What is Vision? What is Time?
Introduction
Are you living the Bhagavad Gita? Are you having doubts about your investment in your spiritual journey? To clear doubt, be intentional in your reflection (manana).
Review:
Question 26:
Philosophical Question: How do I feel You in an uncontrolled environment?
Philosophical answer: I am the locus from which all references exist. We must reduce our tendency to label things → reduces likes and dislikes → reduce limits.
Practical question: What is God?
Practical Answer: Support. The first and final support in our lives is God.
Question 27:
Philosophical question: How can I feel You only/exclusively?
Philosophical Answer: I am the Greatest of the Great. The more we recognize that, the more humble we become. We must invest in being more energetic, enthusiastic.
Practical question: What is virtue?
Practical Answer: Humility
Discourse
Chapter 10 focuses on unity in diversity. Chapter 11 focuses on diversity in unity.
Question 28- What is Vision?
Chapter 11, verse 4 :
Attitude comes from vision, and the source of vision is knowledge/insight. Prince Arjuna wants to see this vision- he wants to see Bhagavan.
Bhagavan’s Answer
Chapter 11, verse 8:
You cannot see Me. Bhagavan Krishna is unmanifest- He is the cause, we are the effect, and the effect cannot see the cause.
But, He gifts Arjuna divyachakshu (divine eyes). It’s important to note that Prince Arjuna was not given new eyes, rather, his old eyes were taken away to reveal his true divine sight.
In fact, we all have divine eyes, which expose us to Bhagavan’s leela. Ultimately, Bhagavan wants Prince Arjuna to realize that he need only to look inwards to see this oneness.
The sanskrit term for God is Bhagavan, which means the one who has bhaga (virtues):
- Aishvarya = to be joyous
- Dharma = to be responsible
- Yasha = to be revered
- Shriya = to be prosperous
- Vairagya = to be independent
- Jnana = to be wise
Practical Question & Answer: What is Vision ? — Surrender
Reflection: How have you personally been graced by Bhagavan, the Scriptures or a sadguru? Vivekji’s response is that he has been graced to not be complacent, but rather rigorous with his spiritual journey.
In verses 10–14 of Chapter 11, Bhagavan Krishna shows Prince Arjuna his vishwaroopa. In verses 15–31, Prince Arjuna sees the warriors on the battlefield getting consumed by Bhagavan.
Question 29- What is Time?
Chapter 11, verse 31:
After seeing His true form, Prince Arjuna wants to know Bhagavan’s original purpose.
Bhagavan’s Answer
Chapter 11, verse 32:
I am the Time that destroys worlds. Time is the true doer, not us! Prince Arjuna is asking about Bhagavan’s purpose, but Bhagavan is beyond purpose!
In the following verse (verse 33), Bhagavan tells Arjuna to release this feeling of doership, and instead be His instrument.
In Chapter 11, verse 36, Prince Arjuna responds: sthane = all is perfect, because You are perfect.
Practical Question & Answer: What is Time? — a Teacher. All that we experience is cyclical, so why do we grow attached to material experiences that will eventually return to us? Let go.
Reflection: What can you do to make the best use of the limited time that you have each day? Resources should be spent to save time, and time should be spent to save effort. Effort is meant for achieving enlightenment.
Dynamics:
Walk around your room and for every item you see, write down the year that it came into your life.
Did you note the year that you came into your life? What about unmanifest things, like existence and vision?
Q&A
- Is there a difference between reflection and contemplation?
Sravana is inspiration, while manana is reflection. Manana is when you feel the message to be real for you.
Contemplation is a change in identification, where you identify less with the world (secular) and more with the Self (sacred).
How to practice reflection? Take one of Prince Arjuna’s questions, read it well, then write down your answer to the reflection, and then close your eyes and focus on the message.