The Relevance of the Bhagavadgita to Humanity : 11.5. Swami Krishnananda.

 

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Tuesday, June 08, 2021. 9:03.PM.
Chapter-11. Participating with the Intention of the Universe -5.
The First Six Chapters of the Bhagavadgita
(Spoken on Bhagavadgita Jayanti)

Post-5.
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1.

There is a beautiful phrase uttered by a modern thinker: The universe is in travail at the birth of even a single event. Travail is the pang of birth, and at the birth of even a single event in the world, the pang is felt by the whole universe because the whole universe is made up of such substance as is present in the operation and activation of any event anywhere. Or, to give our old homely example, the activity of any single part of our body is, at the same time, the activity of the whole body. Thus, unless the whole universe contributes its might and cooperates in a given manner, we would not be existing here as a person. But why are we existing as this person in this particular form as an individual? It is for the fulfilment of the purpose of creation itself. There is a purpose and a tendency in the very structure of creation, and that particular intended purposiveness or structure of creation decides what kind of person we must be.

2.

For instance, there is a Constitution of a government. It is a principle that is laid down for the administration of the whole country. That principle is the purpose behind the very action called administration. That purpose laid down in the Constitution will decide every kind of detail of the manner of the performance of personnel in the government. This person should do this, that person should do that, in this manner, in this form, at this time, and so on. The details are determined by the central thought, the original will that we call the primary ordinance of the Constitution. So the whole universe has one will, call it God’s will or whatever it is. That central intention of the universal arrangement of the three gunas will decide what kind of person we should be, and anything should be.

3.

Then what is the purpose of our existence in this world? It is not to eat, drink, and be merry. Why does a particular official work in the government as a little clerk in an unknown office? It is not because he wants to draw a salary. That is incidental. He exists as a little contribution for the stability of the entire setup called the welfare of the nation. A little, single, unknown man working in a corner, in a desk, is contributing his little might as a necessary cooperation of the stability of the entire framework of the administration. He is as important as anybody else. An unknown worker is as important as a well-known advisor. So the existence of each individual in a large framework of operation is conditioned and determined by the original intention of the whole framework itself.

4.

Thus, why do we exist? It is not because we have to enjoy things in this world. Life is not intended for personal enjoyment. You do not exist for yourself. A little participator in an administrative setup does not exist for himself or herself. That existence is conditional existence, not unconditioned existence – conditional in the sense that it is a participation in larger existence, which is also the welfare of each individual. So why do we exist, and why do we work, and what kind of work are we doing? There is no such thing as individual action. We cannot do anything. “I do.” This kind of statement should not be made. The whole world works, and when it works, it utilises our work also as a necessary operation of a little nut and bolt or wheel, or whatever it is, for the fulfilment of its purpose.

To be continued ...

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