10/S.E.E

THE OPULENCE OF THE ABSOLUTE

People yearn for a direct experience and perception of things. The fact that we cannot see God at work, that He hasn’t appeared in person before our eyes, relating to us face-to-face, seems to be a major sticking point. “Show me God, and then I’ll believe in Him,” the sceptics posit. In Chapter Ten, Krishna again explains how the spiritualist can simultaneously perceive God as the source of the creation and also see God within the creation. This, however, requires more than an intellectual understanding. It actually calls for transformation of one's consciousness and purification of the senses.

S

Modern science follows the methodology of ascending knowledge, attempting to grasp the totality of reality by empirical research and experimentation. Krishna exposes the limitation of this approach. He explains how something which has been created cannot understand its source independently. For example, if one wanted to ascertain the identity of their father using a purely experimental approach, it would be incredibly impractical and most likely inconclusive. However, if one accepted the testimony of their mother first, and subsequently experimented, such an approach would more likely be successful. Similarly, since all material and spiritual creations have their source in Divinity, it is only by approaching Divinity that one can truly understand their identity and purpose. This is known as descending knowledge.

E

This knowledge, which is divided into three essential stages, is summarised in four essential verses of the Bhagavad-gita. The first stage in entitled sambhanda, or knowledge of one's relationship with God and the universe. The second stage is the practice and application of such knowledge in one's daily life, technically known as abhideya. The third stage is the mature fruit of such practice, which is pure spiritual awakening and unbounded love of God. This is known as prayojana. The Bhagavad-gita can thus be viewed as a spiritual science since there is hypothesis (sambhanda), experiment (abhideya) and observation/conclusion (prayojana). These four verses (8-11) give a roadmap of spirituality from beginning to end.

E

Arjuna charmed by Krishna’s wisdom and personality, requests Him to elaborate further on His characteristics and qualities. In response, Krishna describes the most prominent among His limitless, all pervading opulences. He thus explains how one can think about Him, meditate on Him and see Him everywhere. It is not that Krishna is physically all the things He mentions, but rather that He is the very essence of them - the outstanding and extraordinary essence that makes them so special. After naming 82 opulences, Krishna concludes by stating that these simply hint at His glory since He pervades and supports the entire universe with a mere fragment of His energy. Thus, when one becomes equipped with eyes of knowledge and a heart of devotion, they see Krishna in all times, places and circumstances. Others, however, see but don’t see.

"WORSE THAN BEING BLIND, IS TO HAVE SIGHT BUT NO VISION."

- HELLEN KELLER