(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)
Inbuilt Tendencies Compel People to Act Against What is Right
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि |
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति ||3.33||
sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān api
prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati|| 3.33||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 3- Ver. 33:
Even wise individuals work in accordance with their natures because all living beings are guided by their basic instincts. What is the benefit of repression?
Explanation
Many people will find karma yoga challenging to practice. It’s because we’re compelled to act against our will by inborn proclivities and desires. Our lower nature is made up of these tendencies. Plants, animals, and people all have an inbuilt set of characteristics. These characteristics can be found in the body, mind, and intellect in humans. These characteristics are the result of our vasanas, which are the impressions left by previous deeds.
If the vasanas are suppressed, they will enter the subconscious and take on a disguised form that is considerably more harmful than previously. Vasanas are either indulged in or suppressed by people. The only way out is to refine, enhance, and change their course to something better.
Vasanas are present in every human being. They elicit in our minds thoughts about the physical world. When a thought arises, it is followed by desire and action. As a result, Shri Krishna claims that simply refraining from acting would not result in the extinction of wants, because the vasanas will continue to form new thoughts.
Karma yoga uses the energy of vasanas to extinguish themselves. Shri Krishna, as a result, provides us with a way out. Despite the fact that we all have tendencies that can bring us down, we can use the karma yoga technique to understand and conquer such tendencies.
Verse & what we can learn
Inner tendencies of the people compel them to act against what is right.
Teachings of Krishna give the right direction to life and Daily practice of meditation helps us by giving us the inner strength and improving physical health to follow the path that Krishna has shown us.
There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There are 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 verse, Shri Krishna tells Arjuna about ways to overcome lower nature.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…