Glimpse Of The Real – In Gita Verse 14.20 When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes associated with the material body, he can become free from birth, death, old age and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life.
When Krishna speaks of transcending the mortal trappings of existence and enjoying the nectar of immortality within this lifetime, he is directing us towards the profound practice of self-remembering.
Let us understand this guidance through the transformative lens of The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra: Oh Lotus-Eyed One, sweet of touch, when singing, seeing, tasting, be aware you are and discover the ever-living.
We live, yet we wander through life unaware of our existence. You might be immersed in daily actions – eating, bathing, or walking – yet remain oblivious to the ‘self’ engaged in these activities. We become so entangled in the external world – a world of houses, trees, and roads – that our own being fades into oblivion.
The mind is adept at reflecting the world but cannot mirror the self. It operates like a looking glass facing outward, capturing everything except the viewer standing behind it. Thus, the clarity one seeks about oneself cannot be found in the usual play of thoughts and perceptions.
The technique imparted by the sutra is simple yet profound: While engaged in any act – singing, seeing, tasting – cultivate a nonverbal, unadorned awareness of your existence. This glimpse into being, even if momentary, can illuminate a reality more vivid than any psychedelic experience.
At first, maintaining this awareness will be challenging; thoughts will intrude, and you may lose focus. However, do not succumb to frustration. Remember, it is through repeated practice and patience that one can steadily hold onto the awareness of self.
Realise that life presents only one moment at a time. If you can be wholly present in a single moment, this presence can be extended to an entire lifetime. It just requires your continuous effort.
As the sutra beckons, be conscientious of the simple truth of your existence. When it says, “be aware you are,” it speaks not of your social identities or personal histories but of your fundamental state of being. Relinquish the burden of labels and simply dwell in the reality of ‘I am’. This is the practice that must be cultivated without any adornment or association.
Try this as a meditation. Let your self-awareness be free from any cultural, societal, or personal identifiers. Sit quietly and experience the essence of just ‘being’. This stripped-down awareness will lead you into an encounter with the ever-living, the eternal.
Our fear of death arises from an attachment to the impermanent facets of identity. Once you transcend these and connect with the nameless and formless truth within, you journey towards the timeless.
“Beware you are and discover the ever-living.” This potent technique paves the way to the real, a state beyond mortality. Masters across ages, from Buddha to Jesus, have employed this method to awaken the self. Persist in its practice, and over time, it may offer a direct encounter with the eternal essence of your being.
Krishna alludes to this very nectar – the glimpse of the real. Seek it not through the distractions of the mind but through the purity of silent presence. The path is within, its fruit everlastingly sweet.
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