Saturday, July 25, 2015
“Atha Kena Prayuktoyam Paapam Charati Purushah ?”
Arjuna asks Bhagavan Sri Krishna a very pertinent question, which appears in the third chapter of the Bhagvad Geeta (verse 36). His query is, “why are people tempted to commit sin or blunders even while being wise and knowledgeable ? What ‘forces’ them to behave errands in spite of knowing it as immoral and despicable ?
(In fact, one is intrigued to find so many scholars, intellectuals, highly respected and venerated personalities stooping down to very base levels, often hurting and destroying entire respect and affection one might have nurtured unto them. Indeed it is very difficult and painful to learn the ‘truth’ so cleverly kept hidden by a mask! )
I happened to bump into the verse this morning and thought of sharing something that could be enlightening.
Here is what the Lord explained to Arjuna, in fact to us all Arjunas !!
The compassionate Lord explains the reason as well as remedy to overcome the menace. He says, ‘Arjuna, Desires and Anger are the culprits responsible, which cause every individual committing sin and blunders. Indeed, these two rule the world through piling illusions upon illusions (‘Vyamoha’). These are embodiments of man’s hedonic traits (pleasure-loving) , which are basis of demonic qualities nursed and pampered by Maya, the material nature. Although emerging out of ‘Rajo-guna’ these are darlings of ‘Tamo-guna’ ! Therefore they happen to be repositories of grave blunders and temptations (‘Pramaad’ and ‘Moha’). They keep disturbing all activities through false hopes causing delusion . Moreover, temptations and ego make the world dance at will. They remove the very basis of truth, replacing it by untruth, while hypocrisy mimicking as truth establishes in the world. Entire discriminative faculties, detachment, determination and restraint break down resulting into loss of contentment, courage, joy and happiness.
These two, lust and anger always co-exist with Knowledge and Wisdom; in fact shrouding it !
Therefore, in order to acquire true knowledge these two must be uprooted. However, trying to destroy these by force is like adding fuel to fire ! No amount of force is ever useful to overcome these ; even the most adept such as ‘Hatha -yogies’ fail in the endeavour.
However, there is always a remedy to overcome these two. You see, their first home is the senses where entire actions arise from. Therefore, it is wise to shut doors for vagaries of the senses; thereby, the mind will stop running berserk and intelligence will be extricated. Thus the very shelter for these sinners will be destroyed.
Once these disappear from the mind, entire joy, happiness, contentment and pleasure abound in the ‘being’ !
Swami has simplified it further by giving us the “Ceiling on Desires” program ; nay, a Mantra.
If ever we could minimise our needs and thereby desires, much can be achieved. After all, Anger results when desires are not fulfilled. Indeed, it is possible to reduce desires; at least there need be no greed, infatuation towards desired objects and so on.
Better said than done !!
Nevertheless, one may begin practicing this Ceiling on desires program and find for oneself its benefits . Indeed we save lot of time, money, energy and most importantly peace of mind and tranquility that imparts tremendous joy and happiness.
Jai Sairam !! Pune 23 July 2015 .
