In essence the purpose and doctrine of Vednata is the cessation of all pain and attainment of bliss.What is the root cause of all pain? Ignorance is the root cause of all suffering. It is also the forgetfulness of ones own self. A human beings predicament is that he has forgotten himself. He thinks about others and uselessly envying and criticizing others. Ignorance is the utter darkness. Unless a person experiences transcendences it, he cannot find perfect contentment.
Brahman, of consciousness, appears as the mind, senses, Gunnas and other principles. Gunnas do not define Brahman but they are reflected in Him. The Gunnas are under the control of the supreme reality and carry out their respective functions in the form of senses. Brahman or the supreme principle is the light of all lights. That light was in the form of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna does not represent conversion of Godhead into flesh but he represents turning of manhood into God. The divine forms (Pursha) and matter (Prakriti) belong to one spiritual eternity. Man is inclined to turn towards objects of the world instead of directing his mind to the Creator. So, our senses turn to outward objects, which get us, enslaved, alienated with the result we become full of sufferings.
Gita says that the real is the absolute Brahman. Its aim is not so much to teach the theory as to enforce practice of Dharma. Dharma is what promotes worldly prosperities and spiritual freedom. Instead of rejecting the duties and relationship of life, Gita accepts them as opportunities for the total realization of life itself.
Dharmakhetra Karukshetra suggests that life is a battle, the warfare against the spirit of evil. Acharya Abhinav Gupt preaches in his Gita Sangraha that Karukshetra are one’s senses. Dharmakhetra is one’s body. It is the body where attachment, renunciation, anger, forgiveness etc. are the elements of warfare. So, these elements get together and arrayed against each other. Mamka (said by King Dhatrashtra) is my people. This mine is the result of ego, which is the source of evil Sankalpas and Pandavas are the virtuous Sankalpas.
In Bhagwat Gita, the Lord does not advise Arjuna to discard bad desires and keep on good desires. He preaches Arjuna to discard all desires. When having renounced all Sankalpas one does not get attached to sense objects and actions, then alone he is said to have attained Yoga (6/4). One should abandon without reserve all desires born of sankalpas and curb through all senses from all sides through mind control (6/24). In shaluka 2/73 Lord Krishna advises Arjuna that he who abandons all desires and frees himself from longings without any sense of “Mine” or egotism he attains real peace. Acharya Abhinava Gupt in its Sangrah Shaluka on chapter II has beautifully described that the trends and modes of one’s mind are astonishing, while abandoning all desires one enjoys them mentally and while enjoying the pleasures and desires he abandons them mentally.
Acharya Abhinav Gupt in its Sangreh Shakula Chapter III says – A person who regards his wealth, wife, even own body different from his soul such a person will never be affected by the currents of anger, despair and desires. In brief this is known as Yoga of Action.
Our nature is such that we want some engagement. A child may commit mischief, but he cannot refrain from mischief unless he is given some engagement. When he is given some toys, his attention is diverted and his mischievous activities stops. We are like mischievous children, and therefore we must have spiritual engagement. Simply understanding that we are spirit or Atman will not help. Understanding that we are Atman we have to sustain the spirit by indulging in spiritual engagements.
We should understand that when Lord Krishna is speaking to Arjuna in Bhagwat Gita, He is speaking not simply to Arjuna alone but to the whole of mankind.It is therefore absolutely necessary that we seek knowledge and the perfection of knowledge is to understand Bhagwat Gita. We have to understand that whatever exists in the world was produced by any human being but everything was created by God.Dr. Radhakrishnan, has summed up that, “The teaching of Gita is Yoga and the teacher is Yogeshawara. When the human soul becomes enlightened and united with the Divine fortune and victory, welfare and morality are assured ……… The double purpose of human life, personal perfection and social efficiently is indicated here. Human perfection was a sort of marriage between high thought and just action. This according to the Gita must be for ever, the aim of man.
By Vish Nath Jotshi (Bhat)
