Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13

INTRODUCTION

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Kṛṣṇa explains, ‘O Kaunteya (son of Kuntī), O Arjuna, this body is called the field, kṣetra; the person who knows this body is called the knower of the field or kṣetrajña.

Whatever you know is not you. If you
know something, it is not you. For
instance, you can read this book
because it is separate and apart from
you. Similarly, if you can know your
body, then it is not you. If you can
know your mind, then it is not you. If
you can know your thoughts, then they
are not you. Whatever you know is not
you. You are separate from that or
above that. That is why you are able to
know it. Whether it is the body,
thoughts or emotions, whatever you
know is not you.

Now we need to separate these two, the field from the knower of the field. Once we separate these two, the body will be complete, blissful and joyful! Consciousness will be liberated. When these two join, that is where the problem starts.

When we understand that something is separate from us, we never feel that we must renounce it. We simply need to renounce the inadequate cognition that we are that particular thing, that’s all. We will simply know that there is nothing to renounce just by being aware of the way in which our body or mind works. Neither will we feel tortured by them, nor will we feel like torturing them. The people who are tortured by the body and mind are caught in this world and its troubles.

A person who knows how to handle his body and mind enjoys the whole thing. He is totally at ease with himself. He feels completely relaxed with his body and mind. He intensely enjoys all pleasures and comforts and he never abuses the body.

Enjoying and abusing are two different things. Enjoying is when the mind and the body are in tune with each other. We feel ease, comfort, a deep sense of relaxation and a feeling of being at home with ourselves.

Another category of people tortures the body for the sake of the mind, in the name of penance or tapas. These people are in search of peace and bliss. They go on disrespecting and torturing the body: going without food for months together, standing on one leg, or walking on fire. They continuously abuse the body or mind in one way or the other.

Torturing others happens
when we torture ourselves. If
we torture ourselves, naturally
we will torture others. Please
understand that we torture
others when we do not feel
comfortable and complete
within ourselves. Torturing
others is directly related to
torturing ourselves. If we
think that we are the mind,
we torture our body; and if we
think we are the body, we
torture our mind. The person
who knows the secrets of the
body and mind neither
tortures nor abuses them. He
knows how to use and enrich
them and live blissfully in
completion with them. His
inner space overflows with
bliss, and his outer space
enjoys comforts and real
pleasures.

Our consciousness is God and there is no separate thing as God. The problem arises when we start carrying an inadequate cognition thinking that we are the body and the mind. A person who carries the right cognition and understands that he is consciousness liberates himself. He is enlightened. He becomes the Buddha. Consciousness is God.

The Equation is: God + body-mind = man man – body-mind = God!

GOALS:

To let students understand that
whatever they know is not them.
If one carries the right cognition
and understands one is
consciousness, then one liberates
himself and becomes
enlightened.

ASSESSMENTS

❖ Why is it that when you know something, that particular thing is not you? ❖ Why is renunciation unnecessary when we know that something is separate from us? ❖ Explain the difference between enjoying and abusing the body and mind. ❖ How is torturing others directly related to torturing ourselves? ❖ How can a person become enlightened?

A digital rendering of a young deity or ascetic with vibhuti on forehead, adorned with rudraksha beads and gold jewelry, making a mudra with the right hand.

ART OF THE DAY

ART OF THE DAY:

YOUR BODY IS NOT YOU!

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Pencil & Pen,

Paper

Crayons

PROCEDURE

Trace your hand (either left or right) with all the fingers wide spread on the piece of white paper. Measure the length from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger and record the measurement. When doing this activity, take note of your thoughts and write them down too on the piece of white paper. Look at your traced hand. Now you know the size of your hand. Read the thoughts that you have written down. Why did you have these thoughts?

INFERENCE

If you can know your body and your thoughts, then they are not you. Whatever you know is not you. You are separate from that or above that. That is why you are able to know it. Whether it is the body, thoughts or emotions, whatever you know is not you.

Illustration of a person playing a flute, framed by two large feathers

ACTIVITY OF THE DAY

ACTIVITY OF THE DAY:

MATERIALS NEEDED:

If possible, have the technology to show
a YouTube video.
Otherwise have the story ready of the
lion cub who grows up thinking it is a
goat / sheep.

PROCEDURE:

If possible, have the technology to show
a YouTube video. Otherwise have the
story ready of the lion cub who grows
up thinking it is a goat / sheep

WORKSHOP OF THE DAY

WORKSHOP OF THE DAY:

VAAKYARTHA SADHAS

Topic of discussion: Our consciousness is God and there is no separate thing as God. However, the problem arises when we start carrying an inadequate cognition thinking that we are the body and the mind. Why is this so?

Conclusion: A person who carries the right cognition and understands that he is consciousness liberates himself. He is enlightened. He becomes the Buddha. Consciousness is God.

Image of a person depicted as a deity with a statue in the background