Why detachment is so important in life but yet difficult to practice? The only way out is SURRENDER
Kartic Vaidyanathan
Founder @ LetUsPlayToLearn | Social Networking, Coaching & Mentoring | Guest Faculty, IIT Madras, PPD
Most of us humans know what is the right thing to be done, what are the wrong things to be avoided, but yet keep falling prey time and again by making same mistakes?
Bhagavad Gita deals with this dilemma in the form of a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. Arjuna being the representative of the average person.
This exact question is posed in the 3rd chapter – Karma Yoga in this sloka
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Translation
BG 3.36:?Arjun asked: Why is a person impelled to commit sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if by force, O descendent of Vrishni (Krishna)?
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Translation
BG 3.37:?The Supreme Lord said: It is lust alone, which is born of contact with the mode of passion, and later transformed into anger. Know this as the sinful, all-devouring enemy in the world.
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The root cause is desire, which causes greed. It is insatiable and drives people to repeated errors. ?This insatiable desire to acquire and hold on to things is incredibly powerful. It’s very difficult to overcome, and that's why people struggle. To summarize, this is what Karma Yoga is about:?
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The Vedas use the word?kāma, or lust, not only for sexual desires but also to include all desires for material enjoyment based on the bodily concept of the self. Thus, lust shows itself in many ways—the urge for money, physical cravings, craving for prestige, the drive for power, etc. This lust is only a perverted reflection of love for God, which is the inherent nature of every living being.?
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Further into the Gita, there is great emphasis on detachment. ????? ????????? (Leave Attachment) is repeatedly mentioned, including in the first twelve chapters and again in the 18th chapter, which is a summary of the Gita. Here is the graph on how often detachment is emphasized in each chapter of the Gita. ASTOUNDING
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Moving on to the 18th chapter, which is the final summary chapter
The essence of the Gita, to me, is encapsulated in two lines from the 18th chapter:?
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Translation
BG 18.5:?Actions based upon sacrifice, charity, and penance should never be abandoned; they must certainly be performed. Indeed, acts of sacrifice, charity, and penance are purifying even for those who are wise.
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Translation
BG 18.6:?These activities must be performed without attachment and expectation for rewards. This is My definite and supreme verdict, O Arjun.
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Even the noblest actions should be done with detachment. This shows why detachment is emphasized so much in the Gita: it's challenging but necessary, even in the most virtuous deeds.
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Another insightful point was shared by my professor, D. V. R. Seshadri, in a leadership lecture. After giving all his advice to Arjuna, Krishna says: ???????? ??? ???? ?(Do what you wish)
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BG 18.63:?Thus, I have explained to you this knowledge that is more secret than all secrets. Ponder over it deeply, and then do as you wish.
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"I have told you what I had to say. Now, you do what you wish." Krishna doesn’t enforce his teachings but leaves the choice to Arjuna, who symbolizes humanity. We all struggle, and the Bhagavad Gita presents a roadmap; it's up to us to follow it.
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THE DURYODHANA SYNDROME
Another important point to be noted is from the character of Duryodhana. We all know him to be evil. But here is a revelation from him towards the end
//Duryodhana’s confession, “I know what dharma is, but I have no inclination for dharma (?????? ????? ? ? ?? ?????????? jānāmi dharma? na ca me prav?tti?); I know what adharma is, but cannot refrain from it (???????????? ? ? ?? ????????? jānāmyadharma? na ca me niv?tti?),” reveals the paradox that plagues individuals facing Duryodhana Syndrome. It highlights the struggle between one’s inner moral compass and the allure of personal desires, ego, and external influences.//
//Many people are well aware of what is right and wrong, yet they often fail to act in accordance with their understanding. This is a common human predicament, where knowledge of dharma remains an intellectual concept without translating into practical action. The chasm between knowing and doing is where Duryodhana Syndrome takes root.//
All of us humans have this struggle. None of us are as evil as Duryodhana, but certainly the knowing-doing gap exists. And we all if we truly introspect are victims of desire, ego, influences to some extents.
To help overcome this, we need divine grace
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Power of Yoga Maaya
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Recently, I received a WhatsApp forward on Devi Mahatmyam's summary, which is basically Durga Sapta Shloki. The shloka explains how Yoga Maya, the divine illusion, causes suffering and veils us from knowledge, preventing us from applying it in action:?
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Salutations to You, O Jagadamba)?Even?the?consciousness?of the?Jnanis?(Spiritually-Evolved souls),?Devi Bhagavati?... 1.2:?...the?Mahamaya, by Her?Power,?attract?towards?Moha?(Delusion) (such is Her Divine Power and Play).
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To overcome the power of Maaya, one has to surrender to the Devi – Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo namaha – I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her.
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Even the greatest Jnanis (enlightened ones) are sometimes trapped by Maya.
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There are countless stories of sages and saints who, despite their wisdom, succumbed to worldly distractions. For instance, Vishwamitra and others faced struggles in their tapas (penance). Similarly, Bharata, who at the end of his life, was preoccupied with a deer and was consequently born as one in his next life.
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Even Hanuman, an avatar of Shiva, in his enthusiasm, burned a forest while searching for Sita, forgetting that Sita might be affected. When he realized his mistake, he regretted it, but by divine grace, Sita remained unharmed. These examples show that even the greatest beings can falter under Maya’s influence.
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The story of Jaya and Vijaya (Vaikunta Dwarapalakas) further demonstrates this. They were cursed, which led to the stories of Ramayana and Bhagavatam. Their curse happened due to divine will, proving that even the gatekeepers of Vishnu are susceptible to Maya.
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This all points to the importance of surrender. Without surrendering to the divine will, we cannot progress. In Shiva Puranam, it is said:?
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Namashivaya Vazhga, Nathanthal Vazhga, Imaipozhuthum ennenjil neengaathan paarthal vazhga.?
Even during the blink of an eye, one should not forget Shiva, emphasizing the importance of constant mindfulness. Manikavasagar knew that letting go of God's thought, even momentarily, would lead to misery.
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Another line says
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The verse says that only with God’s grace can one even pray to or think of God. These teachings remind us that surrender is the only way to transcend.
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In Bhagavad Gita, the line Bahunam janmanam ante, jnanavanman prapadyate, vasudevas sarvamiti, samahatmasa durlabhah reminds us that after many lifetimes, the wise realize that Vasudeva (the divine) is everything. Such a soul is very rare.
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Bg. 7.19
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Translation
After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.
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Lets all keep striving, praying, surrendering, letting go, and keep seeking Lords grace continuously.
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Even during the blink of an eye, one should not forget Shiva, (or whichever deity)
Gratitude to my family and extended members. Its all wisdom from the ages through different mahaans and discourses that I had the good fortune of listening to and that which allowed me to share here
Product Management | Build Teams & Software | Growth Mindset | Continuous Learning | Make the world a better place
1 个月Good compilation from across the chapters and texts. Practical and useful?
Logistics Professional | Author | Trainer of Mindfulness@work (MBSR)| Yoga and Meditation Instructor
1 个月Superb!!
Author on Marketing Management
1 个月Kartic Vaidyanathan A post that makes you Think. Sinful acts are committed by humans, knowing that they are sinful acts. So, no need for discussion on how to discriminate between sinful acts and good acts. Then we go to What makes people commit sinful acts. Desire Fear are the Two main reasons.. Each with a multitude of Stimuli. It cannot be dismissed that these acts bring in Pleasure. Pleasure for all 5 sensory organs. Humans are tempted. All this is set as a programme in the brain during the 20 odd years of initial life. How can lectures by the learned and studying Bhagwat Gita change large masses of people? For that do we need Bhagwat Gita 2.0? Will it help? I am raising the question as knowledge is already there . Actual liberation from sinful acts is the issue
Learn, Unlearn, Repeat
1 个月Nice. So many wisdom bytes here. Thank you.
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1 个月Surrender opens limitless possibilities, because now you have leveraged the power of the universal shedding your limitations . Great article