| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
 |
| Discourses On Gita |
| BHAKTI : SAGUNA AND NIRGUNA |
|
31. The truth of the matter is that saguna and nirguna complete each other. Saguna is easy and nirguna difficult. But from another point of view, saguna is difficult and nirguna easy. Both these means take us to the same end. The Fifth Chapter told us that yogi who works all the twenty-four hours of the day and yet does nothing is the same as the sannyaasi who does nothing all the day and yet does everything. Similarly, the state of action which is saguna and the yoga of sannyaasa which is nirguna, are the same. The difficulty which the Lord faced in answering the question, "Is sannyaasa or yoga, renunciation or action better?" the same difficulty the Lord faces here. Finally it became necessary to decide on the basis of which was easier and which was more difficult. Otherwise action and renunciation, saguna and nirguna, are both the same. 32. In the end, the Lord says, "Arjuna! Whether you are saguna bhakta or a nirguna bhakta, it does not matter. Only be a bhakta, and not a stupid stone." And after saying this, he describes the qualities of a bhakta. Nectar may be sweet, but we have had no chance of tasting it. But the sweetness of these qualities we can taste for ourselves. There is no need to imagine them. Let us experience these qualities. The qualities of the bhakta in the Twelfth Chapter are - like those of the sthitaprajna in the Second Chapter - to be read everyday, reflected upon, and brought into practice by stages so that our lives may gain strength. In this way we should little by little, turn our lives towards God. |
|
|
