The Spiritual Import of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavadgita : Ch -18.11

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19/01/2017.
Chapter -18: Fix Your Mind on Me Alone-11.

1.
Now, the description goes further down to the nature of the percipient, the subject who aspires for God or the attainment of liberation.

2.
What are the characteristics of such a person? What is jnana? What is the knowledge that is required of us in order to understand this kshetra,and what is the knowable or the supreme object of knowledge?

3.
Amanitvam adambhitvam, etc. are the various sloka-s, beautiful indeed, which portray not only the ethical characteristics that are required of a seeker, but also the philosophical attitude that we have to maintain and the spiritual qualifications that are required of us.

4.
The gradual ascent of aspiration until tattva-jnanartha-darsanam takes place is mentioned in these sloka-s, culminating in the beautiful concept of knowledge of Truth as it is.


5.
This comes to us by the service of the Guru, study of the scriptures, self-investigation, humility, unpretentiousness and such other qualities that are mentioned in these sloka-s, beginning with amanitvam, etc.

6.
This is knowledge, and everything else is ignorance—etaj jnanam iti porktam ajnanam yad ato’nyatha.

Swami Krishnananda
  To be continued  ....


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