The Yoga of the Supreme Person

Theme and purpose

The yoga of the Supreme Person: The material world is like an upside down banyan tree. One should cut it with the axe of detachment and surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Due to material mind and senses, the jīva, although a fragmental part of Kṛṣṇa, transmigrates. Kṛṣṇa is the maintainer of all and is above the fallible (kṣara) and infallible (akṣara) living entities and is the Supersoul.

How this chapter connects

Sections and key teachings

1. 15.1–6 From material world to spiritual world – by detachment and surrender
   2 subsections

   • 15.1–2 Material world is an upside down banyan tree – branches are planets, the three modes are watering process, twigs are sense objects and secondary roots are fruitive activities.
   • 15.3–6 Cut the tree of material world with the axe of detachment and surrender unto the Supreme Lord (process explained) and thus attain the spiritual world (qualities described).
2. 15.7–11 Transmigration of the living entities
   2 subsections

   • 15.7–9 The jīva is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, but struggling in this world due to the five senses and the mind and thus changing material bodies
   • 15.10–11 Soul’s transmigration – Who can and who can’t see?
3. 15.12–15 Appreciating Kṛṣṇa’s position as our maintainer in this world
   2 subsections

   • 15.12–13 Kṛṣṇa is our maintainer at cosmic level – as source of light, sustenence and juice of life
   • 15.14–15 Kṛṣṇa is our maintainer at personal level – as digestion fire and Paramātma in the heart
4. 15.16–18 Summary of the Vedas and the Vedānta
   3 subsections

   • 15.16 Two kinds of living entities – kṣara and akṣara
   • 15.17 The Supersoul, beyond kṣara and akṣara
   • 15.18 Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord
5. 15.19–20 Knowing Kṛṣṇa means knowing everything

All verses

15.1–6

• 15.1
• 15.2
• 15.3–4
• 15.5
• 15.6

15.7–11

• 15.7
• 15.8
• 15.9
• 15.10
• 15.11

15.12–15

• 15.12
• 15.13
• 15.14
• 15.15

15.16–18

• 15.16
• 15.17
• 15.18

15.19–20

• 15.19
• 15.20