Akshara Brahma Yoga

Akshara refers to the imperishable or eternal, and Brahma Yoga signifies the yoga of an ultimate reality or the divine. In this chapter, Krishna explains to Arjuna the significance of understanding and realizing the eternal essence that transcends the material world. The term's etymology is rooted in the concepts of the Bhagavad Gita itself, emphasizing the pursuit of spiritual knowledge and the connection between the individual soul (jivatma) and the ultimate reality (Paramatman).[5]

1-5: Inquiry about the nature of ultimate reality (Brahman), the process of departing from the mortal world, and the importance of thoughts at the time of death.[6]

6-12: Attaining God in the final moments, divine manifestations, meditation (dhyana) on formless aspect, cycle of creation, and significance of devotion.

13-22: Paths after death, cycle of creation and dissolution (pralaya), eternal nature of God, influence of gunas, role of knowledge, and attaining God through devotion (bhakti).[7]

23-28: Path of devotion, meditation on God, the significance of Om, dedicating actions to God, importance of devotion, knowledge, and detachment.

In this chapter, Krishna elaborates on various concepts, including the nature of duty (dharma) and the imperishable nature of the soul (ātman). He advises Arjuna to fulfill his warrior duty without attachment to the results, emphasizing the importance of selfless action (karma yoga). Krishna explains that individuals have control only over their actions, not over the results, and encourages Arjuna to act in accordance with his dharma.

Krishna introduces the idea of the eternal soul, asserting that it transcends birth and death. He highlights the distinction between the physical body and the true self, which is immortal and unaffected by external circumstances (akshara). This understanding is the basis of spiritual discipline and renunciation (sannyasa).

1940 print of Krishna revealing his true form to Arjuna

• The Eternal and Imperishable Nature of the Soul: (Akshara: Ātman, the imperishable soul as described in the Bhagavad Gita) In this chapter, Krishna teaches Arjuna about the eternal and indestructible nature of the soul. The text emphasises that the soul is beyond the physical body and mind: it does not undergo the cycles of birth and death. This understanding helps Arjuna overcome his fear of mortality.
• The Process of Transition at the Time of Death: Krishna describes the process of departing from the physical body during death. He explains that the mental state and consciousness at the time of death determines the soul's journey to the next life. By maintaining a meditative and devotional state of mind, individuals can ensure a positive transition and a better future existence.
• The Importance of Devotion and Surrender to God: The chapter underscores the significance of unwavering devotion (bhakti) and surrender to the divine. Krishna explains that by focusing one's thoughts on the Para Brahman (Supreme Being) and cultivating a deep connection through love and devotion, individuals can attain liberation (moksha) and break the cycle of birth and death.[8]
• The Significance of the Om Sound in Spiritual Practice: Om (or Aum) is a sacred sound often considered to be the primordial vibration of the universe. It symbolises the ultimate reality or Brahman. In the context of the Gita, Krishna mentions the syllable Om as a representation of the Divine.

The Akshara Brahma Yoga teaches about the eternal nature of the soul, the process of transitioning at death, the importance of devotion and surrender, and the significance of Om in spiritual practice.

The Akshara Brahma Yoga emphasises the eternal and indestructible nature of the soul (ātman) using the syllable Om as a representation of the ultimate reality.[9] Krishna explains the concept of oneness between the individual soul and the universal consciousness. This chapter underscores the importance of spiritual discipline, devotion, and meditation as means to realise this unity. Through the metaphor of a tree, Krishna illustrates the roots as the divine, the trunk as the cosmic order, and the leaves as the individual souls. By understanding the imperishable nature of the soul and aligning oneself with the universal, one can attain liberation (moksha). Akshara Brahma Yoga teaches the path to self-realization, emphasizing the connection between individual and divine, and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.

Om

See also: Om

The sacred symbol Om, discussed in the Akshara Brahma Yoga[10]

The Om symbol holds profound significance in Akshara Brahma Yoga, a sacred syllable representing the ultimate reality, encompassing creation, preservation, and dissolution. The three phonetic components of Aum — A, U, and M — symbolise these phases of existence.

Verse 13 of this chapter is as follows:[9]

Original Sanskrit ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन् य: प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम्

Verse 8.13 transliterated oṁ ityekākṣharaṁ brahma vyāharan mām anusmaran yaḥ prayāti tyajan dehaṁ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim

Translation The one who utters the single syllable 'Om,' remembering me, and departs abandoning the body, that person attains the supreme goal.

In Akshara Brahma Yoga, Aum signifies the unchanging, eternal essence amidst the ever-changing world. A resonates with the waking state, symbolizing creation and the beginning (of human personhood). U corresponds to the dream state, representing preservation and continuity. M signifies the state of deep sleep and dissolution, leading to rebirth.