Wake Up – In Gita Verse 2.2 The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the value of life. They lead not to higher planets but to infamy.
In the heart of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna begins from where Arjuna stands, besieged by impurities that have clouded his consciousness. These impurities act as a smokescreen, obscuring the clear vision between his objective reality and his inner subjectivity.
When we seek to communicate, it is paramount to commence from the listener’s perspective, not our own. To bridge the gap between us, we must walk the path of Compassionate Communication – meeting others where they are.
Krishna faces a formidable challenge: awakening Arjuna from the depths of his unconsciousness, a state where he is capable of hearing without truly listening. In such a state, only the resonant voice of compassion can penetrate.
Compassion is the therapeutic force because it addresses the core ailment of humanity – the deficiency of love. This lack manifests in myriad forms, from physical to mental anguish. As the body needs food, the soul yearns for love; without it, the soul remains dormant, unbirthed.
Reflecting upon the transformation of Angulimala, once veiled in the shadows of unconscious suffering, yet through the compassionate outreach of the Buddha, he was steered back towards the light of consciousness. It is in such narratives that we witness the transformative power of compassion, a force that has shaped even the most troubled hearts.
Compassion stands as the crowning jewel of human emotion, with primal sexual desire forming its foundation – a necessary impulse for the perpetuation of life. Above this lies the intricate interplay of emotions where physical attraction sets the stage for deeper connections. However, when the curtain of physicality is drawn back, it is compassion that shines forth, illuminating the spiritual bond between souls.
At the zenith of love’s vast spectrum, compassion radiates as the purest, most profound form of connection, transcending the carnal desires that anchor us to the earthly plane. It represents the ultimate evolution of love, where the soul is acknowledged and celebrated, unencumbered by the flesh it inhabits.
As love matures, weaving together the tangible and the felt, it ascends to a plane where compassion emerges, a sublime synthesis of passion and purity. This transcendental form of love demands nothing in return; it exists outside the economy of exchange and thrives in the altruistic joy of giving. Compassion blossoms in a realm unfettered by physical proximity, manifesting a silent, spiritual intimacy that perseveres even in the absence of direct interaction.
The true essence of compassion is reflected in the selfless act of giving. Love often thanks those who offer their gifts, yet compassion, in its silent grace, cherishes the receiver, for they complete the sacred act of giving by accepting. This exchange fills the spaces between us with an invisible yet palpable energy, reinforcing our shared humanity and interdependence.
Compassion is thus the spiritual alchemy of love; it is passion elevated, passion sanctified. In its hallowed expression, the raw forces that drive our human nature are refined into a spiritual offering, a celestial potion that sustains the soul. It resides in the quieter realms of existence, where acts of compassion are meditative, a silent homage to the profound. In the absence of words, compassion speaks volumes; it reaches across the void, transcends the limitations of space and time, and whispers of the eternal presence of the divine in every gesture of kindness.
In this light, we realise that compassion is not just a feeling but a way of being in the world – a testament to the boundless capacity for love that resides within each of us, waiting to be awakened and shared.
In giving we find the true essence of compassion, and such generosity is the universe’s way, as discussed in my commentary on Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.1. The universe does not judge; it gives unconditionally.
Krishna, with all-encompassing compassion, initiates his communication with Arjuna not with an accusation of unconsciousness but with a gentle wake-up call, a reminder of Arjuna’s true nature which stands in stark contrast to his present state of disarray. It is not a reprimand but an invocation for Arjuna to realign with his inner subjectivity.
Krishna’s address to Arjuna is a beckoning towards awareness – a call to rise, to peel away the layers of confusion, and to reconnect with the timeless essence within.
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