Miscellaneous - Religion   

Divine will is supreme

CHENNAI: The Bhagavad Gita reinforces the teaching of the scriptures and claims that the highest attainment for any individual is liberation. To attain the Lord's feet is the greatest feat to be accomplished.

To initiate the Jivatmas into the awareness of this goal, and to show them the means to attain it, the Lord incarnates time and again, and holds out His helping hand. Even as Lord Krishna elucidates the paths of Karma, Jnana and Bhakti by which this goal is attainable, what becomes clear is that He is not only the ultimate goal but is also the only means to the goal, said Sri O. R. Devanathan in a lecture.

The divine will is supreme in all matters and but for the intervention of divine grace, no one can even strive to attain Him. Only He can inculcate spiritual leanings in the Jivatma whose life is driven by the effects of past karma.

Though appearing to offer advice to a confused Arjuna, Lord Krishna expounds the highest philosophical, metaphysical and spiritual matters at great length to enlighten the Jivatma that is wrapped in the maze of ignorance. Lord Krishna clarifies doubts regarding the nature of the individual soul, its relationship with God and the universe, and promises succour to those who seek His feet.

Jivatmas are not aware that their true self is beyond pain or pleasure and fail to understand the unique value of human birth. The Jivatma has to know its true nature as pure consciousness and that though it is the operating system for the body it inhabits temporarily, it is not to be associated with the body.

Yet it is able to experience God only when it is embodied in human form. But it needs to remember always that neither is this unstable, fragile, sorrowful and unpredictable world its abode. Its true goal is the abode of God.

Arjuna's delusion is destroyed when he imbibes the teaching of Lord Krishna in the right spirit. For he understands in all sincerity that the self-knowledge thus gained has been possible through God's grace. He realises that he is an instrument of God and is ready to do his duty. Humility is the most essential quality in one's spiritual quest.

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