Introduction to Bhagavad-

GitaClearing the

Misconceptions Part II: Krishna and the Jivas

(souls) are distinct

Popular Misconceptions about GitaPopular Misconceptions about Gita

Krishna and the individual souls are one and Krishna and the individual souls are one and the same.the same.

Only in illusion do we not realize our Absolute Only in illusion do we not realize our Absolute oneness.oneness.

When one is liberated, one realizes the oneness When one is liberated, one realizes the oneness of everything, without distinction, including of everything, without distinction, including oneness with Krishna.oneness with Krishna.

Let’s see what Krishna actually says in the Let’s see what Krishna actually says in the Bhagavad-Gita…Bhagavad-Gita…

““Never was there a Never was there a time when I did not time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in these kings; nor in the future shall any the future shall any of us cease to be.” of us cease to be.” Gita 2.12Gita 2.12

Sarve vayam “all of Sarve vayam “all of us”; just as I us”; just as I [Krishna], you [Krishna], you [Arjuna], and all [Arjuna], and all these kings have these kings have always existed at all always existed at all times in the past.times in the past.

Plurality Refers to the SoulPlurality Refers to the Soul

Some say “The plurality mentioned in Gita Some say “The plurality mentioned in Gita 2.12 refers to the bodies and not the soul, 2.12 refers to the bodies and not the soul, which is the one undifferentiated Brahman.”which is the one undifferentiated Brahman.”

But…But… A bodily conception of life was reprimanded A bodily conception of life was reprimanded

in 2.11 as foolishin 2.11 as foolish Similarly, in Gita 2.13 Krishna describes the Similarly, in Gita 2.13 Krishna describes the

souls as dehi (owner of the body) and the body souls as dehi (owner of the body) and the body as deha, the body.as deha, the body.

Foolish Bodily Concept Foolish Bodily Concept

The Supreme The Supreme Personality of Godhead Personality of Godhead said: While speaking said: While speaking learned words, you are learned words, you are mourning for what is mourning for what is not worthy of grief. not worthy of grief. Those who are wise Those who are wise lament neither for the lament neither for the living nor for the dead. living nor for the dead.

We Are Not These BodiesWe Are Not These Bodies ““As the embodied As the embodied

soul continuously soul continuously passes, in this body, passes, in this body, from boyhood to from boyhood to youth to old age, the youth to old age, the soul similarly passes soul similarly passes into another body at into another body at death. A sober person death. A sober person is not bewildered by is not bewildered by such a change.” Gita such a change.” Gita 2.142.14

Conclusion…Conclusion… ““Those who are seers of Those who are seers of

the truth have the truth have concluded that of the concluded that of the nonexistent [the nonexistent [the material body] there is material body] there is no endurance and of the no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they is no change. This they have concluded by have concluded by studying the nature of studying the nature of both.” Gita 2.16 both.” Gita 2.16

A learned person, A learned person, [pandita] see the soul, [pandita] see the soul, and not the body, as and not the body, as primary, it is certain that primary, it is certain that Krishna is speaking of Krishna is speaking of the real person, the soul.the real person, the soul.

Thus 2.12 says all of us Thus 2.12 says all of us have existed as have existed as individuals, NOT as the individuals, NOT as the one undifferentiated one undifferentiated spirit.spirit.

Liberation Doesn’t Mean OnenessLiberation Doesn’t Mean Oneness ““There are two There are two

classes of beings, the classes of beings, the fallible and the fallible and the infallible. In the infallible. In the material world every material world every living entity is living entity is fallible, and in the fallible, and in the spiritual world every spiritual world every living entity is called living entity is called infallible.” Gita 15.16infallible.” Gita 15.16

““Besides these two, Besides these two, there is the greatest there is the greatest living personality, living personality, the Supreme Soul, the Supreme Soul, the imperishable the imperishable Lord Himself, who Lord Himself, who has entered the has entered the three worlds and is three worlds and is maintaining them.” maintaining them.” 15.17 15.17

““Because I am Because I am transcendental, transcendental, beyond both the beyond both the fallible and the fallible and the infallible, and infallible, and because I am the because I am the greatest, I am greatest, I am celebrated both in celebrated both in the world and in the the world and in the Vedas as that Vedas as that Supreme Person.” Supreme Person.” 15.18 15.18

““Whoever knows Me Whoever knows Me as the Supreme as the Supreme Personality of Personality of Godhead, without Godhead, without doubting, is the doubting, is the knower of everything. knower of everything. He therefore engages He therefore engages himself in full himself in full devotional service to devotional service to Me, O son of Me, O son of Bharata.” 15.19 Bharata.” 15.19

Krishna is the Knower of EverythingKrishna is the Knower of Everything

““This body, O son of This body, O son of Kuntī, is called the Kuntī, is called the field, and one who field, and one who knows this body is knows this body is called the knower of called the knower of the field.” 13.2 the field.” 13.2

““O scion of O scion of Bharata, you Bharata, you should understand should understand that I am also the that I am also the knower in all knower in all bodies, and to bodies, and to understand this understand this body and its body and its knower is called knower is called knowledge. That knowledge. That is My opinion.” is My opinion.” 13.313.3

““The living entity in The living entity in material nature thus material nature thus follows the ways of follows the ways of life, enjoying the life, enjoying the three modes of nature. three modes of nature. This is due to his This is due to his association with that association with that material nature. Thus material nature. Thus he meets with good he meets with good and evil among and evil among various species.” Gita various species.” Gita 13.2213.22

““Yet in this body there Yet in this body there is another, a is another, a transcendental transcendental enjoyer, who is the enjoyer, who is the Lord, the supreme Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists proprietor, who exists as the overseer and as the overseer and permitter, and who is permitter, and who is known as the known as the Supersoul.” 13.23Supersoul.” 13.23

Lord is the Maintainer of the JivasLord is the Maintainer of the Jivas

““The Supersoul…is unattached, although He is The Supersoul…is unattached, although He is the maintainer of all living beings.” Gita 13.15 the maintainer of all living beings.” Gita 13.15

Natural that Krishna is the maintainer of the Natural that Krishna is the maintainer of the jivas since they are His own energy:jivas since they are His own energy:

““Besides these, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there Besides these, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature.” Gita 7.5 inferior nature.” Gita 7.5

Sweet Surrender

• “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” 7.14

Serve God Not Be God Serve God Not Be God ““One can understand One can understand

Me as I am, as the Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by of Godhead, only by devotional service. devotional service. And when one is in And when one is in full consciousness of full consciousness of Me by such Me by such devotion, he can devotion, he can enter into the enter into the kingdom of God.” kingdom of God.” 18.5518.55

Thank You Very MuchThank You Very Much

Hare Krishna Hare KrishnaHare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare hareKrishna Krishna Hare hare

Hare Rama Hare RamaHare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare HareRama Rama Hare Hare