The eighth in a series of talks by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) on the Bhagavad Gita, India’s most famous scripture: the unforgettable dialog between Sri Krishna and Arjuna about the essence of spiritual life.
In this talk, beginning with Chapter 2:63, Swamiji continues to discuss the sequence of obstacles which leads to a spiritual downfall as outlined by Krishna in the Gita.
Here are the Gita verses (2:63–2:72) covered in this talk:
From anger arises delusion; from delusion, loss of memory; from loss of memory, destruction of intelligence. From destruction of intelligence one is lost. (2:63)
However, with attraction and aversion eliminated, even though moving amongst objects of sense, by self-restraint the self-controlled attains tranquility. (2:64)
In tranquility the cessation of all sorrows is produced for him. Truly, for the tranquil-minded the buddhi immediately becomes steady. (2:65)
For the undisciplined there is no wisdom, no meditation. For him who does not meditate there is no peace or happiness. (2:66)
When the mind is led about by the wandering senses, it carries away the understanding like the wind carries away a ship on the waters. (2:67)
The intelligent, buddhic awareness of him whose senses are withdrawn from the objects of the senses on all sides will be found firmly established. (2:68)
The man of restraint is awake in what is night for all beings. That in which all beings are awake is night for the sage who truly sees. (2:69)
Like the ocean, which becomes filled yet remains unmoved and stands still as the waters enter it, he whom all desires enter and who remains unmoved attains peace–not so the man who is full of desire. (2:70)
He who abandons all desires attains peace, acts free from longing, indifferent to possessions and free from egotism. (2:71)
This is the divine state. Having attained this, he is not deluded. Fixed in it even at the time of death, he attains Brahmanirvana. (2:72)
Here are the main points from this talk on the Path of Downfall:
- Loss of Discrimination: Forgetting one’s experiences leads to a loss of discrimination, which is essential for living life intelligently. Without this, one’s life purpose is missed, leading to a wasted life.
- Detachment: A person free from desires and aversions walks safely among them. This detachment comes from regular and prolonged meditation, which helps in focusing inwardly rather than being swayed by external attractions or repulsions.
- Meditation and Peace: Without meditation, there is no peace, and without peace, there is no happiness. Meditation is crucial for maintaining an inner calm that external circumstances cannot disturb.
- The Wandering Mind: Just as winds move a ship off course, the wandering senses can lead the mind astray, making it difficult to meditate or maintain judgment.
- Illumination and Enlightenment: Krishna describes an illumined person as one who can still the senses. This person’s mind is awake in the knowledge of the Atman (Self), which is considered darkness by the ignorant.
- Desires in the Mind of the Seer: Even though desires may flow into the mind of the enlightened, they do not disturb him. He recognizes them but does not act upon them, maintaining his peace.
- Life Without Craving: True peace comes to those who have forgotten desire, living without craving, ego, or pride. This state is described as enlightenment, from which one does not fall back into delusion.
- Enlightenment as a Permanent State: Once a person reaches enlightenment, it becomes their nature, or he is reestablished in his True Nature. Even at the moment of death, they remain in this enlightened state, indicating that real life is living in Brahman (the ultimate reality), and everything else is akin to being dead.
- Spiritual Practice: The path to this enlightenment is through yoga, specifically through meditation and japa (repetition of sacred names or mantras), which are emphasized as practical tools for spiritual evolution.
Swami Nirmalananda Giri wraps up by encouraging his listeners to continue their spiritual practices with dedication, suggesting that understanding and living by these principles can lead to a meaningful and enlightened life.
