110 | Spiritualizing the Secular | Swami Tattwamayananda

Bhagavad Gita | The Essence of Vedanta

11th chapter: verses 29, 48, 54, 55
29th verse: “As moths rush towards a blazing fire only to perish, so also all of us are rushing towards Your mouth only to perish.”
32nd verse: “I am the mighty, all-consuming time. “
To those who look upon the world as a place for sensual pleasures, the world is like a blazing fire, and they are like moths rushing towards it. But when we have a higher spiritual goal that guides our actions, then we start moving towards our true spiritual destination. Upon reaching it, we realize our immortal dimension as the Atman. We realize that the same Atman exists in all of us.
Upon that highest realization, we see the presence of God within and outside the place of worship. We can spiritualize our everyday activities – our whole life becomes a spiritual sacrament.
In the 41st verse of the 10th chapter, Lord Krishna says: “Wherever you find some greatness, prosperity, power or excellence – know that to be a part of My splendor.”
Wherever we find a unique manifestation that is sublime and beautiful, it is an expression of the divine reality. In whatever profession one may be, if that person reaches a level of transcendental excellence – that perfection is a spark of the divinity within him. When the scholarship of a scholar is combined with sattvic nature such as humility, or the power of a person is combined with wisdom and maturity – then it becomes an expression of the divine.
This divinity is immanent within us. We can manifest this divinity by practicing karma yoga, bhakti yoga or other yogas. When we do our actions with a sense of sanctity and sacredness and with an unselfish attitude, then it becomes a spiritual action. The line of demarcation between secular and spiritual vanishes.
48th verse: “The highest truth cannot be realized just by scholarship.” Theology or philosophy is not a substitute for one's own spiritual experience and realization. When we realize the presence of the divine, a transformation comes upon us. We feel inner contentment. We become broad-minded and a better human being. We see God in everything and everything in God.
In the Bhagavata Purana, there is a dialogue between King Nimi and the Nava Yogis. In answer to the King’s question: “Who is an ideal devotee of God?”, one of the sages gives the following answer: “The one who sees the presence of God in all beings, and who sees the presence of all beings in God. “
55th verse: “You should do everything as offering to Me (mat-karma-kṛit). You should consider Me as the supreme goal in life (mat-paramaḥ). You should be devoted to Me (mat-bhaktaḥ). You should be free from obsessive attachment ( saṅga-varjitaḥ). You should look upon the whole creation as one spiritual family, without malice towards anyone (nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣhu). Then you will certainly come to Me.”
The attitude with which one does the action determines whether he is a spiritual action. A priest’s worship may be mechanical as a duty. On the other hand, a soldier may do his duty as an act of worship. When we do our actions with a sense of sanctity, sacredness, unselfishness and without obsessive attachment to results, then it becomes an act of worship. Our journey starts with “Work and worship, evolves to “Work as worship” and culminates in “Everything is worship.” Then all secular activities are spiritualized.
Prapatti is the highest state of a devotee of God. Prapatti means complete surrender and is composed of the following characteristics. (1) Always having a positive outlook in life, full of sattvic qualities such as serenity, wisdom, compassion, and broad mindedness. (2) Rejecting all the opposing qualities such as skepticism and self-doubt. (3) Strong faith that God will protect me. (4) Total self-surrender. When we surrender, we feel a huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders.
Only a person who follows the principles of Satyam, Ritm and Dharma can be spiritual. He looks upon the entire creation as one spiritual family.
Satyam means truth. A person will not deviate from the path of harmony if he practices truthfulness.
Ritm is the central principle of inherent harmony that exists in nature.
Dharma refers to the ethical and moral principles through which one practices Satyam. For example, it is immoral to pollute the earth and therefore against Dharma.
Vedic mantras emphasize harmony and balance of nature. Let the earth, clouds, skies, plants, trees and the entire cosmos remain pure, undisturbed, and in perpetual peace and harmony.
54th verse is the prelude to the 12th chapter. Lord Krishna says: “You can understand My true nature only by true, single minded devotion.”
Thus, ends the 11th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, which contains the essence of all scriptures.