder on it.
[He who are attached to the world via some attachments (worshipping other divinity for sake of getting something but couldn't achieve it), family and material wealth WILL return to it and suffer more. ]
Therefore, at all times remember me, and engage in battle. Fixing your mind and understanding on me, you will come to me, there is no doubt. He who thinks of the supreme divine Being, O son of Pritha, with a mind not running to other objects, and possessed of abstraction in the shape of continuous meditation about the supreme, goes to him.
[He who thinks about Him during actions and dies due to the action will regain Him in his dying moment.
He who thinks of others things like materialistic wealth will be trapped in this world and continue to suffer rebirth and death.]
[ Last edited by Sephiroth on 21-7-2004 at 10:00 AM ] |
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[Continue from above ...]
"He who, possessed of reverence for the supreme Being, with a steady mind, and with the power of spiritual discipline, properly concentrates the life-breath between the brows, and meditates on the ancient Seer, the ruler, more minute than the minutest atom, the supporter of all, who is of an unthinkable form, whose brilliance is Iike that of the sun, and who is beyond all darkness, he attains to that transcendent and divine Being.
[Straight forward ... who is concentrates on God will achieve Him. That to make things short.
This is similar to Greek Philosophy :
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/PRESOC.HTM
And probably derive it's influence from Hindusm as both races from West and East comes together in trade and things like that just as its influence spread to China. ]
I will tell you briefly about the seat, which those who know the Vedas declare to be indestructible; which is entered by ascetics from whom all desires have departed; and wishing for which, people pursue the mode of life of Brahmakarins.
[Hindus spread their lives into 4 period. The youngest period is period where Hindu boys and girls learn about the world and their religion and the oldest is when they release all worldly possession and go into strict practise of worship and finding the Divine.
Those who start their lives learning about the world and their religion and continue to live in strict practise (like Buddhist) including celibacy are called Brahmakarins (or Brahmacharyans). ]
He who leaves the body and departs from this world, stopping up all passages and confining the mind within the heart, placing the life-breath in the head, and adhering to uninterrupted meditation, repeating the single syllable 'Om,' which signifies the eternal Brahman, and meditating on me, he reaches the highest goal.
[In short, those who meditate on Him will reach Him. Can't say anything other which is more simple.
OM is the basic of all Hindu Mantera and considered the sacred word. In most Hindu worship, they will start it with OM.
Odd thing is ... almost ALL religions in the world seems to have the similar "OM" in it, Abrahamic religions have AMen, Buddhist and Hindus have their OM in it.]
To the man of discipline who constantly practises abstraction, O son of Pritha, and who with a mind not turned to anything else, is ever and constantly meditating on me, I am easy of access.
[Simple enough ... those who are not distracted by anything will find God easy to find. Those who are distracted by wordly things will not know where to look.]
The high-souled ones, who achieve the highest perfection, attaining to me, do not again come to life, which is transient, a home of woes. All worlds, Arjuna, up to the world of Brahman, are destined to return . But after attaining to me, there is no birth again.
[Those from all other worlds or existence like the World, heaven, hell etc will return back to their respective world and face sufferings. ONLY those who return back to Him will not be reborn again. ]
[Enough for now. ] |
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[I have been quite busy and tired, which is why I couldn't update it so fast. Hmmm ... I seems to be taking my friend's writing format. ]
Those who know a day of Brahman to end after one thousand ages, and the night to terminate after one thousand ages, are the persons who know day and night . On the advent of day, all perceptible things are produced from the unperceived; and on the advent of night they dissolve in that same principle called the unperceived. This same assemblage of entities,being produced again and again, dissolves on the advent of night, and, O son of Pritha, issues forth on the advent of day, without a will of its own.
[This is Hindu version of Armageddon. The footnote from the site will explain in a better terms.
This paragraph succinctly and thoroughly defines the Brahma day. Cosmic time is measured in kalpas which each last 12,000 divine years; each divine year is 360 human years, making one kalpa 4,320,000 human years. Each kalpa has four distinct ages. One thousand kalpas make a Brahma Day, which starts with the creation of the universe and ends with the destruction of the universe; this is the period of srishti, or cosmic creation. Following Brahma day, there is a one thousand kalpa Brahma night in which there is no universe; this is the period of pralaya, or cosmic dormancy. The number of Brahma days and nights extends to infinity in the past and the future.
[According to Human History, Man is about 1.3 Million years old, or starting from the first Man-like creatures in Africa, that's about 3.2 Millon years. which means we have another ... 3,000 years to live on this world.
Note : This is a rough estimation by rishis in later period because no one knows how long a Brahman's Day is.
Roughly translated ... Brahma (the one who creates physical objects) will continue to create everything you see around you (and you also). Till one day, (which called Brahma's Day), Brahma will take a break and the Universe which made from the Unperceiveable energy (God's) will return back to its original state of being unperceiveable (the state where everything united).
Scientists believe that the Universe is formed during the Big Bang. Energy (which they have no idea how could have formed) become matter and those matter formed the physical aspects of the universe.
Right now, Scientists have two possible end-of the universe concept :
1. The matter will be spread so thin, that the galaxies will spread so far apart, that they will just drift away and fall apart.
2. That the Universe will fall back into the original spot one day when the gravity reversed. Magnetic reversal is happening on the surface of the Earth due to interaction between the sun's rays and the Earth's magnetic poles, so it is logical something like that could happen to the gravity pull of the Universe.
Plus, there have been a lot of changes into the universe itself where large giantic stars have been destroyed and small ones appearing. IF the gravity from the centre of the Universe is constant while the matters which push itself back from the centre is inconstant (decrease), it is logical to assume that the matter itself will be falling toward the centre slowly due to the increase in gravity from the centre of the Universe.
But there is another entity, unperceived and eternal, and distinct from this unperceived principle, which is not destroyed when all entities are destroyed. It is called the unperceived, the indestructible; they call it the highest goal. Attaining to it, none returns. That is my supreme abode. That supreme Being, O son of Pritha, he in whom all these entities dwell , and by whom all this is permeated, is to be attained to by reverence not directed to any other divinity.
[There is another entity which indestructible when the above events happens. That is His place and where He lives. Reaching it can only be done through Him and no other divinity.]
[ Last edited by Sephiroth on 28-7-2004 at 11:08 AM ] |
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Im tired of trying to comprehend it too :lol |
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[Sorry no new reply for some time ...
Continues from where I have left ... ]
I will state the times, O descendant of Bharata, at which men of discipline, departing from this world go, never to return, or to return. The fire, the flame, the day, the bright fortnight, the six months of the northern solstice, departing from the world in these, those who know the Brahman go to the Brahman.
Smoke, night, the dark fortnight, the six months of the southern solstice, dying in these, the man of discipline goes to the lunar light and returns eventually to life.
These two paths, bright and dark, are deemed to be eternal in this world. By the one, a man goes never to return, by the other he comes back. Knowing these two paths, O son of Pritha, no man of discipline is ever deluded.
Therefore, at all times be possessed of discipline, Arjuna. A man of discipline, knowing all this, obtains all the holy fruit which is prescribed for study of the Vedas, for sacrifices, and also for penances and gifts, and he attains to the highest and primeval seat.
This verse shows the important of timing in all ascepts of life in Hindusm.
Hindus are one of the most prefounded astrologers and their astrology studies have been used from crop planting and harvesting to predicting the children's future. |
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[Continue from above. ]
Krishna continued His sermon :
Yet again, O you of mighty arms, listen to my excellent words, which, out of a wish for your welfare, I speak to you who are delighted with them.
Not the multitudes of gods, nor the great sages know my source; for I am in every way the origin of the gods and great sages. Of all mortals, he who knows me to be unborn, without beginning, the great lord of the world, being free from delusion, is released from all sins.
Meaning, He is the essence of everything physical as well as the knowledge from which the Gods and Sages give out. Whatever good that comes from them, belongs to Him. Whatever good which comes from the Universe, comes from Him as well.
He is unborn (unlike a personal soul), has no beginning (since all that begins has an ending), Lord over this world, and free from delusions (of sensors) and sins.
Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from delusion, forgiveness, truth, restraint of the senses, tranquillity, pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, and also security, harmlessness, equability, contentment, penance, making gifts, glory, disgrace, all these different tempers of living beings are from me alone.
Straight forward.
The seven great sages, and likewise the four ancients and the Manus, whose descendants are all these people in the world, were all born from my mind, and all share in my powers. Whoever correctly knows these powers and emanations of mine, becomes possessed of spiritual discipline free from indecision; of this there is no doubt.
When the flood come, there were 7 Sages which were saved by Manu, and they are the ones who are called 7 Sages (besides Manu).
4 Ancients are Sanaka, Sanandana, San鈚ana, Sanatkum鈘a who, together with Vyasa helped to put together the Vedas in a proper manner (since all four Vedas were given to them together by Vishnu in an oral manner).
Their descendants (who continued to spread the Words in one way or other) have Him in their minds. They have in the past and their descendant in the future possess spiritual discipline which cause them to be free from being indecisive on what to do. Unfortunately, no one could say who is who's descendant now.
The wise, full of devotion, worship me, believing that I am the origin of all, and that all moves on through me. Concentrating their minds on me, offering their lives to me, instructing each other, and speaking about me, they are always contented and happy. To these, who are constantly disciplined, and who worship with spiritual discipline, I give that knowledge by which they attain to me. And remaining in their hearts, I destroy, with the brilliant lamp of knowledge, the darkness born of ignorance in such men out of compassion for them.
He gives the knowledge (of Vedas) to all Man and through the descendant of the 7 Rishis and Manu, His word will continue to be spread to future descendant of Manu.
Through His words which sits in heart of Man, He will cleanse Man from ignorance and bring them closer to Him.
[OK, enough for now.] |
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[Continue from above ... My Jobs ain't making it easy) :
Arjuna asked :
You are the supreme Brahman, the supreme goal, the holiest of the holy. All sages, as well as the divine sage Narada, Asita Devala, and Vyasa, call you the eternal being, divine, the first god, the unborn, the all-pervading. And so, too, you tell me yourself, Krishna.
I believe all this that you tell me is true; for, O lord, neither the gods nor demons understand your manifestations. You only know your self by your sel |
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[OK, continue ... BTW, some maybe wondering why I list all this. Two reasons :
1. It is part of Bhavagad Gita and I don't want to miss it out.
2. It is good to know some of the words and names for future reference.
Let's continue ...]
Among serpents I am Vasuki. Among Naga snakes I am Ananta, I am Varuna among aquatic beings. And I am Aryaman among the manes, and Yama among rulers. Among demons, too, I am Pralhada.
[Vasuki is the many-headed serpeant which Vishnu lies on. It is also known Athisesan.
Ananta, I'm not familiar with. Varuna is Lord of the Waters (like Poseidon in Greek Myth), Aryaman - Celestial being of
Light. Manes are "pitras" or semi-divine spirits who worship Brahma (the Creator) and sometimes assume human forms.
Yama is the first human being (Adam?) in Hindu Mythology (first time I read about it also). Manu is one of the descendant of Man who was (with 7 rishis) given Vedas after the Great Flood.
Pralhada is a virtues demon (from the Demon clans) who was a devotee of Vishnu despite of his father's ambition of wanting to become a God himself. Pralhada's story is similar to that of King Soloman. ]
I am the king of death, the king of time, Kala, among those that count.
[Kala is Malaikat Maut (Angel Of Death) who in Hindusm known for his upright virtues and wisdom.
Hindu words (both sankrist and Tamil) called Time and Age as Kalam and it literally means you can run away from all things
BUT Time. And like Death, Time always catch up with you. Now I understand why they say when your Time is up, it's up.]
Among beasts I am the lord of beasts, and the son of Vinat |
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[This can be considered new Chapter.]
Arjuna asked, " In consequence of the excellent and mysterious words concerning the relation of the supreme and individual soul, which you have spoken for my welfare, this delusion of mine is gone away. O you whose eyes are like lotus leaves, I have heard from you at large about the production and dissolution of things and also about your inexhaustible greatness. O highest lord, what you have said about yourself is true. I wish, O best of beings, to see your divine form. If, O lord, you think that it is possible for me to look upon it, then, O lord of the possessors of mystic power, show your inexhaustible form to me.
Krishna replied, " See my forms in their hundreds and their thousands, O son of Pritha, various, divine, and of various colours and shapes. See the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, the two Ashvins, and Maruts likewise. 1 And, O descendant of Bharata, see wonders in numbers unseen before. Within my body, Arjuna, see today the whole universe, including everything movable and immovable, all in one, and whatever else you wish to see. But you will not be able to see me with merely this eye of yours. I give you an eye divine. Now see my divine power.
Sanjaya narrated, " Having spoken thus, O king, Krishna, the great lord of the possessors of mystic power, then showed to the son of Pritha his supreme divine form, having many mouths and eyes, having within it many wonderful sights, having many celestial ornaments, having many celestial weapons held erect, wearing celestial flowers and vestments, anointed with celestial perfumes, full of every wonder, the infinite deity with faces in all directions.
If in the heavens, the brightness of a thousand suns burst forth all at once, that would be like the brightness of that mighty one. There the son of Pandu then observed in the body of the god of gods the whole universe all in one, and dividcd into numerous divisions. Then Arjuna was filled with amazement, and with hair standing on end, bowed his head before the god, and spoke with joined hands.
[Arjuna understood what Krishna sermon to him about and asked Krishna to show His true form (not the physical one). The true form is called Vishnu Rupam (Vishnu's Form).
Sanjaya who see it using his ability to see far away places spoke to the Blind King at the castle (refer to my first post) to his best ability on what he could see in the Vishnu Rupam.]
Arjuna spoke (trembling now), " O god! I see within your body the gods, as also all the groups of various beings; and the lord Brahman seated on his lotus seat, and all the sages and celestial snakes.
I see you, who are of countless forms, possessed of many arms, stomachs, mouths, and eyes on all sides. And, O lord of the universe, O you of all forms, I do not see your end or middle or beginning.
I see you bearing a crown and a mace and a battle-discus (chakra)梐 mass of glory, brilliant on all sides, difficult to look at, having on all sides the brightness of a blazing fire or sun, and indefinable.
You are indestructible, the supreme one to be known. You are the highest support of this universe. You are the inexhaustible protector of everlasting devotion. I believe you to be the eternal being.
I see.you without of beginning, middle, end梠f infinite power, of unnumbered arms, having the sun and moon for eyes, having a mouth like a blazing fire, and heating the universe with your radiance.
For this space between heaven and earth and ail the quarters are pervaded by you alone.
Looking at this wonderful and terrible form of yours, O high-souled one, the three worlds are filled with fear. 4 For here these groups of gods are entering into you. Some being afraid are praying with joined hands, and the groups of great sages and Siddhas are saying 'Mercy!' and praising you with abundant hymns of praise.
The Rudras, and Adityas, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Vishvas, the two Ashvins, the Maruts, and the Ushmapas, and the groups of Gandharvas, Yakshas, demons, and Siddhas are all looking at you amazed.
Seeing your mighty form, with many mouths and eyes, with many arms, thighs, and feet, with many stomachs, and fearful with many jaws, all people, and I likewise, are much alarmed, O you of mighty arms! Seeing you, O Vishnu, touching the skies, radiant, possessed of many hues, with a gaping mouth, and with large blazing eyes, I am much alarmed in my inmost self, and feel no courage, no tranquillity. And seeing your mouths terrible by the jaws, and resembling the fire of destruction, I cannot recognize the various directions, I feel no comfort. Be gracious, O lord of gods, who pervades the universe.
All these sons of Dhritarashtra, together with all the bands of kings, and Bhlshma and Drona, and this charioteer's sonl likewise, together with our principal warriors also, are rapidly entering your mouths, fearful and horrific because of your jaws. And some with their heads smashed are seen to be stuck in the spaces between the teeth. As the many rapid currents of a river's waters run towards the sea alone, so do these heroes of the human world enter your mouths blazing all round. As butterflies, with increased speed, enter a blazing fire to their destruction, so, too, do these people enter your mouths with increased speed only to their destruction. Swallowing all these people, you are licking them over and over again from all sides, with your blazing mouths.
Your fierce splendous, O Vishnu, filling the whole universe with their brightness, are heating it.
Tell me who you are in this fierce form. Greetings to you, O chief of the gods! Be gracious. I wish to know you, the primeval one, for I do not understand your actions.
{Arjuna's narration of what he sees with his human eyes. Reminds me of Moses in Old Testament as stated he saw God's image in a burning bushes. That just a bush, this one is revealation of everything He was, is and will be.
Note : Not only did Arjuna sees this form, so did all those who gathered there, 5,000 years ago in field of Kurushektra. ]
Krishna spoke, " I am death, the destroyer of the worlds.
I am now active about the overthrow of the worlds.
Even without you, the warriors standing in the adverse hosts shall all cease to be. Therefore, rise up, obtain glory, and vanquishing your foes, enjoy a prosperous kingdom.
All these have been already killed by me.
Be only the instrument of their deaths, Arjuna!
Drona, and Bhishma, and Gayadratha, and Karna, and likewise other valiant warriors also, whom I have already killed, now you must kill.
Be not alarmed. Do right. And in the battle you will conquer your foes.
[When and how a person will die is predestined by God (through Brahma who writes the Fate of Man, so in that way, He already "killed" them. Arjuna is just instructed to kill of their physical manifestation.]
[Enough for now. ]
[ Last edited by Sephiroth on 10-9-2004 at 11:21 AM ] |
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[Got time a bit ... continue ...]
Sanjaya spoke ," Hearing these words of Krishna, the wearer of the crown, trembling, and with joined hands, bowed down; and sorely afraid, and with throat choked, he again spoke to Krishna after saluting him.
[Wearer of crown means Arjuna. He is trembling now in front of the True form. ]
Arjuna spoke, It is quite proper, Krishna, that the uni verse is delighted and charmed by your fame, that the demons run away in fear in all directions, and that all the assemblages of Siddhas bow down to you.. Shy, O high-souled one, should they not bow down to you who are greater than Brahman, and first cause?
O infinite lord of gods! O you pervading the universe! You are the indestructible, that which is, that which is not, and what is beyond them. You are the primal god, the ancient being, you are the highest support of this universe. You are that which has knowledge, that which is the object of knowledge, you are the highest goal.
By you is this universe pervaded, O you of infinite forms! You are the wind, Yama, fire, Varuna, the moon, you Praj鈖ati, and the great grandsire.
Obedience is yours a thou sand times, and again and again obedience is yours! In front and from behind obeisance to thee ! Obedience is yours from all sides, O you who are all!
You are of infinite power, of unmeasured glory; you pervade all, and therefore you are all! Whatever I have said contemptuously,梖or instance, 'O Krishna! O Yadava! O friend!'梩hinking you to be my friend and not knowing your greatness as shown in this universal form, or through friendliness, or incautiously; and whatever disrespect I have shown you for purposes of merriment, in play, sleep, dinner, or sitting together, whether alone or in the presence of friends梖or all that, O undegraded one, I ask pardon of you who are indefinable.
You are the father of the world, movable and immovable, 11 you its great and venerable master, there is none equal to you, whence can there be one greater? You whose power is unparalleled in all the three worlds.
Therefore, I bow and prostrate myself, and would propitiate you, the praiseworthy lord. Be pleased, O god, to pardon my guilt as a father pardons his son, a friend pardons a friend, or a husband pardons his beloved.
I am delighted at seeing what I had never seen before, and my heart is also alarmed by fear. Show me that same form, O god! Be gracious, O lord of gods! O you pervading the universe! I wish to see you bearing the crown and the mace, with the discus in hand, just the same as before. O you of thousand arms! O you of all forms! assume that same four-handed form.
[This is basically Arjuna's words for worshipping Him and also his plead toward Him to reduce Himself to His Vasudeva form.
Vasudeva means God of all Gods. ]
Krishna spoke, "Arjuna, being pleased with you, I have by my own mystic power shown you this supreme form, full of glory, universal, infinite, primeval, and which has not been seen before by any one else but you, O you hero among the Kauravas!
I cannot be seen in this form by any one but you, even with the help of the study of the Vedas, or with sacrifices, or with gifts, or through actions, or through fierce penances. Be not alarmed, be not perplexed, at seeing this form of mine, fearful like this. Free from fear and with delighted heart, see now again that same form of mine.
[Krishna grand Arjuna's request. God's true form cannot be seen by anyone by any means. Which is why He has human forms, which is more mild in presentations. ]
Arjuna spoke, "Krishna, seeing this mild, human form of yours, I am now in my right mind and have come to my normal state."
[Arjuna's fright is gone and his mind is clear from all those problems and confusion he had previously.
Krishna spoke, "Even the gods are always desiring to see this form of mine, which it is difficult to get a sight of, and which you have seen. I cannot be seen, as you have seen me, by means of the Vedas, not by penance, not by gift, nor yet by sacrifice. But, Arjuna, by devotion to me exclusively I can in this form be truly known, seen, and assimilated with, O terror of your foes! He who performs acts for propitiating me, to whom I am the highest object, who is my devotee, who is free from attachment, and who has no enmity towards any being, he, O son of Pandu, comes to me.
[God's True form cannot be perceived by anyone by any means given by Men (by God), for His own purpose. But Vasudeva's form is perceivable by those who are devoteed to Him, free of attachment, no enmity (anger, hatred etc) toward any being. Those who are such person will able to see Him in His Vasudeva form and return back to Him.]
Translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telano, 1882
Edited and annotated by Richard Hooker
[ Last edited by Sephiroth on 13-9-2004 at 02:11 PM ] |
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[Continue onward ... ]
New Chapter in Bhavagad Gita. It is called Bhakti Yoga in the book. Bhakti means Devotion so Bhakti Yoga basically means Exercise of Devotion.
Arjuna asked, "Of the worshippers, who thus, constantly devoted, meditate on you, and those who meditate on the unperceived and indestructible, which best know devotion?
[Basically, he is asking, between the one who is worshipping God with forms and that which has no form, which devotee is better?]
Answer :
Krishna answer, "Those who being constantly devoted, and possessed of the highest faith, worship me with a mind fixed on me, are deemed by me to be the most devoted.
But those, who, restraining the whole group of the senses, and with a mind at all times equable, meditate on the indescribable, indestructible, unperceived principle which is all-pervading, unthinkable, indifferent, immovable, and constant梩hey, intent on the good of all beings, necessarily attain to me.
[Both seems to be in equal terms. By worshipping a form, a devotee will focus his mind on one form which he or she will think of and while it may look like he or she worshipping wood, statues etc, in his mind, he or she will be focusing his mind on Him alone.
While those who worship the Formless God, have to control all his sensors and his mind and focus in a formless God. If a person able to do so, he or she too will abtain Him.]
For those whose minds are attached to the unperceived, the trouble is much greater. Because the unperceived goal is obtained by embodied beings only with great difficulty.
["the unperceived": this is higher knowledge (paravidya) of principles of the universe that cannot be gained through the senses or through the mind. The perceived is lower knowledge (aparavidya), gained through the senses and mind, that consists of contingent, transient, and partial truths.
Those who studied Kabbalah could understand the higher and lower principles of the Universe.
The lower knowledge could include the working of Laws of Physics as stated by Scientists, which, they could explain but can never proof because of their limitations. Also, those which is stated in Religious books are also consist of Lower Knowledge since it is based on what Man capable of knowing (due to his/her own physical limitations) and not that of the Higher Knowledge. ]
As to those, O son of Pritha, who, dedicating all their actions to me, and holding me as their highest goal, worship me, meditating on me with a devotion towards none besides me and whose minds are fixed on me, I, without delay come forward as their deliverer from the ocean of this world of death.
[Those who are from Abrahamic Religions should understand what it means easily, if not, just read the underline words over and over again. ]
Place your mind on me only; fix your understanding on me. In me you will dwell hereafter, there is no doubt.
But if you are unable to fix your mind steadily on me, endeavor to obtain me by the abstraction or mind resulting from continuous meditation.
[Meaning .... Fix your mind on Him at all times. But if your mind wonders, try to bring it under control through abstraction (of thought) or continous meditation which will help a person control his mind.]
If you are unequal even to continuous meditation, then let acts for propitiating me be your highest aim. Even performing actions in order to propitiate me, you will attain perfection.
[If you unable to do continous meditations, then do something with Him as your aim or goal. Do something for sake of God and nothing else. And if you wish to do something, do it properly because there bigger fool than one who claims of doing something for God than gives up half way when he or she unable to fullfill it.]
If you are unable to do even this, then resort to devotion to me, and, with self-restraint, abandon all fruit of action. For knowledge is better than continuous meditation; concentration is esteemed higher than knowledge; and the abandonment of fruit of action than concentration; from that abandonment, tranquillity soon results.
[If you cannot even do that (worst case senario, then put Him as the goal of your actions (as explained earlier in Jnana Yoga). Every actions you take, do it as an offering to Him and do not dwell in the result. In Malay word - "Menyerah Diri dgn sepenuhnya."
The different between the earlier and this one is, one put God as aim of his action, and another leave everything to Him - good and evil; the doer does not know whether his actions is that of a good one or an evil one, but he will leave it to God to sort things up.
Kill them all and let God sort it out - a car sticker in one of the Steven Siegel movies.]
That devotee of mine, who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from individuality, and from the idea of possessions, to whom happiness and misery are alike, who is forgiving, contented, constantly devoted, self-restrained, and firm in his determinations, and whose mind and understanding are devoted to me, he is dear to me.
He through whom the world.is not agitated, and who is not agitated by the world, who is free from joy and anger and fear and agitation, he, too, is dear to me.
That devotee of mine, who is unconcerned, pure, assiduous, impartial, free from suffering, who abandons all fruits of his actions, he is dear to me. He who is full of devotion to me, who feels no joy and no aversion, who does not grieve and does not desire, who abandons both what is agreeable and what is disagreeable, he is dear to me.
He who behaves and feels alike to friend and foe and is indifferent to honor and dishonor, who is the same whether in cold or heat, pleasure and pain, who is free from attachments, to whom praise and blame are identical, who is silent, and contented with anything whatever that comes, who is homeless, and of a steady mind, and full of devotion, that man is dear to me.
[Four type of Person who is Dear to Him (possibly four ways how the Souls will be separated at the End of Times or even how the Souls will be judged, redeemed to return back to Him. Wonder where am I ... ]
"But those devotees who, imbued with faith, and regarding me as their highest goal, resort to this holy means for attaining immortality, as stated, they are the dearest of all to me.
[But the dearest of them all are those who have faith and regards Him as their highest goal and resort to follow this means (as stated in Bhavagad Gita) is the dearest of them all to Him.]
Translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telano, 1882
Edited and annotated by Richard Hooker |
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[OK, continue from Bhakti Yoga above ... this chapter is to further illustrate the type of relationship man should have with God or at least what sort of approach He prefers the best.]
Krishan continued His sermon, "This body, O son of Kunti, is called kshetra, and the learned call him who knows it the Kshetraj馻, or the "knower of the field." And know me also, O descendant of Bharata, to be the Kshetraj馻 in all Kshetras.
The knowledge of Kshetra and Kshetraj馻 is deemed by me to be real knowledge. Now hear from me in brief what that Kshetra is, what it is like, what changes, and from where it comes, and what the knower of the Kshetra is, and what his powers are, all which are sung in various ways by sages in numerous hymns, distinctly, and in well-settled texts full of arguments, giving indications or full instruction about the Brahman.
[Kshetra means Field (like a football field) and Krishna states that the body (the one the Soul residing in) is like a field. One who knows what is happening in that field (on his body) is known as Kshetrajna or Knower of the Field.
Basically, it is knowledge of knowing Oneself and by doing so, he or she will know his or her place in the Universe and about God. Only way to know God is to know oneself - what is real and what is false, what is God's actions and what is actions of Man and such. ]
The great elements, individuality, the understanding, the unperceived also, the ten senses, and the one, and the five objects of sense, desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, body, consciousness, courage, thus in brief has been declared the Kshetra with its changes.
["great elements": earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, understanding, self-consciousness. "individuality": ahamkara, or the sense that one is a separate and distinct individual. The eleven senses and the five objects of sense are products of nature (prakriti), and so they are sources of ignorance (avidya). - Taken from the site.
Note : This is the basic for both Taoism, Buddhism and other Asian philosphy which started for nearly 5,000 years. Which means, even so human beings have been living in different parts of the world and rarely have contact with each other, they have came to similar understanding on how the Universe and Man is thus this is why Asian people able to live in harmony. ]
Absence of vanity, absence of ostentatiousness, absence of hurtfulness, along with the presence of forgiveness, straightforwardness, devotion to a preceptor, purity, steadiness, self-restraint, indifference towards objects of sense, and also absence of individuality, perception of the misery and evil of birth, death, old age, and disease, absence of attachment, absence of selfish regard for son, wife, home, and so forth, and constant equanimity on the approach of both what is agreeable and what is disagreeable, unswerving devotion to me without meditation on any one else, resorting to clean places, distaste for assemblies of men, constancy in knowledge of the relation ofthe individual self to the supreme, perception of the object of knowledge of the truth, this is called knowledge; that is ignorance which is opposed to this.
[Absence of Vanity and ostentatiousness (Ego), absence of hurtfulness (need to hurt others), presence of forgiveness, straightforwardness, devotion to preceptor (Him), purity, steadinees, self-restrain, indifference toward object of sense and absence of individuality, perception of misery and evil of birth, death, old age and disease, absence of attachment, selfishness (for one's family), constant equanimity on approach on what is agreeable and disagreeable (not sure whether something is true or false), unswerving devotion to Him (alone), seeking clean place and where it is quiet and lack of large group of men, constancy in knowledge between men and God, and perception (understanding) of object of knowledge is called Knowledge.
Anything else which is opposite of this is considered to be ignorance (approach). No insult intended.]
I will declare that which is the object of knowledge, knowing which, one reaches immortality; the highest Brahman, having no beginning nor end, which cannot be said to be existent or non-existent.
It has hands and feet on all sides, it has eyes, heads, and faces on all sides, it has ears on all sides, it stands pervading everything in the world. Possessed of the qualities of all the senses, but devoid of all senses, unattached, it supports all, is devoid of qualities, and the enjoyer of qualities.
It is within all things and without them; it is movable and also immovable; it is unknowable through its subtlety; it stands both far off and near.
Not different in different things, but standing as though different, it should be known to be the supporter of all things, and that which absorbs and creates them.
It is the radiance even of the radiant bodies; it is said to be beyond darkness.
It is knowledge, the object of knowledge, that which is to be attained to by knowledge, and placed in the heart of all.
Thus in brief have Kshetra, knowledge, and the object of knowledge been declared. My devotee, knowing this, becomes fit for assimilation with me.
[He already which is knowledge and which is not, and knowing that, one can reach Brahman (God) who has no beginning or end.
So the goal is to become the Knower of the field (what is happening with your own body), Knowledge and object of knowledge (what is your purpose in persuading something or Niat). Only those who knows this will return back to Him.]
Know nature and spirit both to be without beginning, and know all developments and qualities to be produced from nature. Nature is said to be the origin of the capacity of working and consciousness is said to be the origin of the capacity of enjoying pleasures and pains. For spirit with nature joined enjoys the qualities born of nature. And the cause of its birth in good or evil wombs is the mxture with the qualities. The supreme spirit in this body is called supervisor, adviser, supporter, enjoyer, the great lord, and the supreme self also. He who thus knows nature and spirit, together with the qualities, is not born again, however he may have lived. Some by concentration see the self in the self by the self; others by the Sankhya-yoga; and others still by the Karma-yoga; others yet, not knowing this, practice concentration, after hearing from others. They, too, being devoted to hearing instruction cross beyond death.
Whatever thing movable or immovable comes into existence, know that to be from the connection of Kshetra and Kshetraj馻, O chief of the descendants of Bharata!
[All qualities which appears onto the Self (mind) is produced by Nature. Nature is origin of capacity of working (or why people behave the way they do) and Consciousness is the origin of the capacity of enjoying pleasure and pains. Spirit born from Nature (your Mind) enjoys quality born from Nature as well. And the cause of its birth in good or evil wombs is the mixture with the qualities.
Basically it talks about Mind and how it is created by the Nature around you. You are what the world around you makes you. If you have a mind of a Muslim, it is because you are born in a Muslim society, same as you are a Christian, Buddhist, Hindu or an atheists. Your mind is created by the society (nature) and not by you alone. If you are happy, it is because you believe the nature (the world) is following what you believe to be true, if you are unhappy, it is because you believe the nature (the world) is not following what you believe to be true. Truth and Falseness is in your mind based on what you were taught to be true or false.
In Sort ... You are Nothing but a Puppet to your society.
The Supreme self here means the Soul and it is a supervisor to your Mind and Body. It knows the body, it knows the Mind and it is not reborn again (as in born new in a new body like what Christians and Muslims believe with each person) but it may lived before (which means it maybe not the first birth in a human body nor will it be the last, which depends on how a person lived his or her life).
Some see it in others, others through Sankhya-yoga, Karma Yoga, by practising concentration or simply from hearing from ohers. ]
He sees (truly) who sees the supreme lord abiding alike in all entities, and not destroyed though they are destroyed. For he who sees the lord abiding every where alike, does not destroy himself by himself, and then reaches the highest goal.
He sees truly, who sees all actions to be in every way done by nature alone, and likewise the self to be not the doer.
When a man sees all the variety of entities as existing in one, and all as emanating from that, then he becomes one with the Brahman. This inexhaustible supreme self, being without beginning and without qualities, does not act, and is not tainted, O son of Kunti, though stationed in the body.
As by reason of its subtlety the all-pervading space is not tainted, so the self stationed in every body is not tainted.
As the sun singly lights up all this world, so the Kshetraj馻, O descendant of Bharata, lights up the whole Kshetra. Those who, with the eye of knowledge, thus understand the difference between Kshetra and Kshetraj馻, and the destruction of the nature of all entities, go to the supreme.
[He who can see a supreme lord (of a body or Soul) in all entities are not destroyed (by death). He will reach God or the highest goal of what he seeks.]
Translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telano, 1882
Edited and annotated by Richard Hooker
[ Last edited by Sephiroth on 16-9-2004 at 11:35 AM ] |
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[Continue from above chapter ... ]
Krishna continue to preach "Again I will declare to you the highest knowledge, the best of all kinds of knowledge, with which all sages have reached perfection beyond the bonds of this body. Those who, resorting to this knowledge, are united with my essence, are not born at the creation, and are not afflicted at the destruction of the universe.
The great Brahman is a womb for me, in which I cast the seed. From that, O descendant of Bhaata, is the birth of all things. Of the bodies, O son of Kunti, which are born from all wombs, the main womb is the great Brahman, and I am the father, the giver of the seed.
[Great Brahman can be translated into two descriptions. One - those who believe in God, it could be Brahma or God of Creations who (with Vishnu's permission) creates everything (physical).
Two - Those who believe in Science could consider this as the event known as Big Bang itself which what everything around us is created from.
krishna declared that this event (or person) is like a womb from which creation is born from and He is the seed (of souls) which were the Souls come and resides into this creations from.
Lucidity, passion, dark inertia, these qualities born from nature bind down the inexhaustible soul in the body.
Of these, lucidity, which, in consequence of being untainted, is enlightening and free from all misery, binds the soul with the bond of pleasure and the bond of knowledge.
Know that passion consists in being enamored, and is produced from craving and attachment. Passion binds down the embodied self with the bond of action.
Dark inertia is born of ignorance, it deludes all embodied selves. Dark inertia binds down the self with heedlessness, indolence, and sleep.
Lucidity unites the self with pleasure; passion unites the self with action; and dark inertia unites the self with heedlessness, after shrouding up knowledge.
Passion and dark inertia being repressed, lucidity stands.
Passion and lucidity being repressed, dark inertia stands and likewise dark inertia and lucidity being repressed, passion stands.
[The three qualities - Lucidity (I think it means sense of Ego), Passion (toward ALL things) and Dark Inertia (actions because of Ego and Passions, I believe because Inertia means movements dan Dark means something which is tainted, thus it means movement of the body due to something (like thoughts) which is tainted.]
When in this body at all portals knowledge prevails, then should one know lucidity to be developed.
Avarice, activity, performance of actions, want of tranquillity, desire, these are produced when passion is developed.
Want of light, want of activity , heedlessness, and delusion, these are produced when dark inertia is developed.
[This three qualities ... where do they come from?
Ego forms from Knowledge itself. When one learns things and his mind begin to think that he knows more than others, Ego for his own knowledge begin to develop. Knowledge is the easiest to find where you can find a lot of people who thinks they are smarter than others simply because they have a degree and such.
Passion is form when you want something, desires something, which to obtain something.
Dark Inertia is formed by things like delusions (getting the wrong idea), not listening (or not willing to listen) to others, wanting something which he or she thinks can be obtained by doing something and such.]
When an embodied self encounters death, while lucidity is developed, then he reaches the untainted worlds of those who know the highest.
Encountering death during the prevalence of passion, he is born among those attached to action.
Likewise, dying during the prevalence of dark inertia, he is born in the wombs of the ignorant.
The fruit of meritorious action is said to be good and untainted; while the fruit of passion is misery; and the fruit of dark inertia is ignorance.
From lucidity is produced knowledge, from passion avarice, and from dark inertia heedlessness and delusion and ignorance.
[While those who have knowledge (but has Ego due to that) encounters death, he will reach a world of those who has knowledge (but not God).
Those who have passions will be born in a world of those who attached to actions and those who are ignorance will be born in a world where ignorance is prevails. They will continue to become ignorance till they themselves choose to do something about it.
This is my explainations. This world can be split into various small "worlds" or community, each has its own culture, heritage, rules and regulations and such.
So those who seeks knowledge and allows knowledge to produce Ego in them, will be born in a community which has other men who are as egoistic as they are. The Western world seems to be a perfect fit for this.
Those who are passionate and could not let go of passions and pleasure, will be born in such world where everyone else are the same. Driven by passion and pleasure, he or she cannot do anything other than allow themselves to be sink into a world of passion. They will continue to exist, thinking their ways are the natural ways and others who living in false lifestyle.
Those who are ignorant of the truth will be born in a world of ignorance where everyone are ignorant as they are. They will continue to live in such world, thinking that their ignorant lifestyle and beliefs are the truth and everyone else are infidels and living in sins and falseness. ]
Those who adhere to the ways of lucidity go up; the passionate remain in the middle; while those of the qualities of dark inertia, adhering to the ways of the lowest quality, go down.
[Those who have ego will go up (reincarnate to a higher status but remain egoistic), those who passionate will remain the same as they were before, not progressing much in spiritual level and those who are involve in dark inertia will go down (reincarnate in worst situation then before).
This could mean, of all three qualities, those who are involve in dark inertia are the worst. They kill, hurt and abuse others because of their own ignorance, not knowing that their actions is dragging them down and down in each life they underwent. ]
When a right-seeing person sees none but the qualities to be the doers of all action, and knows what is above the qualities, he enters into my essence. The embodied self, who transcends these three qualities, from which bodies are produced, attains immortality, being freed from birth and death and old age and misery.
[Those who knows that doers of actions (when someone does something), is this three qualities and taken steps to control this three elements, then he or she will achieve a certain level of understanding which enable him or her to return back to Him.
He or she is freed from circle of Life and Death, old age and misery.] |
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[By right, I should have added this in above post. Thought there was more.]
Arjuna asked, " What are the characteristics, O lord, of one who has transcended these three qualities? What is his conduct, and how does he transcend these three qualities?
[Question ... what is the characteristics of person who have transcended (overcome) the three qualities which mentioned about - Ego, Passion and Dark Inertia. ]
Krishna answered, " He is said to have transcended the qualities, O son of Pandu, who is not averse to light and activity and delusion when they prevail, and who does not desire them when they cease, who sitting like one unconcerned is never perturbed by the qualities, who remains steady and moves not, thinking merely that the qualities exist, who is self-contained, to whom pain and pleasure are alike, to whom a clump of dirt and a stone and gold are alike, to whom what is agreeable and what is disagreeable are alike, who has discernment, to whom censure and praise of himself are alike, who sees no difference between honor and dishonor, who is does not take the side of friends or foes, and who abandons all action.
[Answer - He who does not bother with activities which comes from this three qualities - Ego, Passion and Dark Inertia, do not wish for any desires from actions of which he have undertaken, remains steady and unmoved by anything.
He who views pain and pleasure as the same, dirt and stone with gold and silver with equal value, one who don't agrees or disagree with anything, one who view praise and scold as the same, indifference toward honor and dishonor and do not take sides with friend or foes are ones who have transcended this qualities. ]
And he who worships me with an unswerving devotion, transcends these qualities, and becomes fit for entrance into the essence of the Brahman. For I am the embodiment of the Brahman , of indestructible immortality, of eternal devotion, and of unbroken happiness.
[Those who worship him with unswering devotion, have transcended this qualities become fit to return to God (Brahman). ]
Translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telano, 1882
Edited and annotated by Richard Hooker |
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[Continue with this ... ]
Krishna continued to give sermon, "They say the inexhaustible Asvattha has its roots above and its branches below; the Khandas are its leaves. He who knows it knows the Vedas. Upwards and downwards extend its branches, which are enlarged by the qualities and the sprouts of which are sensuous objects. And downwards to this human world are continued its roots which lead on to action. Its form is not known here, nor its end, nor beginning, nor support. But having with the firm weapon of unconcern, cut this Asvattha, whose roots are firmly fixed, then should one seek for that seat from which those that go there never return, thinking that one rests on that same primal being from whom the ancient course of worldly life emanated.
[This chapter (if you can call it such) talks about the World, and Human (and their spirits) in relations with the physical and spiritual world.
http://www.sanathanadharma.com/symbol/asvattha.htm
Asvattha is Hindu version of Tree of Life, brought for by the Gods to links all creations together by passion, actions, emotions and such.
According to Hindusm, this world (including its mini-worlds within it) are like something attached to roots of the large tree. Human souls move in and around this roots to the main trunks and back into the roots though another one, thus soul can born in Western world one day, die in another and due to his own actions, be born in East and continue onward with existence.
By being unconcern about things happening to you (due to Ego, Passion and Dark Inertia), you can cut yourself away from this tree of Life and return back to the source of all creation.]
Those who are free from pride and delusion, who have overcome the evils of attachment, who are constant in contemplating the relation of the supreme and individual self, from whom desire has departed, who are free from the pairs of opposites called pleasure and pain, go undeluded to that imperishable seat.
[Those who are free from Pride and Delusions (of the sensors and his own Mind), those who have overcome attachments to this world (and next), always thinking about his relationship with the Supreme one, have no desires, free from need of pleasure and fear of pain will go to the place from which he will never return back.]
The sun does not light it, nor the moon, nor fire. That is my highest abode, going to which none returns. An eternal portion of me it is, which, becoming an individual soul in the mortal world, draws to itself the senses with the mind as the sixth.
[Sun, Moon or Fire is not needed there. That is His abode. One who reach it, will never return back to the circulation of the Tree of Life. ]
Whenever the ruler of the bodily frame obtains or quits a body, he goes taking these with him as the wind takes perfumes from their seats. And presiding over the senses of hearing and seeing, and touch, and taste, and smell, and the mind, he enjoys sensuous objects. Those who are deluded do not see him remaining in or quitting a body, enjoying or joined to the qualities; they see, who have eyes of knowledge.
[Those who have knowledge and indulge in pleasures (and pain) of the sensors will take those with him when he dies. His mind will always want the experience those sensations and that will bring him back into the circulation once again.]
Men of discipline making efforts perceive him abiding within their selfs. But those whose selfs have not been refined, and who have no discernment, do not perceive him even after making efforts.
[Men of discipline will make effect to obtain Him by their SELF. But those who do not refine their own SELF, will not perceive Him even after making a effect.
It means those who do not know their own SELF (knowledge of the Self - why you do as you do) will not understand or perceive His role or Him. Thus people who enter spiritual activities but do not take effects to understand themselves will fail.]
Know that glory to be mine which, dwelling in the sun, lights up the whole world, or in the moon or fire . Entering the earth, I by my power support all things; and becoming the juicy moon, I nourish all herbs. I becoming the fire, and dwelling in the bodies of all creatures, and united with the upward and downward life-breaths, cause digestion of the fourfold food.
And I am placed in the heart of all ; from me come memory, knowledge, and their removal; I alone am to be learned from all the Vedas; I am the author of the Vedantas; and I alone know the Vedas.
[All the source of Life comes from Him, He creates, He perserves and He vanquishes. He remains and He supports all. He ALONE knows ALL the Vedas (religions) and the only one which should considered to be a Learned one. He is the author and He knows all.
Note : When you learn something, remember ... things you do know is only a fraction of what you do not know. So it is useless to boost you know something when what you do not know is more than what you do know. Remember that and your ego for being a scholar and a learned one will vanish.]
There are these two beings in the world, the destructible and the indestructible. The destructible includes all things. The unconcerned one is what is called the indestructible.
[There are two form of beings - the destructive ones are everything you see around you and more, which include mountains, trees, Planets, moons, stars and such. They will be destroyed by Time itself.
The indestructible ones are like spiritual beings - Devas, Angels, Demons and devils, and probably your own souls. This will continue to exist and circulate through the Tree of Life and Existences. They will not be effected by Time as physical beings will.]
But the Supreme Being is yet another, called the highest self, who as the inexhaustible lord, pervading the three worlds, supports them. And since I transcend the destructible, and since I am higher also than the indestructible, therefore I am celebrated in the world and in the Vedas as the best of beings. He who, undeluded, thus knows me as the best of beings, worships me every way, and can be said to know everything.
Thus, O sinless one, have I proclaimed this most mysterious science. He who knows this, has done all he needs to do and he becomes possessed of discernment.
[So where does He stands? He is the one who trancend the destructive and the indestructive, He is celebrated and made known in the religion. Those who know Him can be said to know everything.
Those who knows this truth, done all that needed to be done will come to possess what he sort after - Him.]
Translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telano, 1882
Edited and annotated by Richard Hooker |
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[Continues from above ... now deeper into Human Nature ...]
Krishna continues His sermon, "Freedom from fear, purity of heart, perseverance in pursuit of knowledge and abstraction of mind, gifts, self-restraint, and sacrifice, study of theVedas, penance, straightforwardness, harmlessness, truth, freedom from anger, renunciation , tranquillity, freedom from the habit of backbiting, compassion for all beings, freedom from avarice, presence of gentleness, modesty, absence of vain activity, presence of noblemindedness, forgivreness, courage, purity. freedom from a desire to injure others, absence of vanity, these, O descendant of Bharata, are his who is born to godlike endowments.
Ostentatiousness, pride, vanity, anger, and also harshness and ignorance are his, O son of Pritha, who is born to demonic endowments.
Godlike endowments are deemed to be means for final emancipation, demonic for bondage . Grieve not, O descendant of Bharata, you are born to god like endowrnents.
[Straight forward ... He had described two characteristics of those who have god-like endowments and those who are demonic endowments.
What endowments means? I'm not an English literature person but I could guess it means something like God-like qualities and demonic qualities. Malay calls it "Perangai Syaitan" and "Perangai Malaikat". That's the closest I could understand it.
The characteristics itself is easy to understand, so I will not repeat it. What need to be emphasized is that god-like qualities (endowments) leads him to Him while those who have demonic qualities (endowments) leads him to bondage and rebirth in this world.]
There are two classes of created beings in this world, the godlike and the demonic; the godlike class has been described at length; now hear from me, O son of Pritha, about the demonic.
[A lot of people had talked about good qualities, He talks on what is the bad ones are ...]
Demonic persons know neither action or inaction, neither purity nor correct conduct nor truthfulness are in them. They say the universe is devoid of truth, devoid of fixed principle, and devoid of a ruler, produced by union of male and female caused by lust, and nothing else. Holding this view, these enemies of the world, of ruined selves, of little knowledge, and of ferocious actions, are born for the destruction of the world.
[Demonic person knows neither action or inaction - means he doesn't know the action cause by God or Fate or actions produced by his own ego, actions and such. He does not know (or care to know) the purity or truth of actions behind them and consider that the Universe has no truth, have no principles and have no ruler. ]
Entertaining insatiable desire, full of vanity, ostentariousness and frenzy, they adopt false notions through delusion and engage in unholy observances.
[They entertain Lusts which is insatiable, full of ego, and such and follow false sense of notions through delusion.]
Indulging in boundless thoughts ending with death, given up to the enjoyment of objects of desire, being resolved that that is all there is to existence, bound down by nets and traps of hopes in hundreds, given up to anger and desire, they wish to obtain heaps of wealth unfairly so that the might enjoy objects of desire.
This have I obtained, today this wish I will obtain; this wealth is mine, and this also shall be mine; this foe I have killed, others too I will destroy; I am lord, I am the enjoyer, I am perfect, strong, happy; I have wealth; I am of noble birth; who else is like me? I will sacrifice; I will make gifts; I will rejoice.
Thus deluded by ignorance, tossed about by numerous thoughts, surrounded by the net of delusion, and attached to the enjoyment of objects of desire, they fall down into impure hell.
[Through false notions, attaching themselves to objects of desire and such, they come with thoughts like "This is mine, and that too shall be mine tomorrow, I have kill this foe today and I will kill my other foes tomorrow, I'm the only one which is important and others are below me, I'm strong, happy, wealthy, of noble birth and I will rejoice."
Entertained by such thoughts which brings actions of equal disgust, they will fall into Hell of their own creation.]
Honored only by themselves, lacking all humility, and full of the pride and frenzy of wealth, these rumor-mongers and scandalizers of the virtuous perform sacrifices which are sacrifices only in name, only so that other men may see and against prescribed rules; indulging their vanity, brute force, arrogance, lust, and anger, and hating me in their own bodies and in those of others.
[Honored by people who have equal thoughts such as themselves, lack of humblity (feeling of humble), full of pride, happy with their wealthy, they perform sacrifices which is only by name. Their actions are show-offs to show that they are "holy" but in their own hearts, they are full of arrogance, lust and anger and even resort to hate Him and those who truly follow Him. ]
These enemies, ferocious, meanest of men, and unholy, I continually hurl down to these worlds, only into demonic wombs. Coming into demonic wombs, deluded in every birth, they rapidly devolve to the lowest and the vilest state, O son of Kunti, without ever coming to me.
[What will happen to this people? They will continue to evolve lower and lower in each birth to the lowest and most vile state existence could get them and at each birth, they will miss chance to return back to Him.]
Threefold is this way to hell,梤uinous to the self條ust,anger, and likewise avarice. Therefore, one should abandon this triad. Released from these three ways to darkness, O son of Kunti, a man works out his own welfare and then proceeds to the highest goal.
[There is three ways to reach hell - ruining the self, following anger and lust and avarice (not sure what this one means).
To be released from this three ways to the Darkness, Man have to work for his own welfare and try to achieve higher goal (Him).]
He who abandoning sacred writings and their ordinances, acts under the impulse of desire, does not attain perfection, nor happiness, nor the highest goal. Therefore in discriminating between what should be done and what should not be done, your authority must be sacred texts. And knowing what is declared by the ordinances of the sacred writings, you should perform action in this world.
[Those who abandons the sacred writings and their ordinances, act under their impulse of desires will not achieve perfection, happiness or highest goal in life.
When one do not know what can be done and what cannot be done, he or she MUST refer to the sacred texts. By using the sacred writings, one should perform his or her actions when in doubt.
Note : Two instructions :-
1. Know yourself; by knowing yourself, you will know what can be done and what cannot be done.
2. If in doubt, refer to the sacred texts and writings (He never mentioned anything in specific), and follow the examples written in there.
ANYONE who do not take steps to know oneself, what is right and wrong and ANYONE who do not refer to his or her texts to perform when in doubt are ARROGANT.
Anyone who refer to another person when he or she could take time to study those texts themselves are fools.
Anyone who knows what is written in the texts but choose to follow improper conducts such as lusts, allowing himself to influence by anger and such are a bigger fool.]
Translated by Kashinath Trimbak Telano, 1882
Edited and annotated by Richard Hooker |
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[Another good topic of discussion ...]
Arjuna asked, "What is the state of those, O Krishna, who worship with faith, but abandoning the ordinances of the sacred writings梐re they dominated by lucidity, passion, or dark inertia? "
[Basically, it means what are the state (characteristics and all) of those who have faith in their hearts but do not follow what is written in their sacred writings? Are they dominated by Ego, Passion or Dark Inertia?]
Krishna answers, "Faith is of three kinds in embodied beings, it is produced from the three qualities. It is of the quality of lucidity, of the quality of passion, and of the quality of dark inertia. Hear about it."
[There are 3 kind of Faith which is produced by this three qualities (Lucidity, Passion and Dark Inertia).]
The faith of all, O descendant of Bharata, is conformable to the heart. A being here is full of faith, and whatever is a man's faith, that is a man himself.
Those of the quality of lucidity worship the gods; those of the quality of passion the Yakshas and Rakshases ; and the others, the people ol the quality of dark inertia, worship departed spirits and the multitudes of Bh鹴as. Know those to be of demonic convictions, who practise fierce penance not ordained by sacred writings, who are full of ostentatiousness and individuality, and of desire, attachment, and stubbornness; who are without discernment and who torment the groups of organs in their bodies, and me also seated within those bodies.
[Those who have Ego will worship Gods (Devas), those who have Passion will worship Yakshas and Rakshases (basically demons and such) and those who have Dark Inertia will worship departed spirits (spirits of the dead) and multitudes of Bhutas (and other spirits like jins and such).
Those who worship such beings will do fierce penance, have full of pride and individuality and desires, attachments and such. They will also abuse their own bodies in which He too seats and watches.]
The food also, which is liked by all, and likewise the sacrifice, the penance, and gifts, are of three kinds. Listen to the distinctions regarding them as follows.
The kinds of food which increase life, energy, strength, health, comfort, and relish, which are savoury, oily, full of nutrition, and agreeable, are liked by the lucid.
The kinds of food which are bitter, acid, saltish, too hot, sharp, rough, and burning, and which cause pain. grief, and disease, are desired by the passionate.
And the food which is cold, tasteless, stinking, stale, impure, and even leavings from the table, are liked by the darkly inert.
[Food also have three kinds :
Food which increase life, energy and such are liked by those with Ego (probably to build a stronger body which they could pride themselves with).
Food which is strong in taste (bitter, acidic, too hot and such) are liked by those who are passionate. Good example are spicy food which is said to increase male sexual potence.
And food which is cold, tasteless, stinking and such is like by those who moved by the dark inertia. Just watch Fear Factor and you will understand.]
That sacrifice is lucid which, being ordained in sacred writings, is performed by persons not wishing for the fruit of it and after determining in their mind that the sacrifice must be performed.
But when a sacrifice is performed, O highest of the descendants of Bharata, with an expectation of fruit from it, so that other men may see, know that sacrifice to be passionate.
They call that sacrifice darkly inert which is against the ordinances of the sacred writings, in which no food is dealt out to Brahmanas and others, which is devoid of Mantras, devoid of Dakshin |
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Final Part of Bhavagad Gita - Part 1.
[This is the final part of Bhavagad Gita where Krishna ends the sermon. The chapter is too long so I going to split it into two portion. Later I will open another thread where people who have questions or do not understand something can ask them.]
Arjuna asked, "O you of mighty arms! O Krishna! O destroyer of Kesin! I wish to know the truth about renunciation and abandonment distinctly.
[Renunciation and abandonment here means abandoning the fruits of the actions, desires and such. Arjuna wanted to know more about it. ]
Krishna replied, "By renunciation the sages understand the rejection of actions done with desires. The wise call the abandonment of the fruit of all actions by the name abandonment.
[Krishna answered by renunciating the fruit of the actions, sages could understand and reject actions which was done out of desires for something. They called this rejection as abandonment.]
Some wise men say, that action should be abandoned as being full of evil; and others, that the actions of sacrifice, gift, and penance should not be abandoned.
As to that abandonment, O best of the descendants of Bharata, listen to my decision; for abandonment, O bravest of men, is described to be threefold. The actions of sacrifice, gift, and penance should not be abandoned梩hey must be performed, for sacrifices, gifts, and penances are means of sanctification to the wise. But even these actions, O son of Pritha should be performed by abandoning attachment and fruit; such is my excellent and decided opinion. The renunciation of prescribed action is not proper.
Its abandonment through delusion is described as of the quality of dark inertia. When a man abandons action, merely as being troublesome, through fear of bodily affliction, he does not obtain the fruit of abandonment by making such passionate abandonment. When prescribed action is performed, O Arjuna abandoning attachment and fruit also, merely because it ought to be performed, that is deemed to be a good abandonment.
He who is possessed of abandonment, being full of lucidity, and talented, and having his doubt destroyed, is not averse from unpleasant actions, is not attached to pleasant ones. Since no embodied being can abandon actions, he is said to be possessed of abandonment who abandons the fruit of action.
[Some wise men says that actions itself are evil thus should be abandoned. They wanted to be inaction toward others thus preventing themselves from doing anything evil.
Some wise men says that actions of sacrifice, gift and penance should not be abandoned. By doing this for sake of God, they could achieve them.
Krishna says that there are three ways to it.
1. Actions such as sacrifice, gifts and penance should not be abandoned. They should be performed but without seeking the fruits of this actions. Do for His sake is the best way of performing an action. Abandoning this actions is improper.
2. Abandonment of actions done by Dark Inertia (delusions) are a good one. A person who abandon an actions which others wishs him to perform but he himself refuse for seeing it as futile and useless, such actions is a good one.
Example is war. A person can be told to go to war and fight. Or a teacher could be told by his or her headmaster to teach others in a specific way for a specific goal. If he or she do not feel that doing such task is a good one, he or she could abandon such activity.
3. He who possess abandonment, not full of Pride and ego, talented and has his doubts destroyed, is not moved by pleasent or unpleasent actions, such person is will abandon fruits of activity and concentrate in only doing an actions for sake of others. Gautama Buddha seems to come to my mind.
The threefold fruit of action, agreeable, disagreeable, and mixed, accrues after death to those who are not possessed of abandonment, but never to renouncers .
[This three ways to the fruits of actions adds to the person not denounce the fruits of the activity but not to those who renounce it.
A person who does something get the fruits (Sin or Merit from it) and will be enjoying or suffering from it but one who has not seek the fruits of the actions will not be effected by any of it. When there is no Sin, one do not fear Hell and when there is no Merit, one do not dream of Heaven. ]
Learn from me, Arjuna, these five causes of the completion of all actions, declared in the Sankhya. The substratum, the agent, the various sorts of organs, and the various and distinct movements, and with these the deities, too, as the fifth. Whatever action, just or otherwise, a man performs with his body, speech, and mind, these five are its causes.
[Krishna says that there is 5 cause for actions to be completed - Substratum (not sure what it is though, I could guess it means Karma), the agent (I could guess its desire and such), various sorts of organs (internal such as stomach), various and distinct movements (you are moved by news, words of others or even acts conducted by others) and dieties (both dewa and Asuras - Angels and devils) which considered as the 5th.
ALL actions performed by man by using his body, mind and speech caused by this.]
That being so, the undiscerning man, who being of an unrefined understanding, sees the agent in the immaculate self and so he does not see correctly.
He who has no feeling of individuality, and whose mind is not tainted, even though he kills all these people, kills not, is not chained by the action.
[A person who have no understanding of what going on will see this as actions of the Self and he sees incorrectly.
He who has no feeling of individuality, whose mind is not tainted, even so he kills all this people (who influence him directly or indirectly) will still not be able to kill the bondage, which is not killed by that actions.]
[Second part coming up.]
[ Last edited by Sephiroth on 30-9-2004 at 01:12 PM ] |
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Author
Post time 28-7-2004 11:22 AM
