Conciousness

 Cosmic Consciousness (Shree Krishna) and Individualized Consciousness (Arjuna)

   prajnyana brahma | Pure consciousness is called Brahman. It is all-pervasive and has interwoven or entwined itself with the invisible cosmic energy. It is an unseen Force that manifests in multitudes of shakti forms. It is akash, space, ether, sound, light, electricity, magnetism, mind, prana and what not? Everything is Energy. Energy only manifest as prana, manas and buddhi. One only becomes many. In the beginning there was darkness and the lord said, "Let there be Light, there was Light". Again, there was dark waters everywhere- "kalarnava", also meaning dark matter. Light particles appeared on this ocean of dark sea! The, there was nothing! Things, objects of phenomenal world appeared from it. And, then there was "nowhere' out of which "now' and "here' appeared. Thus, the stars are born out of ‘sada’ (Existence) and ‘asada’ (non-existence); both the phenomenal world and its supporting base are unreal! This visible world of phenomenal objects is made up of parts and it is going to be dismantled if parts come off from the whole; and, the world disappears as soon as the components that constitute it fall apart! In fact, "there was nothing in the beginning" and "there will be nothing at the end".  Nothing can appear or disappear out of nothing. Thus Brahmn remains absolutely abstract nothingness forever- in the beginning, middle, or at the end! This is the whole Truth, "the Sat". This gives meaning to ‘brahmn’ by its definition and scope. But then, what is Consciousness? Since consciousness is brahmn, that too is nothing! Since "Brahmn" is everything, consciousness, too, as brahmn, is also everything. 

   Now, Brahmn is space or Akash, the Ether, a medium that conveys. Everything is in Space! Everything is akash. Prana is akash; manas is akash; consciousness is akash; rather, everything is akash, brahmn. sarvam khalvidam brahaa |   

   The English word Space is not a suitable equivalent of Akash or Brahmn. Akash is sacred space that is something tangible, that which accommodates, manifests, withdraws and hides within its unfathomable depths only to reveal as and when needed! This also includes Mind. "Kham brahmaa" is the Vedic statement. The term akash is that which is within and outside of all, and that which encompasses, pervades, and entwines all. For instance, the jiva is full of space within (dahar akasha) as well as outside (bahir akasha) of it. All the stars, galaxies, planets and satellites are within and outside of Akash, the cosmic entity, space. If space is removed everything shrinks! Since akash  is also vital spirit, the prana, everything stops vibration if prana is removed.  Everything is inert or dead devoid of consciousness! All these are Vedic concepts that need careful study and contemplation in yogic trance, the deep states of transcendental meditation. Things become very clear in savikalpa samadhi. These things cannot be learnt from text books.

   The cosmic consciousness (Shree Krishna) is an all-pervasive Force- chit-shakti, jnyan-shakti and Kriya-shakti. The Individualized consciousness (Arjuna), on the other hand, is the concise, contracted and embodied force, that is limited in its effect. This creates a situation where Arjuna, although alongside Shree Krishna, is blind-folded, covered by attachment, desire, moha, ego. However, since Arjuna is already an enlightened person at a higher level of existence than the humans, he has Shree Krishna himself as his charioteer. 

  Thus, a yogi need not worry about his state of existence in a muddled state as along as he has surrendered to a higher power. yoginaam brahmaa bhavati saarathi | However, Arjuna is seen here dropping his bow and arrows and seeking the Lord's guidance, as if it were! in the sense of yogic trance, it is realigning the disturbed buddhi, manovrutti, ego, and the state of warring senses, moods and mental disposition. Now it is time to sit in a proper asana and start pranayama to control the mind! Thus, the instructions in Chapter II as sankhya yoga proceeds.