BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE MATERIAL WORLD (15.1-15.5)

SUMMARISED THEME

THE BANYAN TREE
The material world: A perverted relflection of the spiritual world

Original tree of spiritual world is reflected on “Desire” / analogous to “Water” – “Desire” is the cause of things being situated in this reflected material light.

The real root of this material existence grows upward
o This means that it begins from the total material substance, from the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka
The secondary roots are in the human planetary systems (Bhuloka) and grow downward and spread in all directions
o They are bound to the fruitive actions of human society
o Subsidiary roots are attachments and aversions, which are by products of different varieties of suffering and sense enjoyment
o Tendencies towards piety and impiety are considered to develop from these secondary roots

Branches – Upper and lower planets
Leaves – Vedic Hymns
Twigs – Sense objects
Tips of branches – Senses
Fruits – Dharma, Artha, Kaama, Moksha
Nourishment – The three modes of material nature

Hops from one branch to another trying to taste the fruit
Can’t see how far the tree extends or where it ends
Although living entities are the eternal fragmental parts of Krishna, they are struggling with the senses (15.7)

SUMMARISED THEME

THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE TREE IS DETACHMENT – HOW?

Hear properly from him,
About the relationship between the Lord and the living entity

Through the spiritual master
No false prestige that he is lord of material nature
No in illusion
Gives up false association
Free from dualities

Text 15.5

THEME: The surrendering process is explained here.

Learnings from Purport 15.5 – Who will be able to surrender to that Supreme Person is explained in six points

(a) Free from false prestige or pride – The first qualification

Conditioned soul is puffed up – Thinks himself to be the Lord (always expecting some honor), this makes it difficult for him to surrender
Solution – Cultivate knowledge to know that I am not the Lord but Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord
Freedom from pride begins the process of surrender

(b) Freedom from illusion – Pride is due to illusion

Illusion means one comes and goes from this world but still thinks to be the Lord and the proprietor
Thus makes things complicated and is always in trouble
The entire world is under this false impression of “created divisions of false proprietorship” (land, earth etc)

(c) Freedom from false associations
o Possible when one is free from false proprietorship
o “False associations” are caused by familial, social, national affection

(d) Understand the eternal – One should develop spiritual knowledge

Cultivate knowledge of what is actually his own and what is not
It leads to freedom from conceptions of duality

(e) Freedom from dualities

(f) Done with material lust and unbewildered

Unbewildered – When one becomes full in knowledge, it is possible to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead

(a) Why real form cannot be understood

Because root is up and extension is at the other end
When we are entangled in material expansion one cannot see how far the tree extends and where is the beginning

(b) Finding out the cause – Father’s father’s father’s… to Brahmaloka to Garbodaksayi Vishnu to Krishna

Krishna is the end of research work
How to search out that origin? – From association of persons in knowledge of Supreme Personality of Godhead

(c) Benefits of this knowledge

One should gradually become detached from false reflection
Cut of this connection
Actually become situated in the real tree

(d) Importance of the word “Asanga”

Attachment for sense enjoyment and lording over material nature is very strong
Therefore learn detachment by:
o Discussion of sastras
o Hear from those actually in knowledge – sadhus
Result of such discussion – One comes to Supreme Personality of Godhead and finally surrenders
Surrender / Devotional service results in automatic detachment

SUMMARISED THEME

THE BANYAN TREE
The material world: A perverted relflection of the spiritual world

Original tree of spiritual world is reflected on “Desire” / analogous to “Water” – “Desire” is the cause of things being situated in this reflected material light.

The real root of this material existence grows upward
o This means that it begins from the total material substance, from the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka
The secondary roots are in the human planetary systems (Bhuloka) and grow downward and spread in all directions
o They are bound to the fruitive actions of human society
o Subsidiary roots are attachments and aversions, which are by products of different varieties of suffering and sense enjoyment
o Tendencies towards piety and impiety are considered to develop from these secondary roots

Branches – Upper and lower planets
Leaves – Vedic Hymns
Twigs – Sense objects
Tips of branches – Senses
Fruits – Dharma, Artha, Kaama, Moksha
Nourishment – The three modes of material nature

Hops from one branch to another trying to taste the fruit
Can’t see how far the tree extends or where it ends
Although living entities are the eternal fragmental parts of Krishna, they are struggling with the senses (15.7)

SUMMARISED THEME

THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE TREE IS DETACHMENT – HOW?

Hear properly from him,
About the relationship between the Lord and the living entity

Through the spiritual master
No false prestige that he is lord of material nature
No in illusion
Gives up false association
Free from dualities

Text 15.5

THEME: The surrendering process is explained here.

Learnings from Purport 15.5 – Who will be able to surrender to that Supreme Person is explained in six points

(a) Free from false prestige or pride – The first qualification

Conditioned soul is puffed up – Thinks himself to be the Lord (always expecting some honor), this makes it difficult for him to surrender
Solution – Cultivate knowledge to know that I am not the Lord but Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord
Freedom from pride begins the process of surrender

(b) Freedom from illusion – Pride is due to illusion

Illusion means one comes and goes from this world but still thinks to be the Lord and the proprietor
Thus makes things complicated and is always in trouble
The entire world is under this false impression of “created divisions of false proprietorship” (land, earth etc)

(c) Freedom from false associations
o Possible when one is free from false proprietorship
o “False associations” are caused by familial, social, national affection

(d) Understand the eternal – One should develop spiritual knowledge

Cultivate knowledge of what is actually his own and what is not
It leads to freedom from conceptions of duality

(e) Freedom from dualities

(f) Done with material lust and unbewildered

Unbewildered – When one becomes full in knowledge, it is possible to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead

(a) Entire material world is compared to a banyan tree – Because:

For one engaged in fruitive acts, there is no end to this banyan tree which is very very deep rooted
One wanders from branch to branch with no end

(b) Purpose of Vedic Hymns – To elevate oneself gradually

(c) Why understand this tree of illusion

One who understands this indestructible tree of illusion, can get out of it by the sword of detachment

(d) Process of extrication from material world

Devotional service is the best way as explained by all the chapters
Basic principle of devotional service
o Detachment from material activities – This process is explained at the beginning of Chapter 15
o Process of attachment by transcendental service

(e) Chapter 15 refutes impersonalism which says that ‘spiritual world consists of undifferentiated Brahman only’

Upside down tree indicates that it is a reflection on the bank of a river
This indicates the presence of a real tree which is the spiritual world
Reflection is a replica of original, which implies material world is a replica of the spiritual world
This shows that the spiritual world is full of variety and not just undifferentiated Brahman Brahman is the centre of all manifestations, this material world is a manifestation of the centre by 180 degrees and the other 180 degrees constitute the spiritual world

(f) What it means “to know the Vedas”

It means that one knows how to cut off the attachment to this material world
One who is attracted by ritualistic Vedic formulas, is just attracted by the beautiful green leaves of the banyan tree and does not know the purpose of Vedas

Text 15.2

THEME : Material world is a tree nourished by three modes and fruitive acts

Different species manifest according to the proportions of modes (purport)
When less water – tract is barren
When more water – tract is green

PLEASE NOTE: The Remaining points of the purport are covered after Text 15.4 as a part of the Summarized Themes

Text 15.3-15.4

COMMMON THEME : The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. Use the axe of ‘detachment’

This tree is not real, but a reflection of the real tree
Impossible to fully understand the real tree
Solution – But we can cut down this tree with determination with the axe of detachment
Desired destination – Then one must go beyond the tree and surrender to the Supreme Person (surrendering process is explained in Text 15.5) from whom entirety has sprout

Learnings from Purport 15.3-15.4

(a) Why real form cannot be understood

Because root is up and extension is at the other end
When we are entangled in material expansion one cannot see how far the tree extends and where is the beginning

(b) Finding out the cause – Father’s father’s father’s… to Brahmaloka to Garbodaksayi Vishnu to Krishna

Krishna is the end of research work
How to search out that origin? – From association of persons in knowledge of Supreme Personality of Godhead

(c) Benefits of this knowledge

One should gradually become detached from false reflection
Cut of this connection
Actually become situated in the real tree

(d) Importance of the word “Asanga”

Attachment for sense enjoyment and lording over material nature is very strong
Therefore learn detachment by:
o Discussion of sastras
o Hear from those actually in knowledge – sadhus
Result of such discussion – One comes to Supreme Personality of Godhead and finally surrenders
Surrender / Devotional service results in automatic detachment

SUMMARISED THEME

THE BANYAN TREE
The material world: A perverted relflection of the spiritual world

Original tree of spiritual world is reflected on “Desire” / analogous to “Water” – “Desire” is the cause of things being situated in this reflected material light.

The real root of this material existence grows upward
o This means that it begins from the total material substance, from the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka
The secondary roots are in the human planetary systems (Bhuloka) and grow downward and spread in all directions
o They are bound to the fruitive actions of human society
o Subsidiary roots are attachments and aversions, which are by products of different varieties of suffering and sense enjoyment
o Tendencies towards piety and impiety are considered to develop from these secondary roots

Branches – Upper and lower planets
Leaves – Vedic Hymns
Twigs – Sense objects
Tips of branches – Senses
Fruits – Dharma, Artha, Kaama, Moksha
Nourishment – The three modes of material nature

Hops from one branch to another trying to taste the fruit
Can’t see how far the tree extends or where it ends
Although living entities are the eternal fragmental parts of Krishna, they are struggling with the senses (15.7)

SUMMARISED THEME

THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE TREE IS DETACHMENT – HOW?

Hear properly from him,
About the relationship between the Lord and the living entity

Through the spiritual master
No false prestige that he is lord of material nature
No in illusion
Gives up false association
Free from dualities

Text 15.5

THEME: The surrendering process is explained here.

Learnings from Purport 15.5 – Who will be able to surrender to that Supreme Person is explained in six points

(a) Free from false prestige or pride – The first qualification

Conditioned soul is puffed up – Thinks himself to be the Lord (always expecting some honor), this makes it difficult for him to surrender
Solution – Cultivate knowledge to know that I am not the Lord but Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord
Freedom from pride begins the process of surrender

(b) Freedom from illusion – Pride is due to illusion

Illusion means one comes and goes from this world but still thinks to be the Lord and the proprietor
Thus makes things complicated and is always in trouble
The entire world is under this false impression of “created divisions of false proprietorship” (land, earth etc)

(c) Freedom from false associations
o Possible when one is free from false proprietorship
o “False associations” are caused by familial, social, national affection

(d) Understand the eternal – One should develop spiritual knowledge

Cultivate knowledge of what is actually his own and what is not
It leads to freedom from conceptions of duality

(e) Freedom from dualities

(f) Done with material lust and unbewildered

Unbewildered – When one becomes full in knowledge, it is possible to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead

(a) Entire material world is compared to a banyan tree – Because:

For one engaged in fruitive acts, there is no end to this banyan tree which is very very deep rooted
One wanders from branch to branch with no end

(b) Purpose of Vedic Hymns – To elevate oneself gradually

(c) Why understand this tree of illusion

One who understands this indestructible tree of illusion, can get out of it by the sword of detachment

(d) Process of extrication from material world

Devotional service is the best way as explained by all the chapters
Basic principle of devotional service
o Detachment from material activities – This process is explained at the beginning of Chapter 15
o Process of attachment by transcendental service

(e) Chapter 15 refutes impersonalism which says that ‘spiritual world consists of undifferentiated Brahman only’

Upside down tree indicates that it is a reflection on the bank of a river
This indicates the presence of a real tree which is the spiritual world
Reflection is a replica of original, which implies material world is a replica of the spiritual world
This shows that the spiritual world is full of variety and not just undifferentiated Brahman Brahman is the centre of all manifestations, this material world is a manifestation of the centre by 180 degrees and the other 180 degrees constitute the spiritual world

(f) What it means “to know the Vedas”

It means that one knows how to cut off the attachment to this material world
One who is attracted by ritualistic Vedic formulas, is just attracted by the beautiful green leaves of the banyan tree and does not know the purpose of Vedas

Text 15.2

THEME : Material world is a tree nourished by three modes and fruitive acts

Different species manifest according to the proportions of modes (purport)
When less water – tract is barren
When more water – tract is green

PLEASE NOTE: The Remaining points of the purport are covered after Text 15.4 as a part of the Summarized Themes

Text 15.3-15.4

COMMMON THEME : The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. Use the axe of ‘detachment’

This tree is not real, but a reflection of the real tree
Impossible to fully understand the real tree
Solution – But we can cut down this tree with determination with the axe of detachment
Desired destination – Then one must go beyond the tree and surrender to the Supreme Person (surrendering process is explained in Text 15.5) from whom entirety has sprout

Learnings from Purport 15.3-15.4

(a) Why real form cannot be understood

Because root is up and extension is at the other end
When we are entangled in material expansion one cannot see how far the tree extends and where is the beginning

(b) Finding out the cause – Father’s father’s father’s… to Brahmaloka to Garbodaksayi Vishnu to Krishna

Krishna is the end of research work
How to search out that origin? – From association of persons in knowledge of Supreme Personality of Godhead

(c) Benefits of this knowledge

One should gradually become detached from false reflection
Cut of this connection
Actually become situated in the real tree

(d) Importance of the word “Asanga”

Attachment for sense enjoyment and lording over material nature is very strong
Therefore learn detachment by:
o Discussion of sastras
o Hear from those actually in knowledge – sadhus
Result of such discussion – One comes to Supreme Personality of Godhead and finally surrenders
Surrender / Devotional service results in automatic detachment

SUMMARISED THEME

THE BANYAN TREE
The material world: A perverted relflection of the spiritual world

Original tree of spiritual world is reflected on “Desire” / analogous to “Water” – “Desire” is the cause of things being situated in this reflected material light.

The real root of this material existence grows upward
o This means that it begins from the total material substance, from the topmost planet of the universe, Brahmaloka
The secondary roots are in the human planetary systems (Bhuloka) and grow downward and spread in all directions
o They are bound to the fruitive actions of human society
o Subsidiary roots are attachments and aversions, which are by products of different varieties of suffering and sense enjoyment
o Tendencies towards piety and impiety are considered to develop from these secondary roots

Branches – Upper and lower planets
Leaves – Vedic Hymns
Twigs – Sense objects
Tips of branches – Senses
Fruits – Dharma, Artha, Kaama, Moksha
Nourishment – The three modes of material nature

Hops from one branch to another trying to taste the fruit
Can’t see how far the tree extends or where it ends
Although living entities are the eternal fragmental parts of Krishna, they are struggling with the senses (15.7)

SUMMARISED THEME

THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE TREE IS DETACHMENT – HOW?

Hear properly from him,
About the relationship between the Lord and the living entity

Through the spiritual master
No false prestige that he is lord of material nature
No in illusion
Gives up false association
Free from dualities

Text 15.5

THEME: The surrendering process is explained here.

Learnings from Purport 15.5 – Who will be able to surrender to that Supreme Person is explained in six points

(a) Free from false prestige or pride – The first qualification

Conditioned soul is puffed up – Thinks himself to be the Lord (always expecting some honor), this makes it difficult for him to surrender
Solution – Cultivate knowledge to know that I am not the Lord but Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord
Freedom from pride begins the process of surrender

(b) Freedom from illusion – Pride is due to illusion

Illusion means one comes and goes from this world but still thinks to be the Lord and the proprietor
Thus makes things complicated and is always in trouble
The entire world is under this false impression of “created divisions of false proprietorship” (land, earth etc)

(c) Freedom from false associations
o Possible when one is free from false proprietorship
o “False associations” are caused by familial, social, national affection

(d) Understand the eternal – One should develop spiritual knowledge

Cultivate knowledge of what is actually his own and what is not
It leads to freedom from conceptions of duality

(e) Freedom from dualities

(f) Done with material lust and unbewildered

Unbewildered – When one becomes full in knowledge, it is possible to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead