Bhagwad Gita Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.
Chapter 2, Sloka 70
He attains Peace into whom all desires enter as waters enter the ocean which, filled from all sides, remains unmoved; but not the ‘desirer of desires’.
“Commotion goes around and the Yogi is not affected. We see this in the lives of Yogis and that is because their mind is stable and they have clear values. In case of Madhavadasji, we have a good example. He never used to get bothered, never angry, never shouting. He just observed – very occasionally he helped and lived a quiet life. Whereas imagine a person running such a big Ashram – 700 inmates – for so many years – would definitely have friends and enemies and quarrels. This is not possible for us, because we immediately get struck by some kind of feelings, relations, so called responsibilities and we quickly react. We don’t give time to think. That is why our life is complicated, out of our control and there is all kinds of pain and suffering.
So theoretically, technically, this is the idea – remain neutral – after all, that is the way we are. We are not the active people in this world who can change. Larger things are there – changes are going to happen – just observe – whatever little you are required to do, do it – don’t get too involved and excited. In the final analysis, feelings come in the picture. You have become so sensitive that things happening in a far off place also affect us and we react. Sea water enters from all parts of the world, but the sea does not change its level – it remains the same. None of us want to think and feel like this. We want to react – react fast and react strong. We should understand our nature. We don’t have a nature which is understanding, kind, which can remain calm and quiet. When we are passing through life, we should not cry and shout and complain. We should recognize that this is my nature and I immediately react. Had I waited a little, possibly the cause have might have gone. That is not our nature. We want to show off and make others to feel.
Do we consider this to be proper or beyond us to handle? When we are learning yoga, we have to understand a little about ourself, our nature, our reaction. If we understand this, then we can start working and checking and correcting. We take it as if we are perfect and we want to react and we can’t control. So self study is a must;, continuously examine what is our nature, how are we reacting, what should be the ideal ? This thinking should be there. We don’t want to waste time doing this, whatever is available to us, we want to enjoy it. All of us read the newspaper, see the crime, see bad people and we have no reaction, on the contrary, we are not ashamed to go to those bad people for some of our own personal work. We go to ministers even though we know they are not good, but we have something to get done so we go to them.
Yogendraji belonged to a village where Morarji Desai also lived and they were neighbours. Yogendraji was very neutral, stable. When they grew up, the other person become very egoistic, very strong and violent in his nature. The two remained apart. One day Yogendraji was in Ahmedabad, so was Morarji Desai. They were invited to a common friend’s house. They met and the friend tried to introduce that here is Shri Yogendraji who has just come from America and has done a lot of good work. Morarji Desai reacted, ‘I don’t know him.’ He was that offensive. Yogendraji was also a very strong minded person and so he got up and told the common friend, “Keep his words in your pocket,” and he went away. All throughout their life they never met each other, they never went for help, though there were many occasions. They were able to carry through. Yogendraji built up this Institute without ever having to go to see Morarji Desai. His mind was independent, kind. Even though struggle was there ,he managed it himself. Very interestingly it was Morarji who came to know of certain problems and quietly tried to rectify and give some help, but openly, never. Openly he would just say, “I don’t know.”
Personally once I had to go to the secretariat and met the PA of Morarji Deasai and told him that I wanted to see him regarding some problem. The PA told me quietly, “Do you want to see him or you want to get the problem solved?” I said, naturally I want the the problem to get solved . He said, “Don’t see him, I will solve it.” They also know, here is a man, very strong headed and opinions and he would definitely have the work done, but he stands on prestige. So this is the situation. You have to understand and quietly function.”
“In this material world, all pleasures, joy, excitement are pouring from all sides, but the Yogi is not getting affected by it and he doesn’t desire it or crave for it. Wants never stop; one after another they continue. The moment pleasure comes, we get attached and caught. It bIinds us. We have to take everything neutrally, in a balanced way. Objectivity, Vairagya, understanding what world is and how we should to function – all that wisdom has to be very deep in the personality, otherwise the wisest of persons get affected by pleasures. For example, Vishwamitra did a lot of Tapasya but when Menaka came in front of him, all the Tapa vanished. We have to work hard on our mind –always be vigilant – every thought should be checked.”
About Parisamvad
On every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, The Yoga Institute, Santacruz holds Parisamvad sessions – Free interactive sessions that are open to all. These session begin at 7:20 am and end around 7:45 am.
The Tuesday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the the Bhagwad Gita by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.
All are welcome to attend.Click Here to learn more about The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai.
(Picture credit http://www.ishwar.com/hinduism/holy_bhagavad_gita).