Energy Transmutation and Dealing with Energy Vampires: Exploring the Bhagavad Gita Perspective
Anup Talwar
Corporate Trainer | Executive Coach - NLP | Enabling a sustained path to personal and professional development. I deliver training sessions that focus on enhancing EI, conflict management, team building and leadership.
From Krishna to Cosmos: Unveiling the 12 Universal Laws
Day 6: Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy
Note: The story of Arjuna and his inner transformation with the help of Krishna is at the end of this article. It's a good idea to read the story!
Have you ever experienced any of the following situations?
Energy exchange is a profound concept that underlies many of our daily experiences and interactions. At its core, energy exchange involves the transfer of emotional and mental energy between individuals and their surroundings.
This phenomenon can also be understood as the transmutation of energy, which refers to the process of transforming one form of energy into another.
In the context of human interactions and environments, this can mean converting negative energy into positive energy, or vice versa.
When you are around a negative person, their negative energy can be transmuted into your own emotional state, depleting your positivity and leaving you feeling drained. Conversely, a positive person’s energy can uplift your spirits and enhance your overall energy. Similarly, environments imbued with positive energy, such as spiritual places, can transform your internal state, filling you with a sense of peace and vitality. On the other hand, negative or chaotic environments can transmute their energy into your own, leading to feelings of discomfort and exhaustion.
This transmutation of energy also extends to collective consciousness and creative flow. In group settings, shared energy can transform individual thoughts and ideas into a collective stream, facilitating the exchange and development of ideas. This can result in a heightened state of collaboration and innovation, where the collective energy is greater than the sum of its parts. Additionally, the energy of your surroundings can transform your creative potential. A positive, vibrant environment can foster inspiration and flow, while a negative or cluttered environment can stifle creativity and make it difficult to focus.
Understanding and harnessing the transmutation of energy can help you create more positive interactions and environments, enhancing your well-being, creativity, and overall life experience.
The Bhagvad Gita, discusses the nature of energy, consciousness, and the interplay between the material and spiritual realms.
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The Gu?a Traya Vibhāga Yoga, explains that all beings and actions are influenced by three gunas: Sattva (goodness, harmony), Rajas (passion, activity), and Tamas (ignorance, inertia). These qualities affect our energy and consciousness. Associating with people or environments dominated by a particular guna can influence our own state of mind and energy.
For example, being around a person or environment dominated by Sattva can uplift and purify our energy, while Rajas can stir us into action, and Tamas can drain and dull our energy.
Yogas (Paths to Union with the Divine)
Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion): The Gita speaks of devotion to God and how surrendering to divine energy can transform an individual's consciousness, filling them with love and positivity.
Karma Yoga (Path of Selfless Action): Performing actions selflessly and dedicating them to a higher purpose can transform negative energy into positive outcomes, both internally and externally.
Gyana Yoga (Path of Knowledge): Understanding the true nature of the self and the universe can lead to the transmutation of ignorance into wisdom, which is a profound transformation of energy.
Transmutation through Meditation and Discipline
The Gita emphasizes the importance of meditation and disciplined living (Yoga). Through these practices, an individual can purify their energy, transmuting lower energies (such as desire and anger) into higher spiritual energies (such as peace and compassion).
Influence of Association:
In Dhyāna Yoga, Arjuna says,
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That, in essence, means the restless nature of the mind, and Krishna advises him to control the mind through practice and detachment. This, in essence, implies that through conscious effort and mindful association, one's mental and emotional energy can be transformed.
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This, in essence, means Lord Krishna declaring that each individual should lift him/herself up by his own effort. One must elevate oneself by one's own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. This highlights the idea of transmuting one's inner energy through self-discipline.
In Rāja Vidyā Yoga, Lord Krishna says,
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This, in essence, means, those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. This shows how devotion can transmute one's energy towards divine consciousness. This probably is one of the most interesting verse in The Bhagvad Gita wherein the energy exchange is promised by the means of total devotion.
The Bhagavad Gita provides a rich framework for understanding how energy can be influenced and transformed through association, practice, and devotion. These concepts align closely with modern ideas of energy exchange and transmutation.
Practical Inquiry Questions
Essence: How can I harness and transform energy in my life?
Inquiry Questions
The modern day concept of energy vampires
Just as we have people who uplift and energize us, we also encounter individuals who seem to drain our energy. These 'energy vampires' can leave us feeling exhausted and emotionally depleted. To maintain our well-being, it's essential to recognize these individuals and set clear boundaries. By doing so, we protect our energy, ensuring that we stay positive and balanced. This involves limiting our interactions with energy vampires, engaging in self-care, and surrounding ourselves with positive influences. Setting boundaries is a crucial practice that helps us navigate our relationships and environments more mindfully, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and harmonious life.
Encountering individuals who drain our energy can be managed through several spiritual and practical principles that align with the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna. Here are some guidelines based on the Gita’s wisdom:
Practice Detachment (Vairagya)
Teaching: The Gita emphasizes the importance of detachment from external influences and outcomes.
Application: When dealing with energy-draining individuals, practice emotional detachment. Understand that their negativity is a reflection of their own inner state and not yours.
Example: When a colleague constantly complains, listen with empathy but detach emotionally. Do not allow their negativity to affect your inner peace.
Cultivate Inner Strength (Atmabala)
Teaching: The Gita teaches us to strengthen our inner self through self-discipline and spiritual practice.
Application: Build your inner resilience through regular meditation, yoga, and reflection. This helps you remain unaffected by external negativity.
Example: Start your day with a meditation session, focusing on building inner peace and strength. This makes you more resilient to negative interactions throughout the day.
Perform Selfless Actions (Karma Yoga)
Teaching: Engage in selfless service without attachment to results.
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Application: Interact with energy-draining individuals from a place of selflessness. Offer help if needed, but do not expect appreciation or change in their behavior.
Example: Help a negative coworker with a task, but do so without expecting gratitude. Focus on the act of service itself rather than their reaction.
Seek Sattvic (Pure) Environments
Teaching: The Gita highlights the importance of Sattva (purity) in maintaining harmony and balance.
Application: Surround yourself with positive, uplifting environments and individuals as much as possible. This helps counterbalance the effect of energy vampires.
Example: Spend time in nature, engage in spiritual practices, and connect with positive friends who inspire and uplift you.
Practice Mindfulness and Self-Reflection
Teaching: Regular self-reflection and mindfulness are encouraged to maintain mental clarity and peace.
Application: Reflect on your interactions and recognize patterns that drain your energy. Mindfulness can help you stay centered and avoid getting emotionally entangled.
Example: After a draining interaction, take a few minutes to breathe deeply and reflect. Ask yourself how you can handle similar situations better in the future.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Teaching: While not explicitly stated in the Gita, setting boundaries is a practical application of maintaining one's Dharma (duty) and well-being.
Application: Clearly communicate your limits and protect your energy by setting boundaries with individuals who drain you.
Example: Politely but firmly let a negative friend know that you need to limit conversations that revolve around constant complaining or gossip.
Engage in Devotion (Bhakti Yoga)
Teaching: Devotion to the Divine can purify the heart and mind, transforming negative energies.
Application: Engage in devotional practices like chanting, prayer, or reading sacred texts to elevate your consciousness and shield yourself from negativity.
Example: If feeling drained, take a few moments to chant a mantra or read a verse from the Bhagavad Gita to reconnect with your spiritual core.
Act with Wisdom and Discernment (Viveka)
Teaching: The Gita advises using discernment in all actions and interactions.
Application: Be wise in choosing how much time and energy to invest in interactions with energy vampires. Sometimes, the best approach is to gently distance yourself.
Example: If a certain relationship consistently drains your energy despite your efforts, consider distancing yourself or limiting contact to protect your well-being.
As we conclude Day 6 of our journey from Krishna to Cosmos, I have delved deep into the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to comprehend the transmutation of energy.
The teachings of Lord Krishna offer me profound insights into managing my inner energy, maintaining emotional balance, and fostering spiritual growth.
By understanding and applying these principles, I can transform negative influences into positive outcomes, creating a harmonious and fulfilling life. My heartfelt gratitude to Sri Sri Ravishankar Ji for his guidance and inspiration in illuminating these ancient truths, making them accessible and relevant in my contemporary life. Let us continue to embrace this wisdom, allowing it to guide us towards a more enlightened and energetically balanced existence.
Thank you for walking with me on this journey. This is my journey into the depths of the Bhagavad Gita. While the quest is to dive as deep as the Mariana Trench, the idea is to stay in the water as long as possible. This is possible only through the Guru's grace and blessings.
We will meet again on Monday for another deep dive into the Bhagavad Gita as we explore the 12 universal laws.
Disclaimer:
As mentioned earlier, I am not a know-it-all. I am a student and a good learner, continuously seeking knowledge and wisdom. I am learning and seek your blessings and guidance. Bless me! I understand that the Bhagavad Gita is infinitely vast, and this is my humble attempt to explore its depths and practical applicability.
The Story of Arjuna and His Inner Transformation
In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most profound illustrations of energy transmutation occurs in the story of Arjuna and his inner transformation on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This story is not just about a physical battle but a metaphor for the internal struggles we all face.
As Arjuna stands on the battlefield, he is overwhelmed by a sense of despair and confusion. He is caught between his duty as a warrior and his love for his family and friends, who are on the opposing side. Arjuna's mind is clouded with negative emotions—fear, grief, and doubt—which drain his energy and render him incapable of action.
At this critical moment, Lord Krishna, serving as his charioteer, begins to impart the wisdom of the Gita. Krishna teaches Arjuna about the nature of the self, the importance of duty (dharma), and the impermanence of life and death. He explains the concept of Karma Yoga—the path of selfless action performed without attachment to the results. Krishna's teachings help Arjuna understand that he must rise above his personal attachments and perform his duty with a clear mind and pure heart.
Throughout this journey, Krishna also shields Arjuna from the negative influences of energy vampires—individuals who drain his mental and emotional energy.
These include warriors from the opposing side who seek to instill fear and doubt, as well as well-meaning but misguided relatives who attempt to dissuade him from fighting. Krishna's guidance helps Arjuna maintain his focus and inner strength, preventing these negative influences from sapping his resolve.
Through this dialogue, Arjuna undergoes a profound transformation.
The negative energies of fear and doubt are transmuted into positive energies of courage and clarity.
By shifting his perspective and aligning himself with the principles of dharma, Arjuna regains his composure and determination. He transforms from a state of paralysis and despair to one of action and resolve.
This story highlights the power of transmuting negative energy into positive energy through knowledge, understanding, and the guidance of a wise teacher. Arjuna's journey from confusion to clarity exemplifies how we can transform our inner state by changing our mindset and embracing higher truths. It teaches us that even in the face of great challenges, we have the potential to transmute our inner energies and rise to our highest selves.