Bhagavad Gita Verse 18.72

Mortal Nature – In Gita Verse 18.72 O son of Pṛthā, O conqueror of wealth, have you heard this with an attentive mind? And are your ignorance and illusions now dispelled?

In Bhagavad Gita Verse 18.72, Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna, asking him if he has listened to His teachings with a concentrated mind and if his ignorance and illusions have been dispelled. This inquiry is not merely rhetorical; it serves a deeper purpose. Krishna is essentially probing whether Arjuna has grasped the essence of the teachings and undergone the necessary internal transformation.

Krishna’s questioning is reminiscent of the approach taken by spiritual masters across various traditions. For instance, the Zen Fakir mentions that a true Guru does not need to be informed when a disciple attains knowledge. The Guru intuitively knows and often confronts the disciple to affirm this realisation. This dynamic underscores the profound connection between the Guru and the disciple, where the Guru is attuned to the spiritual progress of the disciple.

A similar story is told of Bokoju, who spent years with his Guru. Despite experiencing various mystical phenomena, his Guru dismissed them as mere mind games. It was only when Bokoju achieved true realisation that his Guru acknowledged it, even before Bokoju could say anything. This narrative illustrates the distinction between transient spiritual experiences and genuine enlightenment. The latter is unmistakable and recognised by those who have themselves attained such a state.

Returning to Krishna and Arjuna, Krishna’s sudden emphasis on the greatness of the Gita in the eighteenth chapter is significant. He had not highlighted its importance until this point. By doing so now, Krishna is indicating that Arjuna is ready to comprehend the profound wisdom of the Gita. This shift suggests that Krishna perceives a change in Arjuna, a readiness to understand and internalise the teachings.

Krishna’s questions to Arjuna serve multiple purposes. They prompt Arjuna to introspect and assess his own mental state. Has he truly listened with a concentrated mind? Has he understood the teachings? More importantly, has his attachment, born out of ignorance, been destroyed? These questions are designed to make Arjuna reflect on the transformation he has undergone through the discourse.

Krishna’s teaching is that ignorance must be dispelled to understand the true nature of life and death. Death is not the end of life but the end of birth. The body is transient, dying each moment, but the soul is eternal. By becoming aware of the mortal nature of the body, one begins to experience the immortal essence of the soul. This awareness leads to the realisation that life, as commonly understood, is not true life but a process of gradual dying.

This realisation fundamentally alters one’s perspective on life and death. Life is not confined to the span between birth and death; rather, birth and death are mere incidents in the continuum of existence. True life is the awareness of the soul, which transcends the physical body and its temporal existence.

Meditation plays a crucial role in this realisation. When the mind is quiet and empty, one can perceive something beyond the physical body. Just as the depths of a lake can only be seen when its surface is calm, the true self can only be known when the mind is at peace. Continuous mental agitation obscures the reality of the soul, creating the illusion that the body is the entirety of one’s being.

Krishna emphasises that mental peace dispels this illusion. When the mind is tranquil, the true self is revealed. This understanding transforms one’s perception of death as merely shedding old clothes and birth as donning new ones. The true self, the soul, remains unchanged and eternal.

Those who identify solely with the body are akin to the living dead. They have not yet begun their real lives, as they are trapped in the illusion of the physical self. True life begins only with the realisation of the soul’s immortality. Without this awakening, individuals remain in a state of spiritual slumber, unaware of their true essence.

Krishna’s dialogue with Arjuna in this verse serves as a profound reminder of the importance of internal transformation and the realisation of the eternal soul. This understanding dispels ignorance and reveals the true nature of life and death, leading to a state of genuine enlightenment and peace.