necessity of guidance...

Verse 2.19: Neither he who thinks the living entity the slayer nor he who thinks it slain is in knowledge, for the self slays not nor is slain.

An interesting paradigm is set forth here which one can easily be confused by. It almost appears that Krsna is saying that nobody can actually kill or harm anybody (please note- this also pertains to animals!!!) since the soul cannot be slain. This could be easily taken out of context so let's clear that up that possible confusion right here, right now.

Srila Prabhupada, one of the foremost bhakti yogis of our time, paints a beautiful analogy to help us understand this concept. If a man is living in an apartment and you somehow drive him away from that apartment illegally, what will happen? The man will have to go out and seek some other shelter. The fact remains, however, that you driving him away illegally from his rightful place of shelter. This is a criminal act punishable by law. One cannot try to justify that by saying, "Although I have driven him away, he'll find some other place." That maybe true, but since it was his legal position to live in that apartment and since you forcibly drove him away you will be tried as a criminal and punished.

Similarly the same truth applies here. This is the greatness of realized and pure bhakti yogi practitioners. They can make seemingly confusing and intricate concepts so easy to understand.

The law, in this case, is a universal one propounded by numerous traditions, philosophies and religions: Thou shalt not kill. So, if one tries to drive another living entity out of his/her dwelling (i.e. their material body), what will happen? That soul be subject to another birth in another body according to their past karma. Though that soul will find another body to inhabit, it still holds true that you drove that soul of it's body illegally (i.e. the law states that thou shalt not kill). That means that you will be subjected to the laws of karma and will be held accountable and be punished for this crime.

This simple verse illustrates the complexities and nuances of bhakti. It is so easy to take things out of context if one does not have a proper guide to teach them. Still not convinced? Let's try to put this in a way that's extremely relatable. If you are really close to somebody and they say something, isn't it only natural that you will understand the subtexts that may underline their tone, choice of words and mood? That you will be able to glean what they really mean although others may not get it? Similarly, only those who are close to Krsna and who truly understand him, like Srila Prabhupada, can truly explain to us what Krsna is saying.

Remember, the Gita is a conversation so we can't just think to come into a conversation between two extremely close friends and hope to understand it on our own. We need a guide who is also dear to Krsna to explain it to us. Bhakti is all about personalism, so it's important to understand how to practically apply that even in the study of such great bhakti texts, like the Gita.

strength within

Verse 2.18: The material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is sure to come to an end; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.

The past few and upcoming verses specifically deal with the characteristics of the soul. Here we are told that it is indestructible, immeasurable and eternal. You know, it's interesting how we as a society are so preoccupied with the external. In our day to day lives, we are bombarded by descriptions and advertisements of the material body - beautiful people with the right body, hairstyle, clothes, makeup, accessories etc., and are told to run after it. Our knowledge of how to make our physical "look good" is far advanced, but what about the soul?

Whoever asks about descriptions of the soul? Very few people. In fact, most would be hard pressed to even name a scripture or text that gives specifics of the nature, size and qualities of the soul. This is why we are so lucky to have the bhakti texts. As inquisitive beings, it is not satisfying to hear vague answers, especially about important topics.

We know so much about the body, which we have mistakenly identified with for millions of lifetimes, so isn't it just as natural that we should become equally if not better versed about who we really are? Just as each of us know our eye colour, hair colour, size of clothing and physical capabilities of the machine we are currently operating (the body), similarly we should just as easily be able to list all the qualities that define the soul which is operating that machine.

This verse is educating us on the qualities we really should associate ourselves with. The soul can never die by any means. That is the actual meaning of indestructible. It's so strong. Something to take comfort in when we are feeling weak. The soul cannot be measured. The Gita gives descriptions of how small the soul is, but it cannot be measured by any material means, hence it is immeasurable. And finally, the soul is eternal. That means we do not need to fear death because we will never die. The machine, the external coverings we are currently inhabiting may wither away and cease to function, but we, the soul, will never die.

These three characteristics can give the bhakti yogi so much hope and strength. Self-help books often say that "We should look to see the positive qualities within ourselves". Well, I doubt anyone can find more comforting and empowering qualities than these ones. So remember this, as you continue your journey as a spiritual warrior. All the strength you are searching for is truly within.

consciousness

Verse 2.17: That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.

Consciousness. Today I had a realization about a very deep phrase one of the greatest bhakti yogi's, Srila Prabhupada, said regarding the practice of bhakti yoga. He said, "First be conscious. Then be Krsna conscious." Until today, I think I only understood that verse on a superficial level.

I used to think that this meant we needed to be aware of everything that was going on around us. Let me frame that for you. In the times we live in, multi-tasking is the "must-have" quality for anyone to succeed. The sad thing is that we forget about what we lose in the exchange. Sure, it's great to be able to do a lot of things simultaneously, but ultimately that means that we are not actually focused on anything at all. Our attention and energy is divided which means...our consciousness is also divided. We are not aware of any one thing that is going on because we get so easily directed by all the other things that are on our to-do list.

So that was my understanding of the phrase, "First be conscious. Then be Krsna conscious." By becoming more aware (and present) of what was going on in front of me now, this would mean that I would have a greater chance of seeing Krsna in those very things. I see now that although that is true...it's only the tip of the iceberg.

In this verse, we hear about that which pervades the entire body - the soul. And what is the symptom of the soul? Consciousness. By this effect, "First be conscious" now takes on a whole new deeper meaning. It means: realize that you are the soul. When you realize you are the soul then naturally you can be Krsna conscious.

Of course, one can say "Easier said than done" and that's absolutely true...and that's where practice of becoming aware and being present in everything that we do or say comes in handy. It makes us aware of the superficiality that we assign such importance to. It is the practical application that we can engage in so that we can ultimately realize the truth: we are not the body, we are the soul. What happens when we realize that we are the soul? All the petty things that used to bother us won't anymore and we can focus on what's most important: becoming conscious of God (Krsna).

the easy way

Verse 2.16: Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.

Would you consider yourself to do/learn things the hard way or the easy way? Think about it...carefully. On greater inspection, personally, I've realized that my tendency is to do things the hard way. In fact, most of the material world seems to like to do things the hard way.

The clear indication of that is our tendency to just not "get it". For example, we all have experiences of trying to achieve something by doing the same thing over and over again thinking that "this time it will be different." This pretty much sums up our experience in the material world. Constantly hitting our heads against the wall without getting what we want.

That's doing things the hard way. In fact, Einstein said it best, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results."

So here, Krsna is telling us, "I"m giving you the answer. Not only I, but the great souls, have concluded that the material body is temporary and the soul is eternal." All we need to do is take this to heart. But oh no, our ego is thinking we know best and that we need to figure it out. What actually gets accomplished in the end with this thinking? Nothing. More frustration and anxiety.

This highlights the importance of taking bona fide guidance, not just in our spiritual lives, but in everyday life as well. Can you imagine trying to learn all the parts of a car, how they function and how they interact with one another on your own? It's not to say that one couldn't do it, it's just that it's the hard way! Instead if we learn from an expert mechanic and study under their guidance, everything is sped up.

So that's what the Bhagavad-gita and bhakti yoga is all about. It's the easy way to help us reconnect with God. So it's up to you, what are you going to chose in your material and/or spiritual life? The easy way or the hard way?

eligible

Verse 2.15: O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

This verse talks about a topic that is pervasive in our society. The concept of eligibility. If you look at the way our world works, everything is about having the right qualifications to be considered eligible. Whether it be for a job, school, right to speak, finding a partner...that's what it really boils down to.

The funny thing is that although we encounter it daily in our lives, we don't talk about it often enough when it comes to spiritual life. It only makes logical sense that even in spiritual life there are eligibilities that one may aspire for, just like one may study certain subjects in high school so that they are eligible to further master them in University.

Of course, the Lord is so merciful that he allows anyone to approach him at any time, no one is refuting that. However, there are numerous things that can help us become eligible for even more of the Lord's mercy and empowerment. It's like this: just by being a son or daughter, we are automatically loved by our parents. But if the child reciprocates and does things for his/her parents, it makes the parents' hearts melt even more and often times even more facilities, opportunities and affection are given to the child.

Two of the most important qualifications to begin and develop in spiritual life are faith and sincerity. Faith allows one to continue on, even when times get rough, and sincerity results one in being honest with themselves and the level they are at in their spiritual advancement. These fundamentals allow for a strong foundation to grow in bhakti.

In this vein, it is important to note that there are different qualifications that make one eligible for further advancement in bhakti and that is what we are hearing about in today's verse. We hear about a person who is equipoised. One who is not disturbed by happiness or distress. Krsna, in fact, not only states this quality but then qualifies it by saying that "They are the best among men" and that "Such a person is certainly eligible for liberation."

I think this is an important point to remind ourselves of. Whether one is just beginning or has been practicing bhakti yoga for many years, just floating or maintaing the status quo is a trap we can easily fall into. It's so easy to just be comfortable. That's why it is important to read such verses where God is telling us exactly what we need in order to achieve something greater (i.e. all steps to re-establishing our relationship with him). In fact, I think we should read such verses and hear about these qualifications everyday. It's so inspiring and positive. What's more, it will give us the impetus to invest more in our relationship with God.

one of my favorite verses!

Verse 2.14: O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

I'm so happy! Today I get to write about one of my top three ABSOLUTE favorite verses of the Gita. Verse 2.14. Why do I love this verse....oh probably for a million different reasons. I'll share the top five that came to mind today.

1. It's so beautiful. From a purely literary standpoint, this verse screams poetic. The imagery is just so vivid. Can you not just picture the melting of the snow, the warmth of the sun, the coldness of a windy, screaming blizzard and the scorching heat on a mid-summer's afternoon? These images mimic so beautifully our own experiences of feeling happiness and distress.

2. I love similes. For those of you who might have forgotten the rules of English (hehehe!) a simile is used when comparing two things using "like" or "as". In this case Krsna is comparing our experiences/feelings to seasons.

3. The reminder that happiness and distress are non-permanent is so expertly conveyed here. Everyone can relate to the winter and summer seasons having a definite beginning and an end, right? (Though that being said, sometimes Canadian winters do seem to drag on forever!) We often hear people say, "I can't wait for Spring," or conversely "I can't wait until Winter is over!" The thing is when it comes to experiencing feelings of happiness or sadness, we forget that the same temporariness applies during our actual experience of them. When someone is up they are really up and often feel like nothing can bring them down, but conversely the opposite is so true as well. Krsna is so sweetly and kindly reminding us of that fact and saying, "Hey! Don't get too caught up in those waves of highs and lows."

4. An extremely important truth is brought here. The idea that happiness and distress arise due to sense perception. What does that mean? One way of looking at is that one person's pleasure is another person's pain. Hence, there is no such thing (in the material world) of absolute happiness or absolute distress. As well, this reminds us that this happiness and distress we are experiencing is the interaction of the senses with the sense objects. It's not the soul that is actually taking pleasure or displeasure in these experiences, it is the body and mind that are decoding it as "good" or "bad".

5. So Krsna begins with a beautiful comparison that illustrates the temporariness of our enjoyment, then delves deeper by explaining exactly it arises from come from (sense perception) and then finally concludes powerfully by saying "one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed" Wow, personally, that's a pretty tall order. But before getting into that a bit deeper, let's first just rewind and unpack what "tolerate without being disturbed" actually means.

First of all, this does not propound that one shouldn't feel and/or repress one's emotions. Secondly, it is crucial to note that this phrase applies not just to our experiences of distress but ALSO those of happiness (and everything in between). That's right. One should "tolerate" happiness. So why does Krsna use the word tolerate here? He does so because he's trying to stress that these experiences actually have no impact on the soul and since we are the soul, we should tolerate them!.

The soul cannot be satisfied by anything material. Krsna is saying that everyone will have these experiences, since these experiences arise due to the bodily senses coming in contact with the sense objects. But remember! We are not our senses! So if we are not our senses, why are we investing so much time and energy and throwing ourselves into the experiences that arise due to them? Doesn't make a lot of sense does it? Instead Krsna is giving us a recommendation. Why not accept that these experiences come, but learn to be aloof. That way when these experiences come and emotions arise you can view them more objectively instead of becoming attached to them.

On the most practical level, when a bhakti yogi learns to tolerate happiness and distress, it allows him/her to become fixed in their practice of bhakti yoga. How often have we not accomplished or done something simply because we didn't "feel like it"? Furthermore, when one actually tolerates happiness and distress (go ahead and try it out for yourself!) one can see more clearly how often we attach importance to little things. This doesn't come easy and it take purification of heart, but next time you feel yourself feeling very distraught or supremely happy, take a step back. Analyze where those feelings are coming from. If you're happy, take the opportunity to thank God and if you're sad, remember that this too will pass.

the soul

Verse 2.13: As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

Arjuna's misconceptions (and our own) are directly addressed in this verse: misidentification with the material body. Krsna clearly outlines here one of the fundamental tenets of the Gita - we have a material body (which is temporary) and a soul (which is eternal). Our true identification should be that "I am a soul" and not be bewildered by the body that is currently on loan to us.

One may question, "So what if I identify myself with the material body? What does it matter?" It matters because the body is temporary, limited and is often a cause of misery. The soul, on the other hand, is characterized by three intrinsic characteristics. It is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss.

A beautiful analogy is given with respect to this verse. Just as a person puts on cloths and discards them later, the material body can be viewed in a similar way. The only difference is we wear this body for a longer time than the pants or shirt we might have put on this morning.

The body we receive is a direct result of our karma and consciousness in our previous life. That determines the type of body and facility we receive now. Like this, the cycle continues and so the soul gets trapped in the cycle of repeated birth and death.

With respect to death, this verse can help ease our misconceptions and trepidations regarding death. This verse and those to come propound that the soul never dies. The body, any body will die, but the soul will live eternally. The loss of friends, family and loved ones is certainly painful and never easy. However, one can take comfort that the soul that we were lucky enough to come in contact with will live forever.