Skip to main content

'An impractical solution'

 

Week 9, chapter 2/3 shlokas 66- 7

Speaking more about the sthita-pragnya state, Krishna tells that- like the whole world ignores the thought of attaining yoga and keeps indulging in sensory pleasures that result in all kinds of miseries. While the one (who might be) ignorant of practical/ worldly dealings of the world but is aware of the atma-tattwa, is extremely peaceful, beyond all kinds of pleasures and pains…is contented as his spirit is the source of his contentment—is free from the influence of ego…and is a real yogi.

Arjuna is confused and asks Krishna to give him a practical solution to his woes and to not confuse him with strange and ‘impractical’ solutions.

On which Krishna again tells him that this is the most practical solution if Arjuna can understand with a little deeper thinking. Just like to cross a flooded river, one needs to take the help of a boat, and this understanding of how to perform karmas with the right attitude is only going to help him. Just like giving up on karmas is not going to make Arjuna attain control of his senses…in a way, he will still remain under the influence of his senses, and in a way, he will be influenced by maya. And many such people who claim to have given up their karmas, cannot detach themselves from the thought of it and thus remain indulged to their senses mentally.

However, a real yogi would live and look like any common human being, is never scared of pleasures (vishaya), performs his righteous duties, does not stop his senses from performing their functions (since he is naturally driven by the sadbuddhi- that is the desire to attain the moksha) and at the same time doesn’t become a slave to his senses. is not attracted to the pleasures and remains free from attachments. Just like a lotus remains in water but the water cannot penetrate its surface. He performs his worldly duties just like any other being but is always remains in a state of detachment.

 

p.s. As per my understanding, when Krishna talks about not getting involved in sensory pleasures while at the same time letting the senses perform their functions—that one must strive to attain mental chastity along with physical chastity/ material chastity (howsoever one can put it). By being genuine and performing 'swa-dharma'. Detachment while performing worldly duties—keeping the attention free from indulgences.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ananya Bhakti (the singularity)

Week 32, Chapter 11, Shloka 32-55 Tremendous form of Krishna, as seen by Arjuna shows everything and every one of the mortal world rushing towards the fire-filled mouth of Shri Krishna- like the moths rushing towards the fire are consumed by the fire, the same way Arjuna can see the warriors of the mortal world and the army of the battlefield rushing towards the tremendous fire of destruction in the mouth of Krishna. Having been witnessed this universal form, trembling with fear, Arjuna requests Krishna to return back to his gentle human form. Says Krishna— The universal form that you saw cannot be attained by studying Vedas or scriptures…nor by charity, penance, sacrifices can the universal form be attained. भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन | ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप || 54 || bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham eva ṁ -vidho ’ rjuna j ñā tu ṁ dra ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha tattvena prave ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha parantapa The only way to attain my universal form is...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Divine Revelation

    Week 13, chapter 4 shlokas 7- 20   Reveals Krishna- His divinity and the purpose of his incarnation. That, whenever the dharma is destroyed and immorality or unrighteousness prevails-- I incarnate (take form/manifest) to protect the dharma (righteousness). I incarnate to protect those who worship me and are righteous. I incarnate to swallow the darkness of ignorance, to destroy those who harm the righteous. I incarnate era to era to establish the dharma and to celebrate everything and everyone who are righteous. Those who know this are the ones who are enlightened. These are the ones who don’t dwell on past or future—are free of lust or attachments/ indulgences—who remain grateful for my incarnation and are contented by the sip of pure knowledge. They are the ones who are like walking forests of wish-granting trees—such enlightened souls are auspicious, and they are naturally bound to attain their oneness with me. (shloka 9-10) I love all those who worshi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kshetragya (the knower of the ‘field’)--various arguements

 Chapter 13, shloka 1-4   Kshetragya (the knower of the ‘field’) This body is the ‘kshetra’ (the field/site), and the one who knows the body is the one to be called ‘Kshetragnya’. The Kshetragnya and the one who nourishes all the kshetras is but me only, and to know the kshetra and the kshetragnya is the true knowledge. Tells Krishna; there have been a lot of discussions in scriptures and various arguments among sages about who this kshetra belongs to but there is no unanimity on the same. Gyaneshwara comments on various arguments and discussions about the kshetra; Those who are believers in the theory of karma say that the entire kshetra is under the control of ‘jivatma’(the embodied soul) and is managed by the prana(the life force). The four types of airs- apaana, vyaana, udaana and samaana put a lot of effort into sustaining prana while the mind enquires and supervises them. The five sense organs and five action organs are like tools in the hands of the jivatma,...
Post a Comment
Read more