119 - Distinction Between Body and Spirit | Swami Tattwamayananda

The 12 th chapter on Bhakti Yoga begins with a question from Arjuna. He asks: “Some people worship<br />God with name and form – they chant and pray. Others worship the imperishable, the unmanifest.<br />Which is better?”<br />Arjuna’s question came from a conflict he was facing. From earlier chapters, Arjuna knew that there are<br />two ways of looking upon God. (1) God as the creator and protector, who listens to our prayers (2) God<br />as the all-pervading divine spirit, that is Nirakara, transcending names and forms. Arjuna thought he<br />could choose between God with form or God without form.<br />It is not a matter of our intellectual choice. It is a matter of our own spiritual evolution. A ten-year-old<br />boy has to attend primary school first – he cannot just choose to go to a university. Similarly, in the<br />beginning of our spiritual journey, we worship God as Sakara, as the creator and protector. Upon the<br />highest realization, we see God as Nirakara, the all-pervading divine spirit present everywhere and in<br />everything, transcending names, forms, time, space, causation, and verbalization.<br />In answer, Lord Krishna says that for those who identify with their body, the path of Nirakara is very<br />difficult. Their only option is to worship God as Sakara, by performing spiritual practices.<br />They can have the intellectual conviction of the highest idea of God to prevent fanaticism. Advaita<br />accommodates the path of Bhakti – each one should follow the path that is most suitable for them.<br />Bhakti reaches its zenith when the devotee feels he is an instrument in the hands of God.<br />In the 13 th to 19 th verses of the 12 th chapter, Lord Krishna describes the characteristics of an ideal<br />devotee. Lord Krishna does not mention rituals or going to a temple. He essentially says that all genuine<br />devotees are good human beings.<br />Lord Krishna concludes the chapter in the 20 th verse by saying that anyone who practices this great<br />spiritual discipline with sanctity and