Krishna continued,
"I told you about the three categories of penance based on Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Now listen to the three ways in which charity is described. Again the basis is the difference between the three Gunas. Sometimes all good things coincide at the time of making a gift of something. The time, place and the deserving person to whom one would be happy to present a gift, are all present together. There is a tacit understanding between you and the receiver of the gift that it is a gift of love and the receiver of the gift is under no obligation to return your kindness. This is called a Sattvic gift.
On the other hand, the gift is sometimes made with an expectation of a return of one's kindness. Then it is kindness, not a gift. The most common expectation is that the receiver of the gift should remain under an obligation and a burden of gratitude. A gift made with expectation becomes a cause of despondency also because unfulfilled expectations bring sorrow. A gift of this kind is a Rajas gift.
Now listen to how the gift given in the spirit of Tamas fares. An inauspicious place which excites base passions, a person who excites base instincts, when you have no regard or respect for the person to whom you are making a gift, when you insult and humiliate the person to whom you are giving the gift--are the circumstances which turn your gift into a Tamas gift.
Para-Brahma, the Highest of all, is indicated by three syllables, uttered individually or collectively. They are Aum, Tat, and Sat. The essence of nobility(Priest), essence of knowledge (Vedas), and the spirit of sacrifice as the essence of life (Yajnya) are initiated by these syllables.
Those who have this knowledge in their heart perform all activities in the spirit of sacrifice, They give the gift with utmost nobility and perform the penance without expectation.
Those who want to lead a life of true freedom fix their attention on the syllable 'Tat', which means 'That"
"That" is indicative of the ultimate freedom which is Brahma. All the activities of their life are inspired by "That"
And what is "Sat", Arjun? Wherever there is awareness of the imperishable (Brahma), wherever there is good conduct, there exists "Sat". It also accompanies every generous act.
To live life in the spirit of sacrifice, to be in a constant awareness of the spirit of penance and to imbibe the spirit of generosity (Dana) is to live in "Sat", and to perform every act in the direction of "Sat" is also to live in "Sat".
O Partha, whenever a sacrifice is performed unwillingly or halfheartedly, whenever a gift is given with a sting, whenever a penance is done as a punishment, it is "Asat", the absence of "Sat". Asat is unproductive. It is futile here as well as there, in the realm beyond the earthly life.
Aum Tat Sat, with this ends the seventeenth chapter of the Upanishad called Bhagavadgeeta which is contained in the dialogue between Krishna and Arjun. All this forms a part of the knowledge of Brahma and the discipline of Yoga is a part of that knowledge of Brahma. In it, this was a chapter called the three forms of faith.
"I told you about the three categories of penance based on Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Now listen to the three ways in which charity is described. Again the basis is the difference between the three Gunas. Sometimes all good things coincide at the time of making a gift of something. The time, place and the deserving person to whom one would be happy to present a gift, are all present together. There is a tacit understanding between you and the receiver of the gift that it is a gift of love and the receiver of the gift is under no obligation to return your kindness. This is called a Sattvic gift.
On the other hand, the gift is sometimes made with an expectation of a return of one's kindness. Then it is kindness, not a gift. The most common expectation is that the receiver of the gift should remain under an obligation and a burden of gratitude. A gift made with expectation becomes a cause of despondency also because unfulfilled expectations bring sorrow. A gift of this kind is a Rajas gift.
Now listen to how the gift given in the spirit of Tamas fares. An inauspicious place which excites base passions, a person who excites base instincts, when you have no regard or respect for the person to whom you are making a gift, when you insult and humiliate the person to whom you are giving the gift--are the circumstances which turn your gift into a Tamas gift.
Para-Brahma, the Highest of all, is indicated by three syllables, uttered individually or collectively. They are Aum, Tat, and Sat. The essence of nobility(Priest), essence of knowledge (Vedas), and the spirit of sacrifice as the essence of life (Yajnya) are initiated by these syllables.
Those who have this knowledge in their heart perform all activities in the spirit of sacrifice, They give the gift with utmost nobility and perform the penance without expectation.
Those who want to lead a life of true freedom fix their attention on the syllable 'Tat', which means 'That"
"That" is indicative of the ultimate freedom which is Brahma. All the activities of their life are inspired by "That"
And what is "Sat", Arjun? Wherever there is awareness of the imperishable (Brahma), wherever there is good conduct, there exists "Sat". It also accompanies every generous act.
To live life in the spirit of sacrifice, to be in a constant awareness of the spirit of penance and to imbibe the spirit of generosity (Dana) is to live in "Sat", and to perform every act in the direction of "Sat" is also to live in "Sat".
O Partha, whenever a sacrifice is performed unwillingly or halfheartedly, whenever a gift is given with a sting, whenever a penance is done as a punishment, it is "Asat", the absence of "Sat". Asat is unproductive. It is futile here as well as there, in the realm beyond the earthly life.
Aum Tat Sat, with this ends the seventeenth chapter of the Upanishad called Bhagavadgeeta which is contained in the dialogue between Krishna and Arjun. All this forms a part of the knowledge of Brahma and the discipline of Yoga is a part of that knowledge of Brahma. In it, this was a chapter called the three forms of faith.
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