Descent of the Jiva and its Embodiment
There is no second opinion about the embodiment of the jiva in an earthly existence once it arrived here via the sun rays. The electromagnetic waves that radiate from distant stars may reach as far as the end of the sky, if there is such an end to it! Thus, we all, as far as we know from our horoscopes, carry the particle of any one of the sixty stars (ashvin, bharani, punarvasu, etc.) as a radiant particle in us called as the soul or 'Atman'. Once it gets embodied as a jivatman its earlier pristine form of jyoti (Light) becomes totally obscure or shrouded by five koshas (anna, prana, manas, vijnyana and ananda) and the three gunas (tamas, rajas and sattva). Besides these, the body acquired from the earth (soil and water, minerals, and the like) create a mess of the jiva! This is the embodiment of the soul (Atman) that renders the pure and pristine Light/Energy particle into an eternally condemned jiva subject to change, decay orr degeneration and death and run a repeated cycle of births and deaths.
Now, the predicament of the jiva, that of bondage and repeated births and deaths, shall be redeemed only when the jiva realizes its folly of taking a physical body. A number of external forces also get internalized in the jiva to make the matter worse. These forces are: the manas, buddhi, ahankar and the externalised senses. Ultimately, the jiva suffers due to this avidya.
Here comes the need for a Guru, a learned person who can show the path of redemption, mukti. The role of a teacher is very important in emancipation of the embodied soul.
The humans, mortals as they are, have acquired certain qualities of the prakruti (Nature). These qualities are the attributes of the jiva that come along with the soil, water, food and the environment (social, cultural in addition to the physical/ environmental) The Bhagavad-Gita enumerates all these in the Guna-traya Vibhaga. The quality of the food decides the nature of the persons. Moreover, it should always be remembered that the jivas are at different states/levels of evolutionary cycle. Not all people are enlightened or attained! May be, a few have almost succeeded, but, they are yet to reach the goal of Self-Realization. So far, none who is engaged in worldly activities could be designated as an enlightened! Only those who are in eternal state of samadhi qualifies for this!
The seven levels of Consciousness, say from muladhara to saharar prajnya level are to be transcended if one is to reach Brahmn. Most of us remain at the basal plexus and rarely, ever reach the svadhishthana level. Our level is one of fulfilling the basic needs of life and securing a comfortable living for the family. There is not much time to think beyond these during the whole tenure of our life. Even when some time is available, we spend it for entertainment in order to overcome the drudgery and boredom of life. All of us move between the Idea on the one side and the fact on the other; rarely we ever try to jump over these boundary lines to see the reality.
Thus. spiritual development calls for a determined and steadfast practice of yoga. as and when the individualized consciousness deeply engaged in the qualities (Arjuna) expands to the vast and unlimited Krishna level, it is said to be enlightened. Hence, Krishna asks Arjuna to take to yoga and transcend the three qualities. nistraigunyobhaavaarjunaa|| tasmad yogirbhavaarjunaa |
All the jivarashis are destined to run the cycle of births and deaths here. these are of four types- budbhuda (like plants, roots and seeds), born of sweat and moisture (svedaja) born of eggs (andaja), and born of retas (retaja). Only humans are endowed with the necessary physical body to undertake Yogic exercises and attain the highest level of Krishna Consciousness.
Here comes the need for a Guru, a learned person who can show the path of redemption, mukti. The role of a teacher is very important in emancipation of the embodied soul.
The humans, mortals as they are, have acquired certain qualities of the prakruti (Nature). These qualities are the attributes of the jiva that come along with the soil, water, food and the environment (social, cultural in addition to the physical/ environmental) The Bhagavad-Gita enumerates all these in the Guna-traya Vibhaga. The quality of the food decides the nature of the persons. Moreover, it should always be remembered that the jivas are at different states/levels of evolutionary cycle. Not all people are enlightened or attained! May be, a few have almost succeeded, but, they are yet to reach the goal of Self-Realization. So far, none who is engaged in worldly activities could be designated as an enlightened! Only those who are in eternal state of samadhi qualifies for this!
The seven levels of Consciousness, say from muladhara to saharar prajnya level are to be transcended if one is to reach Brahmn. Most of us remain at the basal plexus and rarely, ever reach the svadhishthana level. Our level is one of fulfilling the basic needs of life and securing a comfortable living for the family. There is not much time to think beyond these during the whole tenure of our life. Even when some time is available, we spend it for entertainment in order to overcome the drudgery and boredom of life. All of us move between the Idea on the one side and the fact on the other; rarely we ever try to jump over these boundary lines to see the reality.
Thus. spiritual development calls for a determined and steadfast practice of yoga. as and when the individualized consciousness deeply engaged in the qualities (Arjuna) expands to the vast and unlimited Krishna level, it is said to be enlightened. Hence, Krishna asks Arjuna to take to yoga and transcend the three qualities. nistraigunyobhaavaarjunaa|| tasmad yogirbhavaarjunaa |
All the jivarashis are destined to run the cycle of births and deaths here. these are of four types- budbhuda (like plants, roots and seeds), born of sweat and moisture (svedaja) born of eggs (andaja), and born of retas (retaja). Only humans are endowed with the necessary physical body to undertake Yogic exercises and attain the highest level of Krishna Consciousness.
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