Chapter 1 Isahluko 1

We Are Not These Bodies

Angiwona Lomzimba

dehī nityam avadhyo ’yaṁ
dehe sarvasya bhārata
tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni
na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi

“O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature.” (Gītā 2.30)

“Awu mzukulwane ka-Bhārata, lowo ohlala ngaphakathi komzimba uphila phakade futhi akasoze abulawa, ngakho-ke asikho isidingo sokukhalela noma ngabe isiphi isidalwa.” (Gītā 2.30)

The very first step in self-realization is realizing one’s identity as separate from the body. “I am not this body but am spirit soul” is an essential realization for anyone who wants to transcend death and enter into the spiritual world beyond. It is not simply a matter of saying “I am not this body,” but of actually realizing it. This is not as simple as it may seem at first. Although we are not these bodies but are pure consciousness, somehow or other we have become encased within the bodily dress. If we actually want the happiness and independence that transcend death, we have to establish ourselves and remain in our constitutional position as pure consciousness.

Isinyathelo sokuqala endleleni ebheke ekukhanyiselekeni ukuqonda ngokuphelele nokuhlukanisa phakathi komuntu nomzimba wakhe. Empeleni isidalwa esingumuntu kumele sithi,” Angisiwona lomzimba, kodwa ngiyilo-mphefumulo ophilisa lomzimba,” lomcabango kufanele kube ngowokuqala kulowo ophokophelele ukuzuza ukuphila okuphakade embusweni ka Kṛṣṇa (Unkulunkulu olangazelelekayo). Inkinga akusikona ukusho ukuthi angisiwona lo mzimba kodwa kungukufinyelel kulomcabango futhi ukuqonde ngokuphelele ukuthi awusiwona lo mzimba. Lokhu-ke kuzwakala kuyinto elula kodwa akulula njengoba ucabanga. Yize singeyona lemizimba, kepha siyimiphefumulo engcwele, nemsulwa, ndlelana thizeni kodwa sesizithole sizibuka njengemizimba.Lenkinga idalwa ukuthiumphefumulo uhlale ugqoke lengubo engumzimba. Uma sikulangazelele ukuzuza inkululeko,ukuphila nenjabulo engunaphakade, (injabulo ezweni eliyisigodlo sika Kṛṣṇa- eKṛṣṇaloka), kumele sizibuyisele futhi sigxile esimweni sethu semvelo, sobumsulwa nobungcwele bomoya.

Living in the bodily conception, our idea of happiness is like that of a man in delirium. Some philosophers claim that this delirious condition of bodily identification should be cured by abstaining from all action. Because these material activities have been a source of distress for us, they claim that we should actually stop these activities. Their culmination of perfection is in a kind of Buddhistic nirvāṇa, in which no activities are performed. Buddha maintained that due to a combination of material elements, this body has come into existence, and that somehow or other if these material elements are separated or dismantled, the cause of suffering is removed. If the tax collectors give us too much difficulty because we happen to possess a large house, one simple solution is to destroy the house. However, the Bhagavad-gītā indicates that this material body is not all in all. Beyond this combination of material elements, there is spirit, and the symptom of that spirit is consciousness.

Ngokuphila enyameni sazi izinto ezenzeka ngokwenyama kuphela, ukujabula kwethu kufana nalokho komuntu ophethwe ngamathezane (umuntu onomsangano).Lokhu kusho ukwanelisa imizwa yamadlebe, yolimi yezitho zangasese kanye nemizwa yamehlo.Izidalwa ezingabantu, kakhulukazi bayizigqila zalemizwa. Baphilela zona futhi basebenzela zona. Kunama philosophers(izinjulamqondo) acabanga ukuthi indlela yokulapha lesisimo samathezane okuphila kulomzimba ukuthi umuntu kumele apheze ukwenza. Ngenxa yokuthi izenzo esizenza ngalomzimba yizona eziyisisusa sokuhlupheka kwethu bacangela ekutheni ukuhlupheka kuzophela uma nokwenza kuyekwa. Lokhu-ke kunyusela eqophelweni elifana nalelo lama-Buddhist elibizwa nge-nirvāṇa lapho kungasekho ukwenza. Imfundiso ka-Buddha yayithi: ngenxa yokuhlangana nokubumbana kwezithako zalomhlaba (inhlabathi, amanzi, umoya, umlilo, njalo, njalo) kuvela lomzimba, okungukuthi uma ngandlelathize lezithako zingahlukaniswa noma zihlakazwe lokho kuzosho ukuthi nembangela yokuhlupheka isihlakazekile. Uma sihlushwa abakhokhisi bentela ngokusifuna intela ethe xaxa ngenxa yokuba nomuzi othe ukuba mkhudlwana, ikhambi elilula lokuhlukana nalolu-sizi lokukhokha intela ukuthi uvele uwubhidlize umuzi. Kodwa-ke i-Bhagavad-gītā lapha iyasixwayisa ukuthi lomzimba wenyama awusikona konke. Ngaphezu kwalenhlanganisela yezithako ezihlanganise lomzimba kunomphefumulo (spirit) inkomba yokuba khona kwalomphefumulo ukuphila, ukuba nomuzwa/inzwa (consciousness).

Consciousness cannot be denied. A body without consciousness is a dead body. As soon as consciousness is removed from the body, the mouth will not speak, the eye will not see, nor the ears hear. A child can understand that. It is a fact that consciousness is absolutely necessary for the animation of the body. What is this consciousness? Just as heat or smoke are symptoms of fire, so consciousness is the symptom of the soul. The energy of the soul, or self, is produced in the shape of consciousness. Indeed, consciousness proves that the soul is present. This is not only the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā but the conclusion of all Vedic literature.

Lenkombakuphila ngeke sayiphika. Umzimba ongenayo lenkombakuphila ubizwa ngesidumbu. Ukususwa kwalenkombakuphila emzimbeni kwenza umlomo ungakwazi ukukhuluma, iso lingakwazi ukubuka, indlebe ingakwazi ukuzwa. Ngisho nengane encane iyakubona lokhu. Kuyiqiniso elingephikwe ukuthi umuzwa/inzwa iyadingeka ukukhanyisa imizwa yomzimba. Ingabe uyini lomuzwa? Njengoba ukushisa noma intuthu kuyinkomba yokubakhona komlilo, ngokunjalo nalenkombakuphila iwubufakazi bokuba khona komphefumulo.Ngamanye amazwi ikhomba ukuthi umuntu usaphila (akafile),usenawo umphefumulo. Amandla alomphefumulo noma” oqobo lomuntu” ingempela lomuntu likhiqizwa livele liyilenkombakuphila. Yebo lomuzwa ungubufakazi bokuba khona komphefumulo. Lokhu-ke akusiyona injula mqondo ye-Bhagavad-gītā kuphela kodwa injula yama-Vedas yonke iyakucacisa lokhu.

The impersonalist followers of Śaṅkarācārya, as well as the Vaiṣṇavas following in the disciplic succession from Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, acknowledge the factual existence of the soul, but the Buddhist philosophers do not. The Buddhists contend that at a certain stage the combination of matter produces consciousness, but this argument is refuted by the fact that although we may have all the constituents of matter at our disposal, we cannot produce consciousness from them. All the material elements may be present in a dead man, but we cannot revive that man to consciousness. This body is not like a machine. When a part of a machine breaks down, it can be replaced, and the machine will work again, but when the body breaks down and consciousness leaves the body, there is no possibility of our replacing the broken part and rejuvenating the consciousness. The soul is different from the body, and as long as the soul is there, the body is animate. But there is no possibility of making the body animate in the absence of the soul.

Abalandeli baka-Śaṅkarācārya,(labo abaphika isiqu sika Nkulunkulu) kanye nama-Vaiṣṇava,(labo abakholelwa esiqwini sikaNkulunkulu) bakholelwa kwimfundiso eyehla ngesizukulwane sabafundisi esisuka eNkosini u-Kṛṣṇa. Zombili lezizinhlangothi ziyalivuma iqiniso lokuba khona komphefumulo, nakuba labo abalandela injula mqondo ka-Buddha bayaliphika.Abalandeli baka Buddha bathi ukubumbana kwezithako zomzimba kuhamba kuze kufinyelele ezingeni lapho kukhiqiza khona umuzwa/inzwa. Lenkulumo iphikiswa yiqiniso elithi: noma zingabakhona zonke izinhlanganisela zomzimba phambi kwethu kodwa thina ngokwethu ngeke sikwazi ukukhiqiza umuzwa/inzwa ngazo. Isidumbu somuntu sinazo zonke izitho nezithako zomzimba kodwa ngeke ukwazi ukusivusa usibuyisele esimweni sokuphila. Lomzimba awufani nomshini. Uma ingxenye ethize emshinini ifa, kubuyiselwa enye, umshini uqhubeke usebenze kahle, kodwa uma umzimba ufa, umuzwa /inzwa uyabaleka uwushiye. Ngalendlela akukho ukuthi singabuyisela leyongxenye ebikade ifile bese sivuselela nomuzwa/inzwa emzimbeni. Umphefumulo uhlukile emzimbeni, uma umphefumulo usahlangene nenyama lowomzimba usuke useno-muzwa. Ngokuqinisekile awekho amathuba okuthi umzimba ube nomuzwa/nenzwa uma umphefumulo ungekho.

Because we cannot perceive the soul by our gross senses, we deny it. Actually there are so many things that are there which we cannot see. We cannot see air, radio waves, or sound, nor can we perceive minute bacteria with our blunt senses, but this does not mean they are not there. By the aid of the microscope and other instruments, many things can be perceived which had previously been denied by the imperfect senses. Just because the soul, which is atomic in size, has not been perceived yet by senses or instruments, we should not conclude that it is not there. It can, however, be perceived by its symptoms and effects.

Ngesizathu sokuthi asikwazi ukuwubona noma ukuwuzwa ngalemizwa esinayo umphefumulo, siyawuphika. Eqinisweni kuningi okukhona kodwa esingakwazi ukuthi sikubone ngamehlo ethu. Asikwazi ukubona umoya esiwuphefumulayo, umoya wokusakaza, umsindo, ngisho namagciwane imbala nalokhu okuncane ukudlula wona. Lokhu kungaboni akusho kodwa ukuthi zonke lezizinto azikho. Isizathu sokungakwazi ukuzibona lezizinto ukuthi lemizwa yakho emfishane futhi ibuthakathaka. Ngosizo lwe-microscope namanye amathuluzi, sekukuningi esesikwazi ukukubona nakuba bekungebonakale ngalamehlo ethu abona kafushane. Lesi sibonelo sibonisa kahle kamhlophe ukuthi akumele siphethe ngokuthi umphefumulo awukho ngenxa yokuthi nje lamathuluzi esimanje awakakwazi ukusibonisa umphefumulo. Isizathu sethu esenza singakwazi ukubona umphefumulo ukuthi ubuncane bawo budlula ngisho loko okuncane kunegciwane. Kodwa singakwazi ukubona ngezimpawu nemithelela, ubukhona bomphefumulo.

In the Bhagavad-gītā Śrī Kṛṣṇa points out that all of our miseries are due to false identification with the body.

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ
āgamāpāyino ’nityās
tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata

“O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of heat and cold, happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.” (Gītā 2.14)

“Awu ndodana ka Kunti, ukuzwela okwesikhashana ukufudumala nokugodola, ukujabula nokukhathazeka, nokushabalala kwako konke loku ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kufana nokufika nokudlula kobusika nehlobo okuyizinkathi zonyaka, Ewu, mzukulu ka Bhārata, umuntu kumele azifundise ukukubekezelela ngaphandle koku phazamiseka.” (Gītā 2.14)

In the summertime we may feel pleasure from contact with water, but in the winter we may shun that very water because it is too cold. In either case, the water is the same, but we perceive it as pleasant or painful due to its contact with the body.

Ehlobo kuyawuthokozisa umzimba ukuthintwa ngamanzi, kodwa ebusika lawomanzi siyawaxwaya ngoba ayabanda. Kunoma yisiphi salezi-zimo amanzi asuke engashintshile, efana, into eshintshayo ngumbono wethu ngawo, ovela emva kokuthintana komzimba namanzi.

All feelings of distress and happiness are due to the body. Under certain conditions the body and mind feel happiness and distress. Factually we are hankering after happiness, for the soul’s constitutional position is that of happiness. The soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Being, who is sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ – the embodiment of knowledge, bliss, and eternity. Indeed, the very name Kṛṣṇa, which is nonsectarian, means “the greatest pleasure.” Kṛṣ means “greatest” and ṇa means “pleasure.” Kṛṣṇa is the epitome of pleasure, and being part and parcel of Him, we hanker for pleasure. A drop of ocean water has all the properties of the ocean itself, and we, although minute particles of the Supreme Whole, have the same energetic properties as the Supreme.

Ukukhathazeka nokujabula kungenxa yemizwa yomzimba. Ngaphansi kwezimo ezithile umzimba nengqondo uba nemizwa yokujabula, kwezinye izimo imizwa yokukhathazeka. Eqinisweni vele silangazelele ukujabula ngoba umphefumulo uma uzwela ukujabula usuke usekhaya lawo. Umuntu uyingxenye yoMdali osiqu Sakhe sinolwazi nokujabula okuphelele phakade sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ (Bs. 5.1). Impela lona leli gama elithi Kṛṣṇa alihlukanisi futhi alicwasi, lichaza” injabulo enkulu. “Kṛṣ-”uchaza loko okukhulu kunakho konke, kanti u ”-ṇa” usho intokozo. Iconsi lamanzi asolwandle linazo zonke izithako zamanzi olwandle, nathi ngokunjalo yize singangezinhlansi kuMdali sinawo amandla afanayo Naye ngokwezinga lethu.

The atomic soul, although so small, is moving the entire body to act in so many wonderful ways. In the world we see so many cities, highways, bridges, great buildings, monuments, and great civilizations, but who has done all this? It is all done by the minute spirit spark within the body. If such wonderful things can be performed by the minute spirit spark, we cannot begin to imagine what can be accomplished by the Supreme Spirit Whole. The natural hankering of the minute spirit spark is for the qualities of the whole – knowledge, bliss, and eternality – but these hankerings are being frustrated due to the material body. The information on how to attain the soul’s desire is given in the Bhagavad-gītā.

Inhlansi yomphefumulo lena, yize incane kangaka kodwa iyo enyakazisa lomzimba ukuthi uhambe wenze izinto ezimangalisa kangaka.Kulomhlaba sibona inqwaba yama dolobha, imigwaqo, amabhuloho, amabhilidi, imibuso nokuningi okuyizikhumbuzo zemibuso, kodwa ubani owenze konke lokhu? Konke lokhu kwenziwa yilomphefumulo ongaphakathi komzimba. Uma konke lokhu kwenziwa yilenhlansi engaphakathi komzimba eyingxenye yelangabi okunguMdali, sesingacabangela-ke nje ngezimangaliso ezingavezwa yilowo onguMsuka walenhlansi. Ngakho-ke kuyimvelo ukuthi lenhlansi ilangazelele ukufana nelangabi okunguMdali ophelele ngolwazi, nentokozo kanye nokuphila kwaphakade. Kodwa lokulangazelela kuyaphazamiseka ngenxa yalomzimba nemizwa yawo. Ulwazi mayelana nokuthi ingasizuza kanjani lesisimo, luchazwa nguMdali uqobo lwakhe kwi-Bhagavad-gītā.

At present we are trying to attain eternity, bliss, and knowledge by means of an imperfect instrument. Actually, our progress toward these goals is being blocked by the material body; therefore we have to come to the realization of our existence beyond the body. Theoretical knowledge that we are not these bodies will not do. We have to keep ourselves always separate as masters of the body, not as servants. If we know how to drive a car well, it will give us good service; but if we do not know how, we will be in danger.

Njengamanje wonke umuntu uzama ukufinyelela esimweni sokuphelela olwazini, entokozweni, nasekuphileni kwaphakade kepha senza ngethuluzi elingakwazi ukuwumela lowomsebenzi. Eqinisweni indlela eya ekuphileni kwaphakade ivinjwe yilomzimba nezinkanuko zawo, ngakho-ke simelwe ukufinyelela kulowomcabango lapho siphila khona ngale komzimba. Ukuzwa kushiwo kuphela ukuthi asiyona lemizimba akwenele. Simelwe ukuzigcina sihlukanisekile kulemizimba njengabanikazi bayo, hhayi izigqila zayo. Uma sikwazi ukushayela imoto kahle ngokucophelela, leyomoto izosilonda kodwa uma singakwazi lokho kuzosifaka ezingozini.

The body is composed of senses, and the senses are always hungry after their objects. The eyes see a beautiful person and tell us, “Oh, there is a beautiful girl, a beautiful boy. Let’s go see.” The ears are telling us, “Oh, there is very nice music. Let us go hear it.” The tongue is saying, “Oh, there is a very nice restaurant with palatable dishes. Let us go.” In this way the senses are dragging us from one place to another, and because of this we are perplexed.

Lomzimba wethu uyinhlanganisela yezitho zokusebenza. Lezi-zitho zihlala zilambele okuqondene nazo. Amehlo uma ebona umuntu omuhle athi,”Awu intombi enhle kanje, umfana omuhle kanje, asihambe siyobona” Izindlebe zithi,”Awu waze wamnandi lowomculo. Asihambe siyolalela” Ulimi luthi,”Awu nansi irestaurant epheka ukudla okuconsisa amathe, asiye” Ngalendlela izitho zethu zomzimba ziyasihudula, zisisusa la zisishonise le na le. Ngenxa yalokhu sididekile.

indriyāṇāṁ hi caratāṁ
yan mano ’nuvidhīyate
tad asya harati prajñāṁ
vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi

“As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.” (Gītā 2.67)

“Njengoba nesikebhe emanzini sipheshulwa isivunguvungu somoya, ngisho isitho esisodwa somzimba ingqondo egxila kusona siyabuthuntubeza ubuhlakani bomuntu.” (Gītā 2.67)

It is imperative that we learn how to control the senses. The name gosvāmī is given to someone who has learned how to master the senses. Go means “senses,” and svāmī means “controller”; so one who can control the senses is to be considered a gosvāmī. Kṛṣṇa indicates that one who identifies with the illusory material body cannot establish himself in his proper identity as spirit soul. Bodily pleasure is flickering and intoxicating, and we cannot actually enjoy it, because of its momentary nature. Actual pleasure is of the soul, not the body. We have to mold our lives in such a way that we will not be diverted by bodily pleasure. If somehow we are diverted, it is not possible for us to establish our consciousness in its true identity beyond the body.

Kubaluleke ngendlela eyisimanga ukukwazi ukulawula izitho zethu zomzimba. Igama elithi gosvāmī linikwa lowo osefundile ukulawula abuse phezu kwezitho zomzimba wakhe. Go kusho ”izitho” u-svāmī usho ”umlawuli” Ngakho-ke lowo okwazi ukulawula izitho zakhe zomzimba kumele simthathe njenge gosvāmī. Lapha u-Kṛṣṇa uyaxwayisa ukuthi lowo osazibiza ngalomzimba okhohlisanayo akazukwazi ukulibona uqobo lwakhe olungu-mphefumulo. Ubumnandi obuzwiwa umzimba buyalokoza futhi buyadakana kudide, kube nzima nokubuthokozela ngenxa yokuthi bungobesikhashana. Ubumnandi beqiniso buzwakala emoyeni hhayi enyameni. Simelwe ukuhlela izimpilo zethu ngendlela yokuthi bungasikhiphi endleleni ubumnandi obuzwakala enyameni. Uma kwenzeka-ke siphuma endleni akube kusabalula ukuthi umoya wethu usivume isiqu esingaphezu komzimba.

bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānāṁ
tayāpahṛta-cetasām
vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ
samādhau na vidhīyate

traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā
nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho
niryoga-kṣema ātmavān

“In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place. The Vedas deal with the subject of the three modes of material nature. Rise above these modes, O Arjuna. Be transcendental to all of them. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the Self.” (Gītā 2.44–45)

“Ezingqondweni zalabo abanamathele kakhulu ekujabuliseni izitho zabo zemizimba nobukhazikhazi bezwe futhi kubakhungethe lokho, isibindi nokuqina kulendlela yenkonzo yemisebenzi yothando kaNkulunkulu akwakheli ezingqondweni zabo. Ama-Vedas ahlaziya udaba lwenkambiso yemvelo oluhlukene kathathu. Khuphukela ngaphezulu kwayo lenkambiso, Awu Arjuna iba ngaphezu kwayo lenkambiso ingakuthinti, zikhulule ezintweni zezwe ezimbaxambili nase kukhathazekeni kokuzuza nokuphepha, zinza ekuqondeni iWena qobo.” (Gītā 2.44-45)

The word veda means “book of knowledge.” There are many books of knowledge, which vary according to the country, population, environment, etc. In India the books of knowledge are referred to as the Vedas. In the West they are called the Old Testament and New Testament. The Muhammadans accept the Koran. What is the purpose for all these books of knowledge? They are to train us to understand our position as pure soul. Their purpose is to restrict bodily activities by certain rules and regulations, and these rules and regulations are known as codes of morality. The Bible, for instance, has ten commandments intended to regulate our lives. The body must be controlled in order for us to reach the highest perfection, and without regulative principles, it is not possible to perfect our lives. The regulative principles may differ from country to country or from scripture to scripture, but that doesn’t matter, for they are made according to the time and circumstances and the mentality of the people. But the principle of regulated control is the same. Similarly, the government sets down certain regulations to be obeyed by its citizens. There is no possibility of making advancement in government or civilization without some regulations. In the previous verse, Śrī Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna that the regulative principles of the Vedas are meant to control the three modes of material nature – goodness, passion, and ignorance (traiguṇya-viṣayā vedāḥ). However, Kṛṣṇa is advising Arjuna to establish himself in his pure constitutional position as spirit soul, beyond the dualities of material nature.

Igama elithi Veda lichaza ”incwadi yolwazi.” Ziningi izincwadi zolwazi, zihluka ngokwamazwe, isizwe, isimo, njalo njalo. Ezweni lase India izincwadi eziqukethe ulwazi zibizwa ngokuthi ama-Vedas. Emazweni aseNtshonalanga zibizwa ngokuthi iThestamente elidala neThestamente elisha. Ama-Muslim wona amukela i-Koran. Yini-ke inhloso yazo zonke lezizincwadi zolwazi? Inhloso yazo ukusiqeqesha ukuthi size sikuqonde ukuthi singobani, okungukuthi siyimiphefumulo emsulwa. Umsebenzi wayo ukulawula ukwenza komzimba ngokuwubekela imithetho nemigomo ethize. Lemithetho nemigomo yaziwa kangcono ngokuthi yindlela yokulunga. NeBhayibheli nalo linemithetho eyishumi ebekelwe ukulawula nokubusa izimpilo zethu. Kumele ukuthi umzimba ulawulwe uma sifuna ukufinyelela emaqophelweni aphakeme, futhi ngaphandle kwalemithetho ukufinyelela emaqophelweni asesicongweni, amazinga obumsulwa akusoze kwenzeka. Lemithetho nemigomo ebekiwe kuyenzeka ukuthi ihluke ngokwezwe nezwe, noma ngokwencwadi nencwadi, kodwa lokho akusho lutho, ngoba lezizincwadi zinconywe ngaphansi kwezikhathi nezimo ezihlukahlukene nangokwesimo somqondo walabo Bantu. Kodwa umthetho wokulawulwa umile kuzo zonke. Ngokufanayo, nohulumeni umisela izakhamizi zawo imithetho ezolandelwa ukuze kuphilwe ngendlla ephucuzekile. Ngeke ibe khona inqubekela phambili kuhulumeni nasempucuzekweni uma ingekho imithetho elandelwayo. Evesini elandulela leli u-Kṛṣṇa utshele u-Arjuna ukuthi lemithetho nemigomo kuma-Vedas ibekelwe ukulawula inkambiso yemvelo ehlukene kathathu Inkambiso yokulunga, yelukuluku, kanye neyobumnyama (traigunya-visayā vedāh). Kodwa-ke u-Kṛṣṇa udonsa u-Arjuna ngendlebe ukuthi akazibeke ngokugcwele emoyeni wokuzazi uqobo lwakhe njengomphefumulo, okungokokuqala nangaphezulu kokuthikamezwa yizimo zemvelo ezimbaxa-mbili(ubuhlungu nenjabulo).

As we have already pointed out, these dualities – such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain – arise due to the contact of the senses with their objects. In other words, they are born of identification with the body. Kṛṣṇa indicates that those who are devoted to enjoyment and power are carried away by the words of the Vedas, which promise heavenly enjoyment by sacrifice and regulated activity. Enjoyment is our birthright, for it is the characteristic of the spirit soul, but the spirit soul tries to enjoy materially, and this is the mistake.

Njengoba sekubekiwe ngaphambilini ukuthi lezi-zimo ezimbaxambili- njengokubanda nokushisa, ubumnandi nobuhlungu-kuvela uma izitho zihlangane nalokho ezibekelwe kona. Ngamanye amazwi sikuzwela konke lokhu ngenxa yokuzitshela ukuthi siyilemizimba. U-Kṛṣṇa lapha uxwayisa ngokuthi labo abakhonze ubumnandi nokubusa, imiqondo yabo ithunjwe ngamagama ama-Vedas athembisa ubumnandi bezulu ngokwenza imihlabelo(umnikelo) nokulandela imithetho (eyishumi). Ubumnandi buyilungelo lethu futhi buyimvelo yomphefumulo, kodwa umphefumulo lo uma uzama ukuzijabulisa ngenyama okwenza ukuthi ushaye eceleni, ugeje.

Everyone is turning to material subjects for enjoyment and is compiling as much knowledge as possible. Someone is becoming a chemist, physicist, politician, artist, or whatever. Everyone knows something of everything or everything of something, and this is generally known as knowledge. But as soon as we leave the body, all of this knowledge is vanquished. In a previous life one may have been a great man of knowledge, but in this life he has to start again by going to school and learning how to read and write from the beginning. Whatever knowledge was acquired in the previous life is forgotten. The situation is that we are actually seeking eternal knowledge, but this cannot be acquired by this material body. We are all seeking enjoyment through these bodies, but bodily enjoyment is not our actual enjoyment. It is artificial. We have to understand that if we want to continue in this artificial enjoyment, we will not be able to attain our position of eternal enjoyment.

Abantu bonke sebaphendukela ezintweni zezwe ukuzijabulisa, sebabuthela ndawonye inqwaba yolwazi ngalokhu. Abanye bafundela ukuba ngo sokhemisi, ngodokotela, ngosopolitiki, ngochwepheshe nokunye okuningi. Wonke umuntu kunokuncane akwaziyo ngeqiniso lento (i.e. ezobuchwepheshe) noma kuphelele akwaziyo ngokuncane. Lokhu-ke kujwayeleke ukuthi kuthathwe njengo ”Lwazi.” kodwa lolu lwazi luyashabalala ngomzuzu wokufa. Kungenzeka ukuthi empilweni yakho edlule ubungumuntu oyisifundiswa kodwa kulempilo kumele uqale phansi ufundiswe kabusha ukubhala nokufunda. Lonke ulwazi obukade uhlome ngalo kuleyampilo edlule usulukhohliwe. Sonke sizithola sisesimweni sokuzama sokuthungatha ulwazi olungeke lushabalale, kodwa lomzimba wenyama awukwazi ukubamba ulwazi nangale kokufa. Sonke sisemkhankasweni wokujabulisa lemizimba, kodwa ukujabula kwalomzimba akuchazi ukujabula kwethu uqobo. Loko kujabula kuwumfanekiso wokujabula kwethu, akusilona uqobo lwenjabulo yethu. Kumele sikuqonde ukuthi uma sizoqhubeka nalomfanekiso wenjabulo angeke sikwazi ukufinyelela ezingeni lapho umphefumulo uhlala khona ngaphansi kwesimo sokuthokoza izikhathi zonke.

The body must be considered a diseased condition. A diseased man cannot enjoy himself properly; a man with jaundice, for instance, will taste sugar candy as bitter, but a healthy man can taste its sweetness. In either case, the sugar candy is the same, but according to our condition it tastes different. Unless we are cured of this diseased conception of bodily life, we cannot taste the sweetness of spiritual life. Indeed, it will taste bitter to us. At the same time, by increasing our enjoyment of material life, we are further complicating our diseased condition. A typhoid patient cannot eat solid food, and if someone gives it to him to enjoy, and he eats it, he is further complicating his malady and is endangering his life. If we really want freedom from the miseries of material existence, we must minimize our bodily demands and pleasures.

Ukuphila enyameni kumele sikuthathe njengokuphila ngaphansi kwesimo sokugula. Umuntu ogulayo akakwazi ukuzijabulisa kahle. Isibonelo nje ukuthi kumuntu ophethwe yi-jondisi uswidi uzwakala ubaba kodwa kumuntu ongenayo le jondisi ubushukela baloswidi buzwakala kahle. Kubo bobabili labantu uswidi awushintshile kodwa ngokwezimo abangaphansi kwazo, zenza ukuthi uzwakale ngokuhlukana. Uma singalashwa isifo sokuzibona siyilemizimba, asisoze sabunambitha ubumnandi bokuphila ngaphezu kwenyama (impilo kamoya). Lobumnandi bempilo kamoya buyohlala njalo ubushukela bakhona bu-baba (bitter). Ngakho-ke uma siqhubeka nokuzijabulisa ngokwenyama lokho kusiqhubezela phambili isifo sethu. Isiguli esiphethwe untelika (typhoid) asikwazi ukudla ukudla okuqinile, uma sinikwa ukudla okunjalo, siqhubeke sikudle sibeka impilo yaso engcupheni. Uma ngempela sifuna ukukhululeka ezinhluphekweni zokuphila kulomhlaba, simelwe ukunqamula izimfuno zalomzimba zokujabula.

Actually, material enjoyment is not enjoyment at all. Real enjoyment does not cease. In the Mahābhārata there is a verse – ramante yogino ’nante – to the effect that the yogīs (yogino), those who are endeavoring to elevate themselves to the spiritual platform, are actually enjoying (ramante), but their enjoyment is anante, endless. This is because their enjoyment is in relation to the supreme enjoyer (Rāma), Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the real enjoyer, and the Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) confirms this:

Eqinisweni ukujabula komzimba akusiyo nhlobo injabulo. Injabulo yoqobo yileyo engapheli. Kunevesi kwi-Mahābhārata — ramante-yogīno ‘nante— okuchaza ukuthi ama-yogī,labo abasemkhankasweni wokufukula umoya wabo bawubeke ngaphezulu kwenyama (yogīno), ibona abasentokozweni(ramante) futhi injabulo yabo (i-anante) ayinamkhawulo. Lokhu kwenzeka ngoba ukujabula kwabo kuxhumene nomthokozisi omkhulu (uRāma) oyiNkosi u-Kṛṣṇa. INkosi u-Kṛṣṇa eyaziwa ngo Bhagavān, iyona engumthokozi wempela (weqiniso). Lokhu i-Bhagavad-gītā iyakufakazisa:

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

“The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate enjoyer of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.”

“Ngokwazi Mina njengoMnini weminikelo nemisebenzi yokuzidela, iNkosi phezu kwemihlaba nothixo bayo, unkulunkulu ongumsizi nomfiselibuhle kuzo zonke izidalwa, izazi ziyakhululwa ezinsizini zokuhlupheka kwezwe.” (Gītā 5.29)

Bhoga means “enjoyment,” and our enjoyment comes from understanding our position as the enjoyed. The real enjoyer is the Supreme Lord, and we are enjoyed by Him.

Igama elithi “bhoga” lisho ukubusa (ukuthokozela). Okwethu ukuthokoza kuqhamuka uma siqonda ukuthi singaba ”thokozelwa.” Umthokozi eqinisweni nguMdali thina sithokozelwa Nguye.

An example of this relationship can be found in the material world between the husband and the wife: the husband is the enjoyer (puruṣa), and the wife is the enjoyed (prakṛti). The word pri means “woman.” Puruṣa, or spirit, is the subject, and prakṛti, or nature, is the object. The enjoyment, however, is participated in both by the husband and the wife. When actual enjoyment is there, there is no distinction that the husband is enjoying more or the wife is enjoying less. Although the male is the predominator and the female is the predominated, there is no division when it comes to enjoyment. On a larger scale, no living entity is the enjoyer.

Isibonelo salobuhlobo butholakala khona lapha emhlabeni phakathi kwendoda nomfazi, indoda ingumthokozi noma ipuruṣa, ebese umfazi eba ngumthokozelwa (prakṛti). Igama elithi pri lisetshenziselwa ukuchaza ”ubulili besifazane.” IPuruṣa noma isidalwa sona singu ”menzi” ebese kuthi i-prakṛti noma indalo yona kuthiwa ngu ”menziwa.” Ubumnandi buvela ngokuhlanganyela kwabo bobabili umfazi nendoda. Uma sekumnandi akube kusahlukaniseka ukuthi ubani obuzwela kakhulu kunomunye ubumnandi phakathi kwendoda nomfazi. Yize indoda ingumphathi, umfazi ephethwe, kodwa ebumnandini umehluko uyanyamalala. Uma sesikubuka ngeso elibanzi lokhu, kuyavela ukuthi asikho isidalwa esisebumnandini.

God expanded into many, and we constitute those expansions. God is one without a second, but He willed to become many in order to enjoy. We have experience that there is little or no enjoyment in sitting alone in a room talking to oneself. However, if there are five people present, our enjoyment is enhanced, and if we can discuss Kṛṣṇa before many, many people, the enjoyment is all the greater. Enjoyment means variety. God became many for His enjoyment, and thus our position is that of the enjoyed. That is our constitutional position and the purpose for our creation. Both enjoyer and enjoyed have consciousness, but the consciousness of the enjoyed is subordinate to the consciousness of the enjoyer. Although Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer and we the enjoyed, the enjoyment can be participated in equally by everyone. Our enjoyment can be perfected when we participate in the enjoyment of God. There is no possibility of our enjoying separately on the bodily platform. Material enjoyment on the gross bodily platform is discouraged throughout the Bhagavad-gītā.

UMdali wazandisa waba mningi, thina-ke siyingxenye yaleso sandiso. UMdali yilowo ongasekelwe yilutho, kodwa ngentando Yakhe wazandisa wamningi ikhona ezozithokozisa. Sike sikubone ukuthi kuncane noma akukho ukuzithokozisa uma uhlezi wedwa endlini ukhuluma wedwa. Kepha uma nibahlanu endlini ubumnandi buyanda. Uma sihlaziya udaba luka-Kṛṣṇa phakathi eqenjini nobumnandi obuzwakala lapho bukhulu. Ukuhluka kwezinto kuletha ubumnandi. UMdali wazandisa ngokudala umuntu nendalo ikhona ezozithokozisa. Ngakho-ke indawo yethu thina enguku ”thokozelwa” nguMdali, iyona ndalo sisekelo yethu leyo nenhloso yokudalwa kwethu. UMthokozi kanye nomthokozelwa bobabili banomuzwa/nenzwa, kodwa inzwa yomthokozelwa ingaphansi kwenzwa woMthokozi. Yize-ke u-Kṛṣṇa enguMthokozi thina singabathokozelwa kodwa sineqhaza elilinganayo ebumnandini. Ubumnandi bethu buphelela uma sibamba iqhaza ebumnandini boMdali. Ngeke sibuzwe ubumnandi uma singazihlanganisi noboMdali, sibuzama enyameni. I-Bhagavad-gītā yonke iyakuchitha ukuzama ukuzijabulisa ngokwenyama.

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ
āgamāpāyino ’nityās
tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata

“Awu ndodana ka Kunti, ukuzwel isikhashana ukufudumala nokugodola, ukujabula nokukhathazeka, nokushabalala kwako konke loku ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, kufana nokufika nokudlula kobusika nehlobo okuyizinkathi zonyaka, Ewu, mzukulu ka-Bhārata, umuntu kumele azifundise ukuzibekezelela lezi-zinto ngaphandle koku phazamiseka.” (Gītā 2.14)

The gross material body is a result of the interaction of the modes of material nature, and it is doomed to destruction.

Isigaxa esiyilomzimba singumphumela wokuhlangana nokwenzelana kwenkambiso/imithetho yemvelo yomhlaba ehlukene kathathu: ukulunga, ukulangazelela, kanye nobumnyama. Kuyaziwa vele ukuthi isigaxa esingumzimba siphokophelele ekubhubheni.

antavanta ime dehā
nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ
anāśino ’prameyasya
tasmād yudhyasva bhārata

“Only the material body of the indestructible, immeasurable, and eternal living entity is subject to destruction; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.” (Gītā 2.18)

“Kuba ngumzimba kuphela onqotshwa ukufa, umoya wakhe lowo-muntu awunakubulawa, awunakulinganiswa, futhi uyisidalwa esiphila phakade, ngakho-ke, ibambe lempi mzukulu ka Bhārata.” (Gītā 2. 18)

Śrī Kṛṣṇa therefore encourages us to transcend the bodily conception of existence and attain to our actual spiritual life.

U-Kṛṣṇa lapha uyasikhuthaza ukuthi sithonyeke kulempilo yomzimba sibuyele empilweni yethu ka moya.

guṇān etān atītya trīn
dehī deha-samudbhavān
janma-mṛtyu jarā-duḥkhair
vimukto ’mṛtam aśnute

“When the embodied being is able to transcend these three modes [goodness, passion, and ignorance], he can become free from birth, death, old age, and their distresses and can enjoy nectar even in this life.” (Gītā 14.20)

“Lapho lowomutnu ongaphakathi komzimba esekwazi ukuphila ngaphezu kwenkambiso yemvelo yomhlaba ehlukene kathathu [ukulunga, ilukuluku, kanye nobumnyama], lapho ukufa, ukuzalwa kanye nokuguga kanye nezinkathazo ezihambisana nakho phinde kumthinte, lapho usenganambitha ubumnandi beZulu njengamanje.” (esaphila kulomhlaba). (Gītā 14.20)

To establish ourselves on the pure brahma-bhūta spiritual platform, above the three modes, we must take up the method of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The gift of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the chanting of the names of Kṛṣṇa – Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare – facilitates this process. This method is called bhakti-yoga or mantra-yoga, and it is employed by the highest transcendentalists. How the transcendentalists realize their identity beyond birth and death, beyond the material body, and transfer themselves from the material universe to the spiritual universes are the subjects of the following chapters.

Kumele samukele lendlela yokumazi nokumuzwa u-Kṛṣṇa uma sizimisele ngokuma siqine esitebhisini se-brahma-bhūta ngaphezu kwenkambiso yemvelo yomhlaba ehlukene kathathu. Isipho seNkosi u-Caitanya Mahāprabhu somthandazo woku huba amagama ka-Kṛṣṇa othi:

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

wenza kube lula ukuhamba lendlela. Lendlela ibizwa nge-bhakti-yoga noma i-mantra-yoga, futhi isetshenziswa abahlwayi beZulu abaseqophelweni eliphezulu. Ukuthi labahlwayi bendlela yeZulu bafinyelela kanjani ezingeni lapho uqobo lwabo lwembuleka khona balubone, olu-nganeno nangemuva kwethuna (olungaphezulu nangaphambili komzimba), baphinde bakwazi nokuzidlulisa besuka kulomhlaba badlulele eZulwini. Lolu-ke udaba oluzodingidwa yizihloko ezikulencwadi.