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Re: Perfect understanding/Krishna consciousness
R & L Chilukuri wrote:
>Observations and Questions:
>
>1) Note that the shloka has three words originating from the
>root
>stha.
> Thus steady, firm, or established is emphasized. Perhaps
>steadiness
> in all aspects is a hallmark of such a being.
Most definitely. Here, the three compound words using the root stha
are sthita-prajn~asya "of one who is situated in Krsna
consciousness," samadhi-sthasya "of one situated in trance," and
sthita-dhih "one fixed in Krsna consciousness." Arjuna is inquiring
how such a person is situated, hence the root stha comes into play.
>2) My first reaction to this shloka was -- "I dont really care
>how
>such
> a man sits, speaks or walks! He can be no different
>(physically)
> from other human beings in this respect!" Ramanuja does try
>to
> interpret "vrajeta" as "doing things" and "asita" as
>"meditate"
Arjuna is inquiring about the symptoms of a pure devotee of Krsna.
As Prabhupada points out, different kinds of men have different
symptoms associated with them, and so too does the Krsna-conscious
man. The most important of these, as you rightly noted, was speech.
The Krsna-conscious man speaks only of Krsna and nothing else.
Arjuna's questions about sitting and walking are (speculation) meant
to elucidate the difference between the average person and the Krsna
conscious person. Or perhaps by asking these basic questions he
indicates that he wants to know all details pertaining to the Krsna
conscious man. Another thing to consider is that 'walk' and 'sit' in
this verse probably have the connotations which Ramanuja brought up
in his translation (i.e. vrajeta meaning 'doing things' and asita
meaning 'meditate'). That seems to make sense considering the way
Lord Krishna answers this question in the next few verses.
>
>If there is sufficient interest, perhaps we can r\discuss the
>remaine\der
>of
>Chapter 2 in this manner.
>
Yes, Chapter 2 is particularly good for discussion, since it
summarizes all of the Gita's teachings.
Yours,
-- HKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
- H. Krishna Susarla - "Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or -
- susarla@rice.edu - sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without -
- Rice University - religion is mental speculation." -
- Class of 1995 - -- Swami Srila Prabhupada -
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, was impersonal before and
have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge,
they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme."
- Bhagavad-Gita 7.24
