Escapist – In Gita Verse 2.27 One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.
Krishna reminds us that there is no escape from the inherent cycles of life, symbolised through birth and death. However, attempting to defy these natural rhythms is a sign of resistance to the universe’s flow. Thus, Arjuna is urged to fulfil his cosmic role, to “Fight Without Enmity”, a metaphor for engaging with life’s challenges with an inner serenity rather than with an aggressive, adversarial attitude. When you shun this commitment, you become an escapist.
Living in the future is a kind of escapism, where life becomes superficial. Such existence is deprived of the depth and authenticity of the present moment – the ‘now-here’ which is alive with the possibility of true experience. The future is an illusion that never manifests. It is always – and will always be – the ‘now’ that offers us the stage to truly live.
Desire is the antithesis of presence; it is a yearning for what is not, a reaching out for the unattainable, thus making it the epitome of escapism. Meditators, contrary to the mistaken belief that they are escapists, are the only true realists. They are the ones who step out of desire, out of the continuous chatter of the mind, into the fullness of the present. Meditation is the gateway to an intense engagement with life, not an exit from it.
Our very mind, which we cannot sidestep, is often an obstacle to this presence. It operates ceaselessly, even in our sleep, crafting dreams and perpetuating cycles of thoughts. Changing the deeply ingrained habits of the mind can seem insurmountable. Intentions of self-improvement or spiritual practice, such as daily meditation, often fall prey to the ‘law of the mind’, which is self-perpetuating and notoriously resistant to change.
Yet, there is a path through this mental labyrinth – a path illuminated by the awakenings of enlightened beings like Buddha and Krishna. They not only transcended their minds but also offered wisdom on how others might do the same. The notion of transcending the mind may feel foreign, as the mind seems to be our only reality. Yet, there exists a vastness beyond it that can be explored and experienced.
Through his dialogue with Arjuna, Krishna imparts the critical lesson that while you may escape from the external war, the internal battle with your own being is inescapable. If you shirk your life’s responsibilities – your ‘assignments’ from the universe – you will be haunted by this betrayal, perhaps for many lives to come. It is through embracing these assignments with gusto and a profound inner awareness that one can truly live.
In essence, your life’s assignment from the universe is to be fully present, to engage with each moment with alertness, and to carry out your duties with conscious action. This is the life of awareness – to recognise each moment as a microcosm of life itself, to treat it as sacred, and to bring to it the totality of your being.
Embrace these insights, and live each moment with the consciousness that Krishna’s teachings and the path of meditation offer. This will not be a mere existence but a vibrant and aware journey through life.
Tags: Escapist
