THE YOGA OF THE IMPERISHABLE BRAHMAN

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

THE YOGA OF THE IMPERISHABLE BRAHMAN
Summary of Eighth Discourse
Lord Krishna explains how those who attain Him do not have to come again into this
impermanent world of sorrow and pain. All beings, including even the gods, come again and again
into this created universe from the state of unmanifest being wherein they remained at the end of an
age-cycle. But the Lord exists even beyond this unmanifest being. That radiant, imperishable
Divine Reality is the highest goal to be attained. Single-minded devotion of our heart is the means
of attaining this highest blessed state.
Even though there are auspicious and inauspicious circumstances of departing from the
physical body and journeying forth, yet if one steadily abides in the Lord through firm devotion and
faith, then these conditions do not matter. By always remaining in tune with the Lord through pure
love, everything is made auspicious, if one can ever remain united with the Divine through deep
devotion, constant remembrance, regular meditation and continuous communion, then all times,
places, conditions and situations become auspicious and blessed. This is the secret of invoking His
Grace and attaining Him and becoming eternally free and blissful.
Arjuna here asks Lord Krishna about the meaning of the different terms referred to by Him
in the last two verses of the previous chapter. He wishes to know what is the Supreme Being, what is
Karma or action that He refers to, and what is the meaning that pertains to this spirit, the elements
and the centre of all things within this human body.
Beyond all things manifest and unmanifest, beyond these names and forms, there is the
Supreme Being—Brahman. He indwells this body as the centre of all things, including even our
own self (individual soul). We are a spiritual being residing in this body and supported by the Silent
Witness within—the Supreme Antaryamin. Prakriti or Nature is the being pertaining to the
elements. Worship, prayer and offering to the gods with faith and devotion constitute actions that
lead to blessedness.
The secret of reaching the Divine Being and thus freeing oneself forever from birth and
death and the pains and sufferings of this earth-life, is to constantly practise unbroken remembrance
of the Lord at all times, in all places and even amidst one’s daily activities. If one practises such
steady remembrance through regular daily Sadhana, then he will be rooted in His remembrance
even at the time of departing from this body at death. Thus departing, he will go beyond darkness
and bondage and attain the realm of eternal blessedness.
One must practise sense-control. The senses must be well disciplined and gradually
withdrawn from outside objects. The mind should be centred within upon God, by uttering Om or
any Divine Name. By such steady practice daily the Lord is easily attained.