CHAPTER VII
“Lord! If every individual soul only attains the Supreme
state of non-duality, then what is the status of Brahma, the creator?”
“Arjuna! The
so-called Brahma – the Creator who creates this multifarious world at will is
the ‘Golden-Wombed’ – ‘HiranyaGarbha’ of the Upanishads. He is the ‘Cosmic
Being’ who experiences all the experiences of all the beings of this creation
simultaneously; yet remaining in the blissful state of Para Brahman! He is the
‘Supreme Knower’; the ‘Supreme Consort’ of the ‘Goddess of Knowledge’; the
‘Supreme Lord Kaartikeya’! He is of the
golden hue; he shines with the luster of Supreme Knowledge!
He is Vaishvaanara – the ‘Cosmic Experiencer’ in the gross
level existing within all he individual souls as the ‘Praana’- the ‘Energy
Supreme’- supporting all their actions- physical and mental! He is the source
of all the five Vedas and he is the ‘Supreme Creator’ propitiated in all the
Vedas!”
“Lord! What should one take as
authority when met with dilemmas regarding one’s duties in one’s life?”
“Arjuna! What else can guide you in life but the ‘Sacred
Scriptures’ - the ‘Supreme Source of Knowledge’- the Vedas! When one follows
the injunctions of the Vedas with a detached mind he is sure to cross over the
hurdles appearing in one’s life. By Vedas My friend, I do not mean ‘Sacrificial
rites’ and ceremonial propitiations; but the ‘Supreme Practice’ instructed by
the ‘seers’ for the attainment of the ‘Highest’!”
“Lord! Is faith necessary or is it enough to blindly adopt
these practices? Or, can a man attain the ‘Supreme’, ignoring the scriptural
injunctions by just being sincere in his path?”
“Arjuna! Faith and sincerity of course are extremely
necessary in any spiritual practice. The performance of various meditations,
the multifarious methods of propitiating the favorite deities, the different
types of penance, various worships ; all indeed bear fruit to all the beings
whether they have faith or not. But remember this truth; action is always
inert; the results are attained as ordained by the Supreme Creator; only you
can make it come alive with your own feelings of selfless love; of desiring
fulfillment for the endless wants of human life; of vicious nature inviting
endless harm on others.
The first one leads you towards the Highest Knowledge of the
Supreme Self. The second one just manages to fulfill your worthless desires if
unopposed to your destiny. The last one pushes you into deep bottomless wells
of ignorance and suffering. Action as opposed to Knowledge drowns you in the
vast oceans of duties.
Only ‘detached action’ ever frees you from action!”
“Lord! What is the difference
between renunciation and relinquishment?
“Arjuna! Renunciation or Sannyas means the rejection of all
actions ordained by one’s birth and status in life; whereas relinquishment is
the renunciation of attachment to the fruits of actions while performing the
duties ordained by one’s birth and status in
life. Whether it is renunciation within or without -one should remember
never to cease from performing Sacrificial rites, charities and penance. One should
maintain a detached attitude even while performing these noble deeds; one
should perform all the actions for the good of the world into which he is born”
“Lord! What are the causes which
promote the accomplishment of all actions?”
“Arjuna! The five causes which promote the fulfillment of an
action are -the purpose; the doer; the instrument; the movement; and destiny!”
“What indeed is mandatory for
any action?”
“The threefold mandates of the action are – Knowledge,
Knowable and the Knower; the instrument, the work and the agent in the ordinary
sense!”
“How should we contemplate,
while doing any action?”
“If you can perform any action to the utmost perfection, but
all the while watching your own action as a witness and remain in the state of
pure awareness; without the anxiety attached to the result of the action, then-
you will be in the stabilized state of blissful contemplation even while
performing action!”
“Lord! Many are the doubts still
lingering in my mind; but I know they have to wait!
Before both of us leave for the battlefield is there
anything you would like to say – a parting advice to your disciple?”
Arjuna’s eyes were brimming with
tears. The blissful conversation was coming to an end. Both will be in a few
minutes, lost in the tumults of the war! Of course they may steal a few close
moments now and then in between the painful attacks of the maddened army! Maybe
they will meet again under this very Kadamba tree after the war was over!
Will they? Arjuna was not sure!
His eyes were expectant.
“My child! Just trust me! Have faith me!
You can forsake everything for my sake; but do not forsake
‘Me’!
I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU!
I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU!”
I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU!”
THE SONG WAS OVER! WAS IT?
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