Self-Alert – In Gita Verse 1.32-35 O Govinda, of what avail to us are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this battlefield? O Madhusūdana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me? O maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra?
Not only for Arjuna and Pandavas but for each one of us whenever we try to avoid disputes through mutual understanding for everyone and fail, that pain is unbearable, unhealable.
This was the prime reason why Arjuna chose Krishna as charioteer. He knew his limitations as a human being and with this limitation delivering the assignment of the Universe was possible only if his charioteer is Krishna.
To be focused on your role in this Universe and delivering your assignment is the purpose of this body.
Body is the vehicle of God to deliver his assignment. Everyone knows that if we work in any organization or own the organization or as a family member also we have certain assignments, so that the family or organization can run smoothly and grow together.
Universe has given certain assignments to Pandavas. With their maturity and limitations Pandavas took that assignment.
When Pandavas were managing their resources they were aware of their limitations and they were converting their limitations into their strength so that they could deliver their assignment. This was one of the reasons why Arjuna was not tempted by Narayani Sena and chose Krishna, without his weapon – because of his awareness of his assignment. His focus was on the universe’s assignment and not on his desire.
Whenever we are faced with temptation or greed just give a wake up call to yourself as in that moment you are unconscious of yourself. When we are unconscious of ourselves we will not be able to deliver our assignments. Forget about universe assignment but the assignment of family, society and organization too.
What is the real meaning of a mistake? Look into your life whenever we made a mistake, we were unconscious at that time and forgot; what is our assignment.
Only by remaining self-alert, we will not repeat the same mistake again. If you are self-alert and take decisions you will find that you will not make any mistakes but also you will not be in the trap of greed, temptation or desire.
There is no rocket science involved in not making any mistake or repeating the mistake. It’s just to be self-alert.
You can bridge the gap by being more alert, that’s why there is so much emphasis on being alert, aware, witnessing, and watchful. Why? Because the more you become alert, the more the unconscious becomes conscious. That is the only way. If you remain more alert, if you walk with awareness, if you talk, listen with awareness, if you eat, take your bath, with awareness, not like a robot, not walking in sleep and doing things, or doing things and thinking about other things – that too is a type of sleep, if consciously, mindfully, you do your work chunks of the unconscious are being transformed into consciousness, and gradually more and more of your iceberg comes out of the water of darkness, out of the ocean.
When the whole of you is out of darkness, this is samadhi, this is enlightenment, this is the state of a Buddha, or an arhat: one who has no longer any unconsciousness in him, one who has no longer any dark corners within his being. The whole house is lighted. Now, you have attained unity – on a higher plane. So Buddha is pure like an animal, simple like an animal. The animal has its innocence because of ignorance, and Buddha has his innocence because of his enlightened awareness. The cause has changed.
All the Pandavas’ preparation and managing their resources were from self-alertness, so in this utter despair of mind Arjuna turned to Krishna not for his desire but to bring him back to his self-alertness.
Tags: Self-Alert
