Chapter 12: The Energy of Love and Devotion
Within the twelfth chapter, Krishna elaborates on the seen versus the invisible in response to Arjuna’s query. One of many shortest chapters of the Gita, the stress right here is on devotion and dedication. Folks dedicate themselves to completely different missions and every one among us has a singular method of being devoted. Whereas some may fit for the needy by really visiting their houses, others might elevate funds for them, sitting in their very own houses. Docs remedy sufferers by prescribing medicines however scientists assist in the method by researching on medicine. Folks from diverse cultures have their very own method of praying, and comply with completely different protocols for worship or providing prayers. All paths of bhakti, or devotion, which might be adopted result in the identical vacation spot; the routes, nonetheless, could also be completely different from each other and thus give strategy to misconceptions concerning the objective of the journey.
A number of the areas Krishna throws mild on within the dialog listed here are:
- the importance of focus
A phrase typically utilized in translation is ‘surrendering of the mind’. It might be helpful to make clear right here that, this not at all implies taking go away of 1’s senses or indulging in senseless devotion. What give up right here stands for is full acceptance and confluence of thought processes to give attention to one thought, or actuality.
Human beings are favourably inclined in the direction of creating symbols for concepts. We go to the extent of personifying abstractions and feelings and prefer to maintain pictures of family members near us as we discover this reassuring and heart-warming, particularly so in case of those that could also be distant, and, over a time period the as soon as acquainted faces might begin to turn into hazy in our minds.
A working example is the ever-growing reputation of audio-visual studying for youngsters. Current day studying outcomes are a substantial enchancment on the times of yore when a black and white textbook was the one supply of studying for youngsters. Does the identical maintain good for holding religion, and specializing in the best abstraction of all of them—God himself? Most likely sure. This explains the tendency to carry sacred a stone, a river or a mountain—certainly typically whole cities. Humanisation of the gods appears to work for us as a result of that’s the solely type we will determine with and make our personal.
Thus far so good. However hassle begins after we need our neighbour to additionally see divinity in the identical tree as we do, or to feed the identical animal that we do. We regularly neglect and fail to know, that others may very well be having their very own symbols that may very well be as sacred to them as ours are to us.
Creating symbols for the aim of higher focus and identification is an innocuous exercise per se. However it could actually turn into problematic after we attempt to persuade the world that our image is healthier than theirs. If every devotee have been to nurture a selected picture of God and maintain it strictly private, the world may be a greater place to reside in.
Reverting to the narrative, by now Arjuna has recovered from his state of nervousness and despondency, and desires to know extra from the fountain of data, Krishna.
12.01: Arjuna enquired: Which is most popular—those that are sincerely dedicated to your worship or those that worship the unmanifested type? Who do you take into account to be extra good in yoga?
Within the earlier chapter, Arjuna sees the cosmic type of the Lord, which encompasses your complete universe. Fascinating although the sight was, Arjuna is overwhelmed and he voices his desire for the extra human type of the Lord and his want is granted. Regaining his composure and accepting the fact that his pal Krishna was far more than what he seemed to be, now Arjuna needs to know concerning the sort of devotees Krishna seems to be at extra favourably. Some people worship the seen type of the Supreme Energy as he seems on earth. As an extension of this, they could additionally see God in all the things round them. Perception in idol worship, providing prayers to timber, rivers and nature as an entire are well-known phenomena.
There are others who don’t comply with this path and give attention to the invisible, the unmanifested type of God. Such devotees might create their very own picture of the Lord, or just pray to the invisible Power and chart their very own path of devotion.
Arjuna is curious to know which of those devotees Krishna prefers, and subsequently bestows his blessings on. God has each features—the omnipresent and omniscient energy, as additionally the incarnation in human type on earth. The latter has a selected palpable type which for mere mortals may be simpler to narrate to, whereas the previous is invisible and thus for some may be tough to give attention to.
This duality may nicely be in comparison with our personal existence. Whereas nobody has ever seen or felt the soul, the human physique is tangible and will be seen, felt and heard and so seems extra actual than the soul. However the actuality is that each exist, the physique and soul.
[Niyogi Books has given Fair Observer permission to publish this excerpt from The Bhagavad Gita: A Life-changing Conversation, Vandana R. Singh, Niyogi Books, 2022.]
The views expressed on this article are the creator’s personal and don’t essentially replicate Honest Observer’s editorial coverage.
