Chapter XXII - 126 | Home | Index | Previous | Next |
Arjuna was listening to all this with great attention. Then he asked, "Krishna! Are these three enough? Or are there any more to be followed and practised? Please tell me." Krishna replied, "The mere planting of the saplings is not enough; the field has to be watered and manured. The removal of hate and the planting of love have achieved only the first stage. As soon as the sprouts have appeared, the two processes of Nirmamakara (absence of possessiveness) and Nirahamkara (absence of ego) have to be followed. They are like watering and manuring. These two are essential for the successful crop of Ananda. "That is to say, you will have to rid yourself of the feelings of 'mine' and 'I'. They are not distinct; the first springs from the second and both arise from Ajnana, the ignorance of the fundamental truth. For, once rid of Ajnana, the sense of 'I' and 'mine' will not give trouble; they have no place in him. Hence, it is laid down that the aspirant for Bhakthi must possess Sathatham Samthushti, contentment always. What does this mean? It implies contentment under all conditions, good health or illness, loss or profit, grief or joy. Whether one's wish is fulfilled or not, the mind should not lose equanimity and poise." "The mind loses balance if the slightest obstacle arises in the path it frames for itself. It is so fickle. Why, if the cup of coffee is not forthcoming in time, if you miss seeing two films in one week, if you could not squat before the radio both in the morning and in the evening for long hours; if many such trifles are denied or disturbed, you feel overshadowed by discontent. Samthushti is the state of mind which is unaffected by the achievement or non-achievement of any wish, the happening or non-happening of any event; the mind must be undisturbed, without excitement or disappointment." Arjuna then asked, "O Lord, you often mention Prakrithi and Purusha. I am eager to know what exactly is Prakrithi, what are its characteristics, what exactly is its nature?" Krishna replied to this question in a simple easily-understandable manner. "Arjuna! Prakrithi has another name too. It is called Kshetra also. Prakrithi means this Prapancha, this composite of the five elements. There are two entities in this Prapancha or Prakrithi or nature: one is inert and the other active (the Jada and the Chaithanya); that is to say, one is the seen, the other is the see-er; the knower is the Aham, the known is the Idam, the 'I' and the 'this'." "Prakrithi or nature is the sum of attributes or characteristics. The Gunas, Thamas (delusion), Rajas (grief) and Sathwa (joy) are the attributes of Prakrithi. Nature is but the permutation and combination of these Gunas. So also are the attributes of doer and enjoyer, Karthrthwa and Bhokthrthwa." |