The Yoga of the Supreme Spirit
Divine Life
Society Publication: - Bhagavadgita – Summary of Fifteenth
Discourse by Sri Swami Sivananda
This discourse is entitled
“Purushottama Yoga” or the “Yoga of the Supreme Person”. Here Lord Krishna
tells us about the ultimate source of this visible phenomenal universe from
which all things have come into being, just like a great tree with all its
roots, trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers and fruits which spring forth
from the earth, which itself supports the tree and in which it is rooted. Sri
Krishna declares that the Supreme Being is the source of all existence, and
refers allegorically to this universe as being like an inverted
tree whose roots are in Para Brahman, and whose spreading branches and
foliage constitute all the things and factors that go to make up this creation
of variegated phenomena. This is a very mysterious “Tree” which is very
difficult to understand, being a product of His inscrutable power of Maya; and
hence a marvelous, apparent appearance without having actual reality. One who
fully understands the nature of this Samsara-Tree goes beyond Maya. To be
attached to it is to be caught in it. The surest way of transcending this
Samsara or worldly life is by wielding the excellent weapon of dispassion and
non-attachment.
In verses four and five of
this discourse the Lord tells us how one goes beyond this visible Samsara and
attains the supreme, imperishable status, attaining which one does not have to
return to this mortal world of pain and death.
Lord Krishna also describes
for us the wonderful mystery of His Presence in this universe and the supreme
place He occupies in sustaining everything here. The Lord declares that it is a
part of Himself that manifests here as the individual soul in each body. He
Himself is the indwelling Oversoul beyond the self. He is the effulgence
inherent in the sun, moon and fire. He is present as the nourishing element in
the earth. He is the inner witness of all beings. He is the supreme Knower even
beyond Vedic knowledge. He is the resplendent Person who is beyond both this
perishable phenomenal creation as well as the imperishable individual soul
which is a part of His eternal essence. Thus, because He is beyond perishable
matter and superior to the imperishable soul (enveloped in Maya), He is known
in this world as well as in the Vedas as
the Supreme Person.
Excerpts from:
The Yoga of the Supreme Spirit
- Bhagavadgita
– Summary of Fifteenth Discourse by Sri Swami Sivananda
Additional Reading: The
Inverted Tree of Samsara
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