Ignorance – In Gita Verse 4.27 Others, who are interested in achieving self-realization through control of the mind and senses, offer the functions of all the senses, and of the life breath, as oblations into the fire of the controlled mind.
In the Bhagavad Gita Verse 4.27, Krishna imparts profound wisdom to Arjuna, urging him to transcend mere ritualistic offerings and embrace true self-realisation. The essence of this teaching lies in the understanding that genuine sacrifice is not about offering material possessions or pleasing God with sensory delights. Instead, it is about offering one’s mind, senses, and ego into the divine fire of self-awareness and consciousness.
The journey towards self-realisation begins with the understanding that ignorance is not simply a lack of knowledge, but a lack of awareness. It is a state of being asleep to one’s true self, where actions are driven by habit and attachment rather than conscious choice. In this state, individuals may believe they are offering something valuable to God, but in reality, they are merely projecting their own desires and attachments onto the divine. The ignorant person offers what they are attached to, assuming that what pleases them must also please God. However, Krishna reminds us that what is pleasing in ignorance does not hold the same value in the light of knowledge.
True yogis, those who have attained wisdom, discern the difference between offering sensory objects and offering the senses themselves. They relinquish not the objects of desire, but the faculties through which desire is experienced. This act of surrender is not merely ritualistic; it is a profound transformation of being. By offering the senses, the yogi transcends the limitations of the material world and unites with the divine essence within.
Consider the allure of a flower: its fragrance delights the nostrils, and its form captivates the eyes. While many might offer the flower itself to the divine, the enlightened offer the sense of fragrance. Similarly, while delicious foods might be placed at the altar, the wise surrender only the sense of taste. This surrender is not about relinquishing what pleases us, but about dedicating the faculties of perception to the divine.
This surrender is a profound offering of life itself, an offering of the self. Our identity, often perceived as the sum of our senses, dissolves in this act. When one offers all senses to God, the distinction between the giver and the divine fades, leaving only the divine presence. By offering our senses, we invite God to dwell within us, allowing the divine to be the sole occupant of our being.
Our senses are the gateways through which we engage with the world, creating an illusion of separation from the divine. However, by turning inward and withdrawing from the sensory world, we access a deeper reality. The very senses that bind us to the material world can also become the means to transcend it. By offering them to the divine, we align with ultimate truth and become one with the infinite.
Krishna’s teaching challenges us to move beyond superficial offerings and embrace the inner journey of self-realisation. It is not about offering flowers or sweets, which are already part of the divine creation. Instead, it is about offering our very being, the sum of our senses and ego, to the divine fire of consciousness. This surrender is the true yajna, the ultimate sacrifice, where the individual self dissolves into the universal self.
In this process of self-offering, the distinction between the offerer and the offered disappears. The individual ego is transcended, and the true essence of the self is revealed. This is the state of liberation, where one is free from the bondage of the senses and united with the formless, the invisible, the divine.
Krishna emphasises that self-realisation is not attained through intellectual knowledge alone. It requires an awakening of the being, a deep transformation that goes beyond the accumulation of information. Knowledge can become an addiction, a distraction from the true path of self-discovery. It is only through the awakening of consciousness that the root cause of ignorance is dissolved.
To truly offer oneself to the divine, one must transcend the limitations of the mind and ego. This requires turning away from the sensory world and embracing the inner journey of self-realisation. It is only through this process that one can become a vehicle of the universe, acting in alignment with the divine will.
Krishna’s message to Arjuna is clear: self-realisation is the key to transcending the senses and becoming one with the divine. It is the only way to offer oneself fully to God and attain the ultimate truth, bliss, and blessing. By surrendering the senses and ego, we open ourselves to the infinite possibilities of the universe and become instruments of divine grace.
Tags: ignorance
