The pure knowledge (Gnyana yoga)

 

Week 15, Shloka (36-42) chapter 4 and shlokas (1-7) chapter 5

In the remaining shlokas of chapter four (shlokas 36-42) Krishna insists on the importance of the desire of a being to attain the 'pure knowledge'—that is the knowledge of the spirit. He also tells that if a being does not have this desire to attain gnyana (pure knowledge), he is already walking on the earth like a dead being. In other words, such a life is a waste when it is spent in indulgences and ignorance since it is not aligned with the natural principle of evolution (that which leads to the supreme union).

This knowledge—the knowledge of the spirit is the provider of peace. When this knowledge is settled in a being, he attains the expanse of his spirit and experiences peace wherever he drops his sight. Such a being attains the principle of singularity and so, doesn’t differentiate between himself and others.

To attain such a state first, one should be desirous of gaining this knowledge. For the one who is desirous of pure knowledge will eventually overcome his sins and ignorance (with the enlightened knowledge)—such is the power of pure knowledge. A being without pure knowledge is a being full of doubts and this doubtfulness is a path to destruction-- tells Krishna (shloka 40). Doubtfulness is the biggest sin that is capable of destroying the intellect of a being. And this doubtfulness can only be destroyed by attaining the knowledge of the spirit.

Arjuna still confused and asks Shri Krishna to remove his doubts since the talks of Krishna is getting more difficult to understand as one side Krishna tells him to give up karmas (in the sense of detachment) and on another side tells him to perform the duty of a warrior. Arjuna insists on knowing that path which is easier to follow and is superior.

Tells Krishna— giving up karmas and performing karma yoga are both but the same things. As the one who has overcome the principle of duality and thus sees oneness in everything/every being. He is the one who has overcome the illusion of ‘I am the doer’ and thus has attained supreme happiness/joy and because of such a state he doesn’t need to renounce the world and is unaffected by the good and bad effects of karmas. Such a being is a true ‘sanyasi’ (a renouncer of the world for spirituality) from inside and so it doesn’t matter to him where he lives (like a worldly being from outside).

In a way, both gnyana-yoga and karma-yoga are but one and the same thing. For those who do not practice karma-yoga, their desire for gnyana-yoga is also futile. The ones who know that these two paths are the same are the ones who are unaffected by illusions and are beyond the karmas (Shloka7).

P.S. Talking about 'Gnyana', some might think acquiring knowledge means reading various kinds of books-- holy books or spiritual books, etc. however Krishna till the end of chapter four has already told that- which is called knowledge in a spiritual (true) sense. i.e. the knowledge and understanding of illusory nature of that we called as reality and understanding the formless - that which is real and truth.