Lord Krishna -Sivananda 176

Lord Krishna (His Lilas and Teachings) -Swami Sivananda

Part 2
TEACHINGS

How to Withdraw From the Sense-Objects The Lord said:- “Sanaka and others, the sons of Brahma born of his mind, requested their father to tell them of the subtle and ultimate goal of Yoga. Sanaka and others said, ‘O Lord! The mind is attached to the sense-objects and the sense-objects influence the mind. The objects implant themselves in the mind as tendencies. The mind enters the Gunas and naturally becomes attached to them and the Gunas, i.e., the objects when experienced enter the mind as desires. How can one who wants to attain the final emancipation produce a separation between the two? How for one who wants to cross over the objects, who seeks to go beyond them and attain Moksha, do they cease to act and re-act upon each other?” The Lord said: “The great Lord Brahma, the creator of beings contemplated but could not get to the root of the question as his mind was on work. So he meditated on Me to get all authoritative answer for the same. I appeared before him as a swan. They paid Me due reverence, came forward, bowed at My feet and in the presence of Brahma asked Me the question, “Who art thou?” The answer that I gave to the sages who were anxious to know the truth, I shall now repeat to you, Uddhava. “O Brahmanas! If your question relates to Atman, then Atman is not many. So the question does not arise. Who will reply to whom? What is the basis on which I can give a full answer to your question? If your question relates to the body, then also the elements of which the body is composed are the same in all beings. Atman also is the same in all. Therefore your question, “Who art Thou?” is meaningless.