NATURE, CREATURE AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Arjun visioned Lord’s universal mega-form with the divine sight blessed to him, but upon returning to the physical level, curiosities again seized him. He asked the Lord, ‘O Krishna! What is the differences between the nature and creature (physical reality), body and the master of the body and between knowledge and worth knowing?’ Krishna said to Arjun, ‘O son of Kunti! Nature is the spirit of all physical causes and consequences. Creature is the cause of various joys and miseries. The body and the senses of a creature is due to nature. The nature has three basic instincts, namely, ‘Satvik’, ‘Rajsik’ and ‘Tamsik’ to use the body for. The tendencies created in a body shape the creature’s behaviour and actions which determine its class and next lives. The creature’s body keeps getting new forms of lives according to the karma.’
BODY AND MASTER
Krishna explained the difference between the ‘Body’ and ‘Master’ by saying, ‘O Parth! A creature’s physical reality is the ‘Body’ and one who knows it is the ‘Master’. The body is like a field, the field of action for the soul of the creature. A bound soul is one that is involved in physical nature of the mundane world. It constantly endeavours to gain control of the tendencies of the physical nature. For the same purpose it acquires the field of action, i.e. the body.
Now, what is the body or field of action? It is a sum total of various organs. A bound soul tries ever to satisfy the demands of the sensory organs. The man, who considers the body to be his real self, he can be called as the ‘Master’ in a mistaken way. The real master is the soul, the fragment of Soul Supreme. The soul does not perish but the body does. The true master knows that physical bodies are merely fields of action and they keep changing in the way of new life forms.
WHAT IS JNAN
Krishna further spoke, ‘O Bharat-line Arjun! I am the Master of all the bodies (creatures). One who knows the truth of a body and its soul is the true ‘Knower’. It only means that the true knowledge is knowing the relationship of the body and the soul. Being the soul of all the creatures I am the ‘Knower Supreme’. In every body I am present as its soul, the fragment of Soul Supreme. But I am non-aligned with it. I have independent reality. I am the knower of every body.
Thus, I have the highest position. As God element I am the deity supreme of every body or all the bodies. I am the regulator of the senses of a body.’ Arjun asked, ‘O Keshav! What is action field (body)? How is it made and why is it ever changing? From where it comes into existence? Who is its knower and how does he effect it?’ Krishna revealed, ‘O Parth! How the body is made and why it is constantly in changing process, hear about it carefully.’
BODY AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Krishna said, ‘In the making of a body 24 elements come into the use. First of all five primary ingredients in the form of Earth, Water, Agni (fire), Air and Space shape the body. Then, ego, brain and instincts of Sat, Raj and Tam are added in unmanifest form. After that five sensory organs—eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin get formed. And five karma initiators namely voice, legs, hands, anus and sex organs become part of it. Then the mind comes into existence to act as the operator of outer organs.
It is also known as inner organ. The organs have five subjects-smell (nostrils), taste (tongue), vision (eyes), touch (skin) and sound (ears). Thus, 24 elements make up a body. Desires, animosity, joys, sorrows etc are products of internal reactions or by-products, the expression of the five primary ingredients of the body. Consciousness (life force or the soul) and instincts give expressions of behaviour of a creature through mind, ego and thought which in other words outlines of the character.
JNAN AND BHAKTI
Speaking on the Jnan and Bhakti Krishna said, ‘O Arjun! The Jnan or knowledge includes humility, egolessness, non-violence, tolerance, simplicity, proximity to noble teachers, piety, gravity, stability, self discipline, sensory control, correct attitude to life or death or old age and illnesses, detachment, freedom from desires for objects or persons, equanimity in situations and feelings, devotion to me, meditation, solitude, dislike for crowds, acceptance of the importance of spiritual realities, seeking the ultimate truth in philosophical way and being a believer.
All the rest is ignorance.’ Arjun asked, ‘Lord! How can one be devoted to you?’ Krishna replied, ‘All the processes of the knowledge finally lead into devotion to me. One who is truly devoted to me the various aspects of the knowledge get naturally initiated in him. To know Me know your soul truth. For this devotion is the most practical way. Faith is immortal and eternal. You must have the sentiment of total surrender to Me.’
WHAT IS WORTH KNOWING
Krishna further spoke, ‘O Parth! You may be anxious to know what is worth knowing? After knowing this you will be gaining the divine joy accruing from the ever being in touch of the ultimate truth because truth of soul is eternal and infinite. It is a fragment of me under my control. It is beyond the causes and effects of the mundane world. It pervades everything. God has determined it to be the basic source of all senses. Still it is not a part of the senses or sensory organs.
It is the provider of all creatures yet not attached to them. It is beyond the properties of nature but it is the master of all the natural properties. Soul Supreme is present uniformly in all creatures inspite of being fragmented in individual souls. It gives birth to creatures, fosters and then destroys them. It is present visibly and also invisibly. It is knowledge itself and also worth knowing and the goal of knowledge as well. It is in every heart. It lives in a body yet is not attached to it. O son of Bharat dynasty! Just as a single sun lights up the world similarly the soul lights up the body with light of consciousness. Those noble ones who know this truth they gain union with eternal and immortal God element.’
