Look Within – Talks on the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Venkatesananda.

[Guest guest]

So the teacher, Krishna says, " These people are going to die in any

case. Now do you want to fight or not? Whether you fight or not, they

will all die, what about you now? " That's a different story.

 

When the mask is lifted and taken away, you suddenly begin to face

yourself. You want to please your friends and therefore you want to go

to the pub – please do.

 

How far would you please them if they tell you " you are our best

friend, none of us have money "

 

Would you stand them all a drink? Am I really interested in friendship?

Am I honest with myself?

 

Or am I merely finding polite, acceptable, civilized excuses for

covering something which is vicious?

 

This I think is the first lesson that is given to us in the Gita.

 

The rest of the scripture is unintelligible, a closed book, unless I am

prepared to do these two things first.

 

One, to face myself, assess my assets and liabilities, and

 

Two; to unmask myself, stand naked in front of my own gaze, without the

need for rationalization, without the need for an external judge.

 

Can I look at myself? Can I see how from moment to moment, from day to

day, there is this constant urge, temptation or tendency to cover up all

my weaknesses, not even by saying " sorry I am addicted to drink

– I have cultivated a bad habit " but by inventing a

justification which seems to make what is evil appear to be good.

 

If that rationalization is knocked out it is then that the truth that I

like this, comes out.

 

It is then that we are able to see ourselves as we are, not as we think

we are, not as we hope we are, but plainly as we are.

To be continued..