The forty-first 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, starting with Chapter 7:19, Swamiji discusses the types of people who seek God, and the subject of seeking refuge in God. He shares a story of Lahiri Mahasaya, and a saying of Yogananda
Here are the Gita verses (7:19–7:23) covered in this talk:
At the end of many births the wise man takes refuge in me. He knows: All is Vasudeva. How very rare is that great soul. (7:19)
Those whose knowledge has been stolen away by various desires resort to other gods, following various religious practices, impelled thus by their own natures. (7:20)
Whoever wishes to worship whatever form with faith, on him I bestow immovable faith. (7:21)
He who, endowed with this faith, desires to propitiate that form, receives from it his desires because their fulfillment has been decreed by me. (7:22)
But temporary is the fruit for those of small understanding. To the gods go the worshippers of the gods. Those who worship me come unto me. (7:23)
Here’s a summary of Swamiji’s talk on Seeking Refuge in God:
- Wisdom and Refuge: Krishna distinguishes between types of seekers, with the “jnani” or wise person being the highest. This individual seeks refuge in God as the ultimate truth, recognizing that all other refuges are temporary or illusory.
- The Nature of Seeking: The wise understand that the only genuine goal is union with the absolute. They don’t seek for personal gain but for the truth that everything is “Vasudeva” (all-pervading divine presence).
- Various Desires vs. True Knowledge: People whose knowledge is “stolen” by desires turn to lesser deities or forms of worship, akin to how one might pray to saints for specific needs in Christianity. This reflects a misunderstanding or misplacement of spiritual focus.
- The Role of Gods in the Cosmic Order: Swami explains that gods in Hinduism, like Ganesh or Durga, serve specific functions within the cosmic hierarchy. They assist humans but under the overarching will of the supreme God.
- Religious Practices and Nature: Practices like fasting, pilgrimages, and offerings are seen as part of one’s nature, leading eventually to higher understanding if done with the right intent and faith.
- God’s Patience and Guidance: God is described as patiently waiting for humans to recognize Him, not as a mean or coercive entity but as a nurturing figure who respects each soul’s journey.
- Faith and Worship: Faith in any form is bestowed by God, and even those worshiping lesser deities are part of a divine plan, where their desires are fulfilled according to cosmic laws, leading them gradually towards the absolute.
- Hierarchy of Worship: There’s a distinction between worshiping lesser gods which gives temporary benefits versus worshiping the supreme God which leads to ultimate liberation or union with the divine.
- Soham Meditation: The talk concludes with a reference to the “Soham” meditation, emphasizing that this practice leads to the realization of oneness with the divine, encapsulating the journey from individual consciousness to divine consciousness.
The talk illustrates the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings on the nature of divine refuge, the diversity of spiritual paths, and the ultimate goal of spiritual life as described by Krishna.
