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Gita  Chapter -2

Sankhya Yoga (Analysis by dissecting)

        Sankhya means numbers or components or to analyze. When we encounter a problem we should dissect and know the components to resolve the problem. This Sankhya approach is used by Krishna to help Arjuna to understand his problem and so this chapter is known as Sankhya Yoga.

      In the first chapter Krishna listened to Arjuna's and only in chapter two Krishna talks and gives the essence of  Gita and the reality of life.  He tells Arjuna to accept the reality and the reality is that he is a king who duty is to fight war not out of greed of conquering but the duty  of fighting injustice.

Essence of Chpater-2

        Krishna told Arjuna that he is ignorant of the "Truth" about the real nature of all beings. Anything that is "Satyam" or Truth is not depended on any other thing for its existence.

        For example we do not attribute a shadow to be real, because the shadow does not have independent existence. It depends on an object and light for it to exists. In that case the light source or object is real and not the shadow.

       Similarly, Krishna says the physical body  is not real, because it does not have independent existence. Without the mind we do not feel the body. (Please think about this and enquire yourself and understand how far this fact is true). In sleep the Mind is not there and so we are not aware of the body.

      The next question, is this mind independent or does it depend on something else for its existence? We find that the mind depends on "Awareness" or "conditioned Consciousness". In deep sleep, we are not aware of our body, mind and our intelligence. This does not mean we are dead. There is something alive and that aliveness principle is known as Awareness. This awareness is also present in the day time when we are awake. But we are not aware of the awareness because the body and mind awareness dominate it. We can know this Awareness while we are awake only through Meditation.

Meditation is a means to be aware of the Awareness while functions all the time when we are awake or sleeping. But there is another subtler aspect called Consciousness which is present even when we are living in a body or not. This is Consciousness.  (Please click to read the  details of  Awareness and Consciousness in detail). 

    Krishna says everything in this Universe,  from the smallest particle to the gigantic star does not exist independently or in other words depends on something gross or subtle for its existence.  Since they cannot exist independently they cannot be called Real or Truth (click Creation link for details).

     Krishna says but there is only one "Reality"  or "Truth" on which all the forms in the universe depend for its existence. This reality is known as the "Un-Conditioned Consciousness" or Brahman in Sanskrit. This Un-Conditioned Consciousness is independent and does not depend on anything else for its existence.

       This imperishable, un-manifested, unthinkable and unchangeable aspect, the "Un-Conditioned-Consciousness" ("Brahman")  is never subjected to birth and death.  It is unborn, eternal, changeless and inexhaustible. It is not killed when the body is killed. Krishna says that this Aspect or Brahman slays not, nor is it slain. Weapons cut It not, fire burns It not, water wets It not, wind dries It not. 

Arjuna asked "What is this "Aspect of Un-Conditional Consciousness" or "Brahman" you are talking about Krishna,  which I cannot perceive?. How can I know whatever you are talking is true? How do I know about this imperishable, un-manifested, unthinkable and unchangeable "Brahman" or Un-Conditional Consciousness?

      Krishna answered to Arjuna that to know that your true Self is not this dying body but that imperishable, un-manifested, unthinkable and unchangeable "Brahman",   then you have to transcend the Ego which thinks itself as a perishable, thinking, changing object which is subjected to birth and death in this world.

     Arjuna curiously asked  what is the Ego that you are talking about and  how is it possible to transcend the Ego to know the imperishable, un-manifested, unthinkable and unchangeable "Brahman".

Arjuna's question is also each one of our questions too. Knowing the Ego and the eternal Brahman or Un-conditional-Consciousness will only free us from suffering in our life.

Just knowing Ego and transcending it, will establish us in Eternal Brahman? 

When the individual transcends from the objective experience of Body, Mind, and Intelligence, it unites (Yoga) with Consciousness. In Self Awareness state, one is aware of the limitations (ups and downs) of Energy levels in "Time" (Kaala Chakra, the period of multiple life and death cyclic processes).

Without Self-Awareness, that is not aware of Energy levels dictate luck energy (prosperity), one develops Kama, kridha Moha, Lobha, Matha, Matsarya. These become seeds in the Jeevatma itself (Self-Awareness) and leads to again life after birth. 

Doing actions in Self-Awareness state however, leads to Yoga or union with divine (undivided) Consciousness.  In this state of being which is absolute, full (no individuality), and unattached to anything to the relative field, is also free from the influence of actions. Thus by acting in this state, the mind becomes strong and actions and will be successful and brings eternal freedom to the doer.

With this technique of performing an action (Self Awareness), the action process is effortless, leaving the doer to enjoy immediately the fruits of action (good results) without being bound by its influence. This is because that fruits of action do not leave an impression in the mind deep enough to form the seed of future action.  In short, the doer established in self is unattached to the field of activity.

The doer loses individuality in the process of transcending (Ego) to the State of Being and elevates the doer above the influence of right and wrong or loss and gain, because in Brahman state (Consciosuness) there is only absoluteness and no relativeness.

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Working on Addictions / Habits

Exercise for second chapter of  Gita 

 This is will be one of the most challenging exercise for you to do. But it is Fun.

Second day of war
On the second day, once again the battle drums conches and trumpets were sounded. Second day war was more ferocious and cruel. Dur-yodhan had appointed Bhishma, the great grandfather of both the Pandavas and Kavravas. Bhisma caused heavy damage to the Pandava army.  Seeing this Arjuna asked Krishna to take him to Bhishma. Arjuna faced Bhishma and a very terrible fight ensued. All other soldiers stopped fighting to watch the spectacle. Arjuna was able to check Bhishma to some extent but he was still hesitating to kill his loving great grandfather in-spite of Krishna teaching Gita.

Exercise-2 for  second chapter.

This is going to be a great exercise. We understood from Krishna's teaching that only by transcending Ego we will know that we are not this body with petty desires, longings, mine-ness, attachment and fear. all this occurs because we think we are this Ego, mind, body, intellectual complex. Now as Arjuna asked Krishna our question is how to transcend this Ego. The beautiful answer lies from the events of the second day war. Dur-yodhan (Ego)  knew that Arjuna would be emotional in killing his beloved great grand-father Bhisma. Therefore Dur-Yodhan employed Bhisma to lead his army and so every time when  Arjuna encountered his grand-dad becomes emotional and loses interest to fight.

      Now it  is very important to understand that Bhisma  has a boon that he will not be killed and will die only when he wishes for death.   Isn't it interesting to note that our "habit's or addiction" is like this great-grand-father Bhisma?. No matter what others tell or advice, unless we ourself sincerely wish can we see the death of our habits and addictions? We all have like this one or more Bhisma's in us. Like Arjuna we become  emotional and hesitate to fight our habits and addictions when it comes to the point of fighting or confronting with our habits and addictions.

     Like Dur-yodhan our Ego employs habits and addictions to dance to its tunes. Like Bhisma in Mahabharat  we would be grumbling about our habits and addictions but cannot abandon it simply because of the controlling power of our Ego. To weaken the power of Ego, we must first overcome the chief commander of the army - Bhisma. Dur-yodhan (Ego) is the main enemy but it cannot be destroyed in one shot because it employs all others in the battle field like Duryodhan in Mahabharat war. He is killed only on the 18th day and till then Arjuna has to fight with his beloved relatives. Similar is our plight of fighting our Ego and in the process we have to kill many of our beloved habits and addictions.

    This is the sole reason of many spiritual practices advocating denial or giving up of of our habits. To mention a few are giving up smoking, alcohol, sweets, long hours of sleep,  taking up practices of fasting, silence etc are all oriented to fight the Ego indirectly. We cannot confront immediately our Ego but can only march forward step by step.

     So our exercise for the second chapter is this step of giving up of our habits or addictions. Find out one of your long lasting habit or addiction and work on it. The criteria for choosing one habit should be meet the following conditions.

1. Should be of long period and deep rooted.

2. Should be something that you want to give up and find it difficult  to give up.

3.You would feel miserable, emotional in giving it up.

             Arjuna was fondled by his great grand father when he was young. Among all the 105 grand children Arjuna was Bhisma's darling. Bhisma always gave Arjuna extra share of sweets and would tell bedtime stories. So Arjuna could not kill this loving Grandfather in the war. But krishna warns Arjuna that unless Bhisma is killed Dur-Yodhan cannot bedefeated.

      It is certain that you all would grumble about giving up your great grandfather Bhisma ( Habits and addictions) , but understand  without that you cannot win your Mahabharata war going inside you. Understand clearly that giving up the habit and making you miserable is not the point here, but using this we will be able to confront our Ego and finally transcend it and know our real nature of peace.

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Precautions while Working on Addictions / Habits

Exercise for second chapter of  Gita 

In the previous page we discussed about working on addictions and habits. here will discuss some pre-cautions to be taken care of  to ensure success of the task.

Cautionary note: Be aware of the tricks of the Ego. When you start working on your habit you will find it is easy for a few days. This is the trick of the Ego. It wants to give an impression that you overcame the addiction. So do it at least for 41 days. We have seen in healing page of Sakthi-foundation that most of  the treatments in folk medicine and Ayurveda are  given for 41 days. This is to represent a new birth in us, because we are for 41 weeks (including egg release)  in our mother's womb.

         After a few days of quit practice you would see that the habit storms back and temptations like a hurricane will try to swallow us. Do not yield to the temptation and witness all the justifications the Ego preaches to you not to give up the habits. It will try to say that you do not need to do such practices to master yourself. You are a strong personality and for you these petty practices are not needed.

Reminder

Again a reminder, the importance of this exercise is to  keep witnessing your thought processes and Ego's fear and restlessness while doing the practice. The witnessing is very important because witnessing weakens the power of Ego. You will understand about this in later chapters.

What to do when temptations arises?

       Temptations become inevitable in the beginning. Witness the temptations and then you might see that the more you witness the lesser the power of temptation. It is like watching someone who is planning to steal something in a grocery store. The more you watch or stare that person the more uncomfortable he or she feels to do the act.

Witnessing -the power of Bheema

     It is very interesting to note that Bheema the second Pandava kills all 99 brothers of the enemy including Dur-yodhan (symbol of Ego). Bheema represents presence or the witnessing attitude which is very powerful means to transcend Ego.

     Another approach is to do breathing exercises like Pranayama and also Yoga. This also helps to a significant extent. Breathing exercises and Yoga should not be done mechanically but with full awareness. The mind tries to run away from the present moment and wanders. Doing breathing exercises and Yoga focusing on all the twists and turns you can being the mind to the present. In-fact this is most important for doing all physical and mental exercises. Yoga or any other exercise is a waste is not done with this witnessing attitude. Healing occurs when we do Yoga will witnessing attitude because that connects the mind and body.

To be in the present is the "Present" (gift) of life.

Mind-body co-ordination comes only through the witnessing attitude. Unfortunately our minds are so occupied with the memories of the past and anxiety of the future, we seldom are in the |"present". To be in the present is the "Present" (gift) of life. This Gita exercises are oriented to bring out all these jewels you can adorn and make your life precious.

Walking

     Walking out doors is also another way. Walking should not be accompanied by music appliances on the ears or talking. Silent walking observing things around you and simultaneously  paying attention that you are observing things is a great way to overcome the temptations of Ego.

Chanting

      Another way based on our personal experience is to do chanting. Chanting helps in weakening the Ego. Chanting is to repeat a small word. It could be any name of a person, plant, animal, bird or any object. It could be chanting of Krishna's name or names of other spiritual traditions like Buddha, Jesus, Allah etc. The chanting can be done aloud or silently. The point is not to fall into the trap of temptation. In the initial  stages try to avoid situations that prompts temptations to handle it better.

 Share your experience

 Please share you fun experiences of your Ego trying to curb your Gita-exercises. Write to info (att)  uni5 (dot) co and also let us know whether we can share that in this site with your identity concealed.

 Before you proceed to next chapter.

There are more to come in the next chapters. Please continue to the third chapter only after practicing the second exercise at least for a week. With practice this would be another version of Gita you would read without any practical use.

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Gita  Chapter -3

(Karma Yoga)

Essence of Chapter-3

          Arjuna felt Krishna was giving him contradicting statements in this chapter.  Arjuna asked Krishna  whether he should fight or not fight the war, he was more confused with  Krishna's answer of seeking the knowledge of Unconditional Consciousness or Brahman. 

        Arjuna's question is a very valid question indeed. “If  you think that knowledge  of knowing our true nature,  that is Unconditional Consciousness or Brahman is superior to action, why then O Krishna, do you engage me in this terrible action (war)?

         We would also ask the same question like Arjuna. If the purpose of life is know the Self, then why live a family social life, why not retire to the Himalayas?

         Krishna replies, “Man cannot remain even for a moment without performing some kind of action. Everyone is helplessly driven to action by the qualities born of nature. One may be able to physically stop doing actions for few minutes or hours, but the thinking action goes on incessantly.

Action in inaction and inaction in action.

       Whereas the Self realized person witness (in-action)  the thinking event (action) and so Krishna says  in-action in action. In-action is witnessing the action. While watching movies we become so identified with the shadow characters on the screen that we forget our true nature that we are witnessing a movie. Like the movie and the viewer and different the thinking-thinker and the witnessor are different.

      “The egoistic man thinks ‘I am the doer’. In reality Prakriti (Nature) does everything. This means that it is the Ego that thinks that it is the doer and enjoyer of the pleasures. However the irony is that the Ego does not accept the fact that it is also bound to suffer pain.

     Arjuna's immediate question was how to free oneself from mode of action and instead be the witnessor of actions? How to do an action without attachment or not expecting the fruits of an action?

      Krishna  replied that by performing action (duty) without attachment will alone help us know that we are really the witnessor.  This identity correction to be the witnessor is "Freedom" or Moksha. 

     This immediately gives rise to two questions: 1. Freedom from what? and 2. What is detachment?