Bhagavad Gita

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Dhyana Yogam: Chapter 6: Verse 41

Bhagavad Gita - krishna

(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)

Death Is A Comma But Not A Full Stop From Which You Will Awaken And Continue Your Journey To Realisation

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वती: समा: |
शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते || 6.41||

prāpya puṇya-kṛitāṁ lokān uṣhitvā śhāśhvatīḥ samāḥ
śhuchīnāṁ śhrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣhṭo ’bhijāyate || 6.41||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 6- Ver. 41:

Gaining those worlds allocated for virtuous actions and dwelling there for several years, one who has fallen from yoga is born in the pure and glorious’ home.

Explanation

Those who engage in mundane virtuous deeds and the fruitive karmik activities imposed in the Vedas are granted residence in the celestial abodes. So, why should a failed yogi seek solace in the celestial realms? The reason for this is that bhog (material enjoyment) is the total opposite of Yoga (union with God).

The longing for bhog causes one to fall from Yoga. As an indulgent father, God allows that fallen yogi to participate in bhoga in the next incarnation and discover that it is a futile practise that does not satisfy the soul’s need for eternal bliss. As a result, the fallen yogi may be sent to the celestial abodes for a lengthy time before being reborn on Earth.
Such souls are then born into a family and given the opportunity to continue their spiritual journey. Those who are spiritual and moral, as well as those who are wealthy. The unsuccessful yogi is either born into a religious household that will develop the child’s spirituality from childhood, or into a wealthy family where all bodily necessities are met and one does not have to fight for survival. For those souls who are spiritually oriented, such a family environment makes it easier to engage in spiritual pursuits.

Throughout our lives, many of us attempt to conduct meritorious acts, or “punya,” while avoiding or minimising demerits, or “paapa.” Our fate after death is determined by the difference between paapa and punya. Those who have too much punya go to heaven after death, while those who don’t have enough go to hell. As a result, Shri Krishna claims that anyone who practises meditation is instantly qualified to enter the same paradise as those who have completed enormous meritorious actions. He doesn’t have to worry about calculating merits and demerits; all he has to do now is meditate.

Heaven is always transitory, no matter how much joy it provides. When the prescribed time is out, the unsatisfied meditator must return to the world. However, it will not be a negative thing. He will find a suitable environment in which to continue his spiritual journey. According to Shri Krishna, such a person will be born into a prestigious family that is endowed with both financial and spiritual prosperity.

Why should a family like this require financial wealth? The key reason for the meditator’s unhappiness is that he still carries traces of material desire with him. The new family he is born into will provide him with the opportunity to satisfy his material aspirations. As we’ve seen, true meditation is only possible when material wants are addressed in their entirety.

Shri Krishna wants to reassure us that the same natural principles that protect the meditator while he is living would also protect him after he passes away.

Verse & what we can learn

When you engage in selfless, spiritual action, you develop selfless desires that tie you to the rest of the world. Punya, you gain virtue that is so subtle and pure that it can only be spent in paradise. Once you’ve been there for a long time. However, you must return to the world since you have developed desires. Spiritual deeds that are selfless launch you into a situation that is both affluent and happy. Only spiritual living makes it possible to have both wealth and happiness.

Because one body is insufficient, the causal and subtle bodies express themselves through multiple gross bodies. Death is a comma from which you will awaken and continue your journey to Realisation.

To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.

There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There are also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.

In the Next verse, Shri Krishna enlightens Arjuna more in-depth about the same subject.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…

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