Chapter 8

AksharaBrahma Yoga

Pranavaartha Yoga

Brahmaakshara Nirdesha

 THE SUPREME DIVINE

The Topics covered in this Chapter are:

1. Definitions of the main technical words of the spiritual language.
2. The importance of the mental state at the moment of death.
3. Method of contemplation on the letter OM that addresses the Supreme Divine – Brahman.
4. Contemplation on the syllable OM and engaging in all worldly duties.
5. The Two paths possible after death.

SUMMARY

At the close of the Chapter 7, SriKrishna summed up the entire knowledge, Jnyana-Vijnyana or spiritual wisdom with objective knowledge saying that “those who know ME entirely – the Whole and the parts will reach the highest”.  The Chapter eight starts with Arjuna asking SriKrishna the definitions of some of the words introduced in the last two verses of Chapter 7 and the way one can know HIM integrally at the moment of death.  SriKrishna succinctly defines the seven technical words in the first two verses and goes on to explain how one can keep the integral knowledge in mind at the time of death.  The questions of Arjuna and SriKrishna’s answers are as follows.

• Q 1: What is TadBrahma?  A: Aksharam  Brahma Paramam: That which never ceases to be and that which is supreme.  This refers to the immutable Self-existent Being on whose unalterable energy and knowledge all the rest that moves and evolves is founded.   This pervades the visible world and exists beyond time and space.
• Q 2: What is Adhyaatma?   A: It means Svabhava or one’s own being.   This includes the body, sense organs, mind, will, ego, and Atman.  This includes the Supreme Being manifested in Prakriti – nature.  This can be said as the state of  ONE formless Brahman wearing the innumerable masks of the individual being and appearing to be many.
• Q 3: What is Karma?   A: Karma is the creative impulse.   Karma indicates the using of the sensory faculties one has in actions that become the seed of repeated births.
• Q 4: What is Adhibhuta? A: It is the Ksharabhaava.  This refers to all aspects of mutable becoming.  This encompasses the being’s birth, growth and decay aspects.
• Q 5:  Wha is Adhidaiva?  A:  Purusha is the Adhidaiva.  This is the aspect of TadBrahma extending itself as the world, indwelling in all creatures, the energy in Nature, who oversees, observes and enjoys all the visible world as an object of its consciousness.
• Q 6: How is Adhiyagnya?  A:  Adhiyagnyah Ahameva – “It is MYSELF”  says SriKrishna.  The lord of all works and sacrifices is the Supreme Divine, the Purushottama,  secret in the body of all embodied existences.  Everything that one can conceive of is encompassed in this definition.
• Q 7: How can one know you at the moment of departing the body for the next journey?  A:  One who remembers ME at the moment of his death, comes into MY BEING.  Of this there is no doubt.

Next SriKrishna tells Arjuna that what ever form or entity has been the  preoccupation of the mind, the same form will be on his mind at the time of death and that form he will attain after death.    SriKrishna instructs Arjuna “THEREFORE you remember ME at all times and fight.  When your understanding is fixed in ME and your heart is given up to ME, you will come to ME.  There is no doubt about this”.   This is a synthesis of Knowledge of all pervading Brahman,  Action – doing the right work selflessly  with devotion,  seeing all as his own Self.

Next, SriKrishna explains some methods for practice of contemplation and attain perfection.  One can meditate on the sacred syllable OM.  OM has to be understood as encompassing of all that is described in the verses 3 and 4 (answers to questions 1-7).  One can contemplate on the syllable OM knowing that it is the sign and syllable for the supreme Purusha who is the Self in the seer, subtler than the subtlest, master ruler of all existence, who sets all beings and things as they are,  who is effulgent, the Sun beyond all darkness.   With this picture in mind, with total concentration,  united in devotion, all senses restrained, intelligence concentrated, life force drawn between the brows one can meditate on the the syllable OM as the Supreme Divine and reach the highest.

There is brief description of the two possible paths after death.  A more elaborate description of this is in Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata and other scriptures.  The two paths are called Deva Yana (Path of Divinities) and the Pitr Yana (Path of ancestors).

SriKrishna explains that the only way to be free from fear and grief is to reach HIM.  Other states, even heaven is not a permanent release.  It has a finite time for one to enjoy.  After that, one has to experience the cycle of birth and death.  There is also a parallel drawn between the human spending time between heaven and earth, and that of Brahma’s Yugas or periods of manifestation and withdrawal of the manifestation.

The chapter eight closes with SriKrishna declaring to Arjuna that one who understands these principles and paths will never succumb to ignorance.  Understanding this, a Karma-Yogin transcends the dualities by dedicating all his actions to Parameshwara and reaches the highest state.

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