Raajasik Tendency - The Cause of Indulgence
Sudha Bazaz
Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
Hari Aum!
My prostration at the Holy Feet of Guru Maa.
On 5th June, we had the privilege to hear Maa on the topic "Resurgence of Indulgence". Indulgence is common to all. We often say, “if we don't indulge what is the fun!” But is it necessary to indulge? We need extreme self-control. Alas! we take things very casually. The word "resurgence" means the return of activity which had “seemed” to have completely stopped.
The Mantra in ‘Kaivalya Upanishad’ -
न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन
त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशुः ।
परेण नाकं निहितं गुहायां
विभ्राजते यद्यतयो विशन्ति ॥
Not by work, nor by progeny or by wealth, but by renunciation alone can one attain Immortality. That (Immortality) which is even beyond the heavens, is attained by the self-controlled renunciates, as the ‘Self’ shining in their heart.
Our Rishis understood this. Indulgence is our nature and more often than not, we are extremely indulgent. For example – having refrained from indulging for a long time after a pandemic, war, after observing vrat or upvaas, we become MORE indulgent.
In Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta, chapter 3 - verse 36, Arjun asked Sree Krishna:
“Why is a person compelled to commit sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if by force? O descendent of Vrishni (Krishna).”
Indeed, a beautiful question! We have to put our faith in what Lord Krishna says.
"It is desire, it is anger, born of Rajas. It is a voracious eater, a great sinner. Know it to be the enemy". The cause of indulgence is our Raajasik nature. It pushes us to commit sinful and devouring acts. This enemy is within ourselves. We have to get rid of our animalistic nature.
Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta, chapter 3 - verse 38, gives us the solution.
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च |
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ||
Just as fire is covered by smoke, a mirror is masked by dust, and an embryo is concealed by the womb, similarly one’s knowledge gets shrouded by desire.
Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta, chapter 3 – verse 39, Lord Krishna says,
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा |
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ||
The knowledge of even the most discerning gets covered by this perpetual enemy in the form of insatiable desire, which is never satisfied and burns like fire, Oh son of Kunti.
Our true nature is covered by Raajasik tendencies. This leads to desires which overpower the discriminatory power of the wise and compels him to fulfil it. However, the more one attempts to douse the fire of desire, the more strongly it burns.
“Desire burns like an unquenchable fire, which never brings happiness to anyone. The wise renounce it, knowing it to be the root of misery.” But those who do not understand this, get trapped into it resulting in despondency and despair. We have to sit back every now and then and check the quality of our mind. It needs to be surrendered at the Holy Feet of Sree Guru Parampara, which alone can give us solace.