99 - Manifestations of the Divine Reality | Swami Tattwamayananda

The 10th chapter of Bhagavad Gita is Vibhuti Yoga. Vibhuti means power of manifestation. This chapter lists several characteristics that are manifestations of the divine.<br /><br />Absolute Reality has two dimensions. One is the unmanifested or impersonal dimension, and the other is the manifested or personal dimension. In its pristine nature, it is impersonal and goes beyond all personal dimensions. While infinite, the Absolute Reality can have a finite dimension.<br /><br />Everything in this world – good, bad, indifference – all come from the same source, the divine reality. Just as electricity manifests in different ways depending on the gadget it powers, similarly, everything in this world is a different manifestation of the same divine reality.<br /><br />Depending on our samskaras and the state of our mind, the divine manifests itself as good or evil. We can refine our samskaras through good physical actions. They generate spiritual energy and refine our samskaras.<br /><br />We are not really as free as we imagine. Our mind, under the influence of samskaras, prevents us from what we want to do. With constant effort and by doing good actions, the resistance of the mind wears down, and we achieve more freedom.<br /><br />3rd verse: “Those who understand Me as birthless, beginning-less and infinite – they are the greatest, they are the wisest and they understand Me.”<br /><br />The absolute reality cannot be defined or explained. It is infinite and transcends all possibilities of description. It is beyond the six changes: birth, existence, growth, evolution, degeneration and death. The supreme reality in its highest dimension, is guna-atita - it is beyond gunas; it transcends gunas.<br /><br />4th and 5th verses list 20 different characteristics as manifestations of the divine reality. These characteristics are: (1) Intellect (2) Jnanam, which refers to knowledge, and the discerning wisdom to make proper use of what we know (3) Asammohah or freedom from delusion – ability to see into the reality of things