The sixty-second 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 13:21, Swamiji discusses the outline that Krishna gives regarding Purusha and Prakriti: what they are and how an understanding of their difference is important for the yogi. He also talks of getting beyond the gunas and beyond rebirth.
Here are the Gita verses (13:21–13:26) covered in this talk:
Purusha within Prakriti
Undergoes Prakriti’s gunas;
Birth in good and evil wombs comes
From his attachment to gunas. (21)
The Supreme Purusha is called
The Looker-on in this body:
The Permitter, the Supporter,
Experiencer, Lord, and Self. (22)
He who thus knows the Purusha
And Prakriti with the gunas,
Whatever be his state in life,
He shall never be born again. (23)
Some perceive the Self in the Self
By the Self through meditation;
Others by Sankhya yoga, and
Still others by karma yoga. (24)
Others, again, not knowing thus,
Worship as they hear from others.
Even these, too, go beyond death,
Devoted to what they have heard. (25)
Whate’er is born, the moving or
The unmoving, O Bharata,
Know it to be from the union
Of the Field and the Field-Knower. (26)
Here’s a summary of Swamiji’s talk on Purusha, Prakriti, and the Gunas:
In this 62nd talk on the Bhagavad Gita, Swami Nirmalananda Giri delves into the concepts of Purusha (the supreme spirit or pure consciousness), Prakriti (the cosmic energy or material creation), and the Gunas (qualities of nature).
He explains that Purusha, the eternal self, abides within Prakriti, the vibrating energy of relative existence, and experiences the Gunas—qualities like stability, activity, and clarity—which drive attachment and rebirth into various states of existence.
The talk emphasizes the dual role of the supreme spirit as both the witness and the experiencer of this cosmic interplay, highlighting its infinite nature within finite forms. Swamiji outlines paths to liberation, such as meditation, philosophical study, karma yoga, and worship, which help one transcend the illusions of Prakriti and realize the unity of Purusha.
The ultimate goal is to shift one’s orientation toward the infinite, ending the cycle of birth and death by aligning with the divine self.
Main Points:
- Timeless Wisdom of the Gita: The Bhagavad Gita, expressed through the precision of Sanskrit, offers profound truths that remain fresh and relevant, as Swamiji reflects on its impact since he first read it in 1960.
- Purusha in Prakriti: The supreme spirit (Purusha), the eternal self, resides within Prakriti (cosmic energy or relative existence), experiencing the Gunas, the shifting qualities of nature.
- The Gunas and Attachment: The Gunas—representing stability (stasis), activity (excitement), and clarity—drive attachment, leading to rebirth in fortunate or unfortunate embodiments based on one’s desires and actions.
- Cosmic Dream and Reality: Prakriti’s dance is a cosmic dream co-directed with the divine (Ishwara), not ultimately real but experientially significant, with effects varying by the evolution of consciousness.
- Supreme Spirit’s Role: Within the body, the supreme spirit is the witness, enabler, supporter, experiencer, and great Lord— infinite yet present in finite existence, distinct yet unified with Prakriti.
- Realization of Unity: Understanding the simultaneity and identity of Purusha and Prakriti, despite their apparent distinction, frees one from rebirth by aligning consciousness with the infinite.
- Paths to Liberation: Liberation is achieved through:
- Meditation: Perceiving the self by the self (e.g., “Soham” japa).
- Sankhya Yoga: Studying philosophy and living its principles.
- Karma Yoga: Acting objectively with focus on the absolute.
- Worship: Drawing near the divine through prayer and rituals, aligning mental energy with sacred archetypes.
- Role of Intuition and Hearing: Even those not fully understanding can progress by hearing truth from others, intuitively recognizing it due to their inherent divine nature, and devotionally drawing closer.
- Worship as Yoga: Ritualistic worship shapes consciousness toward the divine, leveraging mental affinity to elevate one’s state.
- Meditation’s Necessity: Without meditation, comprehension and progress are limited; it enables one to become the divine witness, sensing the infinite within.
- Origin of Existence: All that exists—animate or inanimate—arises from the union of Prakriti (the field) and Purusha (the knower of the field), and liberation comes from withdrawing from Prakriti into Purusha.
- Transcending Death: Knowing Purusha, Prakriti, and the Gunas shifts one’s polarization upward, ending the cycle of birth and death, not just physically but as a state of consciousness.
The talk concludes with an invitation to continue exploring these teachings in the next session and a recommendation to read Swami Nirmalananda’s book, The Bhagavad Gita for Awakening, for practical spiritual guidance.