Gita Darshan Part 07 - Book Summary

Based on the provided text, here's a comprehensive summary in English of Osho's "Gita Darshan Part 07," focusing on the essence of Chapters 14, 15, and 16:

Overview of "Gita Darshan Part 07"

This volume, "Gita Darshan Part 07" by Osho, delves into Chapters 14, 15, and 16 of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. It presents Osho's interpretation of the verses on "Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Yoga of the Three Qualities), "Purushottama Yoga" (The Yoga of the Supreme Person), and "Daiva Asura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga" (The Yoga of the Distinction Between the Divine and the Demonic Properties). Osho's discourse aims to elucidate the profound spiritual wisdom of the Gita, making it accessible and relevant for contemporary seekers. The commentary is presented as a compilation of twenty-five "amrita pravachans" (immortal discourses).

Key Themes and Concepts:

The core of Osho's discourse in this volume revolves around understanding the fundamental nature of existence, the human condition, and the path to liberation. Here are the prominent themes:

The Three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas): Chapter 14 extensively explores the three qualities that govern all existence and bind the soul (Atman) to the cycle of birth and death.
- Sattva: Characterized by purity, luminescence, and lightness, it leads to happiness, knowledge, and a sense of well-being. However, attachment to this very sattva can become a subtle bondage, leading to pride and an illusion of spiritual attainment.
- Rajas: Associated with passion, activity, desire, and ambition, it binds the individual through attachment to the fruits of action and leads to restlessness and involvement in worldly pursuits.
- Tamas: Marked by inertia, ignorance, darkness, and laziness, it leads to delusion, sloth, and a descent into lower states of consciousness.
- Osho emphasizes that true liberation lies not in favoring one guna over another, but in transcending all three. The goal is to go beyond the gunas to a state of gunatita (beyond the gunas).
The Nature of Reality: The Unfolding Tree: Chapter 15 uses the metaphor of an upside-down tree (Urdhvamoolam Adhahshakham Ashwattham) to describe the phenomenal world (samsara).
- The Root (Mool): This is the ultimate reality, the Supreme Being (Brahman/Purushottam), which is above and beyond all manifest existence.
- The Branches (Shakha): These represent the manifested universe, extending downwards through various realms of existence (celestial, human, lower realms).
- The Leaves (Parni): These are the Vedas and spiritual knowledge, which sustain the tree of existence.
- The Worldly Actions (Karma): These bind the individual to the cycle of birth and death, like roots anchoring the tree.
- Osho stresses that understanding this cosmic tree, particularly its root in the Supreme Being, is crucial for true knowledge and liberation. The path to liberation is a return journey to the root, not a further descent into the branches or leaves.
The Supreme Person (Purushottam): Chapter 15 further elaborates on the nature of the Supreme Being, Krishna's identity as the Purushottam.
- Osho clarifies that the Purushottam is beyond the perishable (Kshara) and the imperishable (Akshara).
- Kshara refers to the physical body and the manifested world, subject to change and decay.
- Akshara refers to the individual soul (Atman), which is imperishable but still bound by the gunas.
- The Purushottam is the transcendent reality that pervolds, upholds, and yet remains beyond both the changing and the unchanging aspects of existence. He is the source and sustainer of all.
The Path to Transcendence: Witnessing and Surrender: Throughout the chapters, Osho emphasizes the importance of transcending the gunas and the ego.
- Witnessing (Sakshi Bhava): A crucial practice is to observe all actions, thoughts, and emotions without identification. Whether the gunas are active or inactive, the witness (the true self) remains untouched and unaffected. This detached observation is the key to breaking the bondage of the gunas.
- Surrender (Sharanagati): This involves letting go of the ego's control and surrendering to a higher power or the ultimate reality. Osho clarifies that true surrender is not about becoming helpless or passive, but about recognizing the limited nature of the individual ego and merging with the infinite. It's a conscious choice born from deep insight, not resignation.
- Purity of Heart: Osho highlights that mere concentration or external practices are insufficient. True transformation comes from the purity of intention and the sincerity of the heart. This inner transformation allows one to utilize any external circumstances or practices as a path towards self-realization.
The Nature of the Divine and Demonic: Chapter 16 contrasts the divine properties (Daivi Sampada) with the demonic ones (Asuri Sampada).
- Divine Qualities: These include fearlessness, purity of heart, devotion to knowledge, charity, self-control, truthfulness, compassion, and non-violence. They are the qualities that lead to spiritual growth and liberation.
- Demonic Qualities: These encompass hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, ignorance, and addiction. They lead to darkness, delusion, and further entanglement in the cycle of suffering.
- Osho suggests that these qualities are not static but dynamic forces within us, and the path of spiritual growth involves cultivating the divine while diligently transforming or eradicating the demonic.

Osho's Approach:

Osho's commentary is characterized by:

Holistic Integration: He connects the Gita's teachings to various philosophical and spiritual traditions, as well as psychological insights.
Focus on Experience: Osho consistently steers the discourse towards direct experience rather than mere intellectual understanding. He encourages active participation through awareness and meditation.
Challenging Conventional Notions: He often presents familiar concepts in a new light, prompting the reader to question their ingrained beliefs and interpretations.
Emphasis on Action: Despite the profound philosophical discussions, there's a constant underlying message of "Do!" – engage in the practice, transform through doing, and realize the divine within.

In essence, "Gita Darshan Part 07" offers a profound exploration of the human condition through the lens of the Bhagavad Gita, guided by Osho's unique perspective. It emphasizes understanding the illusory nature of the ego and worldly attachments, cultivating inner awareness and dispassion, and ultimately realizing one's inherent divine nature through conscious living and surrender.