Divine And Sin – In Gita Verse 1.44 Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.
Arjuna stands on the cusp of the battlefield, his heart a tumultuous sea. He confronts a horde of dilemmas that thrust him into the throes of moral perplexity. The paradox is intricate – while his duty as a warrior calls for action, his humaneness recoils at the bloodshed of his kindred. The war he foresees, while offering the spoils of a kingdom, simultaneously threatens to stain his soul with sin. His predicament is a testament to the universal human condition, encapsulating our struggle with duty and the nature of action itself.
As Arjuna gazes out upon the array of faces, familiar yet estranged by the imminence of war, he perceives the act of battle as sin. The pleasure of regal authority appears to him a feeble and unethical motivator, a delusion of desire wherein the end justifies the means. However, the essence of sin, as it reverberates through this discourse, is not embedded in the act but rather sprouts from the depths of unconsciousness. Sin and divinity hence become not dichotomies but revelations of our own state of awareness. When duty aligns itself with the universal will, our actions, stripped of personal desire, transcend the ordinary; they become expressions of the divine.
The quandary in which Arjuna finds himself can be likened to a mirror reflecting our own selves, our desires that shape our destinies. Desire promises us a fleeting joy, a mirage that leads us across the deserts of existence only to leave us bereft and longing. For Arjuna, abstaining from war is a desire cloaked in the garb of virtue. This very act, borne out of desire to protect, to preserve, ensnares him further from the truth.
We, too, stride across the fabric of life, our paths entwined with desires. Little do we realise that in our pursuit of many, we scatter our energies and miss observing the nature of desire itself. As a consequence, we fail to connect to the profound knowledge that every longing, when traced to its root, ends in emptiness. Blame then becomes a defence, a curtain veiling our responsibility, with fortunes and stars cast as the architects of our fates.
Energy, the quintessence of all existence, knows no prejudice between what mortals deem sin and virtue. It is the raw canvas upon which our intentions paint the picture of our lives. Arjuna’s transformation unfolds in the crucible of the battlefield, a powerful testament to the discerning force of awareness. Amidst the looming shadows of fear and the enticements of desire, he beholds a profound revelation: when one channels energy with mindful awareness, joy blossoms; in its absence, sorrow takes root.
This energy, indefatigable and ever-changing, courses through the play of existence, reshaping itself tirelessly. It awaits our command, looking to us for the impetus that determines the course of our lives. Directed with sagacity toward the Self while engaging earnestly with the world, it culminates in jubilance. On the other hand, navigated by ignorance, it steers toward anguish.
In moments where the clarity of Arjuna’s purpose as an actor on the cosmic stage is lucid, he is liberated from fear and craving. Positioned on the brink of action, he honours the present, engaging with his duty divorced from the anxiety for its outcome. In this heightened state, ‘sin’ sheds its skin to reveal itself as a concept devoid of relevance; his every act becomes a stanza in the eternal hymn of the cosmos.
Thus, battles waged with such piercing clarity of consciousness are elevated; they do not harbour malice but echo the logic of life’s grand panorama. It’s not the war that is divine or sinful – it’s the level of consciousness enveloping the warrior that bestows sacredness upon the act.
In this broader perspective of duty, Arjuna’s epiphany about sin’s irrelevance in actions driven by cosmic awareness resonates deeply. When one acts not from a place of enmity but in harmony with the grand design, actions are not marred by sin nor buoyed by virtue; they simply are. Engaging in this battle with profound awareness lifts the warrior beyond the binary of right and wrong – each motion becomes a testament to the balance of existence itself.
As we absorb the sagacity of this venerable exchange, may we find the guidance to navigate life’s labyrinth with an awareness that outshines transient desires. For when every deed is an homage to the divine symphony, we become the music itself – harmonious, infinite, and in perfect resonance with the cosmic melody. Let this ancient wisdom cast light upon your journey, transforming every stride into a sacred dance with the universe.
Tags: Divine And Sin
