From Swami Parthasarathy's unique book - The Complete Works of Swami Parthasarathy which is a collection of his talks on spirituality, including the Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 9 - The Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret
Synopsis
1) Self pervades the world Verses 1-10
Krishna offers to impart the knowledge of Reality that pervades the world. How to achieve this supreme knowledge and free yourself from all agitations and sorrow.
People lack this knowledge. Being unknown to all mankind, He refers to it as a supreme secret.
Those who fail to pursue this knowledge remain bound to the world of mortality. Krishna appeals to seekers to free themselves from this manifest world and reach the unmanifest Reality-to discover the Divinity that supports the pluralistic phenomenon.
All living beings and inert things arise from the supreme Reality. They exist in the Reality. They ultimately merge into the Reality.
The periods of manifestation of the world and its dissolution run into billions of years. The supreme Reality acts as the disinterested Self witnessing the entire creation and dissolution.
2. The Deluded disregard Self, the Wise glorify and seek Self - Verses 11-19
People remain ignorant of the Self within. They do not recognise the supreme Architect of the cosmic phenomenon. Deluded of the Self, they sink into the quagmire of perceptions, emotions and thoughts. These deluded people live a purposeless life of vain hopes and aspirations in the world.
The wise perceive the Self as the source of this world. They glorify and pursue the Self. Firm in their vows, deep in their devotion, they strive all their lives until they realise the Self.
Krishna descries the Self's manifestation in the world as the one Divinity pervading the infinite range of beings and things everywhere.
3. One attains what one strives for - Verses 20-28
This topic describes the variety of human pursuits and ho each gains its particular objective in life. These pursuits fall under three distinct types of activities in the world.
The persons belonging to the first type act with self-centered interests in this world. They go about their activities merely fulfilling their ego and egocentric desires. Consequently, they suffer from mental agitations and sorrow (papa).
Others in the second category work unselfishly for higher and nobler goals in life. They serve and sacrifice for their chosen ideal. They gain the joys of heaven (punya).
The third variety seek spiritual Enlightenment. They strive for liberation through their devout offerings to the supreme Being. They oblate all their actions, feelings and thoughts to the altar of Self-realization. Such seekers become liberated from their mundane existence and gain the ultimate bliss of Realisation.
4. Dedicated effort leads seekers, even the unrighteous, to Self-realisation Verses 29-34
A seeker's direction in the spiritual path matters more than his spiritual status. A righteous person may move towards wordly attractions and devolve spiritually. Whereas, an unrighteous person may take to the spiritual path and evolve.
Therefore, in your spiritual life what really matters is not where you are but hat direction you choose to take. The path of evolution or devolution.
The topic concludes with a tone of encouragement even to the unrighteous that anyone can attain Enlightenment through devotion and dedicated effort towards the supreme Self.
Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 9 - The Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret
Synopsis
1) Self pervades the world Verses 1-10
Krishna offers to impart the knowledge of Reality that pervades the world. How to achieve this supreme knowledge and free yourself from all agitations and sorrow.
People lack this knowledge. Being unknown to all mankind, He refers to it as a supreme secret.
Those who fail to pursue this knowledge remain bound to the world of mortality. Krishna appeals to seekers to free themselves from this manifest world and reach the unmanifest Reality-to discover the Divinity that supports the pluralistic phenomenon.
All living beings and inert things arise from the supreme Reality. They exist in the Reality. They ultimately merge into the Reality.
The periods of manifestation of the world and its dissolution run into billions of years. The supreme Reality acts as the disinterested Self witnessing the entire creation and dissolution.
2. The Deluded disregard Self, the Wise glorify and seek Self - Verses 11-19
People remain ignorant of the Self within. They do not recognise the supreme Architect of the cosmic phenomenon. Deluded of the Self, they sink into the quagmire of perceptions, emotions and thoughts. These deluded people live a purposeless life of vain hopes and aspirations in the world.
The wise perceive the Self as the source of this world. They glorify and pursue the Self. Firm in their vows, deep in their devotion, they strive all their lives until they realise the Self.
Krishna descries the Self's manifestation in the world as the one Divinity pervading the infinite range of beings and things everywhere.
3. One attains what one strives for - Verses 20-28
This topic describes the variety of human pursuits and ho each gains its particular objective in life. These pursuits fall under three distinct types of activities in the world.
The persons belonging to the first type act with self-centered interests in this world. They go about their activities merely fulfilling their ego and egocentric desires. Consequently, they suffer from mental agitations and sorrow (papa).
Others in the second category work unselfishly for higher and nobler goals in life. They serve and sacrifice for their chosen ideal. They gain the joys of heaven (punya).
The third variety seek spiritual Enlightenment. They strive for liberation through their devout offerings to the supreme Being. They oblate all their actions, feelings and thoughts to the altar of Self-realization. Such seekers become liberated from their mundane existence and gain the ultimate bliss of Realisation.
4. Dedicated effort leads seekers, even the unrighteous, to Self-realisation Verses 29-34
A seeker's direction in the spiritual path matters more than his spiritual status. A righteous person may move towards wordly attractions and devolve spiritually. Whereas, an unrighteous person may take to the spiritual path and evolve.
Therefore, in your spiritual life what really matters is not where you are but hat direction you choose to take. The path of evolution or devolution.
The topic concludes with a tone of encouragement even to the unrighteous that anyone can attain Enlightenment through devotion and dedicated effort towards the supreme Self.
