The Bhagavad Gita: The Cosmic Vision and The Way of Love
XI. The Cosmic Vision
There are two types of Samadhi (the final stage of meditation)
At first there is Savikalpa, in which one sees God in a personal manifestation.
Then there is Nirvikalpa, where all forms (the immanent) disappear into God (the transcendent aspect), until only a superficial fire consuming the entire phenomenal world is left.
Krishna says: “I am time, destroyer of all
I have come to consume the world.
Even without your participation, all the warriors gathered here will die.
Therefore arise, Arjuna, conquer your enemies and
Enjoy the glory of sovereignty.
I have already slain all these warriors; you will only be my instrument.”
Arjuna says: “You are the first among the gods
The timeless spirit, the resting place of all things.
You are the knower and the thing which is known.
You are the final home
With your infinite form you pervade the cosmos.”
Krishna replies: “Arjuna, through my grace you have been
United with me and received this vision of
My radiant, universal form, without beginning or end
Which no one else has ever seen.”
“It is extremely difficult to obtain the vision you have had
Even the gods long always to see me in this aspect.
Through unfailing devotion you can know me, see me
And attain union with me.”
XII. The Way of Love
When God is loved in a personal aspect, the way is vastly easier.
According to the Hindu scriptures, God can be loved as a merciful father, a divine mother, a wise friend, a passionate beloved, or even as a mischievous child. The “Cloud of Unknowing” states that love is the sure, safe path to God.
Krishna says: “ Still your mind in me, still your intellect in me
And without a doubt you will be united with me forever.
If you cannot still your mind in me, learn to do so through the regular
Practice of meditation.
If you lack the will for such self-discipline, engage yourself in my work
For selfless service can lead you at last to complete fulfillment.
If you are unable to do even this, surrender yourself to me
Disciplining yourself and renouncing the results of all your actions.”
“That one is dear to me who runs not after the pleasant or away from the painful, grieves not, lusts not
But lets things come and go as they happen.
Notes:
“The Cloud of Unknowing”: A famous book of Christian mysticism that comes to us from fourteenth century England.
Still your mind: A common activity by those Friends (Quakers) whose major preoccupation is to “stand still within the Inward Light”.
Come and go as they happen: This echoes the Chinese concept of “wuwei” and is the cornerstone of Laozi and the “Dao De Jing“. Discussions of these can also be found on this website.