Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyasa Yogam Verse 30:
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Every Time We Exercise Our Free Will, We Make Choices, And The Sum Of Those Choices Defines Where We End Up In Life
प्रवृत्तिंच निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये |
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्तिबुद्धि: सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी || 18.30||
pravṛittiṁ cha nivṛittiṁ cha kāryākārye bhayābhaye
bandhaṁ mokṣhaṁ cha yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī|| 18.30||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 18- Ver. 30:
When the intellect recognizes the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, obligation and non-duty, fear and non-fear, bound and liberating, it is said to have the character of kindness, O Parth.
Explanation
We use our free will to make decisions all the time, and the total number of those decisions determines where we end up in life. A well-developed faculty of discriminating is necessary to make wise decisions. Arjuna was given the Bhagavad Gita directly in order to give him the ability to discriminate. Arjuna wasn’t sure what his task was at first.
His excessive love for his family had clouded his perception of what was right and wrong. He had bowed to the Lord, feeling weak and afraid and completely lost, and asked him to clarify his role for him. Lord Krishna developed Arjun’s capacity for discrimination through the divine song of wisdom, and in the end he said: “I have revealed to you the knowledge that is more secret than all.”
The mode of goodness sharpens the intellect’s capacity to distinguish between right and wrong in terms of things, actions, and sentiments by illuminating it with the light of knowledge. The sattvic intellect reveals to us what actions should be carried out and which should be avoided, as well as what should be dreaded and disregarded. It provides us with an explanation of the causes of our personality flaws as well as a solution.
Verse & what we can learn
Our knowledge provides us with a target to pursue, a subject to approach, or an occasion to create. Our buddhi, or intellect, must now pick the best course of action. Usually, before pursuing any purpose, we must decide whether we wish to do so and, if so, how to go about doing so. Saattvic intellect and buddhi, according to Shri Krishna, are those who have clarity on these two issues.
In fact, Shri Krishna divides the two aspects into four evaluations: determining one’s stage in life and svadharma first, then determining whether or not to take a particular action, then determining whether or not to be afraid, and finally determining whether or not to continue taking that activity.
The varna aashrama system, also known as the system of aptitude and stage of life, helps us decide if we should act at all, and if so, which acts we should carry out and which ones we shouldn’t, as we will see in a later topic in this chapter.
The primary priority of a student should be academics, not starting a family. Instead of concentrating on making money by selling out his nation, a soldier should be protecting it. The first two assessments—engagement and withdrawal—as well as what is and is not our responsibility—are assisted by the varna aashrama approach.
We must determine if an action is driven by selfish gain or altruistic service once the varna aashrama system has given its blessing to its performance. The likelihood that egoism has crept into our thoughts when we are acting is increased if we experience dread while doing so. We can be acting in this way because we want praise and honour. However, if our minds are fearless, we can presume that our actions are driven by compassion.
The final point is that when we carry out one action after another, we should always consider whether it is bringing us closer to liberation or further entangling us in the realm of matter. Saattvic intellect is one that leads us in this way.
To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.
There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There is also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.
In the next shloka Shri Krishna explains about intellect in the mode of passion.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…