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' Sthita-pragnya'

I would take a moment to remind me (and humble down) of my limited knowledge and resources. Even the fact that ‘Gyaneshwari’- written originally in Marathi language by Shri Gayneshwara whereas I am referring to its Hindi translation. Since the dialogue that we are following takes us to the understanding of what lies beyond the matter—It is only through this understanding “…न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे…” (shloka 20, chapter 2) that I would like to pray to Shri Gyaneshwara to lead us in our understanding of the subject by destroying the false knowledge and to guide us towards the wisdom/essence of the cosmic song.

Shri Krishna answers Arjuna's ask about how to recognize someone who is 'sthita-pragnya'--

‘Sthita-pragnya’ (a term that every seeker needs to know) is the state of supreme contentment. When the lust is drained out, the heart is contented, and the attention is embraced in the state of joy of the spirit- the ‘sat-chit-ananda’—when one is unaffected by pleasures or sorrows—when the attention is free from lust and anger-- such a being is said to have attained the ‘sthita-pragnya’ state.

Such a yogi behaves equally with everyone. is compassionate towards all the beings (humans- animals etc). He is beyond the senses-- that is, his senses are in his control and will behave as per his command.

However, those seekers, who practice detachment with their senses with utmost sincerity, but cannot control the lust/indulgences related to the tongue (speech and craving for food…) will eventually get trapped again and again in the influence of their senses. Just like one is cutting the branches of a tree but at the same time keeps watering the roots, the tree will grow in the weirdest manner. Extremely difficult to control this lust (of the tongue) but at the same time through the experience of ‘brahma’ the lust/indulgences of the senses are organically dissolved. While the senses are extremely deceitful, the sincerest seekers, if they have even a trace of the desire of these indulgences remaining in them, can destroy their wisdom, memory, attention, and intellect. However, He also tells that if one attains detachment and becomes one with the ‘brahma’- the formless, and will eventually see the extension of his own being in everything—even the pleasures of the world/ senses are not going to affect him (his intellect, memory or wisdom etc) in a destructive way. Just like the sunshine touches everything but the sun remains unaffected—the persona/ state of such a being is what can be called as ‘sthita-pragnya’.


Here I wish to highlight some points that Krishna is mentioning-

1. one needs to be free from the indulgences of their senses.

2. the union with brahma will eventually dissolve the desires /indulgences of the senses.

3. The yogi who attains the sthita-pragnya state remains unaffected even if he seems to enjoy worldly pleasures-- he is in the state of yoga (complete detachment)-- and that is essentially an internal state.

4. That also means one need not be an ascetic or show off that they are not getting into indulgences but should try to attain yoga- the union with 'brahma' and that will help in purifying the senses.

5. And while seeking the union, one may practice detachment with the sensory pleasures (by not denying them but by not getting involved)-- or that may eventually happen as such seeking is what Krishna is referring to as 'sadbuddhi'- that intellect which drives us towards attaining our yoga (by following swa-dharma) and denies anything that creates hurdles in attaining the same.

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