Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18: Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation
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Chapter 18. Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation
Chapter 18, Verse 1.
Arjuna said, O mighty-armed one, I wish to understand the purpose of renunciation [tyaga] and of the renounced order of life [sannyasa], O killer of the Kesi demon, Hrsikesa.
Chapter 18, Verse 2.
The Supreme Lord said, To give up the results of all activities is called renunciation [tyaga] by the wise. And that state is called the renounced order of life [sannyasa] by great learned men.
Chapter 18, Verse 3.
Some learned men declare that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given up, but there are yet other sages who maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and penance should never be abandoned.
Chapter 18, Verse 4.
O best of the Bharatas, hear from Me now about renunciation. O tiger among men, there are three kinds of renunciation declared in the scriptures.
Chapter 18, Verse 5.
Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up but should be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.
Chapter 18, Verse 6.
All these activities should be performed without any expectation of result. They should be performed as a matter of duty, O son of Prtha. That is My final opinion.
Chapter 18, Verse 7.
Prescribed duties should never be renounced. If, by illusion, one gives up his prescribed duties, such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 8.
Anyone who gives up prescribed duties as troublesome, or out of fear, is said to be in the mode of passion. Such action never leads to the elevation of renunciation.
Chapter 18, Verse 9.
But he who performs his prescribed duty only because it ought to be done, and renounces all attachment to the fruit--his renunciation is of the nature of goodness, O Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 10.
Those who are situated in the mode of goodness, who neither hate inauspicious work nor are attached to auspicious work, have no doubts about work.
Chapter 18, Verse 11.
It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to give up all activities. Therefore it is said that he who renounces the fruits of action is one who has truly renounced.
Chapter 18, Verse 12.
For one who is not renounced, the threefold fruits of action--desirable, undesirable and mixed--accrue after death. But those who are in the renounced order of life have no such results to suffer or enjoy.
Chapter 18, Verse 13-14.
O mighty-armed Arjuna, learn from Me of the five factors which bring about the accomplishment of all action. These are declared in sankhya philosophy to be the place of action, the performer, the senses, the endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul.
Chapter 18, Verse 15.
Whatever right or wrong action a man performs by body, mind or speech is caused by these five factors.
Chapter 18, Verse 16.
Therefore one who thinks himself the only doer, not considering the five factors, is certainly not very intelligent and cannot see things as they are.
Chapter 18, Verse 17.
One who is not motivated by false ego, whose intelligence is not entangled, though he kills men in this world, is not the slayer. Nor is he bound by his actions.
Chapter 18, Verse 18.
Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower are the three factors which motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer comprise the threefold basis of action.
Chapter 18, Verse 19.
In accordance with the three modes of material nature, there are three kinds of knowledge, action, and performers of action. Listen as I describe them.
Chapter 18, Verse 20.
That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all existences, undivided in the divided, is knowledge in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 21.
That knowledge by which a different type of living entity is seen to be dwelling in different bodies is knowledge in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 22.
And that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all, without knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the mode of darkness.
Chapter 18, Verse 23.
As for actions, that action in accordance with duty, which is performed without attachment, without love or hate, by one who has renounced fruitive results, is called action in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 24.
But action performed with great effort by one seeking to gratify his desires, and which is enacted from a sense of false ego, is called action in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 25.
And that action performed in ignorance and delusion without consideration of future bondage or consequences, which inflicts injury and is impractical, is said to be action in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 26.
The worker who is free from all material attachments and false ego, who is enthusiastic and resolute and who is indifferent to success or failure, is a worker in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 27.
But that worker who is attached to the fruits of his labor and who passionately wants to enjoy them, who is greedy, envious and impure and moved by happiness and distress, is a worker in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 28.
And that worker who is always engaged in work against the injunction of the scripture, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating, is a worker in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 29.
Now, O winner of wealth, please listen as I tell you in detail of the three kinds of understanding and determination according to the three modes of nature.
Chapter 18, Verse 30.
O son of Prtha, that understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what is binding and what is liberating, that understanding is established in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 31.
And that understanding which cannot distinguish between the religious way of life and the irreligious, between action that should be done and action that should not be done, that imperfect understanding, O son of Prtha, is in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 32.
That understanding which considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion, under the spell of illusion and darkness, and strives always in the wrong direction, O Partha, is in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 33.
O son of Prtha, that determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and thus controls the mind, life, and the acts of the senses, is in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 34.
And that determination by which one holds fast to fruitive result in religion, economic development and sense gratification is of the nature of passion, O Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 35.
And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness, and illusion--such unintelligent determination is in the mode of darkness.
Chapter 18, Verse 36-37.
O best of the Bharatas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress. That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 38.
That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 39.
And that happiness which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of the nature of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 40.
There is no being existing, either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, which is freed from the three modes of material nature.
Chapter 18, Verses 41.through 48 describe work according to caste. The grain of truth here is that we are all cut out for certain kinds of work and not for others, and there some work everyone should do, and other work nobody should do.
Chapter 18, Verse 49.
One can obtain the results of renunciation simply by self-control and by becoming unattached to material things and disregarding material enjoyments. That is the highest perfectional stage of renunciation.
Chapter 18, Verse 50.
.... learn from Me in brief how one can attain to the supreme perfectional stage, Brahman, by acting in the way I shall now summarize.
Chapter 18, Verse 51-53.
Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little and who controls the body and the tongue, and is always in trance and is detached, who is without false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and who does not accept material things, such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.
Chapter 18, Verse 54.
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 55.
One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.
Chapter 18, Verse 56.
Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by My grace.
Chapter 18, Verse 57.
In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 58.
If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditional life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.
Chapter 18, Verse 59 - 60 (More caste related advice).
Chapter 18, Verse 61.
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.
Chapter 18, Verse 62.
.... surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode.
Chapter 18, Verse 63.
Thus I have explained to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.
Chapter 18, Verse 64.
Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you the most confidential part of knowledge. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit.
Chapter 18, Verse 65.
Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
Chapter 18, Verse 66.
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.
Chapter 18, Verse 67.
This confidential knowledge may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 68.
For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 69.
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
Chapter 18, Verse 70.
And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation worships Me by his intelligence.
Chapter 18, Verse 71.
And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reactions and attains to the planets where the pious dwell............
Chapter 18, Verse 72
O conqueror of wealth, Arjuna, have you heard this attentively with your mind? And are your illusions and ignorance now dispelled?
Chapter 18, Verse 73.
Arjuna said, My dear Krsna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.
Chapter 18, Verse 74.
Sanjaya said: Thus have I heard the conversation of two great souls, Krsna and Arjuna. And so wonderful is that message that my hair is standing on end.
Chapter 18, Verse 75.
By the mercy of Vyasa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the master of all mysticism, Krsna, who was speaking personally to Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 76.
O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krsna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.
Chapter 18, Verse 77.
O King, when I remember the wonderful form of Lord Krsna, I am struck with even greater wonder, and I rejoice again and again.
Chapter 18, Verse 78.
Wherever there is Krsna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18: Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation
Verse 67 reminds me of the opening lines of The Cloud of Unknowing. Both works contain "secret" knowledge intended for only the well initiated reader, yet both Cloud and Gita have become world wide classics available. at least in translation, to anyone. There is always the danger of mistaking 14th century English ideas or 7th century North Indian ones for the word of God. And there is the danger of taking metaphor or simile or allegory too literally. But are those "ready" for "secret" knowledge an elite or a "brainwashed" cult. Whether talking about Scientology or Mormon Polygamy or Jihadism, insiders are certain they are right while outsiders are almost universally convinced that the insiders are wrong. I agree with Gandhi that secret knowledge is always ultimately dangerous for everyone, those who hold it and those from whom it is withheld. Especially, in the spiritual area, there is little or nothing that can be known that can't or shouldn't be known to anyone who wants it. As Rumi put it so well, the distinction between Moses and a shepherd does not exist in the eye of God.-- the latter is capable of true devotion and the former of sheer bigotry.
I am trying to develop my ability to read sacred writing both more prayerfully and more critically. This always requires more than a single reading, sometimes many readings. A tenth critical reading reveals more than the ninth, and the tenth prayerful reading also reveals more than the ninth. Perhaps this would be true of any reading-- or listening, or tasting, or feeling, or seeing. or experiencing, or thinking. I have never prayed over the daily newspaper (except sporadically and spontaneously) i will try it.
Meanwhile the Bhagavad Gita will get another reading, and later, another. I shall obtain a copy of the Prabhavananda/Isherwood translation, which was my introduction to the Gita 69(?) years ago.
Meanwhile, Krishna, grant me more detachment and less ignorance.
Chapter 18. Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation
Chapter 18, Verse 1.
Arjuna said, O mighty-armed one, I wish to understand the purpose of renunciation [tyaga] and of the renounced order of life [sannyasa], O killer of the Kesi demon, Hrsikesa.
Chapter 18, Verse 2.
The Supreme Lord said, To give up the results of all activities is called renunciation [tyaga] by the wise. And that state is called the renounced order of life [sannyasa] by great learned men.
Chapter 18, Verse 3.
Some learned men declare that all kinds of fruitive activities should be given up, but there are yet other sages who maintain that acts of sacrifice, charity and penance should never be abandoned.
Chapter 18, Verse 4.
O best of the Bharatas, hear from Me now about renunciation. O tiger among men, there are three kinds of renunciation declared in the scriptures.
Chapter 18, Verse 5.
Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up but should be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls.
Chapter 18, Verse 6.
All these activities should be performed without any expectation of result. They should be performed as a matter of duty, O son of Prtha. That is My final opinion.
Chapter 18, Verse 7.
Prescribed duties should never be renounced. If, by illusion, one gives up his prescribed duties, such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 8.
Anyone who gives up prescribed duties as troublesome, or out of fear, is said to be in the mode of passion. Such action never leads to the elevation of renunciation.
Chapter 18, Verse 9.
But he who performs his prescribed duty only because it ought to be done, and renounces all attachment to the fruit--his renunciation is of the nature of goodness, O Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 10.
Those who are situated in the mode of goodness, who neither hate inauspicious work nor are attached to auspicious work, have no doubts about work.
Chapter 18, Verse 11.
It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to give up all activities. Therefore it is said that he who renounces the fruits of action is one who has truly renounced.
Chapter 18, Verse 12.
For one who is not renounced, the threefold fruits of action--desirable, undesirable and mixed--accrue after death. But those who are in the renounced order of life have no such results to suffer or enjoy.
Chapter 18, Verse 13-14.
O mighty-armed Arjuna, learn from Me of the five factors which bring about the accomplishment of all action. These are declared in sankhya philosophy to be the place of action, the performer, the senses, the endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul.
Chapter 18, Verse 15.
Whatever right or wrong action a man performs by body, mind or speech is caused by these five factors.
Chapter 18, Verse 16.
Therefore one who thinks himself the only doer, not considering the five factors, is certainly not very intelligent and cannot see things as they are.
Chapter 18, Verse 17.
One who is not motivated by false ego, whose intelligence is not entangled, though he kills men in this world, is not the slayer. Nor is he bound by his actions.
Chapter 18, Verse 18.
Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower are the three factors which motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer comprise the threefold basis of action.
Chapter 18, Verse 19.
In accordance with the three modes of material nature, there are three kinds of knowledge, action, and performers of action. Listen as I describe them.
Chapter 18, Verse 20.
That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all existences, undivided in the divided, is knowledge in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 21.
That knowledge by which a different type of living entity is seen to be dwelling in different bodies is knowledge in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 22.
And that knowledge by which one is attached to one kind of work as the all in all, without knowledge of the truth, and which is very meager, is said to be in the mode of darkness.
Chapter 18, Verse 23.
As for actions, that action in accordance with duty, which is performed without attachment, without love or hate, by one who has renounced fruitive results, is called action in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 24.
But action performed with great effort by one seeking to gratify his desires, and which is enacted from a sense of false ego, is called action in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 25.
And that action performed in ignorance and delusion without consideration of future bondage or consequences, which inflicts injury and is impractical, is said to be action in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 26.
The worker who is free from all material attachments and false ego, who is enthusiastic and resolute and who is indifferent to success or failure, is a worker in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 27.
But that worker who is attached to the fruits of his labor and who passionately wants to enjoy them, who is greedy, envious and impure and moved by happiness and distress, is a worker in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 28.
And that worker who is always engaged in work against the injunction of the scripture, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating, is a worker in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 29.
Now, O winner of wealth, please listen as I tell you in detail of the three kinds of understanding and determination according to the three modes of nature.
Chapter 18, Verse 30.
O son of Prtha, that understanding by which one knows what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what is binding and what is liberating, that understanding is established in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 31.
And that understanding which cannot distinguish between the religious way of life and the irreligious, between action that should be done and action that should not be done, that imperfect understanding, O son of Prtha, is in the mode of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 32.
That understanding which considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion, under the spell of illusion and darkness, and strives always in the wrong direction, O Partha, is in the mode of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 33.
O son of Prtha, that determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and thus controls the mind, life, and the acts of the senses, is in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 34.
And that determination by which one holds fast to fruitive result in religion, economic development and sense gratification is of the nature of passion, O Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 35.
And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness, and illusion--such unintelligent determination is in the mode of darkness.
Chapter 18, Verse 36-37.
O best of the Bharatas, now please hear from Me about the three kinds of happiness which the conditioned soul enjoys, and by which he sometimes comes to the end of all distress. That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.
Chapter 18, Verse 38.
That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion.
Chapter 18, Verse 39.
And that happiness which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of the nature of ignorance.
Chapter 18, Verse 40.
There is no being existing, either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, which is freed from the three modes of material nature.
Chapter 18, Verses 41.through 48 describe work according to caste. The grain of truth here is that we are all cut out for certain kinds of work and not for others, and there some work everyone should do, and other work nobody should do.
Chapter 18, Verse 49.
One can obtain the results of renunciation simply by self-control and by becoming unattached to material things and disregarding material enjoyments. That is the highest perfectional stage of renunciation.
Chapter 18, Verse 50.
.... learn from Me in brief how one can attain to the supreme perfectional stage, Brahman, by acting in the way I shall now summarize.
Chapter 18, Verse 51-53.
Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little and who controls the body and the tongue, and is always in trance and is detached, who is without false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and who does not accept material things, such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.
Chapter 18, Verse 54.
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 55.
One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.
Chapter 18, Verse 56.
Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by My grace.
Chapter 18, Verse 57.
In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 58.
If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditional life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.
Chapter 18, Verse 59 - 60 (More caste related advice).
Chapter 18, Verse 61.
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.
Chapter 18, Verse 62.
.... surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode.
Chapter 18, Verse 63.
Thus I have explained to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.
Chapter 18, Verse 64.
Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you the most confidential part of knowledge. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit.
Chapter 18, Verse 65.
Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
Chapter 18, Verse 66.
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.
Chapter 18, Verse 67.
This confidential knowledge may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 68.
For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
Chapter 18, Verse 69.
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
Chapter 18, Verse 70.
And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation worships Me by his intelligence.
Chapter 18, Verse 71.
And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reactions and attains to the planets where the pious dwell............
Chapter 18, Verse 72
O conqueror of wealth, Arjuna, have you heard this attentively with your mind? And are your illusions and ignorance now dispelled?
Chapter 18, Verse 73.
Arjuna said, My dear Krsna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.
Chapter 18, Verse 74.
Sanjaya said: Thus have I heard the conversation of two great souls, Krsna and Arjuna. And so wonderful is that message that my hair is standing on end.
Chapter 18, Verse 75.
By the mercy of Vyasa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the master of all mysticism, Krsna, who was speaking personally to Arjuna.
Chapter 18, Verse 76.
O King, as I repeatedly recall this wondrous and holy dialogue between Krsna and Arjuna, I take pleasure, being thrilled at every moment.
Chapter 18, Verse 77.
O King, when I remember the wonderful form of Lord Krsna, I am struck with even greater wonder, and I rejoice again and again.
Chapter 18, Verse 78.
Wherever there is Krsna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18: Conclusion--The Perfection of Renunciation
Verse 67 reminds me of the opening lines of The Cloud of Unknowing. Both works contain "secret" knowledge intended for only the well initiated reader, yet both Cloud and Gita have become world wide classics available. at least in translation, to anyone. There is always the danger of mistaking 14th century English ideas or 7th century North Indian ones for the word of God. And there is the danger of taking metaphor or simile or allegory too literally. But are those "ready" for "secret" knowledge an elite or a "brainwashed" cult. Whether talking about Scientology or Mormon Polygamy or Jihadism, insiders are certain they are right while outsiders are almost universally convinced that the insiders are wrong. I agree with Gandhi that secret knowledge is always ultimately dangerous for everyone, those who hold it and those from whom it is withheld. Especially, in the spiritual area, there is little or nothing that can be known that can't or shouldn't be known to anyone who wants it. As Rumi put it so well, the distinction between Moses and a shepherd does not exist in the eye of God.-- the latter is capable of true devotion and the former of sheer bigotry.
I am trying to develop my ability to read sacred writing both more prayerfully and more critically. This always requires more than a single reading, sometimes many readings. A tenth critical reading reveals more than the ninth, and the tenth prayerful reading also reveals more than the ninth. Perhaps this would be true of any reading-- or listening, or tasting, or feeling, or seeing. or experiencing, or thinking. I have never prayed over the daily newspaper (except sporadically and spontaneously) i will try it.
Meanwhile the Bhagavad Gita will get another reading, and later, another. I shall obtain a copy of the Prabhavananda/Isherwood translation, which was my introduction to the Gita 69(?) years ago.
Meanwhile, Krishna, grant me more detachment and less ignorance.