Lord Krishna has given plenty of information on this topic in the Bhagavad-Gita. Beginning with, “I am the cause of coming into being of the entire creation. From Me everything gets activated” (10.8). “One who knows Me as unborn, without beginning and the Supreme Lord, he amongst the mortals is undeluded and is freed from all sins” (10.3). “Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from bewilderment, forgiveness, truthfulness, control over senses, being able to subdue the mind, enjoyment, misery, creation and dissolution, fear and fearlessness also” (10.4). “Non-violence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame, infamy — these different kinds of states of living entities originate from Me only” (10.5).
Having given a brief summary of what all originates from God, Lord Krishna talks about benefits of this information: “One who knows My this opulence and yoga in the real sense, he gets linked to Me with steady yoga; there is no doubt about this” (10.7). “Realising this, intelligent persons endowed with the right consciousness — the ones who are balanced between intelligence and emotion — worship Me” (10.8). We know about the famous astrologer Nostradamus, who used to meditate for long hours to know the future. God obliged him, and he made some very important prophecies, some long time in future. Many scientists have admitted that what they came up with was due to inspiration from God. They had prayed sincerely and God had obliged — because what they were seeking was for common good. What is my experience? I have hankered for peace from my early years. I felt that I would be able to gain it by possessing lots of money, sense enjoyments, etc. What did I find? Peace became more distant. Highly disturbed, I sought explanation till I found it in the Bhagavad-Gita. Lord Krishna states: “There is no real intelligence of the faithless, and for one who has no faith, there is no proper consciousness, and for one who has no proper consciousness, there is no peace, and from where could there be any sukha (happiness) for one who is not peaceful?” (2.66).
This was a shocker. I was just doing the opposite by reposing my faith in everything except God. This verse also explained why there was no ‘sukha’ either. What I considered ‘sukha’ was giving me no satisfaction. Sense enjoyments of the lusty types just do the opposite. This was another rude realisation; I was moving in the opposite direction. Where was ‘sukha’ then? The merciful Lord has answered this question when He stated: “A person, having consciousness unattached to external sense objects, enjoys that sukha within, which is extraordinary.” I needed strong ‘atmabala’ (willpower) to control my rascal mind. Again, the source was God only.
Lord Krishna guides: “External attractions are very difficult to overcome. Only those, who take shelter in Me, they are able to transcend them” (7.14). Now nothing was going to stop me from pursuing this path. Having understood who the source was, I made a list of what all I desperately needed. This list had fulfilment of my proper desires like maintenance and protection of what I had my body, my near and dear ones, etc. Next on my list was continuous guidance in whatever I did. God is that source. “By being specially kind to them, I, situated within, destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining lamp of knowledge” (10.11). Is God not omniscient? He is. I am finding out — the largely ignorant me. Same is true about we small helpless souls with no exceptions, including devotees of God, which I claim to be. God promises: “Having My consciousness, you will cross all impediments by My kripa (grace)” (18.58). Gone were the days when I drove myself crazy by cyclic thinking. Now I switch to God’s shelter without much delay. Now that I have become so dependent upon God (18.62), He has mercifully taken charge of me; He alerts me about possible dangers.
Fortunately, I am quite receptive now about signals coming from my Lord. Surely, reforms could not be ignored by my Lord. I am on a roller-coaster ride — with reform of some fault of mine on one day and bliss the next day, feeling great about the needed correction done. I will close this article by stating that my one more fervent desire was for God to use me as His nimitta (instrument), as Arjuna was chosen. My Lord has granted this wish. Now practically everything I take up, which is based on dharma (highest principles), succeeds. And guess who gets credit? I do. God, the source, does not need any credit from anyone.
(The writer is a spiritual teacher and a popular columnist)
