Discipline Begins – In Gita Verse 15.8 The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life from one body to another, as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of body and again quits it to take another.
The Bhagavad Gita enlightens us with a metaphor for the soul’s journey that is as profound as it is poetic. Lord Krishna, a masterful teacher, analogises the soul to a scent carried by the wind – transient yet persistent in its movement from one form to another. Within this verse lies a call to awaken to the expansive responsibility we hold toward our own divine essence.
As we journey through life, our physical form, akin to a temporary vessel, eventually is relinquished, much like a leaf that falls from the tree. Yet what endures beyond this earthly departure is the quintessence of our being – the soul. Infused with the experiences and wisdom acquired, it is akin to a perfume that lingers even after the source has vanished. This intangible essence, this innermost expansion of our being, reflects the divine aspect of our existence. Just as a skillful artist uses a palette of diverse hues to bring a canvas to life, our self-awareness and deeds become the vibrant colours with which our next incarnation is brought forth. Each choice and realisation in this lifetime delicately sculpts the contours and shades of our future embodiment. The art of dying and rebirth is thus crafted by these subtle strokes of conditioning and discipline.
It is pivotal to discern the vast chasm that lies between conditioning and discipline. Conditioning is the cunning artifice foisted upon us by societal constructs, a metaphorical yoke placed around the neck of our boundless potential. It disguises itself as a guardian of knowledge, garbed in the regalia of societal norms and expectations, but beneath its veneer lies an intention to mould us into pliable entities. This kind of enculturation obscures the essence of who we are, distancing us from our true selves by layering us with prefabricated identities.
In stark contrast, discipline is the pure emergence from the heart’s innermost gardens, a voluntary and conscious quest that burgeons from our yearning for authenticity and truth. It requires no audience, for its seed is germinated in the quietude of introspection, nourished by the waters of sincere longing. This discipline is the alchemy of self-transformation, through which one finds alignment with the cosmic dance of existence. Unlike the harsh grafting of conditioning, discipline is the organic flowering of our innermost self, encouraged by our unwavering commitment to personal evolution and the courageous pursuit of enlightenment. It is in this fertile quietness that the soul crafts its wings, preparing for the flight into the next journey, unburdened by the weight of imposed constraints and free to soar in the vast skies of possibility.
A true master does not entangle you in fresh bonds but instead shepherds you toward liberation from previous entrapments. Thus, discipline empowers us with the light of rebellion, a revolution against the conditioning that seeks to stifle our natural propensity for freedom.
While the risk of misusing freedom exists, the very act of making mistakes is a vital step towards maturation. Wisdom is often found on the path littered with errors. A master bestows freedom accompanied by a heightened consciousness, reducing the propensity for such misuse and guiding the disciple away from potential self-destructive tendencies.
True discipline is a personal awakening, a voluntary quest for enlightenment under the guidance of an unconditioned impulse. It is a surrender born of love and clarity, not of compulsion. In this sacred space where the master un-conditions and supports the disciple without reconditioning, one evolves.
Krishna’s teachings in this verse thus exhort us to transcend beyond the limitations of societal constructs, to embrace a life of deliberate action and conscious growth. His words implore us to enter each new life liberated, with heightened alertness, a resolve to act responsibly, and a heart that beats to the rhythm of its own divine music, unfettered by the demands or designs of another’s intentions.
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