Chapter 7

 

Jnyana-Vijnyana Yoga

 Jagat-Jiva-Ishwara Yoga

 Relation between the Divine Being, World and Individual

The topics covered in this Chapter are:

1. Visible World-Matter relation.
2. Visible World-Individual Creature relation.
3. Ishwara – The state of the Divine Being manifesting and pervading the visible world.
4. Brahman – The state of the Divine in and beyond the visible world.
5. Prominent signs of Brahman in the visible world.
6. Maya – The Veiling power of Brahman.
7. Knowing  Maya and Brahman together.
8. Meditation.
9. KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHOLE –  JNYANA and VIJNYANA together.

 

SUMMARY

Background

SriKrishna has clearly explained that:

• The visible world is projected and sustained by the eternal, unchanging consciousness – Brahman.
• The Human being is an aggregate of the permanent Atman and impermanent Prakriti making the body-mind complex.
• Desire and anger born out of the Rajas constituent of Prakriti are enemies which destroy Spiritual Knowledge and Objective Knowledge – Jnyana and Vijnyana.
• SriKrishna gave the means for understanding and directing the energies of Rajas and Tamas and Sattva,  the constituents of Prakriti, for activities that takes one to predominate the Sattva.

In the Chapter 7, SriKrishna further expands on this aspect and gives a full picture of the whole universe and the interrelationships.  SriKrishna gives the easy way that enables everyone to enjoy the bounty of the world in freedom, without fear and at the same time reach the perfected state mentioned in Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 – the Sthitaprajnya, Brahmabhuta or Brahmanirvana.  

SriKrishna tells Arjuna that he will reveal as to how one can acquire the integral knowledge of HIS whole being, all HIS Powers, all HIS Actions and all ITS Principles while being engaged in Action with one’s mind wholly attached to HIM.  SriKrishna says that by knowing the Jnyana and Vijnyana together, nothing will remain to be known.  This is the integral knowledge of Divine,  Jnyana , the knowledge that there is ONE indestructible Parameshwara that pervades everything.  Vijnyana is knowing how various perishable things come to existence, are sustained and transformed from ONE permanent Parameshwara .

Two Natures:  SriKrishna says: “the five subtle elements – (the earth, water, fire, air and space – prithvi, aapa, tejas, vayu, aakasha), mind, reason and ego are MY eightfold Prakriti, the divided nature.  This is my lower Prakriti (Apara prakriti), but know MY higher Prakriti  (Para prakriti) which is different from this – the supreme which becomes the Jiva (life force in all beings) and by which the whole world is sustained.  Know ME to be the seed of all existences”.   By this it is clear that the power of supreme being manifests and acts in the animate and so called inanimate existence in the universe.

SriKrishna continues:  “I am the taste in water, light in the sun and moon, the syllable OM of the Vedas, sound of space, manhood in man, fragrance of earth, energy of fire, life in all existences,  ascetic ability of the ascetics, intelligence of the intelligent, the radiance of the brilliant.  I am the strength of the strong but not their desire and liking, I am the desire which is not contrary to Dharma.  All the states of mind are from ME, in ME, but I am not in them”.

Not recognizing the Divine presence everywhere, one resorts to fulfilling desires directed by ego.  This impedes the Self-unfoldment and one cannot escape experiencing fear, disappointment and sadness.  This might lead to evil acts (Aasuri Sampatti).  The tendency of evil acts  its effects are elaborated  in Chapter 16.

Application of this synthetic Knowledge is the assurance that everyone can rise to this highest potential.   An easy  method that is within the reach of everyone is shown.  This is by synthesis of Knowledge, Action and Devotion.  With the knowledge that Parameshwara is everything and in everything and beyond, one can worship the visible forms, symbolizing the eternal Divine presence through it.  One can carry out the family, societal and all responsibilities with this awareness and dedicate it to all pervading reality.  This way one can gradually overcome the veiling power of MAYA, and manifest the hidden Divine potential and rise to the highest state of being.

The chapter seven closes with SriKrishna saying  “one who resorts to ME thus will know the entire Brahman integrally with its spiritual nature and actions and will be released from aging and death.  Because of this entire Knowledge, they keep ME in their mind at the time of departure from the physical body and they unite in ME”.

CONTENTS

 

Chapter 6