The Enemy Within

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

I also came across this is Bhagavad Gita regarding desires that

expounds on what Violet said:

 

Chapter 3 36

Arjuna said: Krishna, what drives people to commit sinful acts, even

unwillingly, as if by force?

The Lord Said:

37. It is desire, born of passion and later transformed into wrath,

that is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.

38. As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo

by the womb, so knowledge is covered by desire.

39. Thus knowledge is veiled by desire, the eternal enemy of the

wise, which is never satisfied and burns like fire.

40. It lives in the senses, the mind, and the intelligence, using

them to cover knowledge and bewilder the living being.

41. Therefore first control your senses, Arjuna, then slay this

sinful destroyer of knowledge and self-realization.

42. The senses are elevated, but above them is the mind, and above

the mind is the intelligence, yet the self is even higher than the

intelligence.

43. Knowing yourself to be transcendental to the intelligence,

steady the lower self by the higher self and defeat this formidable

enemy called desire.

 

The author goes on to say the process of restoring true knowledge

begins with understanding the difference between the self and the

body, and with meditation upon the Supreme Lord. When the

intelligence and mind are thus steadied and restored, we can

gradually bring the senses under control. Thus kama can be transmuted

back into love and the enemy slain.

 

I think of course this starts with self realization. Then with

meditation and thoughtless awareness my thoughts are not on desires

at all but union with God.

 

Love,

 

Chuck