Sthitaprajna - Gita Chapter 2 Verses 56 & 57

[Guest guest]

Verses 56 & 57:

duhkhesv anudvigna-manah sukhesu vigata-sprhah

vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah sthita-dhir munir ucyate

 

He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after

pleasures, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a

sage of steady wisdom.

 

yah sarvatranabhisnehas tat tat prapya subhasubham

nabhinandati na dvesti tasya prajna pratisthita

 

He who is everywhere without attachment, who neither rejoices nor

despises on meeting with anything - good or bad, his wisdom is

established.

 

Verse fifty six describes characteristics of the mind of the perfect

sage. Verse fifty seven reinforces the qualities of the perfect sage

with additional attributes. The mind of the perfect sage is steady and

calm. The sage possesses the discriminating wisdom to witness and

experience events. The sage of settled intelligence frees his mind from

eager desire and will have no passion, fear and anger. Should we rejoice

when "good" happens and should we regret when "bad" happens? Dr.

Radakrishnan points out that we don't praise the flowers when they bloom

and condemn when they fade! We should learn to accept our role as a

witness and recognize that we have no means of judging the actors and

results of an action!

[Guest guest]

Hari Om!

I just want to share my thoughts and in the process improve my own

understanding of the import of the verses.

>Ram Chandran <chandran

>Verses 56 & 57:

[Commentary snipped for brevity]

>Verse fifty six describes characteristics of the mind of the perfect

>sage. Verse fifty seven reinforces the qualities of the perfect sage

>with additional attributes. The mind of the perfect sage is steady >and

>calm. The sage possesses the discriminating wisdom to witness and

>experience events. The sage of settled intelligence frees his mind >from

>eager desire and will have no passion, fear and anger. Should we rejoice

>when "good" happens and should we regret

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>when "bad" happens? Dr. Radakrishnan points out that we don't praise

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>the flowers when they bloom and condemn when they fade!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

I am not sure if Dr. Radhakrishnan said so and meant so! I thought

we do praise flowers when they bloom! All the pictures and photos of

spring bloom and fall colors, and related poetry attest to that.

Moreover, what is wrong in simple rejoice when "good" happens? It

seems to me the problem is not in rejoicing or regretting either, but

in getting stuck in either one mode to the exclusion of other aspects

of reality. When I "only" rejoice and that too for a long time, I run

the risk of ignoring my present duty or obligations and that may

bring grief or frustration to me later. Or when I "only" regret, I

may be overlooking an opportunity to undo or better the situation I

am in that I presently regret, and which will push me further into

another cycle of "regret". Isn't it? Just by being in the present,

I would not risk getting stuck in either. Easier said than done.

But even regretting that why I am not living upto it, is in itself

defeating my intent! Cannot take the discussion longer, I surrender

literally now...

 

With best regards

-Srinivas Nagulapalli

>We should learn to accept our role as a

>witness and recognize that we have no means of judging the actors and

>results of an action!

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hari Om Srinivas:

 

Good to see your good thoughts and insights on verses 56 & 57. Let meI refer

you to Shri Radhakrishnan's comments in his book on Bhagavadgita, page 124,

paragraph 2: "Flowers bloom and they fade. There

is no need to praise the former and condemn the later. We must receive whatever

comes without excitement, pain or revolt. "

 

I believe that your explanations do not contradict his assessments. You have

raised some interesting and valid points. Another observation worth noting in

this context is that the flowers neither

rejoice over our admiration nor they regret over our condemnation! We have lot

to learn from lessons of nature .

 

Your explanations regarding human behavior is in agreement with the Upanishads

saying - "Life is a bridge, enjoy while crossing, but don't build a castle on

it!"

 

I am looking forward to your active participation in future discussions.

 

Hari Om!

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

 

Srinivas Nagulapalli wrote:

> "Srinivas Nagulapalli" <snagul

>

> Hari Om!

> I just want to share my thoughts and in the process improve my own

> understanding of the import of the verses. ...............

>

[Guest guest]

Hari Om Srinivas:

 

 

 

Good to see your good thoughts and insights on verses 56 & 57. Let meI

refer you to Shri Radhakrishnan's comments in

his book on Bhagavadgita, page 124, paragraph 2: "Flowers bloom and

they fade. There

is no need to praise the former and condemn the later. We must receive

whatever comes without excitement, pain or revolt.

"

 

I believe that your explanations do not contradict his assessments.

You have raised some interesting and valid points.

Another observation worth noting in this context is that the flowers

neither

rejoice over our admiration nor they regret over our condemnation! We

have lot to learn from lessons of nature .

 

Your explanations regarding human behavior is in agreement with the

Upanishads saying - "Life is a bridge, enjoy while

crossing, but don't build a castle on it!"

 

I am looking forward to your active participation in future discussions.

 

Hari Om!

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

 

Srinivas Nagulapalli wrote:

> "Srinivas Nagulapalli" <snagul

>

> Hari Om!

> I just want to share my thoughts and in the process improve my own

> understanding of the import of the verses. ...............

>