103 - Everything is an Expression of the Divine | Swami Tattwamayananda

10th chapter: 20th verse, 41st verse, verses 25-34<br /><br />The summary of the 10th chapter is that everything is an expression of the divine. This divinity is immanent within us. We can manifest this divinity by seeing its presence in anything that is sublime supreme, beautiful and creative. Then, when we look around, we won’t see anything other than the divine.<br /><br />The central thesis of the 10th chapter is in the 20th verse and 41st verse. It is important to properly understand both these verses to make sense of verse 21 onwards, where Lord Krishna describes his manifestations.<br /><br />In the 20th verse, Lord Krishna says: “O Arjuna, I am present in the heart of all beings as the indweller– residing there I regulate and function everything. I am the beginning; I am the middle; and I am the end of all beings.”<br /><br />In the 41st verse, Lord Krishna says: “Wherever you find some greatness, prosperity, power or excellence – know that to be a part of My splendor.” Wherever we find a unique manifestation that is sublime and beautiful, it is an expression of the divine reality.<br /><br />From the 25th to 34th verse, Lord Krishna describes his manifestations.<br /><br />In the 25th verse, Lord Krishna says: “Among the sounds, I am Omkara.” Omkara is the essence of all human sound and speech system. It represents the totality and oneness of existence. Omkara should be chanted with a lengthened vowel sound. It begins and ends in silence. Its chanting gives us inner tranquility and peace.<br /><br />In the 25th verse, Lord Krishna also says: “Among prayers, I am japa-yajñaḥ”. Japa-yajñaḥ is the most sublime form of spiritual practice - a state where the devotee is naturally and spontaneously merged in the continuous recital of the mantra.<br /><br />Mantra japa has four stages in descending order: Para (realize the essence), Pashyanti (focused on the meaning of the mantra), madhyama (verbal repetition, no sound) and Vaikhari (verbal repetition with sound). It is an evolution from the gross to the subtle