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THEMATIC ESSENCE OF UDDHAVA-

GÉTÄLesson 6: The Symptoms of Conditioned

and Liberated Living Entities(SB Canto 11, Chapter 11)

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Chapter 11 highlights

In chapter 10, Uddhava inquired about: The distinction between eternally

conditioned and eternally liberated soul How the soul can be eternally conditioned at

some time while at other times he can be eternally liberated.

In His response, Krsna describes: Difference between conditioned & liberated

living entities The characteristics of a saintly person Different aspects of the practice of

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Eternally conditioned versus eternally liberal

living entity (1-5) The originally transcendental spirit soul being a tiny part and parcel of the Supreme Lord as the Supersoul, he has a tendency to come under the covering of His illusory material energy (mäyä) bewildered by the false ego conditioned by the 3 modes = bound by the 3 strands of intertwined rope forgetful or ignorance of his constitutional spirituality from time immemorial = eternal

Krsna’s teachings from a jïäna platform(Contd)

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Eternally conditioned versus eternally liberal living entity

(Contd) Under false ego, the spirit soul perceives material miseries and enjoyments as real just as in a dream state confusion, happiness, distress, danger, etc

But this is no reality as the person wakes up from his dream state realizes. He is never actually in bondage, and never actually liberated!

When the living entity comes in contact with a pure devotee and receives his causeless mercy bhakti process transcendental knowledge darkness of ignorance disappears (Contd)

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Eternally conditioned versus eternally liberal living entity

(Contd) transcendental knowledge = liberation & Ignorance = bondage in material existence No more ropes no question of conditioning

liberation The characteristics of bandage and

liberation may be understood in two divisions—as the difference between the ordinary conditioned & liberated soul versus the Personality of Godhead, who is neither conditioned nor liberated at any time.

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The conditioned soul versus the Personality of

Godhead (6-7) The example of two birds in the same tree = presence within the same heart of the material body of the both the individual soul and the Supreme Personality Godhead as the Supersoul

The Lord is never in darkness or ignorance, but is always full in His perfect, blissful consciousness He is simply the witness of the individual soul, who is eating the fruit of the bodily tree whereas the Supersoul is witnessing the actions

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The conditioned versus liberated, or enlightened

individual soul = jivan-mukta (8-17) On e who is enlightened in self-realization, although

living within the material body sees himself transcendental to the body.

Free from the contamination of material desires and does not consider himself to be the performer of bodily activities, rather he is as spirit soul simply a witness of his sensual activities

The conditioned soul, in contrast, thinks I am the performer of action because of his false ego bound by the fruitive activities (Contd)

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The conditioned versus liberated, or enlightened individual soul (Contd) The 3 doers: the individual soul, who expresses his

material desires, which are sanctioned by the Supersoul, which in turn are carried out by the 3 modes of material nature.

The enlightened, liberated soul, in contrast, fixed in detachment engages his body in all kinds of sensual activities, but is never entangled by such activities.

Analogies: The sky does not mix with anything nor is entangled. Similarly the sun is not attached to the water in which it is reflected.

Detachment (niskäma-karma-yuga) brings jïäna

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Jïäna, but no bhakti, however, waste of labor

(18-22) Analogy: Taking care of a cow that gives no milk, unchaste wife, useless children or wealth not utilized for right purpose, etc

Similarly Vedic knowledge devoid of the Lord’s glories is also most miserable

Hearing of krsna-kathä purification of the heart the mind fixed on Krsna, but in a favorable way to the Lord

Krsna criticizes knowledge that is devoid of bhakti If unable to fix one’s mind on krsna-bhakti perform

all as an offering to Krsna without trying to enjoy the fruits

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How one attains pure devotional service? (24-25) From karma- and jïäna-misra bhakti pure

bhakti Associating with and hearing from a pure

devotee of Krsna’s pastimes, transcendental attributes and glories taking full shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord purification of the heart pure devotional service

Our material desires spiritual desires for the satisfaction of Krsna because of higher taste I am your servant = example of a dog

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Qualities of a pure devotee (29-32)

In response to Uddhava’s question, Krsna lists 28 qualities of a pure devotee whose association the Lord recommends

Of these 28 qualities, the most important is krsna-çarana, (one should take full shelter of Lord Krsna) all other qualities automatically develop in a devotee

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Wonderful instructions by Krsna Himself (34-41)

These activities place Krsna in the center of our lives.

When one is engaged in these kinds of devotional activities with great faith, sincerity and determination, his bhakti will grow.

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The Diety worship (42-48)

Two kinds of worship: 1) those in which Krsna is directly in it and worshiped, and 2) objects that are dear to Krsna indirect worship

Bhakti is the goal

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