Message from Gita 2nd chapter

[Guest guest]

Swami Tejomayanandaji of Chinmaya Mission conducted recently

a Spiritual camp (Dec 24-30), and gave talks on Gita 2nd chapter.

 

Following is a brief write up in dots and dashes from the talks.

It is not possible to share verse by verse commentary from the

talks held for a week- with three one hour sessions each day!

Hence this is an attempt to share some significant points that

touched me, with the hope that even with lack of continuity and my

inability to capture it all thoroughly, it may be of some help.

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Many forms of knowledge tell us about observed world, but Geeta

gives knowledge of the observer. It is like a mirror showing one's

self and nature and also tells us how to live our life. It exhorts

us to live our own lives and take responsibility for it.

 

There are three types of people. One, who are sick and don't admit

like Ravana. And some who recognize their problems and seek remedy

like Arjuna. And best are those who don't get sick and take

prevention than seeking cure like Lakshmana!

 

We say everything is relative in this world. Yet, at physical level

having good health and, at mental level having peace and clarity of

thinking are what everyone at all places under all circumstances

consider as absolute good.

 

In life our duties are dependant on our identity. And we have two

identities: relative and absolute. If these two are known then our

duties are clear and we can play our part properly. There are

duties only for relative identity and not absolute identity. And

the highest duty of relative identity is to realize our absolute

identity. We must know who we are in essence.

 

Actions are of two types virtuous (punya) and sinful (paapa). That

which purifies is virtuous and that which preserves ignorance is

sinful. Just as actions have result, there is a result for motives

too. Whenever we compromise with our noble ideal it takes our mind

away from our own true self and is paapa. However, any thing that

takes our mind closer to our own true self is virtuous (punya).

 

Krishna says that from spritual stand point as well as secular

(dharmic) stand point, fighting the battle is the same conclusion

that can be arrived at. His message is to firmly resolve to perform

duties uncompromisingly. Fight one must. Here fight is to perform

one's duties.

 

Krishna gives profound advice for preparing our minds to realize

our own Self. Even before we engage in action, importantly we must

equalize our mind and then act. Also while engaged in action we

should not be swayed by likes and dislikes. We must do duty because

it is worth doing and it is our duty. Then we gain equanimity

(samata).

 

Krishna assures that in such a performance of duties there is

neither loss of effort nor any risk of penalty. Because there are

rules only for actions, but for attitude (bhaavana) there is

neither any sequence of steps nor rules. Shabari fed Rama without

proper action but with great devotion! So an action may not be

perfect or even according to injunctions of scriptures, but

attitude (bhaavana) is important. Primary objective of karma is

purification of mind.

 

The three moods of mind (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) with which we act

condition our mind. Sattva and Tamas cannot be shown but only their

effects can be shown. Ravana symbolizes Rajas, Kumbhakarna for

Tamas and Vibhishana for Sattva. And Lord Rama symbolizes the

transcending of mental moods.

 

Action can only be performed in present and we should let happiness

be in action itself. When action is not guided by personal likes or

dislikes, then results do not disturb us.

 

Krishna paints the picture of man of wisdom (sthita praj~na). For

him happiness lies not outside. His heart is full like ocean into

which flowing of any amount of desires neither increase or decrease

its stature. Desirelessness and total contentment his another

hallmark. And he has no attachment to any situation or being. He

has equanimity and ability to employ his senses with perfect

control, capable of using or withdrawing them at will.

 

It is error to think joy comes from outside. Real happiness is

within. Krishna gives ladder of fall for mind. It is not to

frighten us but to caution. We must exert greater control over

senses.

 

We can control our desires only when there is a greater goal and

then even the discipline we follow becomes joyful. When there is an

inspiring goal that we discover for ourselves, we channelize our

energies to achieve it. If there is no need for any action we

shouldn't do it! And if it is conductive to spiritual growth we

must do it.

 

Continuous brooding over sense objects develops attachment to them,

From intensified attachment arises desire(kama). From desire, anger

arises. Anger gives rise to delusion. Delusion causes confusion.

And when memory is confused there is loss of intellect. Intellect

alone separates man from animal. And when that intellect goes,

discrimination goes and one perishes.

 

Not exercising control is like playing with fire. What starts

playfully becomes addiction. Be very alert from beginning itself.

If we lose sight of our goal, mind becomes extrovert and it starts

falling down.

 

Only a peaceful mind can experience happiness. Man of wisdown is

like vast, deep ocean. All rivers that enter it become ocean! So

too when objects of desires enter mind of wise man, they do not

create any agitation and don't get affected.

 

Just as we cannot create silence, we also cannot create peace. But

we can create sounds and can create agitations! Once we cease to

make any sound, silence is experienced. So too once agitations are

removed, peace that is already there is then experienced.

 

Also once rivers reach ocean they don't come back. So too once

ignorance is gone, it will not come back. And source of all

happiness that is our own Self is experienced.

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Some words from talks I culled as quotes:

 

* " You have to fight, not take it light " .

(Here fight(yuddha) means to perform duties)

 

* " Even before you engage in action, equalize your mind " .

 

* " Don't work restlessly. Don't rest worklessly. "

 

* " What we need in life is right thinking and alert living. "

 

* " If there is no need of seeing, don't see!

If there is no need of hearing, don't hear!

If there is no need of speaking, don't speak! "

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Hari OM!

-Srinivas