In this 67th talk on the Bhagavad Gita, Swami Nirmalananda Giri concludes Chapter 14, "The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas," addressing Arjuna’s question to Krishna about recognizing someone who has transcended the three gunas—Sattva (goodness), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (ignorance)—which characterize Prakriti (material nature).

Krishna describes such a person as detached, tranquil, and self-contained, unmoved by the gunas’ effects (illumination, activity, delusion) or external dualities like pleasure and pain. The talk emphasizes that transcending the gunas requires unswerving devotion through yoga, particularly the practice of "Soham Yoga" meditation, leading to absorption in Brahman—the eternal, blissful abode beyond relative existence.

The chapter ends with a reaffirmation of the self as both the experiencer and the abode of divine consciousness.

Main Points:

1 Arjuna’s Inquiry:

• Arjuna asks Krishna how to identify someone who has gone beyond the three gunas, what their conduct is, and how they achieve this transcendence.
• The gunas are traits of Prakriti (relative existence), and liberation requires moving beyond them entirely.

2 Neutrality Toward the Gunas:

• Krishna explains that one who transcends the gunas neither rejects nor craves their effects: illumination (Sattva), activity (Rajas), or delusion (Tamas).
• This person doesn’t destroy the gunas but masters them through will and intelligence, remaining unaffected by their presence or absence.

3 Tranquility and Detachment:

• Such an individual "sits apart," tranquil and unwavering, indifferent to the gunas’ operations, avoiding ego-driven reactions like pity or excitement.
• They stand firm, not swayed by external conditions, recognizing the gunas as separate from their true self.

4 Equanimity in Duality:

• They remain the same in pain or pleasure, not overwhelmed by either, though capable of practical responses (e.g., avoiding harm).
• Material objects (earth, stone, gold) and social judgments (praise, blame) hold equal value or lack thereof, as all are divine manifestations yet irrelevant to the self.

5 Self-Contained Awareness:

• The transcendent person is self-contained, finding all fulfillment in the self, rooted in divine awareness rather than external dependencies.
• They see friends and enemies impartially, not taking sides, accepting both as part of the divine dream without being controlled by them.

6 Renouncing Undertakings:

• They avoid unnecessary involvement in worldly activities, acting only when practical, without compulsive attachment or personal investment.
• This detachment reflects a state beyond ordinary experience, accessible through yogic practice.

7 Yoga as the Path:

• Krishna emphasizes serving the divine with "unswerving devotion" through yoga, specifically meditating on "So Ham" (I am That) with each breath.
• This practice aligns one with the soul (Brahman), fostering absorption beyond the gunas.

8 Realization of Brahman:

• Going beyond the gunas fits one for absorption in Brahman—the immortal, immutable abode of everlasting Dharma and absolute bliss.
• "Soham" is both a part and the totality of Brahman, connecting the individual to the infinite consciousness.

9 Self as the Abode:

• Krishna reveals that he (the divine) is the abode of Brahman, and the realized yogi recognizes themselves as this abode—eternal, blissful, and the source of true Dharma.
• This unity manifests in the relative world to liberate one into the absolute.

10 Conclusion of Chapter 14:

• The talk concludes Chapter 14, titled "The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas," as a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, the "science of the eternal" and "scripture of yoga."
• The speaker notes exceeding the intended time, playfully questioning if this reflects Rajas or Tamas, leaving further discussion for the next session.

This talk highlights the marks of transcendence—detachment, equanimity, and self-realization—achieved through dedicated yoga, culminating in unity with Brahman beyond the gunas’ influence.