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Buddhi- Yoga (An enlightened intellect)

Week 7, shlokas 38-51- chapter two.


As Shri Krishna begins talking about the ‘Buddhi- yoga’ (yoga attained through the enlightened intellect- Buddhi). As the intellect- that which understands that performing duties without desiring/ attaching with the outcome is an enlightened intellect- the ‘sadbuddhi’. And the one who is blessed with such kind of sadbuddhi remains free from the pains and pleasures related to birth and death. Is liberated from paap and punyas (the bad deeds and the good deeds). It is subtle (the sadbuddhi), and the three 'gunas', ‘sattva’, ‘rajah’, and the ‘tamas’ cannot penetrate it. Such enlightened intellect makes one completely fearless. Such a being enjoys the blessings of this life and at the same time attains his ‘moksha’. Even if he performs a ritual, which is interrupted/destroyed by some factors, he will suffer no ill effects.

Even if such buddhi is in an exceedingly small amount— it should not be underestimated. Such an enlightened intellect is rare and is focused only upon attaining salvation- nirvana. Rest all kinds of intellect are useless and will bring all kinds of pleasures and pain but the pleasure of the spirit.

(Shlokas 42,43,44) – All such kinds of intellects (the rest which is not sadbuddhi) often take the basis of Vedas and try to establish the supremacy of ‘karma-yoga' but at the same time desire the outcome of their actions. They often perform rituals like Yagnyas and all to obtain certain outcomes. They will perform them with utmost care and precision but behind all this, they desire ‘swarga’ and forget God who is the sole enjoyer of all this offering. And this kind of intellect is what He calls as, ‘durbuddhi’—the (spoiled…?) intellect.

Vedas will tell many remedies and will suggest many ways, but you take what you think is required for your ascent and leave the rest. Listen to all but take only that much what is needed. With an enlightened intellect, accept only that which leads towards attaining the ‘brahm-tattva’, the ‘atma- tattva’.

Krishna says that performing 'karmas' (duties/deeds) without desiring the outcome and not accepting to perform those karmas (acts) which are prohibited is what is the right thing to do --and do it with 'nishkama'(shloka 47).

If you start something and by the divine- coincidences (or spontaneity) it gets finished without putting much efforts, or even if it remains unfinished due to unavoidable factors or whatever that is-- should be offered to God as it is without getting disappointed or elating yourself. The calmness of heart in pleasure and pain is what is the sum-up of all the yoga.


p.s. As I try to sum up what is spoken in these shlokas, I still feel there's much more to understand, read and meditate regarding this cosmic knowledge. one must therefore not deny themselves the pleasure of reading these Sanskrit verses and meditate on their meaning.

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