Essentials of Hinduism - Bhagavad Gita - The Three

Essentials of Hinduism

Bhagavad Gita

Chapter 17 - The Three - Fold Faith

When a Seeker mentally plans to live the Gita way of life, he finds it hard, because of its insistence upon the “Knowledge” of the Sastras. In the Gita, on more than one occasion (Chapter 4, Stanza 39; Chapter 16, Stanza 23), Faith (Shraddha) and knowledge of the Sastras has been described as the fuel required for the Seeker to soar higher. The emphasis and importance given to Shraddha are almost equal to those given to the Sastras. Krishna takes this opportunity to give a thorough exposition of “Faith” as seen in the various fields of man’s endeavors – his physical endeavors, his dedicated Activities (Yajnya), his self-denials (Tapas), and his Charities (Danas). Sraddha is of three kinds, according to the nature of the Temperaments (Gunas) – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

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Stanza 2:

The Lord says that Faith (Sraddha) is of three kinds: the Divine (Sattva), the undivine (Rajas), and the diabolic (Tamas). Sraddha determines the texture of our Vasanas inside us. An individual’s physical activities, psychological behaviors, intellectual make-up are all made up of the Shraddha he has come to maintain in himself.

Stanza 11:

A Sacrifice which is offered by a Seeker without desire for fruit and as ordained by our Hinduism Sanatana Dharma and with a firm faith that the Sacrifice is a duty, is SATTVIC or Pure. Actions required by our Sanatana Dharma are three – Nithya, Naimittika and Kamya Karmas. Nithya and Naimittika Karmas are unavoidable or obligatory duties discussed in detail earlier in this book.

Stanzas 14, 15, 16:

Three Stanzas are Summarized here (without Slokas) for three types of Austerities (Tapas). Austerity (Tapas) is an intelligent method of living in right relationship with the World of objects, thereby avoiding all unnecessary dissipations of our vital energies.

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Stanza 14:

Physical or Sarira Tapas is now described - Worship of the Gods, Satsang with the Guru, wise people; pure and straightforward people, twice born people (first birth: born from the womb; second birth: when developed to Perfection; practice of celibacy (non indulgence in sense-objects), non-injury. All these practices constitute the Physical Austerities (Sarira Tapas).

Stanza 15:

Tapas in speech is now described - Speech which causes no excitement, and is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the vital energy so economized in daily life by appropriate speech should be invested in chanting, in reflecting upon, and in meditating over the chanting of Mantras of the Vedas, Upanishads and other Scriptures. All these practices constitute the Speech Austerities.

Stanza 16:

Tapas of the Minds is now described – Serenity of Mind can be gained only when our relationship with the World at large is put on a healthier basis of understanding, tolerance, and love. Quietude of the mind can be gained only when it is protected from (a) the inflow into the mind of the sense-objects of the World; (b) whipping desires that will drive the Mind into the fields-of-enjoyment. Kindness for all; Silence (Mouna) – it should be understood that not speaking is not Mouna. Krishna speaks of Silence. Silence of speech must arise from the silence of mind.

Thus Mouna means that noiseless inner calm which one experiences when corroding passions and exhausting desires are no more building up in one’s Mind. Thus Mouna (Silence) can mean “the State of constant Contemplation”; Self Control; Honesty of motive. All these practices constitute the Mind Austerities.

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Stanza 20:

That gift which is given, knowing it to be a duty, in a fit time and place, to a worthy person, from whom we expect nothing in return, is held to be SATTVIC. The Gita insists that man must use his faculty of discrimination and see whether his charities are reaching the deserving members in a community.

Next three Stanzas are describing when are we to use the term OM, TAT, SAT.

Stanza 24:

The term OM is uttered while acts of sacrifice, gift, austerity (Tapas) are undertaken by the followers of higher life.

Stanza 25:

With the utterance of the “Tat” alone, the acts of sacrifice, penance and gift are undertaken by the seekers of freedom without expectation of any reward.

Stanza 26:

The term “Sat” is often used to remind us that all these worldly perceptions (views) are not real; Sat is used to mean both Absolute Reality and Goodness.

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Stanza 27:

We have to persuade ourselves to perform the right Karmas that will liquidate the bad reactions (Karma-Phala) of the wrong actions of the past. This unwinding of the Vasanas is accomplished by an intelligent, right adjustment of our mental attitude all along when we are at work. The required changes are brought about by the remembrance too often of the Infinite Reality as indicated by the three terms OM-TAT-SAT. All these acts become perfect only when done in full faith.

This is the end of THE YOGA OF THREE-FOLD FAITH.

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.