Miscellaneous - Religion   

Man of wisdom

CHENNAI: The Bhagavad Gita contains practical advice for human beings who are in the stressful grasp of worldly life with the uncertainties, attractions and fleeting joys they experience. The mind is shown to play a crucial role in determining an individual’s state of happiness and only evolved beings are able to overcome the vagaries of the mind manifested as desire, fear and anger. This is how Lord Krishna describes the state of mind of an evolved person while explaining the qualities of a Stithaprajna, “a man of wisdom” to Arjuna, pointed out Swami Mitrananda in a discourse.

It is in the mind that desires arise. These may be directed to objects, places or persons since the mind (falsely) recognises that there is comfort in these objects. Whatever may be the object of desire, when the mind begins to crave for these, the outcome could be either fulfilment or disappointment. In case it is the former, the fleeting quality of the satisfaction leads only to further longing and entanglement. This is because whatever is thought of as happiness or comfort is not in the objects since these are uncertain and impermanent. If the individual’s desire is not fulfilled, there’s frustration, conflict, and confusion. Fear of failure, death, the unknown, future, loss of wealth, health, property, possessions, negligence, rejection, etc., makes life traumatic.

Similarly anger is a difficult emotion and needs to be handled with caution. An unbiased show of anger on the action, situation or incident and not on the person is advised and this requires great self control.

The only way to overcome attachment is to endeavour to sever the mental link with worldly objects with the determination to get attached to that which is permanent.

The wise man is contemplative and his sense of discrimination is sharp. He maintains equanimity at all times as he has experienced this truth and relinquished desire from his mind. With his focus on the goal of realising the purpose of life, he pursues only what is essential and rejects the non essentials. He is truly free because he neither longs for something pleasant nor does he run away from sorrow or unpleasant happenings.

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