The Bhagwad Gita's message encompasses a twofold instruction: learn how to renounce and know how to rejoice. It emphasises the two 'R's - the art of renouncing and that of rejoicing .
We must learn both - the art of living and the art of dying . This involves learning how to die to our past and master how to be present in the here and now. While the art of living is essential to our survival, the art of dying to our past is equally important. In such a state of living, a certain intelligence is awakened.
Many of you will feel it is a contradiction, but it is not. In the West, people know how to rejoice, they know how to celebrate, but they do not know how to renounce their negativity, shackles, and bondage; they do not know that celebration without renunciation is mere excitement. In the East, in India, we all know how to renounce - at least we talk of renunciation - however rarely do we know how to rejoice.
Rejoicing and renouncing are like the two wings of a bird which enable it to fly. Some people are imprisoned, and some are free. We are free when we know the art of living and dying; imprisoned because we do not know how to live and die.
The Gita says, "Prasanna chetasahi ashuhu budhihi paryavatishtati" - it is only the cheerful mind which can realise the Truth. To be cheerful, you should know how to rejoice. You are a true bhakt if you know how to rejoice - not by taking alcohol or any other intoxicating substance but by changing your attitude, values, approach, context, and sheer commitment. If you know how to be happy, that is excellent, but you should also know how to renounce.
Renounce what? Not the world. Wherever you go, the world exists. In the Himalayas too, the world exists; therefore, you cannot renounce the world. You can renounce your addiction, infatuation, ignorance, and your prejudices with reference to the world. We must renounce our negativity, our shackles, our imprisonment, and our addiction. This is indicated by the word ' Hindu ' - "Heenam nashayati iti Hindu." Heenam refers to what keeps you in bondage - shackles, fetters, and traps. Heenam nashayati signifies one's commitment to destroying that which keeps them in bondage.
Krishn says to Arjun, "Uddharet atmanatmanam natmanamavasadayet atmaeva atmano bandhuh atma eva atmanaha ripuhu" - elevate yourself through your own effort. "Udharet atmanatmanam natmanam avasadhayet" - and as you uplift yourself don't condemn yourself; your mind is your friend, and your enemy. Friends and enemies are not outwards. Your mind alone is both your friend and enemy. So, elevate yourself.
How can you lift yourself? By destroying what keeps you in shackles, in bondage. And what keeps you in bondage and shackles? It is 'ajnan' which keeps you in bondage and shackles. Krishn says there is nothing more 'pavitram', pure, than 'jnan', understanding, wisdom. Therefore, it is not the world you have to renounce. You have to renounce your addictions, and your attachments.
Authored by: Swami Sukhabodhananda
Swami Sukhabodhananda will be conducting Navaratri celebrations online till October 12, 2024. For details, contact: 9901777003
We must learn both - the art of living and the art of dying . This involves learning how to die to our past and master how to be present in the here and now. While the art of living is essential to our survival, the art of dying to our past is equally important. In such a state of living, a certain intelligence is awakened.
Many of you will feel it is a contradiction, but it is not. In the West, people know how to rejoice, they know how to celebrate, but they do not know how to renounce their negativity, shackles, and bondage; they do not know that celebration without renunciation is mere excitement. In the East, in India, we all know how to renounce - at least we talk of renunciation - however rarely do we know how to rejoice.
Rejoicing and renouncing are like the two wings of a bird which enable it to fly. Some people are imprisoned, and some are free. We are free when we know the art of living and dying; imprisoned because we do not know how to live and die.
The Gita says, "Prasanna chetasahi ashuhu budhihi paryavatishtati" - it is only the cheerful mind which can realise the Truth. To be cheerful, you should know how to rejoice. You are a true bhakt if you know how to rejoice - not by taking alcohol or any other intoxicating substance but by changing your attitude, values, approach, context, and sheer commitment. If you know how to be happy, that is excellent, but you should also know how to renounce.
Renounce what? Not the world. Wherever you go, the world exists. In the Himalayas too, the world exists; therefore, you cannot renounce the world. You can renounce your addiction, infatuation, ignorance, and your prejudices with reference to the world. We must renounce our negativity, our shackles, our imprisonment, and our addiction. This is indicated by the word ' Hindu ' - "Heenam nashayati iti Hindu." Heenam refers to what keeps you in bondage - shackles, fetters, and traps. Heenam nashayati signifies one's commitment to destroying that which keeps them in bondage.
Krishn says to Arjun, "Uddharet atmanatmanam natmanamavasadayet atmaeva atmano bandhuh atma eva atmanaha ripuhu" - elevate yourself through your own effort. "Udharet atmanatmanam natmanam avasadhayet" - and as you uplift yourself don't condemn yourself; your mind is your friend, and your enemy. Friends and enemies are not outwards. Your mind alone is both your friend and enemy. So, elevate yourself.
How can you lift yourself? By destroying what keeps you in shackles, in bondage. And what keeps you in bondage and shackles? It is 'ajnan' which keeps you in bondage and shackles. Krishn says there is nothing more 'pavitram', pure, than 'jnan', understanding, wisdom. Therefore, it is not the world you have to renounce. You have to renounce your addictions, and your attachments.
Authored by: Swami Sukhabodhananda
Swami Sukhabodhananda will be conducting Navaratri celebrations online till October 12, 2024. For details, contact: 9901777003
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