A Short History of Religious and Philosophic Thought in Bharatham - Ch-4 & 6 : The Bhagavadgita - Swami Krishnananda

========================================================================

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14/02/2020.
Chapter 4: The Bhagavadgita-6.

6. UNIVERSAL RELIGION-.

7. Yogam.

Chapter-6 : The Bhagavadgita

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.

#The religion of the Gita is not a sectarian doctrine relegated to a section of humanity but a call of the One God to all humanity. 

##While there are those who worship Him in erroneous ways by limiting symbols, they too shall reach Him, if their devotion to the ideals they have set up is exclusive in the sense that it can accommodate or harbour no other thought. 

###Fanaticism in religion arises when there is devotion to one's ideal with hatred for the ideals of others. But this, according to the Gita, is not the way to God, since, thereby, selfishness would stultify the very purpose of religious worship. 

####While the universal religion promises fulfillment of the aspirations of the followers of all paths, it recommends worship of the Universal God, as the ultimate salvation lies in this realisation alone. There is no need to worry about accumulating rich articles for gorgeous rituals, for God is pleased not with the objects offered but with the heart which makes the offering. 

*"God is satisfied even with a leaf or flower or a small measure of water offered as token of true devotion unto Him. The duty of the devotee is therefore to dedicate all his actions to God, whether the actions are physical or mental. The God of the Gita declares that He is the same to all in His dealings and even the sinner and the fallen can reach Him with devotion."* 

*This is the great gospel of God to man, the religion of man in general, for the sake of the experience of freedom which is immortal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Yogam -

In two terse slokams, the Gita, at the end of its fifth chapter, says: 

"Shutting out all external objects; fixing the gaze between the eyebrows; regulating the harmonised currents of pranan and apana within the nostrils; the senses, mind and intellect restrained; with moksham as the supreme Goal; free from desire, fear and anger;-such a man of meditation is verily liberated for ever."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter-6. The Bhagavad Gita :

The sixth chapter is like a commentary on this aphoristic teaching. In its details, it is declared that no one will become a Yogi who has not renounced the desireful will. Though action is the means for one wishing self-purification leading to the state of meditation, the higher inaction of tranquility of mind is the means to him who has attained to yoga. He is said to be established in yoga, who has no attachment either to sense-objects or to actions, and has no purpose to serve anywhere, being rid of all volitional motive. 

The Yogi should practise meditation on the Atman, retiring into solitude, with mind and senses subdued, and free from ambition and possessions. Having established a seat on a clean spot and placing oneself on it, making the mind one-pointed and subduing its activity and the rovings of the senses, let one practise yoga for the purification of oneself. Let him firmly hold his body, head and neck erect and still, with gaze inwardly fixed and looking as if at the tip of his nose, and not glancing around. 

Fearless, being firm in the vow of Brahmacharya, the Yogi, always steadfast in meditation, attains to the peace residing in God, the peace which is at-one with final liberation. Yoga is not for him who eats too much or too little, not for him who sleeps too much or too little. Yoga comes to him who is moderate in eating and in recreation, in work, sleep and wakefulness. 

#Establishment in the consciousness of the Atman is yogam. This obviously implies freedom from all desires.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be continued ...

=======================================================================