Destination And Direction – In Gita Verse 2.57 In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.
Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.57 states that in the material world, one who remains unaffected by good or evil, neither praising nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge. This profound wisdom from Krishna to Arjuna encapsulates the essence of acceptance. Krishna advises Arjuna to accept the material world without judgement. Our attachments hinder us by anchoring us to the objective world, preventing us from perceiving its deeper aspects. We often view the objective world superficially, not from its core. However, by delving into the core, we realise it is a pool of energy. This understanding allows us to release our attachments and remain unaffected by the external world.
The individual who is free from attachment and does not experience joy or sorrow due to penance or the outcomes of auspicious and inauspicious events embodies wisdom. Rudyard Kipling, the renowned British poet, captures the essence of this enlightened state in his famous poem “If.” A few lines from the poem illustrate this:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same…
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
The popularity of Kipling’s poem reflects a universal yearning for enlightenment, akin to the state described by Shree Krishna to Arjuna. This urge for enlightenment transcends cultural boundaries, as it is intrinsic to the soul. Shree Krishna’s teachings resonate with this universal quest for higher understanding.
Energy, depending on our awareness, can be either creative or destructive. The universe’s compassion is evident in the immense energy contained within a tiny, invisible atom, a fact scientifically proven. Following the events of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, scientists became more vigilant about utilising energy productively and creatively for humanity’s growth. It is crucial to focus on direction rather than destination to harness energy constructively for humanity’s benefit.
The concept of destination pertains to the ego, while direction pertains to life and being. This subtle distinction is akin to the difference between mind and heart, logic and love, or prose and poetry. A destination is clear-cut and external, while direction is intuitive and internal. A destination is known and fixed, often based on past experiences, whereas direction is felt and spontaneous, emerging from living fully in the present moment.
The fixation on a destination limits the future, transforming it into a mere extension of the past. This approach stifles the potential of the future, leading to a repetitive and mechanistic existence. In contrast, direction is alive and present, pulsating with the moment. By living fully in the present, the future unfolds naturally and spontaneously, guided by the essence of the moment.
Krishna advises Arjuna to live as a real man, embracing the present moment with awareness and watchfulness. By doing so, one gains direction from the unknown, living in the objective world without becoming attached or affected by it. This approach fosters a playful, rather than serious, engagement with the present moment, grounded in self-alertness. Through this practice, one attains a state of perfect knowledge and wisdom, as described in the Bhagavad Gita.
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