Yoga of the Vision Of the Cosmic Form

Jan 2, 2004, 12.00am IST


The Bhagavad Gita is a scientific text dealing with the knowledge of life and living. This knowledge consists of the eternal principles governing human existence.

These principles remain as relevant today as when they were expressed thousands of years ago on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Arjuna was a prince and decorated warrior of those times. However, when confronted with a personal challenge on the battlefield, he succumbed to the pressure of the situation and became incapacitated; he was beset with doubt, and he could not act.

Arjuna represents today's human being. The battlefield of Kurukshetra is symbolic of the world, with the numerous challenges it presents. In spite of being well educated and proficient in our respective fields of activity, we succumb eventually to the stress and strain of life when faced with challenges.

The reason for this paradox is that the education we receive is woe- fully inadequate in helping us deal with life itself. It only provides us with the information necessary to work in a particular field of our choice.

But living is a skill, a technique. One needs to learn and practise it just as to be a good sportsman or musician involves regular practice and perseverance.

Yet, very few of us look at the act of living as a skill. As a result, we remain stunted, with an extremely narrow vision limited to our petty, mundane existence and its innumerable worries and anxieties.

We end up missing the larger picture. Steeped in ignorance, we continue to live, oblivious to the purpose for which we exist.

The eleventh chapter of the Gita is titled The Yoga of the Vision of the Cosmic Form. The cosmic form is presented before Arjuna as a gigantic figure of Krishna, the form that is symbolic of the Underlying Reality that supports the manifested universe.

"Arjuna, behold as concentrated within this body of Mine the entire creation consisting of both animate and inanimate beings, and whatever else you desire to see. But surely you cannot see Me with these human eyes of yours; therefore, I vouchsafe to you the divine eye. With this you behold My divine power of Yoga" (XI.7, 8).

Krishna explains to Arjuna that he ought to understand that Reality and not get carried away by the passing phenomenon of names and forms that he perceives in the everyday world.

This universe is governed by an essential Law that holds its functioning toge-ther. We must try to understand the functioning of that law and our role in it. Without knowledge of these fundamental issues, we become confused and deluded in life. And then we succumb to the pressures of various challenges.

Krishna then expounds the know-ledge to Arjuna in detail. He explains to him the functioning of the cosmos and his role in it. As a Kshatriya, his duty is to fight with a higher vision.

He should re-establish righteousness in a country battered by the immorality and barbarity of the Kauravas. In the process, he should not worry about the results that would accrue to him.

Armed with this know-ledge, Arjuna regained the intellectual clarity he had lost and became composed. He cast aside his mental weakness and emerged with a firm vision of his duty in life. He was able to overcome his enemies and emerge successful.

We too can be successful, armed with this knowledge, in gaining the vision of life's mission, and acquire the mental stamina necessary to discharge our duties and responsibilities in life. We can then live fulfilling, meaningful lives.

Gautam Jain