-8th chapter: verses 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
-The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 21, 2021.
-20th and 21st verse: “Beyond this Avyakta (unmanifested) and Vyakta (manifested), which belong to the realm of the relative, there is the one Absolute Reality which is different from the unmanifested state of the relative – it is Aksharam (imperishable) and it is Sanatana (eternal). Those who realize their spiritual identity with this Supreme Reality, they get liberation from this cyclic rotation”
-22nd verse: “This Supreme Reality is the source of everything. It is our true nature and is attainable through pure devotion.”
-One method of developing this devotion is to give a spiritual orientation to our natural human impulses, such as our love for friends and parents. Under Navadha Bhakti, one follows nine disciplines: Sravanam (Hearing about God ), Kirtanam (Chanting His Name and Glory), Vishnu smaranam (Remembering Him), Pada sevanam (Serving His Lotus Feet), Archanam (Worshipping Him), Vandanam (Prostrating before Him), Dasyam (Being His Servant), Sakhyam (Befriending Him), and Atma Nivedanam (Offering Oneself to Him).
-Prapatti is the highest state of a devotee of God. Prapatti means complete surrender and is composed of the following characteristics. (1) Always having a positive outlook in life, full of sattvic qualities such as serenity, wisdom, compassion, and broad mindedness. (2) Rejecting all the opposing qualities such as skepticism and self-doubt. (3) Strong faith that God will protect me. (4) Total self-surrender.
-23rd verse: “I am going to tell you about the two spiritual paths that Yogis take upon departing from this body, and attain non-return or return.”
-24th verse: “Yogis of the highest type follow the bright path of Shuklagati or Devayana. It is the path of fire, flame, daytime, the bright fortnight, and the six months of the northern passage of the sun - departing by this path the knowers of Brahman attain Brahman.
-The Yogis who follow the path of Shuklagati are devoted to a higher spiritual ideal. They lead a pure life and are free from selfish desires. To them every action is a spiritual offering. They have dedicated their life to the realization of Brahman, and they practice seeing the same divine principle everywhere. Taking this path, they gradually realize Brahman and do not come back again to Samsara.
-The Yogis taking the path of Shuklagati are less evolved compared to the Jivan-muktas, who are liberated while living in this world.
-Such a Yogi is able to leave the body with full awareness. His focus is between the eyebrows, from where a light comes and lights up the path that takes him through different stages, which are guarded by different deities and who take care of him. The whole journey is lighted up by the power of his spiritual sadhana until he merges with Brahman.
-25th verse: “Yogis whose spiritual practices are driven by a motive, follow the dark path of Krishnagati or Pitrayana. It is the path of smoke, nighttime, dark fortnight, and the six months of the southern passage of the sun – departing by this path, the Yogi reaches a higher abode, but returns to Samsara.”
-The message of the 24th and 25th verses is twofold. First, it inspires us to lead a good life. Second, it tells us that we are independent travelers. We came alone and will go back alone.
-Chandogya Upanishad describes the scenario of a dying person. First, the function of speech becomes quiet and merges in the mind. Next, other sense faculties merge in the mind. Next, mind merges in mukhya prana. Next, mukhya prana merges in the jeeva. Then, the individual self merges into the five elements. Samskaras that are accumulated in the Antahkarana, constitute the subtle body - they are preserved and transmigrate, as the subtle body takes a long journey. When we are born again, we are born with these accumulated samskaras.
-There is a third category of spiritual seekers who do not have a higher spiritual ideal and keep on doing wrong things. They take a descent and come down the ladder of evolution. They may be born in the animal or insect world.
-26th verse: “These are two paths - one bright and the other dark. One takes the Yogi beyond the transmigratory cycle. The other keeps him confined to the transmigratory cycle.”
-27th verse: “A Yogi who knows the secrets of these two paths, is not deluded. Therefore, we should always be steadfast in Yoga, staying linked to a higher spiritual ideal.”
-Even if the Yogi is not in the path of Shuklagati, he does not feel lost. He feels secure. He knows that he will be reborn in a family where he can continue his spiritual journey.
-One should not expect to reach the highest spiritual goal immediately. Even if noble deeds are done with desires, they produce results that are deposited as a spiritual bank balance. These results are Adhrishtam (not visible) and Apoorvam (did not exist before the activity). These results are never lost.
-Spiritual qualities are not inseparably connected to family. One of the greatest devotees, Prahlada, was born to a demon, Hiranyakashipu.

39: Researching the French: Journalist Karina Piser