Summary:

Lesson 187 answers what is God's grace, how to be blessed by it, and what it means to surrender to God's grace. Also Ishvara's Higher/Lower nature is discussed. 

Source: Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61

Revision:

• VERSE 48:
  • All professions have plus/minuses as each is limited. Fire/smoke polarity.
• VERSE 49:
  • Non-performance of actions doesn't work, due to compulsion of our nature/prarabdha. Instead act dharmically. This cleans the mind.
• VERSE 50:  JNANA-YOGA V50-55 (NIDIDHYASANA):
  • Jnana-Yoga has 3 stages. Last is nididhyasana, which consists of open/closed eye meditation or contemplation. It's purpose is to remove the insistent residual notions “I am small/separate”.
• VERSE 51/52:
  • Nididhyasana how-to. First need to have educated intellect; clear buddhi about jiva-jagat-ishvara. Only then contemplate.
• VERSE 53: 
  • Challenges to nididhyasana meditation include thinking of to-do's, self-criticism (I can't, comparison). Interrupt each and refocus on original intention.
• VERSE 54:
  • Jnani indicators; tranquil state-of-mind (shock absorber as nothing really impacts Me). Neither grieves [as long as ajnani]. Nor desires [because nothing tops Existence-Awareness]. 4 Jnani gradings.

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 55:

bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaḥ ca asmi tattvataḥ ।
tataḥ mām tattvataḥ jñātvā viśate tat anantaram ॥ 18-55॥
Through Bhakti one knows ME properly as to how much I am and how I am in reality. Then having known ME in reality, he enters (ME) immediately.  ^{(Swami Da./Pa.)}

• bhaktyā abhijānati mām tatvataḥ: Through bhakti (nididhyasanam; assimilated knowledge), one knows Me truly.
  • B.Gita’s Method By Which One Comes to Know the Truth:
    1. Practice Karma-Yoga (converting actions into devotion). Mind purified.
    2. Pure (Clean/healthy/sensitive) mind gives way to īśvara kṛpa (God’s grace). God’s grace refers to the “luck factor”, which isn’t luck, but living according to Ishvara’s-order.
    3. God’s grace connects the seeker with the guru & teaching.
    4. Through the teaching, devotee comes to know higher/lower nature of Reality (parā-prakṛti / aparā-prakṛti).
• tataḥ jñātvā mām tattvataḥ: Then having known Me (parā-prakṛti) truly, what happens? viśate tat anantaram; the buddhi enters [comes to recognize] Me immediately.
  • What does “enter Me” (merger) mean? It means erroneous-notion “I am away” is destroyed by knowledge which accurately reflects WHAT-IS-TRUE-THIS-MOMENT.
    • Analogy: It’s like wave in Ocean is told, “Even though you’re assuming form of a small wave, in reality, your truth is the same truth of entire Ocean of all waves; being the H20. Meaning you are not away from the only substance in Existence. In fact, you are the One-substance right now, only temporarily assuming this wave-form”.

VERSE 56-62: Karma-Yoga (in reference to devotion/bhakti)

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 56:

sarva-karmāṇi api sadā kurvāṇaḥ mat-vyapāśrayaḥ ।
mat-prasādāt avāpnoti śāśvatam padam avyayam ॥ 18-56॥
The one who is always doing all (proper) actions, whose basis (for all actions and results) is Myself, gains the end, which is eternal and imperishable, because of My grace.  ^{(Swami Dayananda)}

• INTRO:
  • 2 Ways to look at section between 56-62:
    • Way 1: Deepen one's nididhyasana that was discussed in prior section (V50-55).
    • Way 2: If previous section of jnana-yoga is unrelatable or overwhelming (due to impure mind), then Krishna steps down to devotion/bhakti by means of relating to a personal-caring deity (istha-devata).
  • In both cases, Krishna is emphasizing devotion (bhakti) through God's Grace ^{(Ishvara-anugraha. Anugraha/kṛpa both means “grace”])}  and Surrender to God's Grace ^{(śaraṇāgatī)}.
• What is God's grace (Īśvara anugraha/kṛpa)? It is ever-available and that which is in your favor.
  • Panchatantra examples:
    • Even with open mouth, no animal will willingly walk into lions mouth. Lion must go after it. Only then he is graced with a meal. Lord’s grace only acts by help of your actions.
    • Without effort, oil will not come from sesame seeds. One is graced oil only when squeeze them.
  • Example How Grace is Resisted/Avoided:
    • Wise teacher is advising a rebellious-child at school whose not listening. Thus even though grace is ever-available, the child’s present-stage of life isn’t accepting the grace. It’s the one reason why most blame government for national tensions (not letting Grace [effort] guide their life).
  • Therefore grace is accepted into one’s life by keeping one’s actions with the Order’s values (daiva-sampat) which can’t be forced because it takes time to relinquish one’s need to control their environment.
  • SUMMARY: Grace is to receive a blessing, a favor done by God's intelligent laws-orders, but only IF your actions are put out into the field-of-action (adhering to ethics).

• How does one SURRENDER to the Lord? mat-vyapāśrayaḥ; Ever depending on Me. Has 2 meanings:
  1. Take shelter to Me. Learning to draw strength from the Lord that’s been with you since the beginning.
     • How to draw strength?
       • Tell yourself, “My ultimate security/support is not some person, but Bhagavan”.
       • Invoke ishta-devata by prayer, puja, or even through nature (forest, etc).
  2. Trust God’s teaching of Karma-Yoga, which involves:
     • Ishwara arpana ^(entrusting) :  Every contribution is offering to God (my best-friend, mother, father), out of my sincere desire to know Him.
     • Ishwara prasada ^{(Īśvara-prasāda)} : Results of my actions are directly from hands of karma-phala-data. This reduces major disappointments or unhealthy pride.
• What will happen by adopting Karma-Yoga? mat-prasādāt avāpnoti śāśvatam padam avyayam; By His grace, the buddhi becomes open to removing false notions it’s holding onto for dear life.
  • Order: citta śuddhi > guru prāpti ^(obtaining) > jñāna prāpti > mokṣa prāpti.
• NEXT VERSE: Take to Ishvara-centric lifestyle.

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 57:

cetasā sarva-karmāṇi mayi saṃnyasya mat-paraḥ ।
buddhi-yogam upāśritya mat-cittaḥ satatam bhava ॥ 18-57॥
Being one whose (only) end is Myself, mentally renouncing all actions unto Me, resorting to a life of karma-yoga, may you become one whose mind is always in Me.  ^{(Swami Dayananda)}

• Krishna uses “buddhi-yogam” in place of Karma-Yoga, because it engages/exercises the intellect from 2 angles:
  1. KARTA: Every action is seen as offering (communication) to God. Thus quality of actions increases and is offered intelligently/mindfully.
     • Indicated in verse: saṃnyasya cetasā sarvakarmāṇi mayi: Mentally dedicating all actions to Me.
  2. BHOKTA: Every experience is from the Being with all-knowledge. Thus experiences (whatever comes to me) is accepted more objectively (buddhi’s discernment is involved).
     • It serves as emotional shock-absorber because individual accepts the choiceless-ness (prarabdha) of whatever comes to me.
• And what motivates the devotee to adopt Karma-Yoga? mat-paraḥ; the supreme goal, which is attained by, bhava mat-cittaḥ satatam; mind that is obsessed (fixed) on Bhagavan all the time.
• NEXT VERSE: Krishna’s warning…

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 58:

mat-cittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi mat-prasādāt tariṣyasi ।
atha cet tvam ahaṃkārāt na śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi ॥ 18-58॥
Being one whose mind is always in Me, you will cross all difficulties because of My grace. If, because of egotism, you do not listen (to Me), you will perish.  ^{(Swami Dayananda)}

• Arjuna surrendered to Krishna’s advice, when got confused what to do in game-of-life. Krishna said, “Arjuna, fight (act) because that is your nature/aptitude. If you take up nature of a sadhu, you’ll regress”.
• While Krishna’s advice is crystal-clear, only Arjuna’s identification with old views can still sabotage him. For this reason, Krishna gives a firm warning (perhaps by means of duḥkam-nivṛtti; motivation through fear):
  • atha cet tvaṃ na śroṣyasi ahaṅkārāt vinaṅkṣyasi; if don’t listen to Me due to your ahankara (sense of pride in one’s so-called maturity and societal-status); if you refuse to follow my advice imparted to you… perishing (rebirth) is certain! 
    • This is not a threat. It’s a statement of fact like saying, “If you drink poison, you’ll die”.
• mat-cittaḥ tariṣyasi sarva-durgāṇi: With (your) mind (fixed) on Me, you shall cross over all obstacles.
  • Because Karma-Yogi quickly develops equanimity of mind, thus learns from each experience, rather then reacting like a child.
• NEXT VERSE: No point resisting your nature, because…

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 59:

yat ahaṃkāram āśritya na yotsye iti manyase ।
mithyā eṣaḥ vyavasāyaḥ te prakṛtiḥ tvām niyokṣyati ॥ 18-59॥
Resorting to egotism, you think, ‘I will not fight’. Such a resolve of yours will be in vain because your nature will compel you to act.  ^{(Swami P./Andre)}

• Krishna says Arjuna is raja-guna dominant, hence no question of withdrawing to Rishikesh to live a non-raja-guna Need to follow one’s nature at whatever stage one’s at because it’s the only way jiva progresses.
• Verse: eṣaḥ vyavasāyaḥ te mithyā: Such a resolve of yours [to be someone else], will be in vain. Because:
  • When withdraw from world with mature-mind (having settled accounts), mind holds interest in śāstra. It doesn’t deviate even when things get tough.
  • But when mind prematurely withdraws for sake of a “better situation”, it fixates on world.
• NEXT VERSE: svabhāva always pushes you into activity.

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 60:

svabhāvajena kaunteya nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā ।
kartum na icchasi yat mohāt kariṣyasi avaśaḥ api tat ॥ 18-60॥
Oh Arjuna! Bound by your own duty which is born of your nature, you will helplessly do that which you do not want to do because of your delusion.

• Man’s mind seeks logic, especially when we’re told something unfamiliar or what to follow.
  • EG: Child objects, “Why should I study hard, when I can just cheat?”
  • Similary, objection posed in verse is: Why should I do duty aligned-with-my-nature, when it’s so unpleasant (as in Arjuna’s case of kshatriya)?
• Answer: nibaddhaḥ svena svabhāvajena avaśaḥ; Jiva is born and bound by one’s svabhāva.
  • EG: Narendra (who became Swami Vivekananda) needed money to support family. He asked his guru Ramakrishna for advice, who advised him to go to temple and pray that financial situation resolves. Narendra went, and prayed for true knowledge and dispassion. This is because of his sattvic/brahmana-nature.
  • Meaning our natural tendencies need expression; need a creative avenue through which they can be exhausted. Otherwise they convert into unhealthy emotional complexions / emptiness. Just like unreleased excess dam water, could break it.
  • EG of exhaustion:
    • Artist has need to paint, build 3D sculptures.
    • Teacher has need to explain.
    • Researcher has need to keep looking for new solutions.
    • CONCLUSION: In all cases, when lifestyle is compatible with your nature (Svabhava), tiredness/sleepiness goes & work becomes satisfying.
• Mohāt api kariṣyasi tat yad na icchasi; Because of one’s ignorance, jīva will helplessly do what nature compels one to do (IE: will revert to your default style).
  • What about jnani's mind? Same answer. Svabhava won’t go away after moksha. Svabhava also decides what jnani’s BMI does or where lives.
• NEXT VERES: No point resisting your nature because it’s governed by maya…

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 61:

īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām hṛt-deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati ।
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni yantra-ārūḍhāni māyayā ॥ 18-61॥
The Lord remains at the seat of the intellect of all beings, Arjuna! causing all beings to move, revolve, by (the magic of his) māyā, (like) those (figures) which are mounted on a machine (are made to revolve).  ^{(Swami Dayananda)}

• Ultimately, one doesn’t need idols nor temples to connect with divinity. But recognize īśvaraḥ tiṣṭhati hṛdeśe sarva-bhūtānām; the Lord to whom you are offering, resides in your very intellect as Aware-ing principle of mental-states and body-sensations. The Aware-ing principle is Ishvara’s higher nature (parā-prakṛti).
  • The very Aware-ing principle (God) reflects on the buddhi of all beings. The obstacle preventing recognition of Him is buddhi’s occupation with worldly objects, and lack of scriptural knowledge. Thus all one’s focus is on thought-modifications, but never on the changeless Awareness.
    • Analogy: Imagine picking up a dirty stone in a pond, thinking it had a shine. Putting it under the sunlight, it has no significant shine. You toss it away with other rocks. But all you had to do is clean the stone, and it’s shine would be revealed. Until then, the jiva keeps tossing away Satyam (the light that illumines all your thoughts) into pile of Mithya rock-objects.
• Bhrāmayan (causing to move); This parā-prakṛti is activating or causing-to-function the 3 bodies, or 5-sense organs. Meaning, physical seeing only takes place because I (parā-prakṛti / sat-cit / Aware-ring principle) am behind the organ of seeing.
• And how does the Lord activate the 3 bodies? yantra-ārūḍhāni māyayā; like a machine by power of His māyā śakti. EG:
  • Modern: Electricity compared to parā-prakṛti. The appliance compared to māyā/aparā-prakṛti. Each appliance will function according to it’s nature, despite powered by the same electricity.
  • Vedic: Pots mounted on a wheel spinning because water is pouring into them. Similarly, jīva’s life ceaselessly revolves, causing actions/results/punya-papa, rebirth.
    • If jiva doesn’t guide life by scriptures, then has to be guided by governments/police. Eitherway, jiva’s life revolves.
  • Objection: If Īśvara is the activator of the machine (that moves the universe of begins), that means He is also responsible for sinful actions? Answer:
    • Īśvara only lends (a) Awareness and (b) Materials [necessary to express desires]. Type of actions is determined by jiva’s nature (how makes use of given materials). EG: Petrol/engine powers the car. How car is operated is up to jīva.
    • In other words, Īśvara is called: samanya-karanam (General cause/origin of thoughts). While Jīva’s free-will is called vishesha-karanam (specific cause for TYPE of thoughts).
• NEXT VERSE: Knowing the BMI can’t stop revolving, let it revolve according to the speed/rhythm of God’s will (what can I give), and not speed/rhythm of personal biases (what I take)…

Keywords:  svabhava, sāmānya-kāraṇam, viśeṣa-kāranam, saranagati, sharanagati

Resources:  L187 Mind-Map

—
Credit for help in Bhagavad Gita teaching given to Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya), Paramarthananda & Chinmaya Mission.

Recorded 11 Oct, 2022