April 8, 2021
Class notes by Shruti Ramesh
Introduction
Lord Krishna uses many names to refer to Prince Arjuna, including:
Gudakesha: master of laziness
Dananjaya: the one who does not depend on outer wealth
Arjuna: the one who is straight, honest, receptive
It is because of Prince Arjuna’s honesty that Lord Krishna says that he is most like Arjuna. Lord Krishna reminds Prince Arjuna of his potential because he is on the side of dharma. When a guru and a shishya come together, there is enlightenment.
Review
The following three chapters focus on Bhagavan, or Saguna-bhakti (devotion to the qualities, names, and forms).
Chapter 10: Pervading
Chapter 11: Presence
Chapter 12: Practice
The focus then shifts to Asi (how do I be Bhagavan?):
Jiva and Jagadishwara (the individual and the total) are both conditioned to depend on each other. Prince Arjuna wants to know how the individual and the total can become one – or Brahman (infinity), nirguna-bhakti (devotion to the dhama, how do I be infinite?)
What is Matter (Prakriti)? The source of Prakriti is life. Therefore, there is only life.
Practical answer: What is matter? That which is experienced.
Practical application: Be less functional.
What is Spirit (Purusha)? Purusha can be lost in Prakriti when the lower, relative Self identifies.
Practical answer: What is spirit? The experiencer.
Practical application: Direct lifestyle to that which is subtle or the cause.
Discourse:
Question 33: What is Change?
Prince Arjuna’s Philosophical Question: (Chapter 13, Verse 1) “Prakriti (Matter) and Purusha (Spirit), also the Kshetra (the Field) and Kshetrajna (the Knower-of-the-Field), Knowledge and that which ought to be known – these, I wish to learn, O Keshava.”
Prince Arjuna now wants to know more about the Kshetra, or field.
Lord Krishna’s Philosophical Answer: (Chapter 13, Verse 7) “Desire, hatred, pleasure, pain, aggregate (body), intelligence, fortitude – this Kshetra has been thus briefly described with its modifications.”
At a macro level, the Field – everything we are interacting with that is not You – is:
- Avyaktha (vasanas): there is a blueprint to everything we are experiencing
- Mahabhuta (the five elements): space, air, fire, water, Earth
- Gochana (sense objects): sound, touch, sight, taste, smell
Our blueprint is expressed in the five elements which are experienced through the sense objects.
At the micro level, the Field – everything we are made of – is:
- Ahankara (the ego)
- Buddhi (the intellect)
- Eka (the controller of the sense organs, or the mind):
- Indriya (sense organs): 10 input and outputs
So the Field is made up of 11 macro factors and 13 micro factors. These specifics help Prince Arjuna have complete clarity, but these are all relative and always changing.
Traditional Question: Where is this Field?
Traditional Answer: The Field is everywhere!
Practical Question & Answer: What is change? Useless! All that is changing is useless for what we need.
Reflection: What aspects of the Field are most difficult for you to detach from? Generally, not having enough time to complete what we need to complete.
Question 34: What is Changeless?
Prince Arjuna’s Philosophical Question: (Chapter 13, Verse 1) “Prakriti (Matter) and Purusha (Spirit), also the Kshetra (the Field) and Kshetrajna (the Knower-of-the-Field), Knowledge and that which ought to be known – these, I wish to learn, O Keshava.”
Prince Arjuna now wants to know more about the one who knows the Field.
Lord Krishna’s Philosophical Answer: (Chapter 13, Verse 3) “Know Me as the Knower-of-the-Field in all ‘Fields,’ O Bharata; Knowledge of the ‘Field’ as also of the Knower-of-the-Field is considered by Me to be My Knowledge.”
Lord Krishna says that he, Bhagavan, is the Knower-of-the-Field. As long as you believe you are the knower, you remain in the lower Self. But once you believe that Bhagavan is the knower, you become the Knower of the Field, or Awareness (cit). The Knower-of-the-Field is not identifying with the FIeld, but observing the Field.
Lord Krishna tells Prince Arjuna that his potential is to be like Bhagavan, the knower of All. The knowledge of the Field and the Knower-of-the Field is “My Knowledge,” Lord Krishna shares, which must be The knowledge. Where learning is a means to obtaining knowledge, reflection and contemplation is where knowledge deepens to wisdom.
Traditional Question: Who knows or plays in this Field?
Traditional Answer: I do. I know every Field.
Practical Question & Answer: What is changeless? Useful! This knowledge allows us to observe.
Reflection: Although you may perceive the experiences of others objectively, why is it harder to be objective with your own experiences? There is not enough utility in following our own advice!
Q&A:
- How do you balance negative energy being thrown your way when you are also going through a tough time?
- You don’t know what someone is going through, so you should respect people rather than suspect people.
- For yourself, chant. Bhagavan is an expert with taking poison, so give it to Him!
- There is no good change or bad change. But how does that work with something like intelligence, which seems to be good?
- Anything that happens in your life is for your betterment. If we transcend the labels of good or bad, we can just focus on that it’s a message for us.
- Even the virtues – truth, determination, etc. – are a rope, so we must not depend on those and rise above that also. The only ones who do not pursue peace are those who are peaceful. Eventually you have to stop pursuing peace.