CHAPTER XV
The Supreme Spirit
In this section consisting of the concluding six chapters of the Geeta, there is, as all through the Geeta, a systematic development of ideas and a logical building up of the theory that the ever-changing, finite world of multiplicity is but a PROJECTION on the Infinite, and that the endless painful experiences are all caused by our own MIS-APPREHENSION OF REALITY. In the Thirteenth Chapter, the World-of-Matter and the Realm-of-Spirit were beautifully described and brought within our intellectual comprehension. The Field-of-Experience (Kshetra), and the Knower-of-the-Field (Kshetrajna) were clearly pictured and it was shown that the "Knower-of-the-Field" minus the "Field-of-Experience" is the Pure Awareness, at once Infinite and Permanent.
In this chapter the Geeta acharya discusses the nature of the Spirit in all its implications. In terms of the known alone can the unknown be indicated. The world of the known is the manifested objects of perception, emotions and thoughts. "No effect can be without a cause," and all effects sustain themselves in their own material cause. Basing his arguments upon this logical fact, the Divine Charioteer helps us lift our minds from the known phenomena to the unknown Noumenon.
With reference to the perishable, finite world of constant change, the Spirit is defined, in this chapter, as the Imperishable, Infinite, Changeless Factor, which is at once the substratum and the nourishment for the imperfect world-of-plurality. The Infinite is thus defined as the Imperishable (Akshara) with reference to the perishable (Kshara) equipments-of-Matter. After thus indicating the antithesis of change as changelessness, He will explain how the Experiencer of the changes, which are infinite in variety, is even something other than that which we know as the CHANGELESS. This Unconditional Eternal Factor, is called by the Geeta as the Purushottama.
In the concluding lines, Lord Krishna assures Arjuna that He has given out this greatest secret: "HE WHO WITHOUT CONFUSIONS, KNOWS ME THUS AS THE PERSON SUPREME, KNOWS ALL; AND WITH HIS WHOLE BEING DEVOTEDLY WORSHIPS ME." In short, this chapter is one of the rarest pieces of literature available in the world, that so directly indicates the Infinite. For the beauty and brevity of the stanzas in this chapter, no other portion even in the Geeta can stand a favourable comparison. In India, from the ancient days onwards, this chapter has been recited before taking food as a prayer by the Brahmins.
|| Chapter - 15 ||
Source: The Holy Geeta
The Supreme Spirit
In this section consisting of the concluding six chapters of the Geeta, there is, as all through the Geeta, a systematic development of ideas and a logical building up of the theory that the ever-changing, finite world of multiplicity is but a PROJECTION on the Infinite, and that the endless painful experiences are all caused by our own MIS-APPREHENSION OF REALITY. In the Thirteenth Chapter, the World-of-Matter and the Realm-of-Spirit were beautifully described and brought within our intellectual comprehension. The Field-of-Experience (Kshetra), and the Knower-of-the-Field (Kshetrajna) were clearly pictured and it was shown that the "Knower-of-the-Field" minus the "Field-of-Experience" is the Pure Awareness, at once Infinite and Permanent.
In this chapter the Geeta acharya discusses the nature of the Spirit in all its implications. In terms of the known alone can the unknown be indicated. The world of the known is the manifested objects of perception, emotions and thoughts. "No effect can be without a cause," and all effects sustain themselves in their own material cause. Basing his arguments upon this logical fact, the Divine Charioteer helps us lift our minds from the known phenomena to the unknown Noumenon.
With reference to the perishable, finite world of constant change, the Spirit is defined, in this chapter, as the Imperishable, Infinite, Changeless Factor, which is at once the substratum and the nourishment for the imperfect world-of-plurality. The Infinite is thus defined as the Imperishable (Akshara) with reference to the perishable (Kshara) equipments-of-Matter. After thus indicating the antithesis of change as changelessness, He will explain how the Experiencer of the changes, which are infinite in variety, is even something other than that which we know as the CHANGELESS. This Unconditional Eternal Factor, is called by the Geeta as the Purushottama.
In the concluding lines, Lord Krishna assures Arjuna that He has given out this greatest secret: "HE WHO WITHOUT CONFUSIONS, KNOWS ME THUS AS THE PERSON SUPREME, KNOWS ALL; AND WITH HIS WHOLE BEING DEVOTEDLY WORSHIPS ME." In short, this chapter is one of the rarest pieces of literature available in the world, that so directly indicates the Infinite. For the beauty and brevity of the stanzas in this chapter, no other portion even in the Geeta can stand a favourable comparison. In India, from the ancient days onwards, this chapter has been recited before taking food as a prayer by the Brahmins.
|| Chapter - 15 ||
Source: The Holy Geeta
