The forty-fifth 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 8:16, Swamiji discusses Brahma’s Day and Night (the Yugas), who Brahma is, freedom from rebirth for those who attain God, and sadhana as the means of purification to attain that Unity.
Here are the Gita verses (8:16–8:28) covered in this talk:
The worlds up to Brahma’s realm are subject to rebirth’s return, but for him who attains to me there is no more rebirth. (8:16)
They know the true day and night who know Brahma’s Day a thousand yugas long and Brahma’s Night a thousand yugas long. (8:17)
At the approach of Brahma’s Day, all manifested things come forth from the unmanifest, and then return to that at Brahma’s Night. (8:18)
Helpless, the same host of beings being born again and again merge at the approach of the Night and emerge at the dawn of Day. (8:19)
But there exists, higher than the unmanifested, another unmanifested Eternal which does not perish when all beings perish. (8:20)
This unmanifest is declared to be the imperishable, which is called the Supreme Goal, attaining which they return not. This is my supreme abode. (8:21)
This is the Supreme Being, attained by one-pointed devotion alone, within which all beings do dwell, by which all this is pervaded. (8:22)
Now I shall tell you of the times in which the yogis, departing at the time of death, return or do not return. (8:23)
Fire, light, daytime, the bright lunar fortnight, the six months of the sun’s north path: departing then the Brahman-knowers go to Brahman. (8:24)
Smoke, nighttime, the dark fortnight, the six months of the sun’s south path: thereby attaining the lunar light, the yogi returns again. (8:25)
Truly these two light and dark paths the world thinks to be eternal. By one he goes to non-return; by the other he returns again. (8:26)
No yogi who knows these two paths is confused. Therefore at all times be steadfast in yoga. (8:27)
Whatever meritorious fruit is declared to accrue from study or recitation of the Vedas, sacrifice, tapasya, and almsgiving–beyond all these goes the yogi who knows the two paths; and he attains to the supreme, primeval Abode. (8:28)
Here’s a summary of Swamiji’s talk on Brahma’s Day & Night:
- Cycle of Rebirth: Swamiji discusses the cycle of birth and death extending up to Brahma’s realm, where all beings are subject to rebirth. This cycle is likened to moving through various levels of existence, from the material world to astral planes, with no permanent abode.
- Brahma’s Day and Night: Brahma’s day and night are described as cosmic cycles, each lasting a thousand yugas (ages). During Brahma’s day, all manifestations come forth, and during his night, they merge back into the unmanifest.
- The Nature of Existence: The talk emphasizes the transient nature of existence in these lower worlds, where beings are caught in a repetitive cycle of birth and death, with no real stability.
- Path to Liberation (Moksha): Liberation from this cycle is not achieved through good deeds, prayers, or external behaviors alone but through deep, meditative practices (sadhana). Only the yogi who meditates can transcend these cycles.
- Two Paths at Death: There are two paths for the soul at death:
- Path of Light: Departing in conditions associated with light (like daytime, bright lunar fortnight, northward path of the sun), leading to Brahman, where one does not return.
- Path of Darkness: Conditions like night, dark lunar fortnight, and southward path of the sun, where one returns to rebirth.
- The Role of Meditation: Meditation (together with Yama and Niyama) is portrayed as the key to purifying karma across all levels of existence, leading to true knowledge and devotion to the Supreme Being, which ultimately results in liberation.
- One-Pointed Devotion: The talk underscores the need for one-pointed devotion to achieve liberation, focusing solely on spiritual realization without distraction by worldly desires or other ambitions.
- Critique of Misunderstandings: Swamiji critiques common misconceptions about spiritual practices and the understanding of yogic concepts, emphasizing the depth and complexity of the spiritual path over simplistic interpretations.
- Symbolism in Yoga: There’s discussion of yogic symbolism, particularly related to the spine (northward and southward paths), symbolizing progress in spiritual consciousness.
- Eternal versus Temporal: The discussion touches on the eternal nature of the soul versus the temporal cycles it might be caught in, encouraging listeners to strive for a state beyond these cycles.
This summary captures the essence of the talk, highlighting the philosophical and spiritual insights Swami Nirmalananda Giri shares from the Bhagavad Gita’s perspective on existence, rebirth, and liberation.
