Four Accusations I Might Lob At The Other Bird On The Tree

“The Vedas, like the Mundaka Upanishad, as well as the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, compare the soul and the Supersoul to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Krishna) is simply watching His friend. Of these two birds—although they are the same in quality—one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply witnessing the activities of His friend. Krishna is the witnessing bird, and Arjuna is the eating bird.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, 2.22 Purport)

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1. Why are you just sitting there?

“Umm, why are you even here? You don’t do anything. You just sit there. That is kind of annoying. I think I am all good on my own. Feel free to leave at any time. If you want to hang around, I guess that is okay. It still is a little awkward that I am doing all of this stuff, and you are simply observing. Are you going to report my behavior to some higher authority? Am I going to get rewarded for certain things and punished for others?”

2. Why didn’t you tell me this would be enjoyable?

“Oh my goodness, that experience was absolutely heavenly. I am so glad that I decided, on my own, to go in that direction. Why didn’t you tell me beforehand? That would have saved me a lot of time. It is like trying to find the proper destination after getting lost. Make one wrong turn and you could be heading in the opposite direction for a long time. You knew this entire time. You had the map but refused to share it with me. Not cool.”

3. My suffering is all your fault

“I am in so much pain. That was a terrible decision. All of this could have been avoided. I chose to indulge at a time where restraint was called for. I lacked better judgment. Why didn’t you stop me? You were sitting there next to me the entire time. I have made similar mistakes in the past. You were witness to my prior suffering. I can’t believe you could be so cruel as to not intervene.

4. He did it!

“Please don’t punish me. I cannot bear to accept the suffering. To tell you the truth, it was all him. See this bird seated next to me? I was simply sitting here, minding my own business. Sir, I told that bird not to do it, that the choice would lead to future punishment. But you know how things go sometimes. He refused to listen. This is a case of mistaken identity. I am the innocent one. Please feel free to take him away.”

…

The above are potential ways to react when in the situation described by the Upanishads. This is to explain the predicament of the individual living being [jivatma] in the material world. That predicament is not exclusive to a single lifetime. The lifetime is something like an iteration of an experience limited by a beginning and an end.

ये हि संस्पर्श-जा भोगा
दुःख-योनय एव ते
आद्य्-अन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय
न तेषु रमते बुधः

ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā
duḥkha-yonaya eva te
ādy-antavantaḥ kaunteya
na teṣu ramate budhaḥ

“An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad­-gita, 5.22)

The situation is that there are two birds on a tree. One bird is making choices. They go in this direction and that. As a result, they enjoy or suffer. The Sanskrit words are bhoga and tyaga; indulging and renouncing. If tied to a formalized system of regulation, of what to do and what not to do, we have the Sanskrit pairs of karya and akarya, pravritti and nivritti, and guna and dosha.

The second bird simply witnesses. It does not indulge. It does not interfere. The rules and regulations do not apply to this bird. The second bird is always there, whether the first bird goes up or down. Whether the first bird receives elevation to a higher status in the next life or is demoted to a lower species.

The first bird is us. We are jivatma. We suffer or enjoy. We make choices. The second bird is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His fixed presence is one indication of His causeless mercy. No one can be a better friend than God as the witness. He is Paramatma. He is always wishing us well.

Paramatma is by our side in spite of our tendency to cheat, to blame, and to toss aside good counsel rooted in intelligence. Any of the above mentioned responses could apply to us upon realizing the presence of Paramatma. We might blame God for everything in an attempt to escape accountability. We might try to navigate on our own, thinking that we are more intelligent, that we do not require assistance.

Irrespective of our stance, Paramatma stays with us. The presence does have a purpose, however. If we turn in the direction of the second bird, in a humble manner, with a mood to serve, then we can receive proper guidance. This potential turn is nicely symbolized in the historical incident of the Bhagavad-gita conversation which took place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Arjuna represents jivatma. He has certain ability. He is vibrant. He can make choices. At the same time, he is so filled with doubt and hesitation it is like a higher force has suppressed his natural tendencies. He decides to humbly submit to Paramatma, to petition the person who is right next to him on the chariot. Shri Krishna then provides guidance. The protection arrives for the surrendered souls in the way described directly to Arjuna.

तेषां सतत-युक्तानां
भजतां प्रीति-पूर्वकम्
ददामि बुद्धि-योगं तं
येन माम् उपयान्ति ते

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.10)

This is also the mission of the spiritual master. They are something like the living and moving representative of Paramatma. While the second bird is within, seated next to the individual in the heart, the guru carries the same guidance but in the visual of a separate living being. The interest is identical; this is one way to decipher the genuineness of a spiritual leader. If they are bringing me closer to the rescuer of Arjuna then it is like I am already receiving the guidance I need.

In Closing:

Whether as victor or defeated,
That bird next to me seated.

In each life iteration,
Until time of liberation.

Which only possible to make,
When wise counsel to take.

The guru this same purpose for,
Like Krishna manifesting before.