🌿 Spirit in the Birdbath:
Gita 13.27 and the Dance of Life
“Wherever life is seen—in stillness or movement—it arises from the union of matter and Spirit.” — Bhagavad Gita 13.27 or 13.26
🎵 Just One Verse
yāvat sañjāyate kiñcit
sattvaṁ sthāvara-jaṅgamam
kṣetra-kṣetrajña-saṁyogāt
tad viddhi bharatarṣabha
(Bhagavad Gita 13.27 or 13.26)
"Wherever a being is born, whether moving or unmoving, know it to be from the union of the field (body/matter) and the knower of the field (spirit), O Arjuna."
Just One Story
This morning, a robin perched in the birdbath in our garden. Its chest puffed proudly, feathers gleaming under the sun, it dipped and fluttered, soaking in the coolness of the water. Such a simple moment, yet so profound.
What gives that robin its spark?
Why is it not just a collection of matter—feathers, bones, and water —but something alive, something that sings, flies, bathes?
The Gita answers with quiet clarity:
Wherever life is seen in things that move or do not move, it is the union of kṣetra (matter) and kṣetrajña (spirit). (13.27)
This verse invites us to look beyond the surface of things. The robin is not just biology. Its movement, its life, is the result of Spirit animating matter. Matter is the stage; Spirit is the dancer.
🔍 Why it matters
We often reduce the world to mechanical parts—organs, functions, productivity. But the Gita gently reminds us: life isn’t in the parts—it’s in the presence of Spirit. It is not the water that makes the robin dance. It is not even the robin's body. It is something deeper. Something still. Something eternal.
When we start seeing the world this way, we stop grasping and start revering. We no longer just see "nature"—we see the divine at play.
🪶 Reflection
Next time you see a bird bathe, a leaf sway, a child laugh—pause.
Ask: What animates this?
In that asking, something shifts. You begin to see not just forms, but the formless behind them.
And in that seeing—you remember.
You, too, are a union of body and Spirit.
You, too, are a sacred dance.
Enjoy the life all around,
Suresh
Gita For Everyone, Reflections from scripture to street corner.
🪶 If this resonated, please forward to a friend, leave a note, or take a breath and smile at the next bird you see.
