Karma Yoga – In Gita Verse 3.7 On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins Karma-Yoga without attachment, he is by far superior.
In Bhagavad Gita Verse 3.7, Krishna emphasises the superiority of a person who controls the active senses through the mind and engages in Karma-Yoga without attachment. This principle underscores the importance of mental discipline and detachment in achieving spiritual excellence.
Desire, when harboured in the mind, invariably leads to misery, sorrow, and frustration. It creates an illusion of potential happiness and peace, but the reality is often the opposite – unrest and deeper bondage. Desire and greed are the root causes of human suffering. Rising above desire is crucial for attaining true happiness, and this can be achieved by addressing two aspects: the desire-filled mind and the senses used for lust.
Krishna asserts that a person who superficially grasps these concepts becomes ensnared by the senses and develops hostility towards them. Such an individual is deemed foolish and ignorant. In contrast, a superior person transforms the mind to control the senses, rather than suppressing or weakening them. Suppression of the senses is not true control; it is merely a facade. True control involves transforming the mind, which in turn governs the senses.
The art of controlling the senses is distinct from the art of fighting them. Generally, it appears that we are slaves to our senses, with desires leading the way and us following like shadows. Desires are invisible until they manifest through the senses. For instance, the desire to touch someone is not evident until the body expresses this urge. Often, we become aware of our desires only after they have taken control, making it difficult to revert to a state of non-attachment.
A person in such a state of slavery to desires is inferior and has not yet earned the right to be called a true human. The right to be a human is reserved for those whose desires follow them, not the other way around. Modern psychology, particularly after Freud, has propagated the idea that desires are uncontrollable and that humans are inherently slaves to their desires. This belief has led many to accept their bondage to the senses as an unchangeable reality.
Materialists, both ancient and modern, have always maintained that humans are nothing more than their physical bodies, and thus, the demands of the body are paramount. This perspective denies the existence of the soul and leads to a life driven by blind senses and desires. However, the soul is born only when desires are subdued and the self takes precedence. Until then, the soul remains a mere potential, not an actuality.
Krishna advises Arjuna that the greatest person is one who brings their senses under the control of the mind. This control is not achieved through suppression but through the experience of one’s own existence and presence. For example, if the body demands food, one can assert their will by deciding not to eat immediately. This assertion of will demonstrates that there is a state of being beyond the physical body, which weakens the body’s demands.
Religious practices often involve experiments that help individuals experience their separateness from the body. For instance, fasting is a practice designed to cultivate resolve and demonstrate that the body’s demands can be resisted. Similarly, exercises like the “Stop Exercise” introduced by George Gurdjieff help individuals realise that they can command their bodies and not just take orders from them. This practice involves stopping all bodily movements at a command, which helps in developing a sense of control over the body.
The lack of determination is a sign of inferiority, while having determination signifies self-confidence and greatness. Krishna emphasises that the best person is one who gains control over their senses, becoming the master rather than the servant of their desires. This mastery involves commanding the senses rather than asking them what to do.
While one cannot choose whether to act, one can choose to act from a place of consciousness and non-attachment. Actions performed without attachment lead to liberation. There are four ways to approach truth and connect with it: action, knowing, feeling, and Karma Yoga, which involves acting without becoming a doer and letting God work through oneself.
Krishna advises Arjuna to align his actions with the universal will, perform his duties without attachment, and fight without enmity. This alignment ensures that actions are performed in a state of non-attachment, leading to liberation and fulfilment of one’s universal assignment.
Tags: Karma Yoga
