The Bhagavad Gita is a treasure trove of knowledge - all that you need to be is an inquisitive student, because only when the student is ready, the master appears! Join me this month in the 'April A to Z challenge,' as I take you through selected verses of this monumental scripture, and try to decipher the amazing lessons it has in store for us.
Read C for Compassion here.
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Translation
In this verse, Krishna says, that our mind and senses tend to waver all the time - control your mind and senses or they will control you. An unwavering determination (dhriti) that comes from devotion enables a person to control his mind (manah), life (prana) and senses (indriya).
Why goals don't work?
How often we set goals for ourselves - lose weight, study for a set time period everyday, go for a walk everyday, spend less time on social media, limit unnecessary spending, so on and so forth - but within few days of starting, we are back to square one. Have you ever wondered what went wrong?
Being determined and disciplined.
The Gita says, unless one is rooted in firm determination and discipline, no goal can be achieved. Any sportsman will vouch for this. An athlete who ran a 100m race in 9.58 seconds and won the race, had practiced running consistently, for 3 hours everyday, six times a week! The mind might have asked him to rest, or have a cheat day, the limbs might have begged to be excused, but he did not let his mind or senses take control, and that showed in the results. We only see the 10 second run, but what we do not see is over 6500 hours of determined effort that went behind it.
A Story from Srimad Bhagavatam.
Srimad Bhagavatham tells the story of young Dhruva, the son of King Uttanapada and his second wife, Suniti. He was merely five-years old when he wished to sit on his father's lap like his step brother, Uttama. His step mother, Suruchi denied him this simple desire, mocking him to pray to Vishnu and be reborn as her son if he wanted to be adored by the King.
Little Dhruva took her words to heart and set out to the forest to do penance. With great determination and discipline, he meditated on Shri Vishnu for five months, gradually giving up food, water and even restricting his breath. The first month, he ate fruits and berries once in every three days. In the second month, he ate dry leaves, once in every six days. In the third month, he drank only water once in every nine days. In the fourth month, he inhaled air once every twelve days, holding it in. By the fifth month, he had mastered the art of holding his breath completely, standing tall balancing on just the tip of his right toe. Pleased with these extreme austerities and seeing the determination of the young boy, Vishnu granted him the boon of immortality and a awarded him the position of a fixed star in the sky - the Dhruva Nakshatra or the Pole Star.
Can we be Dhruva?
The example cannot and does not seek to be replicated. However, it shows us how immense the power of determination and discipline combined with devotion is. The mind may look for reasons to give up, the senses may wander, but with unwavering devotion in the supreme, anyone who can keep them under control, eventually succeeds.
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At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Deep gratitude to those who have lit that flame within me! Your comments are appreciated.