The Bhagavad Gita: Literal or Symbolic (or Both)?
For us who are sitting with Arjuna listening to Krishna’s revelation, the Bhagavad Gita must be seen as both literal and symbolic–simultaneously.
Our Changeless Self
We are encased in five bodies: annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, jnanamaya, and anandamaya koshas–coverings… The idea is that no matter what our consciousness is encased in or what kind of external force is “working” on us, our true self, our true nature, cannot be altered in any manner whatsoever.
False Experience and Wrong Intent
It is not just our mistaken perceptions that prevent our escape from bondage. Rather, they give rise to another ingredient in the stew of our samsaric misery: wrong intention. Our whole purpose is wrong. What should it be?
Believing in What You Can’t See
We must progress beyond intuition to direct experience of the fundamental realities of Existence. That is what Yoga is all about. Without a viable sadhana, these things cannot be known.
Do the Dead “Die”?
In India the body is wrapped in bright-colored cloth and borne through the streets as the bearers chant over and over: “Rama Nama satya hai”–the Name of God alone is real–or a similar affirmation that spirit is real and death is an illusion.
New Youtube Video: Yogis Who Saw Jesus
One of the most popular blog posts on OCOY.org is “Yogis Who Saw Jesus” with nearly 40,000 views. So we have made a 6:32 minute YouTube video of this post to share with a wider audience.