BHAGAVAD GITA - CHAPTER 12

YOGA OF DEVOTION

The Lord says that devotees, who worship Him with form or without form, will reach Him. The unmanifest form of worship is difficult but the result will be quick. The worshippers of nirguna Brahman (without form) should not have the least attachment, even for their own bodies, from the very beginning.

Knowledge of Brahman is better than meditation; meditation is better than theoretical knowledge; renunciation of desires is better than meditation. In meditation, there is a single-pointed continuous thought of the Supreme. By the renunciation of desires one can attain supreme peace (universal consciousness).

Krishna describes the marks of the devotees who possess such peace of mind and have realized God. One who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, with mind and intellect dedicated to God, is very dear to God. One by whom the world is not agitated and who cannot be agitated by the world, who is free from joy, envy, fear and anxiety. One who has risen above all distractions, who has given up all initiative in actions, is dear to God. Who is alike to both friend and foe, good and bad, honour and dishonour, heat and cold, and other contrary experiences, and who has full devotion to God, he is dear to God. One who takes censure and praise alike, who is silent, content with any means of subsistence, without attachment or sense of ownership in respect of his dwelling place, fully absorbed in the practice of meditation, and full of devotion, is dear to God. Krishna describes the person who remains in God-consciousness and suggests to humanity to follow with faith the immortal dharma with which the sages have attained the supreme goal.

Chapter 12 teaches humanity to follow the Immortal Dharma, which leads one nearer to God. When people encourage negative forces (adharma) they will suffer. Dharma, keeps the stream of life in harmony, and one derives immense happiness in both the material and spiritual fields. God-vision first comes as a glimpse and goes, as happened to Arjuna in the previous chapter. In order that it may become a perpetual experience, a definite practice is prescribed which may be called the four types of spiritual endeavor - jnana, yoga, bhakti and karma. Through the technique of integral yoga, the vision is perpetuated, one becomes a real bhakta, as described in this chapter.

IMPORTANT VERSES IN CHAPTER 12

13. He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving.

14. Ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, possessed of firm conviction, with the mind and intellect dedicated to Me, he, my devotee, is dear to Me.

Questions:

Q1. Why is it easier to meditate on a concrete form of God than an abstract one?

Q2. What are the signs of a person who has attained supreme peace?

Q3. Why should one follow dharma?