Bhagavad Gita

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Sankhya Yogam: Chapter 2: Verse 45

Bhagavad Gita - krishna --bhagavad gita dhyana shloka

(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)

Knowing The Real Self and Staying in that Consciousness Bestows One Everything

त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन |
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् || 2.45||

trai-guṇya-viṣhayā vedā nistrai-guṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣhema ātmavān|| 2.45||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 2- Ver. 45:

O Arjuna, the Vedas discuss the three modes of material nature. Ascend to a state of pure spiritual consciousness by rising above the three modes. Be placed in the self, free of dualities, forever fixed in truth, and without regard for material gain or safety.

Explanation

By its three basic forms, material energy connects the divine soul to the bodily conception of life. Sattva (mode of goodness), rajas (mode of passion), and tamas (mode of wrath) are the three modes of material nature (mode of ignorance). Because of their sanskaras (dispositions) from innumerable previous lives, each individual’s proportionate percentage of the three modes differs, and as a result, everyone has various inclinations and tendencies.

The Vedic scriptures acknowledge this disparity and provide appropriate guidance for all types of people. They would have gone further astray if the shastras did not contain instructions for worldly-minded people. As a result, the Vedas provide people with tangible rewards for performing arduous rites, assisting them in moving from ignorance to passion, and from passion to righteousness.

As a result, the Vedas contain both types of knowledge: ritualistic ceremonies for materially attached people and divine knowledge for spiritual seekers. When Shree Krishna tells Arjuna to reject the Vedas, it’s important to consider the context of the verses before and after. He’s indicating that Arjun shouldn’t be enticed by the Vedic portion that lays out laws, regulations, and ceremonies for monetary gain. Instead, he should use the Vedic knowledge’s divine part to raise himself to the level of Absolute Truth.

To begin, being aware of what we are thinking is an absolute requirement for enhancing thought quality. The majority of us tend to do things on autopilot daily. We will not be able to increase the quality of our thoughts if we are not aware of what we are thinking while doing an action. As a result, the shloka encourages us to consider whether each action we take is selfish or in service of our svadharma. Repeating this process reveals the true essence of our thoughts.

Second, the shloka urges us to reflect on the interplay of the three gunas beyond compulsive thought. In a word, there are three types of gunas or tendencies that are accountable for the creation of everything in this universe. As a result, the shloka suggests that we begin considering spiritual information daily, which would naturally minimize material concerns.

Dualities are mentioned in the shloka. The positive and negative mental labels connected with thoughts – love/hate, joyful/sorrowful, pleasurable/painful, and so on – are known as dualities. So, in practice, any thinking that exhibits intense attachment or hatred towards an object, person, or circumstance is a poor quality thought because it enhances the object, person, or situation.

Finally, the shloka encourages us to put acquisition and preservation aside. The majority of us are concerned with two things getting something and preserving it once we have it. The shloka reminds us that if we carefully execute our svadharma, we shall receive everything we require to live a happy life. As a result, we should put an end to our obsession with acquisition and preservation, which is a hindrance to maintaining equanimity.

You’re possessed with a desire for something you don’t have. When you acquire anything, you develop a strong attachment to it. Both result in a sense of enslavement and pain. They are the result of insecurity. Selfishness is the source of insecurity. You are no longer insecure when you are selfless. You are liberated from possessiveness and acquisitiveness.

You become free of yogakshema acquisitiveness and possessiveness when you gain knowledge of your fullness then the world’s wealth comes to you. Atmavan is your name. The three gunas are dealt with in the Vedas. Raise yourself over the gunas. Go beyond the Vedas’ writing. The Vedas are still relevant in today’s environment. Beyond is Atman.

Verse & what we can learn

Knowing our true self and establishing ourselves in that is what takes us beyond dualities.

For one who wants to transcend dualities, meditation is the best 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, Lord Shri Krishna tells Arjuna about the real purpose of Vedas, mantras and rituals.

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

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