01:840:211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Vibhuti, Sattva, Upanishads
Religion in Asia 02/16/17
Bhakti and the Bhagavad Gita (BhG)
● Chapter 7-12 : develop an understanding of the nature of Krishna as the supreme deity
- They elaborate how devotion (bhakti) to Krishna is done through the disinterested
performance of Dharma
- Faithful devotion to Krishna through dharmic action as sacrifice is the highest spiritual
practice - leading to liberation (moksa) through Krishna’s grace (Prasada)
<Chapter 7>
● Claims to be a teaching of the totality of knowledge necessary for liberation from
Samsara. What is this knowledge? Knowledge of Krishna!
● Knowledge that Krishna is in all things
● Krishna as “the desire that does not impede sacred duty”
● Knowledge of Krishna’s nature as the Cosmo-creator - his ultimate reality
- He is the inner being, the inner divinity and inner sacrifice of the Infinite Spirit (Brahman)
<Chapter 8>
● Arjuna questions the nature of Brahman
● The “Infinite Spirit” - is Krishna’s realm? - According to the BhG - to reach Brahman is to
reach Krishna
● Krishna = the Brahman of the Upanisads
● Reaching Krishna’s real means - escaping Samsara, liberation from suffering (Dukkha)
<Chapter 9>
● Krishna claims - to teach the deepest mystery (or “profound secret knowledge”) that
leads to liberation (Moksa)
● This “Science of Kings” or “Royal Science” - is knowledge of Krishna as the true
meaning and enjoyer of all sacrificial acts and as the true meaning of ascetic practices
(tapas)
● 9.29-33 → the path recommended by the BhG is open to everyone
<Chapter 10>
● Arjuna asks Krishna to recount his manifestations (vibhuti) so he can know how to
meditate on him
● 10.20-42 : Krishna recounts his manifestations as “whatever is powerful, lucid., splendid,
or invulnerable” (41) - he is sure to note his superiority among the gods - who here are
mentioned as his avatars (avatara)
<Chapter 11>
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Document Summary
Chapter 7-12 : develop an understanding of the nature of krishna as the supreme deity. They elaborate how devotion (bhakti) to krishna is done through the disinterested performance of dharma. Faithful devotion to krishna through dharmic action as sacrifice is the highest spiritual practice - leading to liberation (moksa) through krishna"s grace (prasada) Claims to be a teaching of the totality of knowledge necessary for liberation from. Knowledge that krishna is in all things. Krishna as the desire that does not impede sacred duty . Knowledge of krishna"s nature as the cosmo-creator - his ultimate reality. He is the inner being, the inner divinity and inner sacrifice of the infinite spirit (brahman) According to the bhg - to reach brahman is to reach krishna. Krishna = the brahman of the upanisads. Reaching krishna"s real means - escaping samsara, liberation from suffering (dukkha) Krishna claims - to teach the deepest mystery (or profound secret knowledge ) that leads to liberation (moksa)