I divided the process of remembering into four parts just to make it easier for us to understand. Krishna would never consent to this type of division. In fact remembering, or consciousness, is nowhere fragmented, but an integrated whole. The consciousness and unconsciousness are extensions of the same intelligence which is one and indivisible. In our inner most depth we are aware that we are divine. We do not have to become divine but just have to discover our divinity, a matter of recognition. Upanishad says in prayer “O Sun, please uncover the truth that is covered with gold.” It simply means that the truth/ divinity is veiled and it has to be unveiled. What is it veils it?
It is our own forgetfulness, our unconsciousness which covers the ultimate reality, the truth. In fact we make do with tiny part of our mind; a major part of it remains unused. It is like we own a big palace but lives in the porch. And we got so used to porch that we have forgotten altogether that we own a large palace that is our mind which is just behind, our conscious mind is nothing more than a porch. It is not that the conscious ever gets disconnected from larger mind, but we never enter and explore it so we get psychologically isolated from it. But deep down we know it is there. Entry into depths of unconscious does not take place in stages, but it always happens in a leap. Of course for the sake of understanding it we discuss it in parts. Those who follow the path of discipline do so piece by piece. Krishna’s path, however, does not accept it. That is why Krishna and also Upanishads repeatedly say it is just a matter of remembering. We are what we are, and it is divine. Nothing has to be added or subtracted. Only a screen of forgetfulness, oblivion, divides us from our real being, our divinity.
Devotion is the foundation of Krishna’s teaching, and remembering is the basic to devotion. But the devotee has forgotten remembering altogether and instead taken to uninvolved chanting. The Sanskrit word smaran, for remembering has been corrupted. By this corrupted version of chanting we will begin to believe that we are God. This belief will be illusory, because it remains confined to conscious mind while the unconscious mind remains untouched by it.
Here the question arises, what is the technique? As I see and understand from Krishna’s saying is that remembering comes through relaxation, silence and emptiness. Krishna is clearly says about it in his emphasis on Akarma or inaction. Inaction in depth is his message. We shall see that in our future discussion.
Wishing you all good Health and Happiness,
Dr. Dwarakanath, Director, Mitran foundation- the stress management people
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