II o. You are beyond qualities (2.45-46)

traigunyavishayaa vedaa nistraigunyo bhavaarjuna
nirdvandvo nityasatvastho niryogakshema aatmavaan (2.45)

dull, active or bright
are the qualities
of the thoughts-feelings
the electricity moving up as desires
toward the objects of senses...
knowing these tendencies,
know you are not the mind
beyond the qualities
the inqualifiable one go find

who you are
is beyond satva, rajas, tamas...
is neither dull nor bright
neither noisy nor quiet
neither lazy nor uptight...

drop the qualities
drop the choice
drop the divisions,
in yourself, rejoice!

drop the worry for wellbeing
both spiritual and material
be with that trust, that faint inner voice

in the crystal pure essence
in that security of the immutable
repose in your own presence
oh dear all-capable...

celebrate and rejoice!

yaavaanartha udapaane sarvatah samplutodake
taavaansarveshuvedeshu braahmanasya vijaanatah (2.46)

of what use is a penny
to the one who owns diamonds
of what use is a pebble
to the one who has mountains?
of what use are words
to the one who personifies silence
of what use is a lake

to the one who plays among oceans?

of that use is the knowledge of the relative
to the one who dissolves in
the truth- the infinity: the brahman!
and becomes ONE?



Mahatma Gandhi's Version

45. The Vedas have as their domain the three gunas; eschew them, O Arjuna. Free thyself from the pairs of opposites, abide in eternal truth, scorn to gain or guard anything, remain the master of thy soul.


Ramanand Prasad's version

The Vedas deal with the three states or Gunas of mind. Become free from dualities, be ever balanced and unconcerned with the thoughts of acquisition and preservation. Rise above the three Gunas, and be Self-conscious, O Arjuna. (2.45) (Guna means the quality, state, or the property of mind, matter, and the nature. )




Weekly Knowledge #151
Hamburg
29 Apr 1998
Germany


Decision And Confusion

Decision comes only when there is confusion. When there is no confusion then there is no decision. For example, if there is a piece of wood and a biscuit on your desk, you don't decide which one to eat, isn't that right? Decision is always about choice and choice is always confusing. So, all decision-makers are confused! (Laughter)
Action is spontaneous when there is no actor. In you, there is an actor and there is a witness. An actor is either confused or decisive, but the witness realizes that the action is spontaneous and smiles.
The more decisions you make, the more confused you are, and as a result you swing between pain and pleasure. The more the witness grows in you, the more playful and untouched you are. Trust, faith, love and joy all manifest in and around you.
Are you confused, decided or happy now?
Eberhard: Confusion is too strong of an expression. Is it not rather "choice"?
Urmila: We are decided that choice is confusion. (Everyone laughs)
Hans Peter: Is there any freedom without confusion?
Sri Sri: When you are confused, there is no freedom.
Hans Peter: What is freedom of choice?
Sri Sri: Confusion! (Laughter)


Mahatma Gandhi's version of 2.46
46. To the extent that a well is of use when there is a flood of water on all sides, to the same extent are all the Vedas of use to an enlightened Brahmana.

Ramanand Prasad's version
To a Self-realized person the Vedas are as useful as a reservoir of water when there is flood water available everywhere. (2.46)

Weekly Knowledge #19
Nova Scotia
17 Oct 1995
Canada

Discipleship Ends -- A Shishya (Disciple) Or A Sak

DISCIPLESHIP ENDS --
A SHISHYA (DISCIPLE) OR
A SAKHA (COMPANION)?
Knowledge has an end. Knowledge completes. So also does discipleship. For the disciple is aimed at acquiring Knowledge.
Once you cross the water, however nice the boat is, you get off the boat. After twelve years, the disciple completes his studies. The master does a ceremony called Samavartha, where he tells the disciple that he is ending the discipleship and asking him to behave at par with him, and let the Brahman dynamically manifest.
Sakha is a companion in life and death; it never ends. In the path of love there is neither beginning nor end. Sakha only wants the beloved. He doesn't care about the Knowledge or liberation. Love is incomplete because of longing. And so it is infinite, for infinity can never be complete.
Arjuna was a sakha to Krishna and although Krishna was the perfect Master he was a sakha, too. What are you, a shishya (disciple) or a sakha (companion)?