Bhagavad Gita - Daily - II CHAPTER 3-6 II

June 12, 2009

Gita 3-6

karmendriyani samyamya ya aste manasa smaran

indriyarthan vimudhatma mithyacarah sa ucyate

" He who, while restraining forcibly the organs of action (all senses), sits

thinking of sense-objects in his mind, he, of deluded understanding is called a

hypocrite. "

Comment –

In the second chapter, the Lord has already said that he who thinks of the sense

objects … will fall from the spiritual path (Gita 2:62-63). He is considered a

hypocrite, who makes a show to others as being steady and sitting for meditation

while his mind is dwelling on sense objects.

In fact, there is no difference between the two - 1) engaging in physical

enjoyment of pleasures and 2) relishing them in the mind by dwelling on the

sense objects.

The same impression is made on the inner faculty (Antahkarana) by both, by

dwelling on the sense objects in the mind or by physical enjoyment of

pleasures. From one perspective, the one who thinks and ponders over the sense

enjoyments, suffers a major fall; because those sense enjoyments he is not able

to engage in the present, these enjoyments that he externally renounces are only

to escape from the fear of adverse public opinion and to maintain social

decorum, thus he cannot enjoy in open but he relishes these in the mind.

From " Gita Prabodhani " in Hindi page 72-73 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 3, Verse 6 is as follows;

KarmedriyaaNi = organs of nature

Samyamya = having restrained

YaH = who

Aaste = sits

Manasaa = by the mind

Smaran = remembering

Indriyaarthaan = sense objects

Vimudha-Aatmaa = of deluded understanding

MithyaachaaraH = hypocrite

SaH = he

Uchyate = is called

English translation:-

That deluded man is called a hypocrite, who sits restraining his organs of

action, while mentally indulging in the sense objects.

Comment:

All the human beings are helplessly driven to action, according to their

individual intrinsic and illusive nature called as `Vaasanaas' in Vedanta

philosophy.

Please refer to verse 61 in chapter 18 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, wherein Lord

Krishna has asserted, " O Arjuna, The Lord resides in the hearts of all beings.

By the self propelling force of the illusive nature, all beings revolve, as if

mounted on a giant wheel of a machine " .

The Self, the Aatman enlivens Vaasanaas in every being. Vaasanaas produce

thoughts. Thoughts produce desires. Desires produce actions. Actions in turn

produce additional new Vaasanaas. This self propelling cycle continues unabated

till one realises the Self.

Outwardly, one may seem to restrain the activities of his organs of sensory

perceptions and organs of action, but if he does not restrain their root-cause

i.e. the residual desires that propel their activities, then he has certainly

failed to grasp the real meaning of the restraint. This is equivalent to an act

of simultaneously applying a break, while pressing the acceleration pedal of a

running vehicle. Such actions are bound to result into disastrous consequences.

Therefore, such a deluded person is labelled as a hypocrite.

" Sin and virtue accrue ever from the frame of one's mind and never from the

restrictions imposed on the sense organs. " ………….. Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa.

In Sanskrit language `MudhaH' means fool, `A-MudhaH' means a knowledgeable

person and `Vi-MudhaH' means a special fool or colossal fool. In Vedanta

philosophy, when the term fool is used to refer a person, it implies that he /

she has frittered away the inherent potential to reach the Supreme, the Self. A

human being alone is endowed with the unique and wonderful opportunity to

realise and revel in the absolute bliss of the Self.

" To be or not to be, that is the question; Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to

suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a

sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them. " ……from William Shakespeare's

Hamlet, act three, scene one.

Whether to plunge into every action propelled by one's Vaasanaas and face the

resultant consequences in this mortal world or to lead a life with moderation

and self-regulation and thus live upto the greatest potential of a human being

by capitalising the golden opportunity of Self realisation; that is the question

that every Sadhak has to resolve for himself / herself.

In this verse the word `Samyamya' denotes only outward control over organs of

action in order to honour social decorum. Otherwise, even a person who has

completely controlled his sense organs both internally as well as externally may

be erroneously termed as a hypocrite. There is no external obstacle, while

enjoying pleasures by mind and therefore a hypocrite resorts to this route,

without realising that he is treading on a territory filled with landmines.

Therefore, as per verse 64 of chapter 2 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, mental

renunciation of worldly pleasures is the real renunciation.

To manage an outwardly show of morality and ethics, while mentally leading a

shameful life of base animal instincts and foul sentiments is the occupation of

a person who is certainly not a true Sadhak but a self-deluded hypocrite termed

as colossal fool.

It reminds me of a Sanskrit Vachanam; " Chitte Vaachi Kriyaayaam Cha Saadhunaam

Ekaroopataa " i.e. there is a perfect synchronization and coherence in the

thoughts, words and actions of a person with the saintly attitude.

Lord Krishna advocates the path of dynamic equilibrium in life to Arjuna.

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

June 14, 2009

Shree Hari Ram Ram

Dear Sadhaks, If you know Hindi, we sincerely urge you to read "The Bhagavad Gita - Sadhak Sanjivani" in Hindi, and to make this reading part of your daily practice. The benefits are immense. The sentiments that are expressed in Hindi by a realized soul, are virtually impossible to translate and express in English. See Link at end of this posting - 1,250 page text is entirely available online for FREE.

From Gita Talk Moderators, Ram Ram

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Gita 3-6karmendriyani samyamya ya aste manasa smaran |indriyarthan vimudhatma mithyacarah sa ucyate || 6 ||"He who, while restraining forcibly the organs of action (all senses), sitsthinking of sense-objects in his mind, he, of deluded understanding is called ahypocrite."Comment'Karmendriyaani sarhyamya ya aste manasa smaran indriyarthanvimudhatma mithyacarah sa ucyate' — Here the term 'Karmendriyaani' does not stand only for the five organs of action (speech, hand, foot, anus and generative organ) "karmendriyo" but also stands for the five sense-organs (ear, skin, eye, taste and nose) i.e. "jnaanaindriyon" because actions cannot be performed by the organs of action alone without sense-organs. Besides this, by only restraining the organs of action such as hand and foot etc., not restraining the sense-organs such as ear and eye one cannot even entirely prove the hypocrisy element.

In the Gita, sense-organs "jnaanendriya" have been understood as being within the realm of organs of action "karmendriya". Therefore, in the Gita the term 'Karmendriya' has been used, however, the term 'Jnaanendriya' has not come anywhere at all. In the eighth and ninth verses of the fifth chapter, all the actions of the sense-organs such as seeing, hearing and touching etc., have also been innumerated along with actions of the organs of action, which proves, that in the Gita, the sense-organs are also included in the organs of action. According to the Gita, the activities performed by the mind are also understood as actions - "Shareervaayamnobhiryatkarma praarabhate naraha" (Gita 18/15). It means, that every evolute of nature is active, because nature is ever-active.

Though the term 'samyamya' means full control (complete discipline and restraint) over senses, yet here it signifies, only their outward restraint i.e. forcefully controlling and restricting. The reason is, that he who has completely controlled his senses, cannot be called a hypocrite.

A man of foolish understanding (who cannot distinguish the real, from the unreal) externally restrains the senses forcibly, from running after sense-objects but thinks of the objects of enjoyment and indulges in them with his mind and assumes this state as being free of action. Such a person is called a hypocrite or one engaged in falsehood. The reason is, that outwardly he has renounced restrained the organs and senses, and within he thinks he is not performing actions, but even in this state, he is not free of actions. Because even though externally it appears that he is free of action, yet due to "I-ness" egoism (ahamtaa), mine-ness (mamtaa, attachment) and desires (kaamna), he is performing actions by enjoying sense pleasures while thinking of the objects of enjoyment.

Worldly pleasures can be enjoyed externally, as well as internally by the mind. As external pleasures indulged in with deep attachment leave their impressions and influence (sanskaars) within, so do the internal ones, which are enjoyed by the mind, through thinking of the objects of enjoyment viz., by being attached to them. External pleasures can be renounced by applying discrimination, thinking of adverse consequences or by maintaining social decorum. But, there is no such obstacle, in the enjoyment of internal pleasures. Therefore a person goes on enjoying these pleasures with his mind, and develops a false pride that he has renounced these pleasures. Thus, internal pleasures prove very fatal for him as there remains ample time and opportunity to indulge in these by the mind. Therefore, a striver should be very alert and carefully he should renounce thoughts of sense enjoyment that take place within.

Arjuna also wants to renounce the performance of actions, and asks Lord Krsna why He urges him to engage in the terrible deed. In response to his question the Lord replies, that a person who, having renounced the actions externally, has egoism, attachment and desire etc., but thinks within that he is not performing any action, is a hypocrite. It means that striver instead of renouncing the performance of actions, should perform them promptly, renouncing desire and attachment.

Appendix (not included)

From "The Bhagavadgita - Sadhak Sanjivani" in English page 266-268 by Swami RamsukhdasjiTo read "The Bhagavad Gita - Sadhak Sanjivani" in Hindi please visit:

http://www.swamiramsukhdasji.org/swamijibooks/pustak/pustak1/html/SadhakSanjeevni/main.html