Uncontrolled Senses – In Gita Verse 2.67 As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.
In Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.67, Lord Krishna employs the powerful analogy of a boat being swept away by a strong wind to illustrate the detrimental impact of uncontrolled senses on human consciousness. This verse underscores the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness in maintaining intellectual and emotional stability.
When individuals act unconsciously, evading responsibility and seeking refuge in ignorance, they attempt to escape from their true selves. However, such efforts are futile, as one cannot escape oneself. There exists a general reluctance to awaken to self-awareness, with a persistent desire to flee from one’s own reality.
Krishna’s conversation with Arjuna highlights that when a scholar allows his mind to be driven by sensory desires, it is akin to a strong wind sweeping away a boat on the water. Just as the wind can destabilise or even sink a boat, a mind driven by sensory desires can lead to the downfall of one’s intellect. Krishna emphasises that when the power of the mind is directed towards sensory objects, it creates a storm that disrupts inner peace and self-realisation. The boat of tranquillity and meditation sinks in the tempest of uncontrolled desires. In the absence of such storms, however, the boat remains steady and unsinkable.
The more a person’s mind is filled with the storm of desires, the more the energy and power of the mind get diverted towards material objects, causing the boat of life to waver and sink. A wise individual, recognising this truth, does not allow the storms of lust and desire to run rampant in their mind. Halting these storms is not sufficient; they need to be managed and redirected. The storms of desire are not external forces but are driven by our own cooperation and engagement.
When a man inquired of Zen master Rinjai how to quell his desires, Rinjai responded that the question itself was flawed. Desires are fueled by one’s actions and cooperation. To eliminate desires, one must simply refrain from engaging with them. To clarify his point, Rinjai demonstrated by clenching his fist in front of the man and asked, “Observe, this fist is clenched. Now, how do I open it?” The man responded, “Why pose such trivial questions? Simply do not clench it, and your fist will remain open. Clenching is an action; opening is not. It requires effort to clench, but none to keep it open. If you do not clench your fist, it stays open; if you do, it becomes tight.”
Rinjai used this metaphor to illustrate that desires require energy; if you do not empower them, they dissipate. The man, like many others, was evading his own responsibility and seeking external solutions, not realising that he himself was perpetuating the process.
Krishna’s teachings highlight that lust and desires demand our cooperation. No desire can take hold without our consent and participation. When faced with a desire, one should stand firm and refuse to cooperate, thereby nullifying its power. This approach underscores the importance of self-awareness and conscious decision-making.
The fear of self-awareness is profound. Society has conditioned individuals to feel unworthy and condemned for even the smallest mistakes. This deep-seated belief in one’s worthlessness drives people to run away from themselves. They seek distractions in the form of money, power, respectability, and virtue, but these pursuits are mere excuses to avoid facing themselves.
Success does not bring happiness to those who are running from themselves. When they achieve their goals, they are confronted with the emptiness within. They realise that their efforts to escape themselves have failed, leading to despair and anguish. At the peak of their success, they encounter the very self they have been fleeing from.
True contentment comes from moving closer to oneself, delving deeper into one’s being, and shedding the condemnatory beliefs imposed by others. Society’s constant criticism has created an environment where no one feels at ease or able to relax. Relaxation becomes a mirror reflecting one’s true self, which many are afraid to face due to internalised negative opinions.
People fear solitude because it forces them to confront themselves. They seek the company of others to avoid facing their inner reality. However, going inward is the key to transformation. Running away from oneself wastes valuable time and potential. The farther one is from oneself, the darker and more miserable life becomes.
Krishna’s message to Arjuna is that his misery and desire to flee the battlefield stem from his unconsciousness. Arjuna’s perception of rejection from the Kauravas has clouded his consciousness. Krishna urges Arjuna to recognise that he is not running from the war but from himself, his own consciousness. By facing himself, Arjuna can find the strength and clarity needed to fulfil his duty.
Tags: Uncontrolled Senses
