Ch17-Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga-Yoga

Chapter 17 – Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

 

Verse 1-6

 

According to your Swabhav (perspective – Sattavik, Rajas, and Tamas) you perform your actions. Accordingly, you will fall into the path of prakriti. As your atma identifies with Chitta, you acquire the Swabhav. The reverse process of identification with body starts with the combination of Bhakti, Karma, Jnana (Gyan) Yoga and Pranayama. Through this process you start moving towards spiritualism. Pranayama (tantra vidya) allows you to clean your body. Once body becomes pure, you start experiencing/acquiring siddhi.

 

Example: Bulb light is projected through the color of glass, even though the element is white. Similarly, if your atma is identified with body you say I am an engineer, I am so and so.

 

Shabri’s Sraddha – to the level of madness where she is utterly focused on Bhagawan Rama.

 

This is Bhakti Pradhan. Jnana (Gyan) is not relevant here.

 

Shat – Dha: Sat ko dharan karna. In this sansar – you have Gyanam or Vigyanam (ordinary knowledge and extraordinary knowledge). Then you go towards Pragyanam.

 

When you acquire Shraddha – then you start progressing fast from Tamas to Rajas and from Rajas to Sattavik. As we continue to focus on Sattawa – we continue towards the path of Ultimate Truth. This is related to Jnana (Gyan) Pradhan.

 

Shraddha – I am there. I am in Dwait. Till I am here we have three Gunnas. Jnana (Gyan) also needs Shraddha (the property of a person). Bhakti – gets rid of difference between Atma and Parmatma.

 

Verse 7-10 - The type of foods that are promoting Sattavik, Rajasik and Tamas gunna. But there are mansik food too. In Dwait, physical and spiritual world are inter-related. They affect each other.

 

Verse 11-13 - Yagya (knowing I’svara) – there is no translation that can depict the bhava of yagya. Any positive actions without selfish reason with complete Shraddha for the benefit of others. In performing yagya, one should have bhava of gratefulness. This Bhava is great and powerful. Dakshina is important in yagya. Perform your karma with the bhava of yagya (without attachment to results) – reaching Swa (Atma). THE KARMA PERFORMED FOR THE SAKE OF PARMATMA is known as the karma performed with scriptures. Such actions do not bind you with your body. The karma performed for Vishnu is yagya with full of Shraddha, positive and for the benefits of others.

 

Verse 11-13 - Any person performs his/her actions according to the Swabhav. How a person progresses from the current state? This will depend on an external factor. Shradha is one of the major tools to apply that external factor. There are measures to evaluate the properties of his/her actions. The measurement of Sattavik, Rajas and Tamas are delineated in these verses.

 

In first stage – we know that sun rises from the east. Then we learn that Sun appears due to the rotation of earth. Then we reach at the stage where there is no east or west.

 

Verse 14-16 - The Bhava changes according to the stage of Spirituality – Unconditional love is one stage before oneness. You are still in duality. Sanatan dharma is based on Self inquiry.

 

Swarup – confined with you (True-Self).

 

Swabhav – emotions are attached to you. Your goal is to move towards Swarup. Arjun has Swabhav and is a combination of three gunnas. We are in field of actions – Kurukshetra like Arjun. My body, mind and Pragya are behaving according to our Swabhav, which is based on three gunnas. Then, from tamas you perform actions with rajas guna. Then you move towards Sattavik.

 

Verse 16 – The unperturbed mind, gentle and calm mind with purity of purpose (with integrity) will not get distracted due to self-control. When such a person performs actions, it is called austerity of mind – now your mind is functioning the way it is supposed to be. How your mind behaves depends upon the training of the mind?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 – Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

 

Verse 17-20

 

The actions performed without desiring results is called Sattavik. The actions performed with the bhava/attitude of desiring results is called Rajas. The person who performs actions under the influence of delusion and causes harm to other is called Tamas.

 

Brihaspati Guru takes you towards spiritualism. Shukra Guru keeps you in the prakriti – top of gunnas (rajas and tamas). Solar plexis defines identity of a person. Ravana had to be destroyed by killing his Nabhi chakra (anger, identity and aham).

 

This Kuru-Kshetra – is related to kriya – Sattavik, Rajas, Tamas actions. These can be understood through mind. The relationship between Atma and Parmatma is understood through Atma. The entire universe is full of Karama kand. The Pragyanam is related to the knowledge of Brahman.  One should donate with Shradha - Dhiya dayam, Bhiya dayam, Samvidha dayam so that you get feeling of attachment and detachment. 

 

We move into Dharam Kshetra from Dharan to Samadhi when we start recognizing our True Self. Then, the influence of fourth dimension diminishes. X,Y,Z dimension has already reached to zero level.

 

Verse 23-28

 

OM represents the Srishti and beyond Srishti. The manifestation of consciousness is awareness. Like we can be aware of things around us or experience through your Indriya. Slowly, your awareness start expanding beyond the field of sensory organ. Slowly, you become aware of activities of earth. Then you become aware of entire Brahmand including your ahankara. Here your experience becomes aware of your consciousness. OM is all that is visible to you and everything beyond your visibility. When you focus on silence between two OM, that is meditation.

 

OM is the only word which is Achar. OM is Brahman. OM is Param. OM is the one when you get full knowledge, you get to know everything. Once I become one with Brahman, then all these sansarik desire go away. It is the Sound and underlying Silence. OM chanting takes you from lower chakra to higher level chakras.

 

Verse 11-13

 

Any person performs his/her actions according to the Swabhav. How a person progresses from the current state? This will depend on an external factor. Shradha is one of the major tools to apply that external factor. There are measures to evaluate the properties of his/her actions. The measurement of Sattavik, Rajas and Tamas are delineated in these verses.

 

In first stage – we know that sun rises from the east. Then we learn that Sun appears due to the rotation of earth. Then we reach at the stage where there is no east or west.

 

Verse 14-16

 

The Bhava changes according to the stage of Spirituality – Unconditional love is one stage before oneness. You are still in duality. Sanatan dharma is based on Self inquiry. All other faith survival depends on promoting the religion.

 

Swarup – confined with you (True-Self).

 

Swabhav – emotions are attached to you. Your goal is to move towards Swarup. Arjun has Swabhav and is a combination of three gunnas. We are in field of actions – Kurukshetra like Arjun.

 

My body, mind and Pragya are behaving according to our Swabhav, which is based on three gunnas. Then, from tamas you perform actions with rajas guna. Then you move towards Sattavik.

 

Verse 16 – The unperturbed mind, gentle and calm mind with purity of purpose (with integrity) will not get distracted due to self-control. When such a person performs actions, it is called austerity of mind – now your mind is functioning the way it is supposed to be. How your mind behaves depends upon the training of the mind?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 – Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

 

Verse 23-28

 

OM Tat Sat – your mind needs to focus on “True Self” (Bhagawan) and away from sansarik activities.

 

OM is Brahman and is also the manifestation of Brahman – prakriti.

 

OM represents A – Creator - Brahma, U – Sustainer - Vishnu, M – Destroyer - Shiva

 

OM – Heart chakra and above chakras are related to Spirituality. Lower chakra become balanced and stable in sansarik environment.

 

OM chanting enables stability in the lower chakras and brings strength in above chakras stronger.

 

 

• Prana Shakti is directed towards I’svarah. Shradha is enacted to invoke the power to reach Brahman – Atma can be merged with Parmatma.

 

• The importance of Shradha is non-trivial. The power of Shradha can create events in your life.

 

• Desire is like a tool that takes you from Rajas to Sattavik and from there it can reach Brahman.

 

 

**Unity in Diversity – Sankhya Yoga – I see Bhagawan in everyone.

 

***Diversity in Unity – Shradha – meditate when you start seeing everything exists in Bhagawan – this invokes small powers in you.

 

Observe your mind without any efforts. Just observe the activities of mind  – this will take you towards silence. Then you meditate on silence.