106 - The Cycle of Existence is Within the Divine | Swami Tattwamayananda

11th chapter: verses 1-5<br /><br />In the 10th chapter, the main message is that everything is an expression of the divine. When we see a golden ornament, the essence of it is gold. When we see a pot made of mud, its essence is mud. Similarly, the divine is the essence of everything. This divinity is immanent within us. We can manifest this divinity by seeing its presence in anything that is sublime, supreme, beautiful and creative.<br /><br />The 11th chapter communicates the same essence in a different manner. We should be able to see the different ornaments when we see gold, and we should be able to see pots when we see mud.<br /><br />The manifestations described in the 10th chapter are meant to increase devotion. When we realize the various manifestations of God, we should also know that the Lord transcends time, space and causation. He is present everywhere and in everything. He is not just immanent – He is also transcendental.<br /><br />Our idea of events is limited to time and space. If we can transcend these, we can see the entire existence in one dimension, with no demarcation between past, present and future. We will see various beings coming and going – birth, existence, death, rebirth – all happening simultaneously.<br /><br />In the 11th chapter, Arjuna experiences the vision of the universal form of the divine.<br /><br />1st verse: Arjuna says: “You have taught me this supreme, spiritual truth. With this discerning wisdom of spirituality, you have removed my delusion and ignorance.”<br /><br />Gita is a discussion in the field of action. Gita starts with Arjuna’s predicament towards a duty that he is expected to do, but that is unpleasant to him. After Lord Krishna’s instructions, the same Arjuna says in the 73rd verse of the 18th chapter: “By your grace, all my doubts are gone. I shall act according to your instructions.”<br /><br />How did Arjuna learn this wisdom? At first, Lord Krishna taught him philosophy, the knowledge of Atman – that did not work. Then Lord Krishna taught him the path of